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Original poster

To be concerned about my toe

82 replies

Ihaveaquestionn · 05/08/2024 00:47

Solid oak bar stool fell directly across my toes today.

I have EPIC bruising, pain I can only compare to childbirth and a weird tingling/numb feeling underneath the toe.

Pain is currently so bad I can’t sit still or think about anything else despite having taken paracetamol and codeine.

I have iced and elevated it most of the day.

My husband says there’s no point having it seen as they will just advise rest and ice. Thinks I’m over reacting.

admittedly I have health anxiety so am imagining worst case scenarios of blood clots, losing my toe, the bone being broken and not healing properly and causing problems down the line

Pic attached and any advice/reassurance welcome

To be concerned about my toe
OP posts:
BeNavyCrab · 05/08/2024 01:51

It looks like the nail bed has taken some of the impact, this can be the cause of the increased pain as swelling under the nail hurts big time. You need to rest the foot, with it elevated and use cold peas wrapped in a towel for 20 mins every 2 or 3 hours. Antiinflammatory medicine like Ibrupofen, Aspirin or Naproxen would help with the inflammation which is most likely the cause of pain. The tingling doesn't necessarily indicate a break, nerves that are compressed by swelling will feel like this too and will return to normal once the swelling subsided. A and E isn't the best place to go, because it's not a life threatening injury and you will be there forever! Best would be the minor injury clinic and if you get there early, there's usually no queue. They are bound to have an x-ray technician if they are worried about a break.

Josette77 · 05/08/2024 01:47

My son fractured his finger last month and it looked and felt like that. They pierced the nail to relieve pressure from the blood and he felt Sooooo much relief.

I would think you might need something like that as well to take the pressure off.

Wheresthebeach · 05/08/2024 01:33

Of course you could call 111 as well for advice

KittytheHare · 05/08/2024 01:30

Ds broke his big toe a few weeks ago. They X-rayed it and strapped it to his second toe. Nothing else to be done except wait for it to heel (around 6 weeks). He bought a medical boot in a pharmacy and that helps him walk for short distances.

Wheresthebeach · 05/08/2024 01:29

Hmmm it def needs looking at. If you won’t sleep then maybe head to A&E now if can’t get anyone to look after your toddler tomorrow morning.

toewoe · 05/08/2024 01:21

Hey OP! Ive been though it with my toe hence the name Grin Definitely get yourself to urgent care / minor injuries in the morning. I did it via 111 online but you can sometimes just go a walk in patient too.

For now, elevate as high as possible with some frozen peas and more meds if you can take them (ibuprofen tablets or gel should help any swelling) and stick something fun on Netflix.

They will likely X-ray you and go from there. Usually with toes they can't do much so may tape them and offer you a boot / crutches if they feel it's needed.

For me I ended up with a bad dislocation that needed surgery. As someone with heath anxiety, I completely get it - no fun as everything that could go wrong did in my case - but 6 weeks on and almost healed and chalked down to crappy luck. Let us know how you get on!

katy1111 · 05/08/2024 01:13

If it was me I'd probably opt for the walk in at 7am rather than a&e now, given the waiting times anyway.

RationalityIsHard · 05/08/2024 01:13

Nothing helpful to add I’m afraid, but as someone who regularly suffers from gout I can definitely sympathise with a painful big toe. Hope it all turns out ok for you.

CheeseDreamsTonight · 05/08/2024 01:12

Also, even if not broken, soft tissue injuries do still need care and can take as long to heal, so it's really not about whether it is broken.

ChubSeedsYorkie · 05/08/2024 01:11

I’d get it checked out my mum had a painful foot (from playing volleyball I think!) turns out she had broken it and needed a moon boot. She did see the GP but they sent her to a walk in centre to be seen as they could do x rays etc. so this may be a better option for you rather than GP as don’t think they have x ray machines.

CheeseDreamsTonight · 05/08/2024 01:10

Big toe injuries are a bit different to other toe injuries and it is vital it heals properly whatever you have done. Definitely pop along.

Original poster
Ihaveaquestionn · 05/08/2024 01:09

Thank you for your replies by the way x

OP posts:
Original poster
Ihaveaquestionn · 05/08/2024 01:08

I’ve had such terrible experiences waiting to be seen for HOURS in A&E previously I’m really reluctant to go if there is another option but walk ins don’t seem to open until 7am and my husband starts work at 8

OP posts:
Original poster
Ihaveaquestionn · 05/08/2024 01:06

UncharteredWaters · 05/08/2024 01:04

Stop googling!!
it’s a disaster for your anxiety.

what have you had for pain relief and how often?
have you iced and elevated every half hour?

@UncharteredWaters ive had paracetamol every 4 hours and mostly recently paramol which is paracetamol and codeine. Nothing is touching the sides.

It felt a bit better earlier so I stupidly was walking around doing the washing and cleaning a bit!

this was before the bruising really started

OP posts:
Oblomov24 · 05/08/2024 01:06

Ouch, looks very painful. Rest and ice is what they suggest. What painkillers are you taking?

allbymysel · 05/08/2024 01:06

Any toe other than big one I'd tape it up. That I would definitely get x rayed. If you can wait until morning I'd go then to minor injuries or a&e

Original poster
Ihaveaquestionn · 05/08/2024 01:04

The thought of sitting in a taxi for 30 mins to my nearest A&E seems literally impossible with the pain this bad!

OP posts:
UncharteredWaters · 05/08/2024 01:04

Stop googling!!
it’s a disaster for your anxiety.

what have you had for pain relief and how often?
have you iced and elevated every half hour?

YapYapMeow · 05/08/2024 01:01

It's probably best to get it checked out.

Saying that though, similar happened to me a few years ago, the bruising spread further up by foot as well as my big toe and I didn't get it looked at and it's been fine since. It was during covid so getting medical treatment seemed like too much of an issue. If it happened now, I'd go and have it checked out.

Incakewetrust · 05/08/2024 01:01

Get a taxi to a walk in centre.
They can tell you if it's broken and give you some better pain relief

Original poster
Ihaveaquestionn · 05/08/2024 01:00

Strangely the only thing that helps is standing up and sort of moving my weight between my feet.

@katy1111 my husband has work tomorrow and we have a 3year old so no idea how I could make that work. Definitely won’t be sleeping

OP posts:
katy1111 · 05/08/2024 00:58

Oh ouch! You poor thing - that looks so sore. I'm no health professional so if the pain is unbearable then I'd say head to a&e. But as it's so late now, if you think you can sleep and wait it out til tomorrow then I'd probably do that as it would at least save you a sleepless night waiting in a&e. But definitely trust your instincts if you're in pain. Flowers

Original poster
Ihaveaquestionn · 05/08/2024 00:58

I know my health anxiety is playing a part as I’m googling gangrene and toe amputations!

but putting that aside it’s just excruciating pain that is getting worse. There is absolutely no way I will asleep and I have a 3year old to look after tomorrow.

dont think my husband can take me to have it seen but might be able to get my sister to come and take me

OP posts:
Original poster
Ihaveaquestionn · 05/08/2024 00:56

@FluentRubyDog my big toes do naturally bend inwards thanks to a number of years wearing pointy heels in my youth! So I’m not concerned about the angle. It’s more the pain and bruising now.

OP posts:
my6 · 05/08/2024 00:56

Also, im sure a broken toe can cause tingling/numbness that you describe

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