If I have broken my toe will they do anything?

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Hi,

I stubbed my 4th toe yesterday (and between my toes). It is pretty bruised & swollen & painful to walk. I also stubbed it again later in the day (only slightly), and found it difficult to put any weight on the foot. It is much more comfortable this morning though. I also have some pain & tenderness just back from the toe, in the ball & top of my foot. I figure that the most serious thing that I could have done is broken the toe, but I am a little worried that it is more painful to walk than I would have thought & that it is painful in other areas of the foot. I feel silly going to GP with, what I am assuming is a broken toe, and I am assuming they won't treat it anyway. Am I right? Any experience?

A woman I know broke her big toe and they couldn't do anything, but what if it isn't a broken toe go to casualty in case it needs x-ray I would say.

If it is just a broken toe, particularly if it's not the big toe, they absolutely won't do anything (I would know, I've broken toes a lot of times).

But if there's pain in other parts of the foot, then I'd be tempted to go for an Xray. The GP will just send you for one, anyway, if you go see them.

have you got a minor injuries clinic? (call nhs direct and ask if you're not sure)

our local minor injuries has an x-ray department and it's far nicer to go there than A&E - they can refer you to the main hospital if there is anything that needs further attention

I doubt they will do much. I broke a finger once and they just strapped it to the next one! (hours later!)

No most unlikely. You might get some free painkillers, but that may not be worth a long wait.

I broke my big toe and a couple of small bones in my foot when I was 16. Toe was strapped to the next one and I was ordered not to run or do ballet with the foot for 6 weeks. As I recall, bones too small to be able to be set. If I were in your position, I'd be tempted to leave it unless it got much worse (unlikely in a straightforward break).

HTH.

I would bind up the toe so any movement is avoided. It's true that casualty prob won't do anything!

Yes don't think they will do anything other than strap it to the next one. I chipped the toe next to my big toe once by messing about karate kicking my husband after watching a Bruce Lee film (very embarrasing explaining that one to the doctors in casualty) He was unharmed but I had my toes strapped and wore trainers for a couple of weeks