How do I know if my toe is broken or just bruised?

How do I know if my toe is broken or just bruised? A bruise on the bone can feel similar to a break, Dr. King says. “The most obvious sign that it’s a fracture is if the painful toe is pointing in a different direction than your other toes.

Can you move a broken toe?

Although it may be possible to move and walk on your broken toe, you should avoid doing so as this can lead to even greater damage and prolonged healing time.

Should I go to the doctor for a broken toe?

When to Call a Doctor

If you think you broke your toe, it’s best to have your doctor look at it. Even though you can often treat it yourself, a broken toe can sometimes lead to more serious problems, like infection, arthritis, or long-term foot pain.

Will a broken toe heal on its own?

Most broken toes will heal on their own with proper care at home. It can take 4 to 6 weeks for complete healing. Most pain and swelling will go away within a few days to a week. If something was dropped on the toe, the area under the toenail can bruise.

What would a broken toe look like?

Broken Toe Symptoms

After the injury, pain, swelling, or stiffness can occur. Bruising of the skin around the toe may also be noticeable. The toe may not look normal, and it may even look bent or deformed if the broken bone is out of place.

What happens if a broken toe goes untreated?

A fractured toe that’s left untreated can lead to infection

You’re at increased risk of developing a bone infection if you have diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis, or a compromised or weakened immune system. Symptoms that suggest your toe has developed a bone infection include: Fatigue. Fever.

How painful is a broken toe?

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.

Is my little toe broken?

The most common symptoms of a broken pinky toe include: a popping sound when the injury occurs. throbbing pain that’s immediate and may fade after a few hours. difficulty putting weight on your foot.

Can you break a toe by stubbing it?

Stubbing a toe can even cause breaks, sprains, broken nails, and infections. The pain of a stubbed toe usually subsides after a few minutes. In some cases, however, the impact could break the toe or the toenail, causing intense pain that may get worse over hours or days.

What does a sprained toe feel like?

Symptoms of a Sprained Toe

While painful, your toe will still remain functional. This means you can still walk and put your body weight on it. However, you may also feel throbbing, tenderness, or increased pain while moving the injured toe.

How do u fix a broken toe?

Usually, you can treat a broken toe by taping it to a neighboring toe. But if the fracture is severe — particularly if it involves your big toe — you may need a cast or even surgery to ensure proper healing.

How do you wrap a broken toe at home?

How to buddy tape a broken toe
  1. Put a small piece of cotton or gauze between the toes that are taped together. …
  2. Using as little tape as necessary, loosely tape the broken toe to the toe next to it.
  3. If the toes are taped too tightly it can cause additional swelling and may cut off circulation to the injured toe.

What is a jammed toe?

Jammed Toe.

The end of a straightened toe receives a blow. This is usually from stubbing the toe on an object. The energy is absorbed by the joint surface and the injury occurs there. This is called traumatic arthritis.

Can you hyperextend your toe?

Turf toe happens when you bend your big toe up toward the top of your foot too far. It’s also called hyperextension. This can cause you to sprain or injure your toe and the ligaments that surround it. Turf toe got its name from American football.

Should buddy taping hurt?

Taping has the potential to irritate skin. This can occur where the tape touches your skin and in between the affected digits. Check your skin each time you change the tape and keep an eye out for any redness, swelling, or discharge. Don’t buddy tape any digits that have open wounds, cuts, or broken skin.

How do I know if my foot injury is serious?

Go to the emergency room if:
  1. there’s an open wound on your foot.
  2. pus is coming out of your foot.
  3. you can’t walk or put weight on your foot.
  4. you experience severe bleeding.
  5. there are broken bones coming through your skin.
  6. you feel lightheaded or dizzy.
  7. you think your foot could be infected.

How do you tell if your toe is dislocated?

Symptoms of a dislocated toe may include the following:
  1. Swelling and bruising.
  2. Toe looks out of place, bent or crooked.
  3. Difficulty moving and walking on the toe.
  4. Pain and tenderness.
  5. Numbness or tingling of the toe.

What does a bruised toe mean?

Bruised toes or foot can also be swollen, painful, and often appear purple or blue. A bruised toe can be caused from a broken toe and fracture. A broken foot or ankle can also cause bruises on top of the foot. Read below for more information on causes and treatment options.