How To Treat A Broken Toe
Did you bump your toe into something hard or drop a heavy object on it? Is your toe now throbbing? You may have a broken toe. And, if you think there’s nothing to do for this injury but wait out the pain, this post will help you see why that’s not true.
Why You Need to Treat a Broken Toe
After hurting your toe, you may hope that you’re simply dealing with a bad bruise. But if you notice pain and swelling that doesn’t improve after a day or so, it’s time to come to our Westfield podiatry practice for an X-ray. Here’s why.
Without proper diagnosis and treatment, your broken toe will remain painful. Plus, it may not heal properly, or in alignment. And that can cause further bone health complications down the line.
Of course, not every stubbed toe requires an X-ray. But if you hear a loud noise like a snap or pop, when you hurt yourself, that’s a good indication your toe is broken. You’ll need to come see us quickly to avoid making your injury worse.
Other Broken Toe Symptoms
Aside from a snap or pop at the moment of injury, these symptoms often go along with a broken toe:
Swelling
Skin and nail bruising
Change in the toe shape
Limited mobility
Pain that gets worse with touch or movement
Numb or tingling sensation in the toe
Diagnosing and Treating a Broken Toe in Westfield, IN
While a physical exam can tell us a lot about your injury, an X-ray will help Dr. Sullivan see if you’ve suffered a displaced fracture. (That’s when the ends of your broken bone move out of alignment.) If that’s happened, you may need surgery to allow your bones to heal properly.
But if your fracture is stable, we’ll just need to help you keep it immobile, and try to take some pressure off your healing bone. We can do this in a few different ways. Options include:
“Buddy-taping” your toe to its healthy neighbor
Casts, splints or braces
Hard-soled shoes or walking boots
Remember, even if your toe is broken, you may still be able to walk. (Although it will hurt a lot.) For that reason, coming in to the office quickly can prevent further damage, and more invasive treatments. Injured your toe recently and still in pain? Or noticed your toenail’s turned a whole different color? Don’t wait another day to see if things improve. Instead, schedule an immediate appointment with Dr. David Sullivan. We can get your toe X-rayed and come up with a treatment plan that offers quick pain relief and proper long-term healing.