Badly bruised toe/part of foot - break or fracture?

[Gonnagetgoing]

A close friend of mine has posted on FB a photo of a very bruised little toe but it's spreading up into the lower foot, she thinks it's broken.

I've badly bruised my toe and saw doctor who just said to wear a support bandage and rest it.

However, years ago, before the rules changed on what to do, I think I broke a bone or two in my foot but was treated as a sprain as they didn't x-ray feet then. A couple of years later as I hurt the same foot my GP said the previous injury was probably a broken bone and I was sent for an x-ray and I had broken a small bone then (fracture?) but was just told to strap it up, rest and no exercise for ages afterwards.

So - should I tell my friend to go to A&E? She lives abroad.

This happened to DH once and I took him to minor injuries. The nurse had no doubt it was broken from the amount of bruising and swelling but said they don't do x-rays on toes (except big toes) as regardless of if it's broken or not the advise is just to rest it and it will heal on it's own; so arguably I wouldn't go to A&E as not much they can do, unless her pain is unbearable and she needs more pain relief.

@KitKat1985

This happened to DH once and I took him to minor injuries. The nurse had no doubt it was broken from the amount of bruising and swelling but said they don't do x-rays on toes (except big toes) as regardless of if it's broken or not the advise is just to rest it and it will heal on it's own; so arguably I wouldn't go to A&E as not much they can do, unless her pain is unbearable and she needs more pain relief.

@KitKat1985 - yep she's in Switzerland so no idea what they do. But the bruising has spread up into her foot and she says it's very painful and she can't walk on it.

She said if it's still hurting tomorrow she'll go to A&E.