Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Protection built in.

Meet the Other Phone.
Protection built in.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Chat

Join the discussion and chat with other Mumsnetters about everyday life, relationships and parenting.

Original poster

Can you stub toe and break it

31 replies

InDeedyDo · 15/05/2021 22:07

Last Monday I stubbed my little toe on the side of a wooden door.

It bent and crunched. When I say it hurt, I mean it took all my effort not to swear, cry, fall over.

It was a bit achey, I could not walk far on the first day and over the course of the week most of the toe went red and the muscles to the side of my foot swelled and went blue but have gone back to normal. Bending the toe is fairly sore.

I just had a bath and as I was drying my feet I bent the toe and it made a popping sound. It really fricking hurt. It's now sore again.

I have a feeling this could be a ligament or maybe broken.

Anyone had this before? I've just looked online and it says as long as it's not the big toe you should be able to manage it at home and can put cotton wool between toes and strap it to the next toe. Well that sounds comfy. It also says avoid sport while its painful. For up to 6 weeks. I'm really annoyed as I joined the gym 😭

OP posts:
firsttimemummy11 · 15/05/2021 22:12

I broke my toe by stubbing it on a coffee table, I heard the crack ( or what sounded like a crack) and it was all black and blue - I was heavily pregnant at the time so my partner just strapped it for me - as there's not much else they can do apparently.

I recently broke another toe when I fell down the stairs and just did the same - strapped it for 6 weeks - I did still try and exercise and just did what I could..

Hopefully it heals quickly for you!

TwigTheWonderKid · 15/05/2021 22:13

When I broke my little toe I was unable to wear a shoe, the pain was so bad, though weirdly I could hobble about in flipflops and it didn't hurt that much.

Yes, just put a bit of cotton wool between it and your next toe ansdstick them together with micropore tape.

SconNotScone · 15/05/2021 22:13

I broke my little toe by stubbing it. At least I assumed it was broken, based on how bruised and swollen it was, and the fact it made me feel sick it was so painful! I’m a nurse, and I knew that as it was a little toe it wasn’t worth going for an x-ray or anything. So I did strap it and just took it easy for a while. Can’t remember how long it took to heal. Thankfully it was summer so I could wear sandals.
The only thing that slightly concerns me about yours is that it popped audibly. Might be worth having a GP consultation if you can get one easily enough. Ice it and ibuprofen, elevate your foot when you are sitting down and try not to do too much!

Interested in this thread?

Then you might like threads about this subject:

General health
PurpleSunrise · 15/05/2021 22:14

It sounds broken! But yes I think there’s not much that can be done apart from strap it and wait to heal..

Ornamentalcabbages · 15/05/2021 22:14

Yes, sounds like it's fractured. As the advice has started, unless it's the big toe, you generally won't get much medical intervention other than strapping it to its neighbour.

You have my up most sympathies. It's crap, but due to the size of the bones, and risk of infection on the foot, you won't see much more being done unless it's an open fracture/affects more of the foot 😓

Rest, ice, ibuprofen (repeat) Gin

MotherOfGodWeeFella · 15/05/2021 22:16

I once broke a middle toe when I ran barefoot into a door frame. It bloody hurt and I then spent the day walking around sightseeing. My toe was bruised horizontally on the top half. Now the toe is slightly proud of the others. Get it checked out.
.

DelurkingAJ · 15/05/2021 22:16

When I was 18 my DParents went away and left me in charge of DSis (15). She walked into the ironing board stand. Complained bitterly. I was not sympathetic. Next morning it had ballooned so I drove her to A&E and yes, she had broken it. I am, quite fairly, never going to allowed to forget this!

So yes, in short, you absolutely can!

Laquila · 15/05/2021 22:20

I broke my little toe by stubbing it years ago - I honestly feel slightly nauseous just thinking about the pain now, and I've had two caesareans since then and hardly batted an eyelid 😳 I sympathise!

Schrutesbeets · 15/05/2021 22:21

Yes, I've broken the same toe twice!!!! (the middle one on the right foot incase anyone was wondering Wink).
The first time I rocked up to A&E but all they did was strap it and send me on my way, so didn't bother the second time. It was totally black and yes, incredibly painful.

Iheartmysmart · 15/05/2021 22:21

Yes! I broke my little toe on a door frame when I was a kid. Our next door neighbour was a nurse and just strapped it together with the next toe and it healed in a few weeks. It’s still a weird shape 40 years later. Bloody hurt!

Creweventus · 15/05/2021 22:24

I've done it!

KILNAMATRA · 15/05/2021 22:26

The freakin’ pain of the broken toe!!! Poor you it’s soooo painful!

cushioncovers · 15/05/2021 22:27

Yes I broke two toes by catching them on the corner of a sofa foot. It was so incredibly painful. It took weeks for them to heal.

PurpleFlower1983 · 15/05/2021 22:29

I did, on a bar stool. It turned black and hurt for ages!

Twizbe · 15/05/2021 22:29

I've broken my big toe 4 times. Each time was stubbing it while wearing flip flops.

I suspect I've done it again today falling up the stairs. Not looked yet to see if the bruise is there.

The first time was the worst. I was in Cuba so just had to grin and bear it. Took about 3/4 weeks to feel normal again.

ALevelhelp · 15/05/2021 22:29

DS recently broke his toe in 2 places by stubbing it!!

AnnaSW1 · 15/05/2021 22:31

I broke mine stubbing it on the pram on a beach on holiday. Hurt like fuck for months.

scrivette · 15/05/2021 22:37

Yes I broke mine when I kicked/stubbed it on the door frame when I was a child.

Original poster
InDeedyDo · 15/05/2021 22:39

Oh dear.

OP posts:
whysorude · 15/05/2021 22:45

Yes. Stubbed little toe on a doorway and broke it.

Original poster
InDeedyDo · 15/05/2021 22:52

All of these sound so incredibly painful!
Flowers Flowers Flowers

I think I will just ask the doctor on Tuesday because of the popping sound.

I've got peas on it. The internet suggested hard soled shoes. Would crocs do? I'm going to be so fashionable.

OP posts:
Ilovewillow · 15/05/2021 22:52

Yes I broke mine in two places by stubbing it, it bloody hurts. I went to A&E as it was bent the wrong way and they taped it to the two next to it but it took about 3 months to fully heal. You have my sympathy, ice it, tape it and try and rest it Thanks

LadyofMisrule · 15/05/2021 22:53

I broke mine this morning.

GETTINGLIKEMYMOTHER · 15/05/2021 23:04

Yes, I did, blasted solid oak table leg. Shortly before we were going on holiday, too, I was hobbling everywhere. Didn’t stop me swimming in the sea, though.

Figmentofimagination · 15/05/2021 23:40

I did. I stupidly looked backwards whilst walking and walked into a metal chair leg. Broke my middle toe. Went to the Drs as wasn't sure if it was broken. They just strapped it to my other toe and sent me on my way.
My toe has never been right since. Whenever I get cold feet my middle toe gets cold first and then it spreads. And it aches and goes stiff if it's too cold.
I remember a couple of months after I had broke it I was working in a nightclub and the bar I was stationed at was right next to the cold store room so it was always freezing. My toe was like an ice cube that night and hurt like mad. I hobbled home.