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?!

Sympathy!! I sprained my big toe three weeks ago (in a thoroughly stupid accident) and it still hurts if I touch it or walk on it for any appreciable time. Get it checked if it's still this painful tomorrow.

A & E told me that it wasn't protocol to x-ray broken toes, just buddy strapped it. Excruciatingly painful dependent on where broken (mine was right at the base second along) as it bends with every step. Like other have said the best shoes for it are crocs, I think as the base is quite stiff it doesn't allow it to bend as much. I couldn't wear anything else for at least 3 months😖

You can buy crutches from Amazon & Argos

Clearly varies place to place. Suffolk x-ray you and give you a boot so there's no pressure on the bones but don't strap because of the bruising. And no crutches because they don't have because noone returns the ones they are given.

Stick a request on your local FB, someone will definitely have spare crutches.

I broke exactly the same toe as you - and continue to break it even now ....

They strapped it to my big toe and told me to wear flip flops / slippers as they couldn't do anything for a toe and it just needed to heal by itself
It was agony though .... I just kept up with OTC painkillers - it eventually healed but not straight how it was before

Many broken and dislocated toes here. Not much that can be done. Time heals. Fortunately I have lots of crutches from other injuries.

(Most horse related)

Locally they don't Xray or do anything other than strap it to the next toe if needed, tell you to stay off it and take painkillers.

I've broken toes more times than I can count - combination of being clumsy and having a physical hobby - and they've never given me a crutch. I borrowed one from a neighbour a couple of times for short periods.

Broken toes can be stupidly painful. You're in for a rough night, OP, and I sympathise. Keep water, painkillers and biscuits (so no painkillers on an empty stomach) and rest as best you can.

If it was me, I would be going tonight; it's probably going to be much quieter in A&E than during the day.

Definitely tell them that the pain is widespread (and not just one toe) so that they x-ray and you know that they are giving the correct treatment.

My daughter broke her second toe and was given a boot. They were supposed to give her an ankle one but they didn’t have any so she ended up with a massive thing. It helped support it though and gave her some relief.

I’d definitely get it checked at least to make sure it’s not further up your foot, especially if you can’t weight bear.

The usual advice is a hard soled shoe is all that's needed for support. You can buy crutches though if you feel you need them.

Definitely get it checked out. I had a drawer fall onto my foot, lots of pain but presumed not much could be done. Months later and I was still in pain, got an xray and I had taken a bone. It would need an op to fix, which would mean at least 2 weeks off my feet. That simply wasn’t possible for me so I’ve never had it done and I still have issues and can’t wear heels.

Oh god this happened to me years ago, I can still remember the pain!
Took me an hour to get my shoes on to go and pick up dc from school and was so grateful to have a buggy to cling on to. Slept with my foot in a cardboard box for weeks so dh didn’t knock it in the night.
Took months and months to feel right again and probably a good 6 weeks before I could comfortably weight bare.
Didn’t seek medical advice, I guessed there wasn’t anything they could do for a broken toe other than say paracetamol and ibuprofen and ice etc.
I wish I’d have had some crutches for home though. Sounds like a sensible idea to me.

Yanbo but if you're in a lot of pain, and are very swollen I would seek medical advice. I broke my big toe badly about 10 years ago and ended up in a moon-boot for a few weeks, as I also couldn't weight bare properly

Sympathies! I walked briskly past a solid oak bed frame, swinging my left little toe thwack into the leg. I heard the snap and it was the most gasping, hysterical pain ever. Fortunately I had the bed to land on. My aunt is a nurse and just told me to strap it to the next one, but I was hobbling for weeks and couldn't wear shoes. Hope you get some rest tonight...

Can you be sure you’ve only broken your toe and not got a break further up towards your foot? I know broken toes can be agony but if there’s any doubt that it’s anything other than a straightforward simple break or bad sprain, I’d want to get it checked so nothing more serious gets missed. I had a really bad ankle sprain. Wasn’t sure it was broken so went to minor injuries I was in such pain and couldn’t weight bear. They gave me crutches but no boot or support. They said to tell my GP if it was better in 6 weeks. I didn’t go back, but 8 years on it isn’t right. I wish I’d not left it.

I broke my toe changing a light bulb. I heard the crack.
I went to minor injuries and because it was a 'clean' break they didn't do anything. I did have an awesome bruise that went from the break over the top of my foot.
I had some trainers that had a thick layer of memory foam in them, still limped but the kids walked the dog.