Think I broke my toe 4 weeks ago

[minxthemanx]

Stubbed it hideously TWICE on bottom of swimming pool on holiday. Pain was horrendous and went black for a couple of days. Didn't get it looked at as thought little point, they don't do anything for broken toes and it might just have been bruised. 4 weeks on, still looks red and swollen across the joint, with a hard white knobbly bit. Not all that painful but doesn't like being in closed work shoes. Not sure what to do; can't imagine A&E will want to see it after 4 weeks, but no other way of getting xray? Any helpful thoughts?

Could it be a ganglion? Do you have a minor injuries near you?

Depends what toe it is.

By 4 weeks it will have mostly started to heal.

You could always go to your GP and get a referral for orthopaedics that way.

No unfortunately we haven't got a minor injury unit. Just a massive, over stretched A &E who don't need a 4 week old small injury. Not sure about ganglion, I'll google.

Good thinking pringle. Hadn't thought about ortho referral.

Toes just tend to get strapped - bad toe to a good one, and unless it's the big toe they won't x-ray.

It's middle toe. That's what I thought and why I didn't bother going. Just a nuisance that still swollen, slightly odd shape and not happy in work shoes. Getting too chilly for sandals 😨

I've broken toes as you described; black for a few days etc. They always take 6 weeks, almost exactly. I'd go to the gp due to the hard white bobbly bit.

Yes I might get gp to check it due to swollen bit with white hard bump.

Have you strapped the toe? Assuming it's broken (which it probably is if still troublesome at 4 weeks) then it will take longer to heal if allowed to wobble around freely.

I don't think orthopaedics will be keen to see you - perhaps if no improvement after 6-8 weeks of strapping but even then they probably don't have a lot to offer!

I clicked on this because I think I broke my big toe 3 weeks again! Minor injuries thought it was Gout, but blood test has shown it's not. Still sore, can't put much weight on it. Waking is awkward. I've got a GP appt on Monday. I've strapped it to little toe for now.

Your right don't go to A and E. (They will roll their eyes at a 4 week old injury)

I'm a radiographer - go to your GP and they will send you for an x-ray at the hospital to see if it's broken

Oh that's interesting silly 35, no i wouldn't dream of going to A & E as spend enough time there with the DC (one had an aneurysm a few years back and still has problems, other one has epilepsy. ..) dodgy toe so not important. But think I will get gp to look. Thanks.

"I'm a radiographer - go to your GP and they will send you for an x-ray at the hospital to see if it's broken"

Do you x-ray lesser toes at your hospital, Silly35? The radiographers would cancel the request and send the patient back if I tried to book this from A&E.

If the toe is deformed then yes, I would X-ray

JohnHunter that is interesting. Yes we would x-ray any toe. Different protocols for different hospitals I suppose.

OP absolutely, your GP would be happy to help as it sounds painful and by the sounds of it, you could have something going on :-)