Changes to your feet can happen over time, but they can also happen in an instant – and when you least expect it. You might be going about your day, same routine as usual, but something goes slightly wrong. Maybe you trip over a threshold that you’ve stepped over a thousand times just a bit differently, just a little misstep. That decision to race up the stairs to grab that thing you forgot? Wow, can you regret it! Because a broken toe is not only a nuisance, it can also be really painful.

So what if it’s broken?

There’s a bit of mystery surrounding the issue of toe injuries. First of all, it can be difficult to tell if you’ve actually fractured a bone in your toe because you may still be able to walk on it, but your toe can still be broken! (And just to be clear, “fractured” is the same thing as “broken.”)

Second of all, even if you decide on your own that you’ve broken your toe, you might be tempted to subscribe to the belief that there’s nothing you can do about it. Not true! That’s just a popular misconception. For the best chance at healing an injured toe properly, get it checked out by a foot doctor. Seek the expertise of Dr. Heidi M. Christie and Dr. Chanda L. Day-Houts, the skilled podiatrists at Montgomery Foot Care Specialists. Not doing so can result in chronic pain, a permanently crooked toe, and arthritis – all of which can hinder your ability to walk in the future.

Confirming suspicions of a broken toe

Symptoms of a broken toe will include

• bruising – especially if it extends to other areas of your foot
• swelling
• pain
• inability to bear weight
• deformed shape

If you have any of these symptoms, we strongly recommend that you take action. Make an appointment with us as soon as possible, and try these home treatments to relieve pain in the meantime:

• stay off your feet as much as possible
• keep the affected foot elevated
• apply ice to reduce swelling
• take over-the-counter pain medication such as acetaminophen or ibuprofen

Getting treatment

Treatment of a broken toe will depend on the severity and also the location of the fracture, but the good news is that most won’t require surgery. For the best outcome in treating an injured toe, come see us at our office in Montgomery, Alabama in the tri-county area. Contact us online or call us at (334) 396-3668.