topic Re: Anyone know about a broken toe? in Wellness

Anyone know about a broken toe?

Keeper of the koi — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:10:17 GMT

Last night the power went out in our neighborhood , while i was in the tub, its one of those cedar enclosed big whirlpool tubs. i got out to open the curtains to let light in and yikes I hit my toe next to the little toe.this morning it is purple swollen and painful.Is there anything drs do for this? . I hate to go only to find out let it be. Any experience?Thanks, Maryanne

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

Qshopper1991 — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:18:17 GMT

Put ice on it (20 minutes on/20 minutes off) and go to the doctors. It could be broken or fractured.

You'll probably get an x-ray to properly diagnose the issue.

Feel better!!

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

KingstonsMom — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:17:01 GMT

@Keeper of the koi

So sorry about your toe, but unfortunately Dr's don't do anything for a broken toe (I've had a couple!).

You can get a splint for it at the drugstore just to protect it from further injury or pain from hitting it again, though.

Hope it heals soon!

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

Mz iMac — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:17:13 GMT

Go to the ER to get an x-ray. You will get a soft shoe sandal to wear plus crutches.

The ER doc may tape the 2 toes together. Depends on the fracture.

Asprin or Motrin for pain.

The older you are, the longer it will take to heal. Expect to be hopping around for at least 6-8 weeks.

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

Krimpette — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:20:10 GMT

I wouldn't go to the ER for a broken toe. At best, I'd go to my nearest Urgent Care center.

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

ChynnaBlue — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:20:30 GMT

I've fractured a few toes. In most cases, the doctor can't do much but put a split on it and tape it to your other toes to immobilize it as best as possible and wait for it to heal. But if you have never broken a toe before and you think it's really bad, you should go get an x-ray and have it checked out. In some cases, surgery can be required or the toe can heal incorrectly and leave a deformity.

I wouldn't go to the ER for that, I'd call your regular doctor and ask him/her for advice. In the meantime, you can gently tape your own toes. You should put a thin layer of gauze or cotton between the toes you tape together so that they don't rub and cause a corn between your toes.

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

SahmIam — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:24:41 GMT

Have an x-ray and then a pro (ortho, podiatrist, someone who knows feet) look at it. Depending on where the break is and how the bone is broken, it may not heal correctly and you'll have problems for the rest of your life due to it (as well as constant pain).

As me how I know this.....

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

muttmom — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:25:26 GMT

I'd call the doctor or go to Urgent Care. I would not waste time in the ER.

I've broken 2 toes. One had to be set, the other was taped to the next toe.

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

Keeper of the koi — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:25:32 GMT

I have broken my same ankle 3 times in the past 2 years. I cant figure out how bad it hurts based on that!My husband has neen bugging me about taking me, he said i was moaning all night. Thanks for the answers, seems i have heard over the years diffrent stories about what they can do, seems it depends on how it is injured...Thanks again, Maryanne

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

ChynnaBlue — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:30:24 GMT

@Mz iMac wrote:
Go to the ER to get an x-ray. You will get a soft shoe sandal to wear plus crutches.
The ER doc may tape the 2 toes together. Depends on the fracture.
Asprin or Motrin for pain.

The older you are, the longer it will take to heal. Expect to be hopping around for at least 6-8 weeks.

A broken toe isn't a true emergency. Anyone going to the ER for a broken toe get pushed to the back of the line when someone more critical comes in. In a busy location, you can sit in the waiting room for 6+ hours.

I've been to a few ERs with worse things fractured bones over the years and it's a giant waste of my time and the ERs and almost always costs WAY more than going to the regular doctor or an urgent care clinic. The only benefit is that they have an x-ray station on site. So does my local urgent care, which is in a local network with my primary care physician, so they have my medical records on file, too.

For a non-emergency, you are much better off calling your primary or an urgent care. If your PCP can't see you, ask for a recommendation for an after-hours or urgent care clinic.

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

RedTop — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:42:31 GMT

Speaking from experience, I would definitely get it checked. If the toe needs to be splinted and taped, you definitely want that done in order for the toe to heal straight.

Also, I received a Christmas card from a cousin just yesterday, telling me he was off work for 7 weeks over the summer, after breaking his big toe on the job. He is diabetic and the toe got infected down to the bone---he nearly lost that toe.

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

Keeper of the koi — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:43:40 GMT

Luckily there is a sportsmedicine practice with an urgent care in it not far away.. guess where i will be this afternoon, waving the white flag ,husband will be home soon. thanks again, Maryanne

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

software — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 18:50:48 GMT

Please get an x-ray.

There may be no treatment but a friend of mine broke a toe & didn't get it treated professionally. He eventually lost the toe because the break was vertical, not horizontal and since he is diabetic, he doesn't have good blood flow. Infection set in & the toe couldn't be saved.

I know that is extreme, but you never know. I wouldn't take any chances. Get a professional opinion. Plus you may get some pain meds, LOL. But seriously, I hope it's a very simple break with a simple fix.

@Keeper of the koi wrote:
Last night the power went out in our neighborhood , while i was in the tub, its one of those cedar enclosed big whirlpool tubs. i got out to open the curtains to let light in and yikes I hit my toe next to the little toe.this morning it is purple swollen and painful.Is there anything drs do for this? . I hate to go only to find out let it be. Any experience?Thanks, Maryanne

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

PamfromCT — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 19:24:45 GMT

I had a broken little toe a few years ago that did not heal correctly. It was a source of pain, despite my attempts to wear appropriate footwear. My PCP referred me to a foot specialist, who performed a minor procedure right in her office on my toe. It still was a problem, so I went back for a second procedure. It was so simple, the numbing process went well, and there was very little discomfort after both procedures. The second worked like a charm, and today I am pain-free.

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

Sooner — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 19:35:26 GMT

@software wrote:
Please get an x-ray.
There may be no treatment but a friend of mine broke a toe & didn't get it treated professionally. He eventually lost the toe because the break was vertical, not horizontal and since he is diabetic, he doesn't have good blood flow. Infection set in & the toe couldn't be saved.

I know that is extreme, but you never know. I wouldn't take any chances. Get a professional opinion. Plus you may get some pain meds, LOL. But seriously, I hope it's a very simple break with a simple fix.

@Keeper of the koi wrote:
Last night the power went out in our neighborhood , while i was in the tub, its one of those cedar enclosed big whirlpool tubs. i got out to open the curtains to let light in and yikes I hit my toe next to the little toe.this morning it is purple swollen and painful.Is there anything drs do for this? . I hate to go only to find out let it be. Any experience?Thanks, Maryanne

I split my little toe vertically, and had lots of splinters in the middle. Orthopod looked at it, took x-ray and taped it to next toe. He said it was as bad a toe break as he'd ever seen. My whole foot would swell up over the ankle and it hurt like all get out. I was on crutches and wore a blue house shoe all summer.

A couple of women at work made fun of me and said they'd broken toes and didn't do anything and kept wearing their shoes.

When I went back to the dr. I asked him if I was just a wimp and he said no, I had as bad a break as you can get, and on the little toe it stresses it every time you even flex your foot because everything is tied together. He said don't listen to those women at work.

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

software — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 19:56:32 GMT

Sorry that was such an ordeal for you @Sooner

Doctor gave you good advice. Don't listen to anyone but your own body.

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

hckynut — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 20:53:38 GMT

@Keeper of the koi wrote:
Last night the power went out in our neighborhood , while i was in the tub, its one of those cedar enclosed big whirlpool tubs. i got out to open the curtains to let light in and yikes I hit my toe next to the little toe.this morning it is purple swollen and painful.Is there anything drs do for this? . I hate to go only to find out let it be. Any experience?Thanks, Maryanne

@Maryanne

I have broken my big toe twice and little toe once. I put ice on them as soon as I could get my hands on some. My doctor friend, a Podiatrist, said not much he could do that would much to help it heel. Elevate as much as possible and do the same with ice.

Little toe not much more for me than an annoyance. The big toe on the other hand made walking difficult because it effected my balance. I wore an open toe shoe until it returned to close to normal size after the initial swelling. Took about 3 months before it didn't bother the way I walked.

If you can take aspirin or an anti-inflammatory as for some can reduce swelling, and maybe lessen the discomfort.

hckynut(john)

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

Major Shopper — Fri, 09 Dec 2016 23:09:13 GMT

"Buddy" tape it to the next toe for support. Ice, elevate. Anti-inflammatory for pain.

Best of luck!

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

Sooner — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 00:33:51 GMT

I heard mine break--sounded like a good sized twig snapping. I was SO mad because I thought I broke the chair leg. Then about 10 minutes later I started to think "This should not be hurting this bad now. . . " Ah. Wasn't the chair after all!

Re: Anyone know about a broken toe?

KarenQVC — Sat, 10 Dec 2016 04:18:58 GMT

@Sooner Ick! @Keeper of the koi let us know what happens. Good luck.