Why do stubbed toes hurt so much?

Stubbed toes can hurt a lot, even when the injury is not serious. This is because there are many nerves in the toe, including two nerves on either side. There is little fat to cushion the toes, which can intensify the pain and increase the risk of injuries such as bone bruises and fractures.

How long does it take for a stubbed toe to stop hurting?

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 get my stubbed toe to stop hurting?

Why does my stubbed toe still hurt after a day?

If it only hurts for a couple of hours, then it's probably just stubbed. 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.

Why does stubbing your toe make you angry?

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."

Why Stubbing Your Toe Hurts So Much

Can stubbing your toe cause nerve damage?

Answer. It sounds like you hit your toe really hard. Depending on how hard you hit it, there is a possibility that you damaged one of your nerves that services the toe. This can happen, though permanent damage is really unusual.

How painful is stubbing your toe?

When you stub your toe, you're slamming it with a force equal to 2-3 times your body weight. That's about the same force as a karate punch! And since your toe has a tiny surface area, that force can't spread out. So the pain stays concentrated at the point of impact.

Can a stubbed toe hurt for weeks?

If the injury is serious enough to bleed, it may be painful to walk for several weeks. Sometimes the toenail falls off, either right after stubbing the toe or weeks later. People may notice the following injuries after stubbing their toe: a cracked or broken nail.

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.

How long does it take for a jammed toe to heal?

How long does it take to heal? 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.

What is Covid toe?

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. Treatment for COVID toes: To reduce pain or itching, apply a hydrocortisone cream to the affected area.

What's a 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.

Can you break a bone in your foot by 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 do you relieve toe pain?

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.

What does 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.

Does a sprained toe turn purple?

Inability to move your toe, or a limited range of motion. It hurts to put weight on your hurt foot or pain when walking. A cracking sound at the time of injury. Toe changes color to bluish-purple.

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.

Should I go to ER broken toe?

A broken toe can be painful, but you do not usually need to go to hospital. There are things you can do to treat it at home.

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.

What is the fastest way to heal a stubbed toe?

Caring for a Stubbed Toe From Home

One series of treatments is known as RICE. Rest – Let your body recover by lying down and keeping your toe stationary. Ice – Ice can reduce swelling and pain. Simply wrap some ice in a towel or use an ice pack, gently placing it on the toe in a position that does not cause pain.

How easy is it to break a toe?

Generally it takes quite a lot of force to break a bone. However, toe bones are more vulnerable because they are small bones and because they are on the edge of the body, so are more likely to be injured in the first place.

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.

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.

Do COVID toes hurt?

But along with swollen, discolored skin, it's also possible to have: Blisters. Itching. Pain.