Broken Toe

[gazzae]

Hi,

Last night when walking up the stairs I slipped and my big toe smashed into the back of the stair.

I assumed that it was just stubbed but it is very sore this morning and i get a sharp pain if i move it.

If it is broken is it worthwhile going to a hospital? I don't want to sit there for four hours just to be told to rest it and take painkillers?

Anybody know about these things?

[Rob]

If you have broken it, it will heal much faster if you have proper medical advice. They may well effectively splint the toe, so you can't acidentally wiggle it.

I hope you hadn't been on the resulting in this being a slip up

[danielf]

Originally Posted by gazzae

Hi,

Last night when walking up the stairs I slipped and my big toe smashed into the back of the stair.

I assumed that it was just stubbed but it is very sore this morning and i get a sharp pain if i move it.

If it is broken is it worthwhile going to a hospital? I don't want to sit there for four hours just to be told to rest it and take painkillers?

Anybody know about these things?

My office mate broke one of his toes a while ago, and he had some sort of cast/bandaging on it (mostly to immobilize it I think), so I would think it would be worthwhile going to hospital.

[ian@huth]

I would say that painkillers, ice and rest are the best way to treat it. It helps if you have the foot elevated above heart level in order to reduce swelling. In some cases the bones may have to be reset but that isn't too common.

[gazzae]

If it was broken would I be able to walk on it, or move it?

I guess I better go to the hospital to be on the safe side.

Originally Posted by gazzae

If it was broken would I be able to walk on it, or move it?

I guess I better go to the hospital to be on the safe side.

Quite possibly, I managed to break my collar bone on my way to college once, but still managed to get to college (that's the short version, it took a couple of hours of train, bike and walking in total) and sit through the first lecture before someone pointed out that it was broken. I simply assumed that it was badly bruised.

[Rob]

Originally Posted by gazzae

If it was broken would I be able to walk on it, or move it?

I guess I better go to the hospital to be on the safe side.

Comparatively it's that small a part of your foot that you probably adjust, you know it's a bit sore, but you shut your mind to it as you hobble around. After all it's the whole foot, not just the toes that take your weight.

On the other hand if you want to be masocistic, try running to the hospital.

[ian@huth]

If the toe looks out of shape it is probably best to have it checked out. It is better not to try walking too much on it. If it was me and I could avoid walking on it I would give it a couple of days to see how it progressed.

EDIT: where's Ramrod? It's more in his field.

[gazzae]

The toe doesn't look out of shape at all, it looks similar to the other one, except slightly swollen.

The reason I think it is broken is that I couldn't put my work shoes on this morning, it was to painful when my toes bent to get the shoe on (if you know what I mean!!) I have a pair of trainers on.

[Chris W]

Originally Posted by gazzae

If it was broken would I be able to walk on it, or move it?

I guess I better go to the hospital to be on the safe side.

you probably would... i managed to walk when i broke my leg in two places, snapped then tendons and tore ligaments in my ankle

If there is a minor injuries unit near you, go there instead of a & e because you will be treated much faster.

MB

[ian@huth]

Originally Posted by gazzae

The toe doesn't look out of shape at all, it looks similar to the other one, except slightly swollen.

The reason I think it is broken is that I couldn't put my work shoes on this morning, it was to painful when my toes bent to get the shoe on (if you know what I mean!!) I have a pair of trainers on.

You really need to be wearing footwear that has a hard non-flexing sole to avoid flexing the toe when walking.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by gazzae

The toe doesn't look out of shape at all, it looks similar to the other one, except slightly swollen.

The reason I think it is broken is that I couldn't put my work shoes on this morning, it was to painful when my toes bent to get the shoe on (if you know what I mean!!) I have a pair of trainers on.

Personally, I would say that should be sufficient reason for a visit to the hospital.

[gazzae]

You're probably right. Thanks for all the advice, I'll take a trip to the hospital after work.

Thanks again all.

[danielf]

Originally Posted by gazzae

You're probably right. Thanks for all the advice, I'll take a trip to the hospital after work.

Thanks again all.

What did they say? Or didn't you go?

[Nemesis]

He's still queueing to see the Doc