Do I Have a Broken Toe?

Stubbing your toe or knocking it into furniture in the middle of the night (or any other time) is a very painful experience, and sometimes these accidents can actually result in a broken toe. Oftentimes, it can be difficult to determine on your own if your toe is dislocated, bruised, or broken; all you know is that it hurts!

How Do I Know If I Broke My Toe?

Broken toes or “fractures of toe and metatarsal bones,” can be classified into two categories: traumatic fractures and stress fractures.

Traumatic fractures are a result of a direct impact on your toe by stubbing it. If you have suffered from a traumatic fracture, you may experience:

• An audible noise at the time of the break
• You can pinpoint the exact area where pain is present for hours after the break took place. The pain may subside several hours after impact.
• Toe has an abnormal appearance.
• Toe is bruised and swollen the next day.
• You can still walk on it.

Stress fractures are tiny, hairline breaks that are a result of repetitive stress from repetitive motions, as well as abnormal foot structure, deformities, or osteoporosis.

If you are suffering from a stress fracture, you may experience:

• Pain during or following normal activity
• Pain subsides when resting and resumes when standing or during activity
• You can directly point to where the pain is when touched
• Swelling, but no bruising

Do I Need Medical Treatment For A Broken Toe?

You may have heard the myth that doctors are not able to offer treatment for a broken toe, but that is actually farthest from the truth.

By self-medicating and ignoring a potentially broken toe, you can actually be causing more damage.

In fact, neglecting treatment for a broken toe can result in:

• A bone deformity that can limit your ability to move your foot and find shoes to properly fit your feet
• Arthritis
• Chronic pain
• Failure to heal

If you think you have a broken toe, don’t hesitate to seek treatment. Click here to make an appointment with one of the podiatrists at Triad Foot & Ankle Center or call 336-375-6990.