Broken little toe

[Hardly123]

Sorry about the awful pictures.

On Wednesday night I knocked my foot so hard against the bedframe, I was doubled over with pain. When I eventually put weight on it about five minutes later there was a small noise. I didn't sleep that well because it was hurting.

It's Saturday evening now and I still can't walk normally, I can only hobble, I can't put weight on that side of my foot properly. I haven't left the house in the last few days.

I called NHS111 and they said it could be a broken little toe but they can't do anything for it.

Does anyone have any advice? I am meant to go to the office on Monday and I have a trip abroad planned in two weeks where I am meant to be very active, hiking etc. I don't see how I am going to be able to do any of that.

Should I be going to A and E after all? To be honest I don't want anyone touching it as it's so sore. But is there any chance I've broken a different part of my foot rather than just the toe? I'm just not sure what to do.

Any advice would be great :)

If it's a broken toe they won't do anything but with that bruising it looks like the injury is to your foot?

I'd get it checked out (xrayed) but wouldn't necessarily to a&e tonight, tomorrow might be better for you.

I did something similar years ago & went to a & e, they didn't even x-ray as they said they can't do anything for it. Got better by itself within 2 weeks. Bruising looked similar but toe looked fatter & i could put no weight at all on it.

I did similar a few months ago - bashed into the bedframe in the morning. Agony. I wore flipflops for weeks and walked carefully and my foot was blue around the toe for weeks. It got better and actually I can't really remember which foot it was now.

For a broken little toe, all they will do it buddy strap to the next toe. So put some gauze between the toes and some medical tape around the toes to support them together. The bruising is on the foot though. Is the little toe painful to move/bend/touch, or is it where the bruising is? If the latter, I'd get it checked at a minor injuries unit or walk in centre. Have you take analgesia? Paracetamol/ibuprofen/codeine? And tried elevating and putting ice on it?

Small injuries clinic at hospital. I stubbed the next toe along on my foot. Went to A and E and they sent me over to the injuries clinic. They might not X-ray, they might give you a spongey sandal and say 6-8 weeks. After 2 it will be too loose and you will need to ditch the sandal and buddy strap to another toe. The bruises are often where the toe joins the foot. If it’s a foot bone they may X-ray but not do much. If you ever stub and bruise a toe and the pain and disruption to walking is less, buddy strapping toe to another toe can aid healing

I broke my little toe a couple of years ago. Banged it against a metal table. I never got a xray but I heard the bone break as I did it.

Spoke to 111 who confirmed the above - as a little toe, they won’t do anything so just rest it. It was the middle of winter but I had to wear flip flops for around two weeks or so as shoes were too painful.

You might be able to wear shoes and hiking boots during your holiday, but it is likely your ability to do those sorts of activities will be affected.

I hit my little toe on a table leg. Went to hospital and had it x rayed. Then needed surgery to realign the bone, and had to wear a boot for six weeks. Don’t listen to anyone who tells you it doesn’t need treatment - it might need to be realigned or have a steel pin inserted or anything, it depends how badly it’s broken.

I’ve broken two this evening. I have very odd feet and have EDS. I break them regularly. Take paracetamol and stagger with ibuprofen. Buddy strap them if you can. Don’t run over them with a 25kg power chair that you’re sat in! Yep I’m that clever I ran over my own toes whilst sat in my wheelchair. Again!

I broke 2 toes but they had to be manipulated before being buddy strapped. It might be worth getting checked out at A and E.

Thanks so much. I've buddy taped it as suggested. I've got work medical insurance so I'm going to see if I can get it checked out tomorrow. It's a lot more painful than I would have expected. Thanks for your help.

I'd X-ray- as you said- the bruising is lower down, worth checking it's not the foot too. In the meantime, hard soled shoes for support