My poor toes - A&E or not

[Octopus45]

So I managed to bang into a 3kg weight in the floor this morning whilst was cleaning. Just been going about my business since. Didn’t realise how bad it was. Know there is probably little that can be done. Would you go to A&E?

I almost certainly broke my second smallest toe, a couple of months ago. My whole foot was swollen. As the pain was still quite intense 2 weeks later, I went to A and E. It was very quick and I just saw the nurse who told me they only x ray big toes. They told me to bandage it to the next toe if it was painful. It still hurts but only a bit
So basically, I was a time waster.

You know they can't do anything, OP, so why go?
Buy some painkillers and a bottle of Scotch and have a comfy night in on the sofa!

I’m not sure there’s much A&E will do unless it’s your big toe. I kicked DH’s bloody big clodhopper shoe last year by accident and the pain in my wee toe was excruciating. It went a very interesting shade of purple and was extremely swollen and painful. I wore shoes that gave it some room and waited for it to get better. After a few weeks I was able to wear my normal boots again. But it took months and months to completely recover. It’s been over a year now and occasionally I still get some swelling in it. For the first month or so, I took ibuprofen or used the gel to reduce the pain and swelling, which definitely helped. I did similar on a flagstone in our kitchen a few years before, so I knew it would get better eventually.

If you’ve been “going about your business” since, you absolutely don’t need to go to A&E??!

Just as an add on, for the most part they only care about big toes. But, children in particular who may have damaged the joint in the toe, toes that are at jaunty angles and any breaks that break the skin will typically be x-rayed after a clinical assessment.

For the most part it’s an injury that doesn’t need any intervention beyond what you can do at home and knowing it is fractured will not change the outcome.

From your photo, your 3rd and 4th toes are bruised and swollen, and possibly broken but minor injuries and A&E only x-ray these toes if they look dislocated, and yours don't

There's good advice in the link below, the leaflet mentions a boot which is typically used in the treatment of broken toes. If needed you can buy a wedge (orthopedic) shoe online.

Your toes will likely become more swollen, bruised and painful in the next few days, and the bruising may extend up your foot, that's okay

https://www.royalfree.nhs.uk/patients-and-visitors/patient-information-leaflets/toe-fractures-or-dislocations

Strapping sometimes eases pain, look up buddy/neighbour strapping

Impressed you got an x-ray!
Broke my finger a few years ago. Popped into minor injuries (as over that way anyway) the next day. No x-ray available at weekends, so none done. Nurse said it looked broken, so probably was. Taped it up and that was it.

Nope.
They will do nothing.
Xrays dont change the course of anything (only irradiate you) so they will not be done- no justification.
painkillers- ice packs- strap the toes for support.
Job done.

I wouldn’t go, it’s neither an accident or emergency. They wouldn’t x ray it and even if it is broken they just strap it to other toes for support. Tap it up using plasters can work to the other toes for support, have some pain meds and an easy night on the sofa

Big toe yes, those toes no.

The only time I’ve been to A&E with a toe injury was when it was a big toe which they can do something with . Unless they are displaced I wouldn’t bother .

If you just carried on with your day and didn’t realise how ‘bad’ they were surely they are just bruised? I think A&E is an extreme reaction here.

I’m in the minority here. Know at least two people with broken toes (not big toe). One had an X-ray and turned out the toe needed reset, avoiding possible future issues if it had healed incorrectly. The second did not get it seen to and after it healed incorrectly, needs surgery to fix the mess of the foot (also knock out effects of knee, hip, back pain due to walking incorrectly). I recommend getting it seen to and, while both people I have written about could walk it was clearly not good breaks. Would not personally just buddy strap. I know I’m in the minority but would rather avoid possible future misery and health bills

I’ve broken more toes than I care to think about. This is definitely not an A&E visit. Tape it to the nearest undamaged toe and take paracetamol for pain if needed. They won’t be able to do anything more than that.

You only really need A&E if it’s a big toe, you see bone, have heavy bleeding, the toe looks deformed, you can't bear weight, or you have numbness/tingling. Other than that, it’s toe splints.

I know people say that there is nothing you can do except splint it to the next toe but my dd had previously broken her toe, then recently dislocated it. She ended up having an operation and has been told it's likely she will end up having it fused in the next couple of years. Personally, I would want it checked out.

I broke my toe on Christmas Eve a few years ago! Solidarity.

As people have said - no point in going to A&E for this. The advice on the NHS website is good.

You'll probably want to avoid close-toed / heavy / stiff shoes as much as you possibly can. I think I spent the whole of Christmas in Ugg slippers that year.

The advice you just linked to says do buddy strap, and explains how to do it. The exception is a big toe (presumably unaffected in the OP's case, as she hasn't included it in the photo) or toes that are sticking out at a weird angle, which the OP's toes aren't.

As it's not your big toe or foot, I'd not bother. Would probably strap them together and be done with it

Thanks for all the advice. I’ve had some really painkillers and put some ice on them. Will do the save before I go to bed tonight.

Had a similar injury, lots of ice and foot up unless broken. Xx

Agree with everyone else, and what you now intend to do. No point going with broken toes, hope yours aren’t too sore for you.

It literally says to do so

@Octopus45 - I have broken the same toe four times! Advice I was given the last time it happened was to keep an ice pack on the toe[s] for as long as practicable and to keep the foot raised above heart level, as well as taking ibuprofen.

Much to my amazement, after a few hours of doing the above -I basically lay down with ice pack on foot and leg up for hours - the swelling and the pain had practically gone by the next day. This was in marked contrast to what I had experienced with the previous three breakages where I was just told to keep weight off the foot and take painkillers.

It’s easier to buddy strap when it’s just one toe that’s broken.

BTW: If you have full movement and can wiggle your toes without screaming, (but maybe that was just me 🙀), the toes are probably just very badly bruised. Raising your foot, taking Ibuprofen and icing as above will still reduce the swelling and pain, though.

@Notmyreality , it's better left alone.
I hate the word literally. It adds nothing.

@mamakoukla even if the OP goes to A and E, they are unlikely to x ray it as it isn’t a big toe. In addition she will be there probably into Christmas day if she goes now ( source - DS who is currently working in A and E and reports even more chaos than usual, and backed up by many reports from friends from different hospitals)