To need crutches with broken toe?!

[ljs2024]

I smashed my toe into a metal baby gate earlier, the pain was indescribable, I almost vomited / passed out. It's very bruised and swollen to twice it's normal size, and very painful to bear weight on it, therefore I'm assuming it's broken. It's my second one (next to big toe). I can't contort my foot into a position to walk on the outside of my foot, and I can't lift my toes upwards and walk on the heel, as both are agony. So basically I cannot walk without leaning my weight on something or hopping on my left leg. My AIBU is, I actually feel I may need crutches at this point just to get around, but is this a bit dramatic for a broken toe?!

Oh I also can't get my shoe on, so not sure how I'll get to work tomorrow (that's assuming I could even drive). I've strapped it to the one next to it (that process alone was agony 🤮)

You need to go to urgent treatment centre where it will be looked over and x rayed. You may need a crutch if you can't weight bear.

Oh really? I didn't bother going as I assumed they can't do anything with a broken toe. But I'm really struggling to get around so I may need to be seen I suppose.

Meant to say if it is bruised around the bone it can feel like a break, sometimes it's deep bruising, that will come out over the next few days. Painkillers and elevating your foot above you hip will help, plus cold compress for the swelling.
Hope you feel better soon.

Toes are very painful.

We need toes to balance (or a lot of practice if we don’t have any).

I think avoiding using a hand that had a broken finger would be a good idea. I think avoiding using a foot that has a broken toe is a good idea.

It would be a good idea to get medical attention. It would also be a good idea to ditch the baby gate. Those things are more trouble than they are worth most of the time as you may be finding!

If it's broken you need to get it checked out as they may need to reset it so it doesn't knit back incorrectly. If that happens it may be painful, especially in cold weather.

You might need crutches or a boot brace.

What have you used for pain relief? Paracetamol, ibuprofen, ice and elevated?

Broken toes can heal themselves but it takes ime 4 - 6 weeks before settled.

Yes all of the above!

I’d advise getting it checked- someone I know broke a metatarsal bone after stubbing her second toe. Ended up in a boot and on crutches for quite a long time.

Oh gosh these replies are making me think I made the wrong call not getting it checked. I hope I haven't done more damage ☹️

Don’t panic it’s obviously late now but try and keep it still overnight and get it checked in the morning. The nhs will likely give you crutches if needed

My daughter broke her little toe on Thursday - bashed it into a sticky out bit of banister, it was swollen and black, especially around the bottom - a bit tingly and odd for the evening - Sat she was able to walk on it and wear crocks - no more tingling, back at uni now it's sore but getting better. NHS advice is to strap and carry on unless there is bone sticking out, loss of sensation, blood or tingling - I've told her to give it until Friday and then go to Minors if it's still sore. So I'd personally rest it for 24 hours then reassess - it hurts like a bitch initially.

That said you know you best - they can't do much for a toe but if you feel it needs an x-ray nothing wrong in going. We went the last time she did it but she had quite obviously dislocated the bloody thing!

NHS broken toe advice here

I think you need to have an x ray, as it is so very painful. It's possible that the joint may be broken too. Just a tip if you decide to go to A&E. I went with a suspected broken toe. Because the pain was only in the toe, the protocol was NOT to x ray. If it happens to me again, I will say the pain is down my foot as well, to make sure of an x ray.

Ring around your local Pharmacies OP, some of them will strap it for you or explain how/if you should do it yourself.

Get it checked. I broke my little toe 6 months ago, and whilst there was nothing they could ‘do’ for it (bar xray to confirm) the 6 weeks recovery time was laughable. I cut my toenails on Friday and now my supposedly healed toe has been throbbing for two days straight. I wish I’d gone back again to be honest. It was one of the worst pains I’ve had, and I’ve given birth three times with minimal/no pain relief. I lived in Crocs until the weather became far too wet, only footwear wide and soft enough to bare walking impact, but obviously a little toe can somewhat avoid pressure. You may need a boot or crutches.

The pain does intermittently radiate down my foot too. It's almost impossible to weight bear, which is my worry.

I broke my toe years ago. All they suggested was to strap it to your next toe and rest it a bit.

It's the fact that it's the second one along which is making it worse, you can't really avoid bearing weight on that part of your foot as it's right in the middle!

Yes to this as well. My accident was slipping/falling on stairs. I knew I’d put my whole fat body weight on my toe (it had bent backwards and split the skin under just for extra fun), when I went to A and E I said ‘I think I’ve broken at least one toe, maybe something in the foot itself’. Half my foot was turning purple at that point though so wasn’t far fetched.

I broke the fifth metatarsal on my right foot. I was told that technically it didn’t need a cast to heal , but as I couldn’t walk on it I should have one anyway .

I've had several little toes broken (my horse loves standing on feet!) and it absolutely kills. One time I was given gas and air while it was manipulated back to where it should be before being strapped to the next toe. It still never healed properly. I've also had my big toe broken and I'm not lying when I say it must have taken 6 months before I could wear my proper shoes again and stopped hurting so much and that's from a woman who gave birth with no pain relief!! Get it checked out x

I agree. Get it checked out. I managed to run over my bare toe with my wheely office chair. It went bright purple and I had to lie down for a short time as the pain was out of all proportion. It was worse than when I dislocated and broke my knee cap.

I never got mine checked out as the pain passed off and the bruising stayed around the immediate area of the squashed toe. But it was sore for a few months afterwards, and two years on it doesn't feel quite right if I manipulate it. In hindsight I wish I had got it checked out.

I went to A&E when I broke my toe as it was excruciatingly painful. After an xray to make sure nothing was displaced, they strapped my foot taping the broken toe to the adjacent one to act as a splint which really helped.