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Original poster

8 yo has a broken toe. She can't really walk

62 replies

itsboiledeggsagain · 12/05/2019 17:27

I am not totally sure how to manage it. She is in pain to walk and can't go far. My instinct is that she shouldnt go to school tomorrow until the pain has subsided a bit. But obviously her brain is fine!

Needless to say it is logistically a nightmare as we walk 10 mins each way to school and no parking near the school so she will have to be super earjly or late, as will her sister. School gates are shut for 20mins at drop off etc.

Anyone got experience of how to manage this situation? How much pain are we expecting? How inconvenient will it be?

Thanks!

OP posts:
BlankTimes · 12/05/2019 18:20

The pressure of ordinary shoes hurts when there's a broken toe and/or bruising.

Wearing something soft like slippers as footwear doesn't protect the foot enough from more accidental injury like stubbing the toes or being accidentally stood on by another child.

Depending on the area broken, even crocs can be painful to walk in for a few days.

Photograph it tonight, see what it's like in the morning, any change in the bruising or swelling? See how tender it feels, can she use the heel walking method without pain?

If she's in pain, let her stay at home for a day or two. If it's a throbbing pain, elevate her foot.

Whole foot is coming up bruised
IME of my own and dd's broken toe accidents, (we've had a few each) the bruising doesn't spread to the whole foot, it stays fairly local to the toe. I'd keep an eye on that, photograph it and any swelling every day, then if she's still in as much pain after say 48 hours, go back to whoever strapped it up.

For her Bear

MyDcAreMarvel · 12/05/2019 18:26

You are overthinking this. Phone the School explain you need to park in car park. They will most likely tell you to ring when outside gates then open them for you.

MirrorMouse · 12/05/2019 18:28

I wonder why some people have broken their toes on multiple occasions and some people (me) have never broken a toe. Or even known anyone with a broken toe. How do they get broken?

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ValleyoftheHorses · 12/05/2019 18:33

For me it’s because I have really long skinny toes. I have broken then by stubbing my foot eg in a swimming pool on holiday. My Dad has stupid long skinny toes and has broken them quite a few times. My mum and DH have normal looking short stubby toes and neither of them have ever broken one.
Short answer- anatomy.

Missillusioned · 12/05/2019 18:33

I broke my toe when falling down the stairs. My whole foot bruised up and I couldn't walk on it for 2 weeks, so there's a lot of variability with toe injuries. I did kind of wrench my whole foot in the process tho

Runforthehills754 · 12/05/2019 18:35

Also a stair faller Blush

megletthesecond · 12/05/2019 18:40

I'd let her have tomorrow off, after that the pain should be bearable. No point in school if she's feeling wretched and distracted. Then drive / taxi to school on Tuesday.

I broke mine a couple of years ago but didn't have to go to work the next day any way. It hurt those first couple of days.

Original poster
itsboiledeggsagain · 12/05/2019 18:46

Thanks all! I'll see how it looks tomorrow. And keep an eye on the bruising. We only took her to the hospital as friend said it looks like a foot bone metatarsal? Might be broken based on the foot bruising.
Medic in hospital didn't seem very interested tbh just strapped it up and told us to see a doc in a few days (again not really sure why..)

OP posts:
HoppityChicken · 12/05/2019 18:46

Running to answer phone in socks, slipped and caught big toe against door frame at full force.

SaltSpoon · 12/05/2019 18:53

Listen to the hospital staff. This is not a big deal. No need to keep her off school at all. She'll be fine walking to school, no need for the drama. Take your cue from the medical professionals.

Missillusioned · 12/05/2019 18:59

Has she got a bike? Could she sit on that and scoot slowly using the other foot, keeping the bad one off the floor? Then you could either leave it locked at school or wheel it home

Lllot5 · 12/05/2019 19:03

I’d keep her off. Do you have childcare? If so keep her off. Why not?

springgreensunshine · 12/05/2019 19:05

If she really finds it sore to walk and is not just pretending for sympathy then I would keep her off tomorrow. No harm in her sitting with her foot up for the day, it's only a day. I broke my toe once and if I bashed it by mistake it was agony. Imagine if someone bumped into her.

Then make arrangements with the school to drop her off by car the next day. Either early or late. I'm sure they won't care if she's 10 or 15 minutes late. She won't miss anything vital.

Original poster
itsboiledeggsagain · 12/05/2019 19:06

I think that is what I do tomorrow. Dh is wfh so can have her while I take the sister.
Sister will have to be early or late too I guess if we have to drive. I am wondering if she might be able to scoot better if it keeps her foot still

OP posts:
SalrycLuxx · 12/05/2019 19:07

She needs to keep walking on it (and as normally as possible). Daily painkillers for the first week, after which it’ll be uncomfortable but not too bad to walk on. Comfy shoes are a must. I used a walking stick for the first week and found the whole thing exhausting.

And I literally broke mine by ‘walking funny’.

Original poster
itsboiledeggsagain · 12/05/2019 19:07

I have childcare til Thursday as I have a 3 yo as well so we should muddle through

OP posts:
gamerwidow · 12/05/2019 19:11

You are overthinking this. Phone the School explain you need to park in car park. They will most likely tell you to ring when outside gates then open them for you.
Yes our school locks the gates normally but there have been times when children or careers have had broken limbs and they’ve opened the gates for them to allow them to pick up and drop off kids. They’ll help you get DD to school if they can.
I think see how she is in the morning. Yes it’s not a major injury but she’s in pain and can’t walk then she can’t go to school. As a manager I have had people phone in sick with a broken toe and I’ve never thought it unreasonable.

AuditAngel · 12/05/2019 21:38

When I broke my little toe I found the only comfortable shoes were Birkenstock’s with a rigid sole.

She may not be comfortable in her school shoes

Original poster
itsboiledeggsagain · 12/05/2019 22:13

I was just thinking that and wondering about her bright pink crocs. :)
Any clue how long she might be out of normal shoes?

OP posts:
SmellMySmellbow · 12/05/2019 22:16

Can you have her stand on the scooter and you tow her along? Broken toe is bastard painful. I had to hobble around on my heel for a week. 10 minute walk is a fair amount with a broken toe, but I'd not want to miss school for a week on account of the journey.

Original poster
itsboiledeggsagain · 12/05/2019 22:22

That is a good move, I was wondering whether she could scoot but worried it would hurt the bruised foot bit. Just pulling her might be better.
I am wondering whether she genuinely is too heavy for the pushchair.

OP posts:
Kittekats · 12/05/2019 22:27

How long she will be out of normal shoes really depends. I have broken many toes, it is my weak spot that everyone jokes about.

Sometimes I can be in normal wideish shoes in a week, last time it took six weeks which was the worst I have experienced.

Don’t underestimate the potential pain though, to be honest i’m not convinced those saying she will be walking to school tomorrow have actually broken (rather than sprained) their toes.

I would keep her off tomorrow then arrange with school how you can drive her in the rest of the week.

Bin85 · 12/05/2019 22:34

If Dh drives he can drop you and her at school gate allowing you to go in with her tomorrow

AnyFucker · 12/05/2019 23:51

The Red Cross will have large buggies you can hire

LadyPenelope68 · 13/05/2019 05:38

She’s got a broken toe, she doesn’t need a buggy/pushchair. Like a pp, I’ve broken my toes on numerous occasions (long, thin toes here as well!)- including my big toe - and have always managed to hobble about. Yes, it is painful, but you just need to get on with it. She wasn’t given crutches or a wheelchair by A&E because she doesn’t need them.