You may also hear the bone break at the time of injury. A broken bone, also called a fracture, may also cause swelling at the break. Walking, or even just standing, can be painful. A bad break can also dislocate the toe, which can cause it to rest at an unnatural angle. It will still swell, but will likely have less bruising. A sprained toe may be painful for several days, but should then begin to improve.
One other key difference between a break and a sprain is the location of the pain. Usually a break will hurt right where the bone has fractured. With a sprain, the pain may be felt in a more general area around the toe. The only way to tell for sure if the injury is a break or a sprain is to see your doctor.
They can examine your toe and determine the type of injury. The two most common causes of a broken toe are stubbing it into something hard or having something heavy land on it. A broken toe can usually be diagnosed with the use of an X-ray. Your doctor will examine your toe and ask for your medical history. Tell your doctor as many details as you can about the injury and your symptoms. Be sure to tell your doctor if you notice a loss of feeling or tingling in your toe. This could be a sign of nerve damage.
Getting images from different angles is important to understand the extent of the break. For example, dropping a heavy object on the toes could fracture a toe bone, but it is unlikely to affect the ligaments. However, a toe can either break or become sprained if a person trips and falls, sustains a sports injury, or overextends their toe.
In these cases, it may be hard to tell the difference between a sprain and a break without a medical test, such as an X-ray. If there is severe pain, swelling, and bruising, a doctor should examine the toe to rule out a fracture and provide treatment if necessary. In most cases, a toe sprain will get better with proper home care. Mild sprains that have not torn the ligament usually respond well to standard home treatment, such as the RICE technique. This treatment involves:.
Many people also find relief using pain relievers. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs , such as ibuprofen and naproxen, can help relieve pain and reduce swelling and inflammation. People with health conditions should ask a doctor before taking any medications. A severe sprain may need extra help to heal. A doctor may recommend a walking boot, which is a stiff boot that protects the toe as it heals.
A walking boot allows a person to walk on their injured foot with extra stability. Some people may also need crutches for a sprained toe. Crutches can help a person keep their weight entirely off the foot, allowing the ligaments to heal. Learn about the treatment options for a broken toe here. It is not always possible to prevent all accidents and sprains. However, taking simple foot care measures and extra precautions can lower the chances of getting a sprained toe.
A person can help prevent a sprained toe and other foot injuries by:. You may also feel a burning sensation. If you have a sprained toe : A mild sprain can be treated with home remedies, such as icing the injured area for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, taking time to rest, and keeping the foot elevated.
If the injury is more severe e. The toe should be fully healed within three to six weeks. If you have a broken toe: If you have a broken toe, you need to seek medical attention to avoid complications such as deformity, bone spurs, or hammer toe. Treatment options may include taping the injured toe to the one next to it to provide it with support and keep it immobilized, or wearing a cast or boot.
If bone pierced the skin, you may need antibiotics to prevent infection. Your doctor may also recommend using crutches for six to eight weeks, as well as prescribe anti-inflammatory medication to help alleviate the pain.
Left untreated, the pain from a stress fracture can become debilitating and cause even worse damage to the injured bone. Texas residents can count on our experienced doctors, nurses, and technicians to provide high-quality medical care. There are several methods for doing this:. A broken toe typically takes weeks to heal.
While resting, we may recommend icing your foot and keeping it elevated above the level of your heart to reduce pain and swelling. Medications might also be prescribed or recommended. In some cases, we might also recommend a course of laser therapy to help further lessen pain, reduce inflammation, and accelerate overall recovery.
At least not immediately! Give yourself time to make sure your toe is OK first, and contact us whenever you have any concerns whatsoever.
Call us at to schedule an appointment at our offices in Twin Falls or Burley.
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