Broken big toe?

[Dunnoburt]

Hi lovely Mumsnetters......I think (I heard it crunch) I have broken my big toe..... I'm in agony and the swelling has started to appear........I've had a look at NHS online (i always thought a toe couldnt be treated) and it says go to A&E for a suspected "big toe" break...... I'm quite happy to wait and see what happens but what's the reason for A&E for a big toe only?.....reassure.me..... I REALLY don't want to bother A&E!! Xx

It can affect your balance. Ouch!

If that's all it is I'm going to bed lol xxx

Big toes need seen to OP. They're mega important and can leave life long issues if they're not sorted.

Sorry man. Hope you're alright.

It’s because your big toe is very important for balance when walking. If it’s not displaced they would likely tape it and leave it but how do you know without an X-ray? Can you go to a minor injuries tomorrow?
I broke my big toe when heavily pregnant so they left well alone as the bone wasn’t misplaced but I needed an X-ray to confirm that.

Thank you all so much, I'm going to bother 111 😫(wish I'd not just eaten garlic bread just in case lol) xxx

DH had an xray to see what kind of break it was, then given an airboot for a few weeks as it wasn't a problematic fracture

V painful though and sometimes still gives him pain a few years on

Do get it checked out, OP. I half suspect I broke my little toe the second half of July. I didn't get it checked as I braved it for a week, we were then away and I discovered flipflops! It's only the last couple of weeks I can brave my work shoes and I know it's still not 100%, looks red, sometimes uncomfortable and larger than it was.

Your big toe will have so much more impact it you don't get it checked and follow advice for treatment and recovery.

Years ago I broke the toe next to the big one. Had it taped to the big one to let the bone mend and prevent a wonky bend. It still leans over a bit 🙄 but otherwise fine. Had I just let it mend with painkillers and no medical aid my shoes wouldn't now fit properly and I would probably have some kind of limp.

Hospital is the right way to go

Oh OUCH!!! How did you do it?
I suspected I broke mine 10 years ago now, my second one not the big one. The most painful few weeks 😭 - it served me right for playing with a ball in the house… I did just tape mine up myself (and slept with my foot in a cardboard box with a hole cut in the side so buffoon dh didn’t knock it in my sleep 😂) but I do think the big toe can have a big impact on balance so you’d probably better get it looked at. Sorry!

I broke mine last year, didn't bother with hospital but I work in one and would have gone to ED if needed. It took months to heal.

Best tip I had was to wear flat hard soled heels.

I broke my big toe on holiday. Ignored it. Got it checked out when I got back and got told off .should have been in a boot but it was too late by then. Still have boggles with it a couple of years later.

Niggles. Not boggles.

I like boggles more. 😁 👣

Ahhh thank you all.....don't ask.....really lol.....I somehow got an ethernet cable that connects my broken laptop to the Internet wrapped around said big toe when i got up to go to the kitchen..... let's just say I'm not the smallest cornflake in the box and my toe went under my foot ( I heard the crunch 😭).....111 want me to go into the nearest a and e but realistically there will be nobody on xray until tomorrow and I really don't want to waste resources..... its not deformed.... just flipping painful!!!! - see, technology is bad!!!!

The NHS approach to this is a disgrace. Bodies havent changed but their approach has. It used to be break anything and A&E were happy to see you.

In the 90s as a teenager I broke my big toe, full xray then cast and crutches. Follow up 6 weeks later to remove cast and re-xray.

Definitely go to A&E. They should xray and give you a boot.

Your toe and foot may well go black with blood.

It's not wasting resources. Just go to the hospital. In all likelyhood the x ray dept is staffed for A&E, just not for routine appts.

Fucking hell that reads like a comedy sketch 😂
sorry for laughing, the pain is revolting I know but it did make me smile 🫣