Broken toe!

[angieloumc]

Yesterday while giving DGS a horseback ride I backed into the sideboard at speed and have definitely broken my middle toe. It is nicely black and purple and cannot move it and can barely walk.
As I am very squeamish my DS3 (19) and DD12 taped the toe to the fourth one and strapped it. Still in a lot of pain and my DS2 (dad of GS) is very vocal about me going to A&E. However I think home treatment is perfectly adequate and no different to how they would treat me there.
I think DS is thinking this way as four years ago DD broke her little toe and obviously did take her to A&E but as an adult don't think it's necessary.
AIBU to ignore his advice? My DD says I could fib and pretend I've been 😊

Obviously DD is aged 12, not my twelfth daughter haha.

No point going to A+E they can't do anything apart from strap it up which you've already done. Hope it heals quickly OP!

If it's a straightforward break with no dislocation or nerve involvement, then yes strapping is what will be recommended and pain management. However I think you do need a medical opinion as to whether it is a straightforward break or not. You mention being squeamish - have you actually looked at it yourself? Does it look dislocated? When I broke and dislocated a toe, I was given a special boot to wear with a hard inflexible sole which was the only footwear I could tolerate for several weeks and whichever made a big difference to my mobility and pain. As you are still in severe pain a long time later, I think you should seek medical advice and get the correct strapping, the correct footwear and adequate pain relief. Chances are it is a simple break but if not, it could be very complicated if it heals incorrectly.

I have looked at it and it doesn't look dislocated just swollen and very discoloured. I'll take your advice if it's still as painful tomorrow though it does sound much less serious than your injury.

And in the meantime, rest, ice and elevation asuch as possible.

A+E wouldn't do anything for a toe so just take pain killers :)

Not wanting to derail your thread, OP, but I'm reading with interest as I think I broke a toe last week - it's very bruised and a bit sore (feeling less so each day). Haven't strapped it to the adjacent toe as it appears to stay in position when I'm wearing shoes, walking, etc. Should I strap it, and if so why?

When I went to minor injuries with a broken toe a few weeks ago, I was told by all means to strap it if I felt it helped, but that there's no medical benefit to doing it.

Optimist1 oh poor you! I think you strap it to the next one so it heals straight. I must admit it is less painful strapped.
I thought that MissBax, not sure what to go for the best. It is very sore but have tried to rest it today. Fortunately I am at work term time only so am able to do that.

When I went to minor injuries with a broken toe a few weeks ago, I was told by all means to strap it if I felt it helped, but that there's no medical benefit to doing it.

I have no idea how I posted that twice.

Ah really Something? I will keep it strapped for now as it doesn't hurt as much.
No more Nanna horse rides for a while 😊

Thanks for the insight, angielou and SomethingNasty - I'm fairly happy to leave it unstrapped. All these broken toes - I've never broken anything more serious than a fingernail up to now!

When I broke my toe changing a light bulb I went to my local minor injuries unit and was told that as it wasn't wonky and a middle toe there wasn't anything they could do. I had some skechers with squishy insoles and they were a godsend.

Broken 2 toes (You would think I would learn!). They only need strapped if they look out of position. They will be sore/tender for several days (2-3 weeks for me) and discoloured for longer.

Impersonating horses, changing lightbulbs - makes me stubbing it on the corner of the bed (not mid-romp, I hasten to add!) look very tame ...

I've broken mine twice, and yup it's sore, both times I went to hospital, both times they x rayed it, both times they did nothing other than give me crutches and a soft slipper thing, no strapping. I'd say healing at home will just save you a visit where they say, "yup, that's broken, wanna see?"

I broke mine and NHS 111 were fairly insistent they didn't need to see me anywhere in person - just strap it and rest.

However as I also damaged the toenail, I ended up having to see a podiatrist about that and the whole thing came off

Oh I think i broke mine a couple of hours ago my nurse friend says ice, elevate and rest! It's already looking less swollen but it hurts like hell!

Nhs advice is to treat at home unless the bone is very displaced or breaking the skin.

Thank you for the posts fellow toe-breakers, at least I'm not alone 😂