Do You Have a Broken Toe?

Stubbing your toe or knocking it into furniture in the middle of the night (or any other time) is a very painful experience, and sometimes these accidents can actually result in a broken toe. Oftentimes, it can be difficult to determine on your own if your toe is dislocated, bruised or broken; all you know is that it hurts!

 

How Do I Know If I Broke My Toe?

Broken toes or “fractures of toe and metatarsal bones,” can be classified in two categories: traumatic fractures and stress fractures.

Traumatic fractures are a result of a direct impact to your toe by stubbing it. If you have suffered from a traumatic fracture, you may experience:

• An audible noise at the time of the break
• You can pinpoint the exact area where pain is present for hours after the break took place. The pain may subside several hours after impact.
• Toe has abnormal appearance.
• Toe is bruised and swollen the next day.
• You can still walk on it.

Stress fractures are tiny, hairline breaks that are a result of repetitive stress from repetitive motions, as well as abnormal foot structure, deformities or osteoporosis.

If you are suffering from a stress fracture, you may experience:

• Pain during or following normal activity
• Pain subsides when resting and resumes when standing or during activity
• You can directly point to where the pain is when touched
• Swelling, but no bruising

 

Do I Need Medical Treatment For A Broken Toe?

You may have heard the myth that doctors are not able to offer treatment for a broken toe, but that is actually farthest from the truth.

By self-medicating and ignoring a potentially broken toe, you can actually be causing more damage.

In fact, neglecting treatment for a broken toe can result in:

• A bone deformity that can limit your ability to move your foot and find shoes to properly fit your feet
• Arthritis
• Chronic pain
• Failure to heal

If you think you have a broken toe, don’t hesitate to seek treatment. Click here to request an appointment with one of the podiatrists at Triad Foot Center.

 

 

Disclaimer: The information and other content provided in our blogs, videos, or in any other content or linked materials are not intended and should not be construed as medical advice, nor is the information a substitute for professional medical expertise or treatment. For a full disclaimer, please click here.