How long does a stubbed toe throb for?

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. In most cases, people can treat the injury at home and medication can help with the pain.

Does a stubbed toe throb?

When you stub your toe, you'll typically experience all or some of the following symptoms: throbbing toe pain.

How long does pain from a stubbed toe last?

Normally the pain from a stubbed toe subsides in a day or two. If the pain continues or if the toe looks deformed, come in to our office. After a careful examination, including comparing the toes to the healthy foot and x-rays right in our office, we will recommend treatment for the stubbed toe.

How do I stop my throbbing toe from hurting?

How long should your toe hurt after hitting it?

A sprained toe usually takes about three to six weeks to fully heal. The more severe your sprain is, the longer you'll need to allow for recovery. Try to keep your toe taped for about four weeks, though your doctor can give you more specific guidelines.

Stubbed Toe or Broken Toe? [Symptoms, Pain Relief

How do you tell if you broke your toe or stubbed it?

If it hurts the rest of the day and longer, you may have a fracture. When you stub your toe, it's normal to expect some bruising and even some blood under the toenail. But, if the discoloration lasts for a few days, if it spreads, or if it seems like there is too much blood under the nail, you might have a broken toe.

How can I tell 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.

Why do my toes throb?

An ingrown toenail can cause throbbing pain in your toe and it may not be immediately obvious that an ingrown nail is the cause of the pain.

Why is my toe throbbing and swollen?

A swollen toe could be the result of trauma or infection or it could be a symptom of a condition such arthritis. If you don't know why your toe is swollen and the swelling persists and is accompanied by other symptoms such as pain, see your doctor for a full diagnosis and recommendation for treatment.

What is the fastest way to heal a stubbed toe?

Try rest, ice, compression, and elevation (the RICE method). Avoid putting weight on the injury and apply an ice pack for 10–20 minutes at a time. Wrap or bandage the area to reduce swelling and elevate the foot above the heart when lying or sitting. Soak an injured toenail in warm water or Epsom salts.

Can you wiggle your toe if it's broken?

Can you move a broken toe? “If you can still move it then it's not broken.” – False. This is another harmful old wives' tale. 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.

Can you bend your toe if it's broken?

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.

When should you go to the doctor for a stubbed toe?

In other cases, what seems like a simple stubbed toe can become an intensely painful and increasingly worsening injury. If your toe pain gets worse over the course of several hours and your toe is swollen, bruised, deformed, or numb, you may have a broken toe bone and should seek medical care immediately.

Can you break your foot from stubbing your toe?

Traumatic fractures (also called acute fractures) are caused by a direct blow or impact, such as seriously stubbing your toe. Traumatic fractures can be displaced or nondisplaced. If the fracture is displaced, the bone is broken in such a way that it has changed in position (malpositioned).

How long does a swollen toe last?

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.

What do Covid toes look like?

COVID toes: One or more toes may swell and turn pink, red, or a purplish color. Others may see a small amount of pus under their skin. Sometimes, people who have COVID toes have other symptoms of COVID-19.

Why is my infected toe throbbing?

Infected ingrown toenails

If the infection is getting worse, you may have a throbbing pain, redness spreading over the toe, or a high temperature (fever). Antibiotics may be needed to treat infection. It can also help to soak your feet in warm salty water, then carefully dry and rest your feet.

Will a broken toe bruise instantly?

Bruising around the toe may appear shades of red and purple that go away within a few days of the initial injury. However, a broken toe may cause bruising, redness, and swelling that does not go away so quickly.

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.

Can you break your toe without knowing?

Unless you have a compound fracture or obvious deformity, you may not know for certain your toe is broken until a doctor orders an X-ray. Signs and symptoms your toe may be broken include: Pain or tenderness.

Why does stubbing your toe hurt so much?

When you stub your toe, you're massively stimulating a bunch of these nerve fibers at the same time. Those signals integrate in your spinal cord, which in turn relays that information to your brain. "It's just a really big input," says Basbaum. "The brain reads that, and it hurts like hell."

How long does a bruised toe take to heal?

Most bruised toes can heal on their own with proper care at home, especially if there is no fracture involved. It usually takes weeks for complete healing; however, pain and swelling can resolve within a few days [4,5].

What do broken toes feel like?

Throbbing pain in the toe is the first sign that it may be broken. 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. If you've broken your toe, the skin near the injury may looked bruised or temporarily change color.

Should you wrap a broken toe at night?

Never tape the toes together skin-to-skin. Your broken toe may need to be buddy-taped for 2 to 4 weeks to heal. Rest and protect your toe. Do not walk on it until you can do so without too much pain.

How do you sleep with a broken toe?

Invest in a specialized pillow, like a body pillow, for elevation—keeping the broken bone above your heart prevents blood from pooling and causing swelling. Try sleeping on your back first while propped up on a few pillows. If that doesn't work, slowly adjust yourself to a side position if possible.