Can I ask for advice re. Possible broken toe?

[31weeksgone]

I know that I should take medical advice with a pinch of salt on here, but wondering what I should do.

Kicked a wall hard yesterday morning trying to remove darling cat who likes to cling on to bottom of jeans. I was shaking my leg trying to detach him and kicked foot into wall. Three toes went one way, the other two the opposite way.

Instant pain, agony and I wanted to be sick. Rang 111 who said to go to a minor injuries unit, I didn’t have anyone to take me and couldn’t drive so I didn’t, and it did feel a bit better over course of day. Spoke to some medical friends and they said even if I had broken toe, they would do nothing about it anyway.

This morning, got up and tried to move, can’t put any weight on it or walk further than 8 steps or so, shuffling around the house, cannot drive car.

Bruising is coming out now over the top of my foot, but I have no way to get to a minor injuries until tomorrow (nearest one is 1H+ away) however there is an A&E about 10 minutes walk away.

Don’t really want to have to go to A&E, do I just let it heal, does it need looking at, does it matter if it’s broke or not? Hoping someone in the know comes along. I’ve attached a photo trying to show the bruise, but it just makes my foot look really puffy.

Wondering if I need crutches?

TIA?

Honestly I would get that checked out.

I broke a toe stubbing it against a stair and it healed on its own but this looks a lot worse.

A&E if your toe isn't normally offset like that....

Twattingdog that’s what I thought, but 111 insisted and told me not a major emergency so leave it until I can be seen. Super painful but I can’t remember if it was like that normally or not (sounds so stupid, it’s always been a little bit bent but never that much!)

A&e definitely. I thought I broke my toe a few years ago. Turned out to be a bit of my foot, walking boot required. Best not to leave these things

It could be dislocated, and they need seeing to ASAP in case of nerve damage. Don't wait anyway.

Personally I would go to the minor injuries unit tomorrow.

It doesn't need to be seen by A&E. It won't change between now and tomorrow. Also A&E queues are likely to be four hours or more until you're seen because you'll be lowest priority.

I went to minor injuries when they opened and was seen in 20 mins, out within an hour with waking boot and crutches.

I broke my foot a couple of months ago and waiting until the following day.

Do you have pain relief you can take?

Neither A&E nor minor injuries will give you any pain relief (they'll just tell you to buy it which is fair enough).

I’ve got plenty of pain relief here, it’s just a worry of how much worse is it going to get until tomorrow. I haven’t got a choice anyway I have to wait until tomorrow until I can get my toddler to nursery and then get a lift to minor injuries. I’ll wait it out until tomorrow morning, just hoping they take it seriously there.

Thanks for everyone’s advice

I'd go to the walk in minor injuries clinic not A&E. it's not that level. A&E is for heart attacks and RTAs.

My son broke his toe earlier this year, and I took him to minor injuries to get it checked out. The nurse on duty said they don't do anything with broken toes, just take pain relief and rest it. He was told to avoid any sports for a few weeks whilst it was healing. That was all.

But still get it checked out at minor injuries.

In the meantime,rest if you can,with your leg raised on a pillow,to help reduce the swelling.They can "do something" for fractured toes:sometimes splint a broken toe to the near neighbour toe to help keep it stabilised. As PP said,they need to check exactly what you have hurt or damaged.Go as soon as you can.A lift to minor injuries sounds sensible.You may need crutches to help you avoid weight bearing.
Wishing you a comfortable night.

I agree that, with a toe that looks like that, I'd head to minor injuries. I hope you manage to get a lift there tomorrow!

You've broken the same toe I did. I took myself off to minor injuries, but because it wasnt wonky enough, there was nothing they could do. The only shoes I found comfortable were my sketchers because they had memory foam inside, still hurt like fuck when walking though.
Btw I like you're sparkly nails.

I am an A&E nurse and i would be happy to see you.
Your toe looks offset and you describe 'serious pain'.Please go.

Thanks everyone, my daughter is in bed so I can’t go tonight but I’m going to go first thing tomorrow morning when my partner can take me, just before an exam tomorrow! Only me. Thanks again

My son is in a walking boot having broken his toe kicking his friend's shin. No sport for 6 weeks and lots of rest, elevate, ice etc...

I'd go to Minor Injuries and get it x rayed.....

Just to update, thanks for all of the people encouraging me to go, I’d broken the toe and fractured my foot in two places - nice to know I wasn’t being over dramatic! They said it was uncalled for 111 to tell me not to go to my hospital as it wasn’t fair to have to do an hour journey even though we live opposite one. Anyway my foot is strapped up, but no crutches or boot! Just got to let it heal. Thanks again.

Hope it heals quickly and stops hurting!

Ouch!! Glad it's been seen now.

I was about to say that looks like you've got a metatarsal fracture in there as well. I'm glad you got it sorted OP! That kind of thing is so painful! Heal up well.