What does broken toe look like?

Broken Toe Symptoms

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. It may be difficult to walk because of the pain, especially if the big toe is fractured. Shoes may be painful to wear or feel too tight.

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.

How do you know if you have broken your toe?

Can anything be done for 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.

Should I go to the doctor for a broken toe?

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.

How to Know If Your Toe Is Broken

What happens if you leave a broken toe 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.

Can you have a broken toe and still move it?

A broken toe will have little to no movement while a sprained toe will still have some mobility, although it may be painful. If you're unable to move your toe, it may be broken.

Do you need to go to hospital for a broken toe?

A broken toe can be painful, but you do not usually need to go to hospital.

How serious is a broken toe?

Well-healed broken (fractured) toes usually cause no ongoing problems. The possible complications, which are more likely to happen after severe breaks, include: Failed healing of the bones: this can either mean the bones heal in a crooked state or that they don't heal together at all.

What does a sprained toe look like?

A sprained toe shouldn't look dislocated. 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.

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.

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.

Can Urgent Care treat a broken toe?

If you have an exposed bone, it's best to head to the emergency room. Otherwise, you can schedule an appointment with your regular healthcare provider or visit an urgent care. If your toe is badly broken, you may need to see a foot and ankle surgeon. With proper treatment, most broken toes heal without complication.

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?

Broken Toe Treatment Self-Care at Home

To help decrease the swelling (and the pain), keep the foot raised above the level of the heart as much as possible. Prop the foot up on some pillows, especially when sleeping. Reclining in a lounge chair is also helpful.

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.

Why does broken toe hurt more at night?

This is what happens during the day. During the night, there is a drop in the stress hormone cortisol which has an anti-inflammatory response. There is less inflammation, less healing, so the damage to bone due to the above conditions accelerates in the night, with pain as the side-effect.

What shoes should I wear with a broken toe?

A surgical shoe is special foot wear that lets you put weight on your foot without compromising your recovery. How does it do that job? The stable sole on a surgical shoe keeps your toe from moving too much. And this is important, because broken toes need to be immobilized in order to heal.

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.

Is it OK to walk on a sprained toe?

Avoid doing the activity that caused the sprain, such as running or playing sports. If it hurts to walk on the sprained toe, try to stay off the foot until it feels better. Ice. Using ice packs can help reduce swelling and pain.

Does a sprained toe hurt to touch?

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.

When should you see a doctor for a sprained toe?

If you have injured your toe and have experienced swelling that has not decreased within five days, noticed a change in the color of your toe, or continued to feel pain days after the initial injury, it may be time to seek professional care.

What does a dislocated toe feel like?

You'll feel sharp pain and experience swelling, and sometimes bruising. You may also hear a tearing or snapping noise. Your toe may look crooked or out of alignment. A dislocated toe is a fairly common injury, especially in contact sports like football.

What is the fastest way to heal a sprained toe?

How long do jammed toes hurt?

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.