A&E for suspected broken toes?

[sarah8484]

I think ive broken 3 of my toes. I can't walk because it is so painful. Ive looked on nhs website and the advice is so contradicting. No toes are 'out of place' but the pain is 8/10 would a&e do anything?

Does it include your big toe? Any chance it's a foot bone?

I would go to minor injuries, if you really can’t walk. Not A&E

When did you do it? which toes is it? Are they swollen? Can you move them?

I did it last night. I can't wiggle them. Its my end 3 toes. When im resting my foot, my toes feel numb. But as soon as theres movement or pressure the pain is so intense.

There not swollen or bruised. Just very painful to walk on.

A&E will only treat a broken big toe. I've broken almost all of my toes so can vouch for this!

Painkillers, elevation and ice for you.

Of course go to a&e! Accident and emergency! Minor injuries may not be able to X-ray, you can't walk!

You're probably best off ringing 111 as they'll likely book you in for an appointment.

In the meantime elevate, rest, ice should help! And take painkillers!

I broke one toe last year, it was agony , I didn't go to minor injuries , but I absolutely would for several toes, especially if it's possible that you may have broken any of the little foot bones.
I would go to minor injuries over a&e though.

yes, go to wherever it can be x-rayed.
if it's 'just' the toes nothing much can be done apart from pain relief and possibly strapping or a stability shoe.
if the metatarsal(s) are affected then it's a whole different ballgame.

IF they are feeling numb I'd definitely go to A&E - there may be something causing reduction to the blood supply or pinching a nerve. Unless your minor injuries has an X-ray, there is no point going there.

I didn't bother when o thought I broke mine. They were all purple bruised and bruised all under my foot I had to wear slidders with socks. Got better on it's own though.

I broke my little toe after something fell on my foot at work (nhs). I went to A&E and did ask to be xrayed because it’s a lot more plausible to take time off sick for a fracture than a sore toe. It was broken clean in half and hurt for ages.

I wouldn't. If they're not swollen or misplaced then there's no point having an x-ray, you'd just waste their time. They can't put a cast on. They'll just tell you to rest your foot and take some painkillers. So just do that and save yourself and them time.

For one toe i'd say no, 3 and unable to walk on them i would go incase something is out of line at the join to the foot bones

I went and had an xray ro check the bone in the foot wasnt broken, it wasnt and I was told to put gentle weight on it and expect it to heal in 6 weeks. Never realised how much a soddin baby toe could hurt!

If you cannot walk i would go

Worth going but I’ve broken toes twice and they literally don’t do anything. You’d get crutches and they’d strap them up but that’s about it.

I'd go to a&e. Can you check the circulation by pressing and seeing how long it takes for the colour to come back? and compare to your other foot. If nothing else they can give you painkillers and advice

I broke a couple a few years ago and they were strapped up at the MIU. Some MIUs, certainly ours, are closed to deploy staff to larger hospitals just now, so it's not always a clear cut decision. I fell and damaged my big toe about four months ago and treated it with first aid myself, and now I wish I'd had it looked at as that whole side of my foot from toe to ankle is still giving me trouble. You'd think our toes would be made of stronger stuff.

I broke my toe about 8 weeks ago. I am a serial toe breaker and usually I just get on with it but this time the pain of moving a tiny bit made me feel sick. I couldn't weight bear at all.
I'm a TA. I went to work the following morning but my boss said I looked grey and sent me home.
I rang 111 and was sent to MIU where I was xrayed. They strapped me up and sent me home (after a 5 hour wait) but they did say the break was very close to needing a cast.

It still hurts now. I sported a stunning sock and sandal look for weeks - which was fun in the snow.........