Aaaaagh it is possible to break the end of your big toe and if so have I done it and if so do I need to get it looked at?

[TheProvincialLady]

Sorry for lack of punctuation but I am in pain. Half an hour ago I dropped a stack of four huge stainless steel saucepans on my left big toe and would you believe the buggers bounced and got my right big toe as well? (it's ok, you can laugh).

So now I have a black left big toenail which is very painful to touch and I can only walk by lifting my toe up in the air. It is throbbing and aching now and I can't put my shoe on.

Do I need to get it looked at? It really, really, really hurts but I don't want to sit in A&E with a 2 year old and a 4 month old and I would have to walk there which takes 20 minutes (bus would still involve a 15 minute walk).

Oh pity me

OUCH!

yu've probably just bruised it.. but...friend of mine had to have the pressure released from a bruise under her nail.

take some ibuprofen.. and ice pack you toes.. and put your feet up.. see if that helps before you heel limp to A+E

Oh yes that would explain why the nail is so painful to touch.

Will take your advice (not sure how my children will let me get on with putting my feet up but I can try...). Thanks

If you can't walk on it, it's tender and swollen then it's possibly broken. Catch a taxi to A&E, they are not normally very busy at this time so you shouldn't have to wait for very long. Take some ibuprofen and hop to the hospital for an x-ray. It's better to check.

I hope all's OK

Oh no, do you think so? I just can't face getting the car seats out and lugging them round A&E. I think I will wait until DH gets home at 6 and if it is still no better I will pop down by myself, by taxi.

How about trying to see a nurse practitioner at your GP's surgery? Ours are fab and often can squeeze us in at the last minute (especially mums or kids). Much better than a wait at A&E.

It won't do any harm to leave it. Keep them elevated as much as you are able to (reduce swelling) and take some ibuprofen.

I've seen people break bones by doing little things, I've also seen patients who have had horrific accidents, I think they must have broken something, when I take the x-ray everything's how it should be. It's really odd. Are they tender at the sides and on the bottom or just on the top where the nail is?

It's mainly on top where the nail is but also on the fleshy pad at the top of my toe. In fact I just prodded there and now it is throbbing again. Nothin underneath or on the sides except that touching my toe seems to make the inside hurt IYSWIM.

Susie my GP surgery is probably the only one left in the country that has an early closing day and today is it

It is possible that it's just bruised but as I don't have telepathic x-ray vision I'm just guessing so you do need to get them to look at it I'm afraid. Fractures are indicated by pain, swelling and unable to use the limb. I'd go to be on the safe side as you never can tell.

hows the toe now??

I'd say it was a shade better so hopefully it is just a bruise. I don't think I'll be going running tomorrow though! Thanks for your help and sympathy everyone.

bless you.. remeber arnica is fab stuff.. and don't run till your ready..

I wasn't ready last week and I didn't have a sore toe then! (started couch potato to 5k)