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SN children

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Original poster

Ooh guys, think I've broken my toe...!

16 replies

debs40 · 27/10/2010 18:15

Sorry, completely off-topic, I know, but you are such clever girls and I am here on my own in pain with two boys.

I have just stubbed my little toe which has gone massive, swollen up and is black and blue. I'm thinking it's probably broken.

DH did something similar recently (although not as bad obv [hwink]) and was told by GP there was no point going to A&E but he didn't have bruising and odd shape.

What do you think??? Trying to avoid a trip if necessary.

OP posts:

TheArsenicCupCake · 27/10/2010 18:32

Urm depends how bad out of shape it is :o .. If we are talking it looks like a dodgy twigglet.. You may need it looked at.

If not .. Pain killers ( paracetamol and ibuprofen ).. Ice and elevate.

Get the obsessive DVDs or toy out kiddo

HEXentricaGallumbits · 27/10/2010 18:41

depends if you need to know definitely or not (for work/sick leave). A&E might x-ray it if it looks displaced. or might not.

buddy strapping might help keep it still or it might make it hurt more. depends entirely on how it feels. you need to put a piece of gauze between the toes then a strip of plaster aroud but not too tight.

regular paracetamol and ibuprofen (or stronger if you have it) and ice. And keep it up on the sofa.

Mine is still hurting 2 weeks since I broke it (the big one) - I did have it xrayed as i couldn't walk on it or work for a few days and it is still bruised. you have my sympathy.

Original poster

debs40 · 27/10/2010 18:55

You guys are stars..is there nothing you don't know?

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devientenigma · 27/10/2010 19:23

I went to A&E with mine, though it was an open fracture. I needed follow up appointments also. Pain killers and rest with my foot in the air. The bone that was broke had been previously broke, although the top half of the toe's bone is shattered. It's now a bit longer than the other toes and terribly out of shape. It was also strapped to the toes next to it, however one of the toes was also broke. It also developed an infection which didn't help.
Hope your pain eases soon, take care x

TheArsenicCupCake · 27/10/2010 19:32

:) i think we know probably because we've all done it.. And it is tres ouchy!

ds1 shattered his big toe and disclocated that one and the toe next to it.. He ended up with two pins holding it together!.. I've broken my big and little toe.. All that was needed was a few days on pain killers and ice and elevation..
You have my sympathy!

Original poster

debs40 · 27/10/2010 19:44

No going to the gym tonight then! Can't believe DH has just walked in from work and said 'you could still go and do some weights work' (like he's Mr Fitty - not !)

Oh, ok, off I go with one trainer on...

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ghoulsforgodot · 27/10/2010 19:45

Poor you-i dislocated my toe once and it was very painful. The junior doctor pulled it back into place! (had a terrible hangover at the time which made it worse). Take some painkillers and if its still sore tomorrow I would go get it checked

StarkAndWitchesWillFindYou · 27/10/2010 22:48

Oh no, poor debs. However, I'm a bit concerned that a broken toe might go with te territory of having a child with SN, as it seems to be a running theme.

At what point in the SEN process does it usually occur? Before or after they call in Social Services, or is it only if you go over 40 pages with your parental advice?

Original poster

debs40 · 27/10/2010 22:50

Oooooh, spooky.....do you think it's a Parental Advice curse??[hshock]

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moosemama · 27/10/2010 23:04

I really think you should get it xrayed. I wouldn't believe I'd broken mine (did it on June 22nd this year). Wrong - it was a fifth metatarsal fracture and I was in a cast for 8 weeks, followed by two weeks being allowed to take my aircast off around the house (after first spending two weeks walking around on it ). Not my fault though, as they missed the fracture at my first A&E visit.

You could have fractured it further along the bone or inside the joint (which is fairly common in stubbing type injuries) and if you have it will need proper immobilisation. I am still quite a bit of pain now - although its mostly ligament and tendon pain to be honest, as mine was caused by my ankle giving way when I was power walking.

I would definitely recommend co-codamol for pain relief to get you through the night. Definitely keep it well raised (above your heart) especially if its already black and bruised - and you can take bufren with the co-codamol to help with the swelling. Also apply frozen peas or crushed ice, wrapped in a towel for 10-15 minutes every two hours for the first day.

Hope you manage to get it sorted and are on the mend soon.

Original poster

debs40 · 28/10/2010 09:39

Moosemama, off to hospital now with boys in tow - what fun!

Spoke to GP on phone and she said if bruising is on foot that it might be a bone other than the toe and in that case, I need x-ray.

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fightingthezombies · 28/10/2010 09:42

Don't you mean with the boys in toe .
Seriously,hope all goes well at hospital. Maybe it's a sign you need to put your feet up after those 45 pages!

Original poster

debs40 · 28/10/2010 12:33

Grrr....there and back and lots of 'ooh blimey, look at that bruising' but no fracture.

Don't mean to sound disappointed but I'd only dragged myself up there cos I kind of thought it must be pretty bad!

Also, is it just me, but do you now doubt EVERYTHING you are told by doctors?? I was like 'that's good, but are you sure?' especially after your experience moosemama.

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HEXentricaGallumbits · 28/10/2010 16:10

still do all the ice, rest, elvation stuff. and still take the painkillers.

moosemama · 28/10/2010 17:46

Debs, I had to go to a different hospital to get re-xrayed. They took a lot more films from many different angles and spotted the fracture straight away. The first hospital only took three and were a bit too keen to say it wasn't fractured, despite there only being myself and one other person in there at the time. There were two doctors sitting having a coffee and neither were asked to review my xrays.

In my case it was a nurse practitioner that said it wasn't broken and an Orthopedic Consultant that found it was.

My younger sister did a similar thing about a month ago and she was told it was definitely broken, by the first hospital, then had to go a hospital near me as she damaged her cast. They said, its broken, but not where the other hospital think it is. Then when she went back to fracture clinic near her own home after being in a cast for 2 weeks they pronounced her foot definitely not broken, took of her cast and told her to walk home! She hadn't even taken a spare shoe with her!

Also had the same thing with dd (21 months). She fell out of the rocking chair and landed funny on her arm a few weeks ago. She was obviously in a lot of pain, took her straight to the MIU and they said they thought it wasn't broken as she was still using it a bit. A couple of days later, with her sobbing in pain every time she put any weight on or twisted her arm and we took her to the hospital that dx my fracture. Sure enough, they found a buckle fracture of the wrist and put her in plaster straight away.

I am definitely in the 'don't believe everthing they tell you' camp now. I think I will probably always ask for a second opinion in future.

Hex is right as well, you still need to keep up with the ice, rest and elevation, but if there's another hospital you to go to for a second opinion, it might be worth a try.

Original poster

debs40 · 28/10/2010 18:33

OMG what horror stories!!

They took two shots for this one and the very young doctor had a chat, then said, 'I'll look at the x-rays' and two seconds later reappeared to say 'no fracture'.

Oh well, I hope it's not the case. Will follow Dr Mumsnet advice and see if pain eases up.

Kids have been a nightmare today or maybe it's just me being a bad-tempered whinger [hsad]

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