Few people can say that they have never broken a bone in their body. The pain associated with breaking a bone is intense and only increases depending on the bone you break.

Those that have just hit a toe against something know it can cause excruciating pain. In most cases, the pain is so intense that we believe it’s broken even when it’s not.

If you have recently broken a toe, there a few things that can be useful to know, for example:

• What’s the difference between having a fractured and broken toe?
• What are the symptoms of a broken toe?
• How long does a broken toe take to heal?
• When should you see a doctor?
• How is a broken toe healed?

What’s The Difference Between Having a Fractured and a Broken Toe?

After stubbing a toe, we sometimes hear the use of the term “hairline fracture” and believe it’s less serious. It might surprise you to learn that fracturing a bone is the same thing as breaking a bone; both terms refer to a disruption in the structure of a bone.

What Are The Symptoms of a Broken Toe?

When you have a broken toe, you will experience pain, but other symptoms to expect are:

• Swelling
• Stiffness
• Bruising (up to two weeks)
• Difficult to walk on

How Long Does a Broken Toe Take to Heal?

The first thing we want when we injure something is how long it will take to heal. When we fracture (or break) a toe, the length of time to heal will depend on how severely you injured your toe and the toe that broke.

A broken lesser toe can take between four to six weeks to heal. When the big toe is injured, it can take between six to eight weeks to heal. The difference in healing time is due to the extra work that the big toe has to do with the body. Healing can also take several months.

When Should You See a Doctor?

The majority of the time, the healing of a toe can happen at home. The first indication that you should see a doctor is if the broken toe is the big toe. A broken big toe can lead to more serious issues.

If the broken toe is one of the other toes, the things to look for when deciding if you should see a doctor include:

• Injuries that cause the toe to point out at an odd angle
• The broken toe causes an open wound

Healing a Broken Toe

The most crucial aspect of healing a broken toe is resting appropriately. Don’t perform any physical activities that cause the pain to worsen. Keep the foot immobile and raised as much as possible.

Other helpful tips for the healing process are to:

• Ice the broken toe for about 20 minutes every couple of hours.
• Wear shoes that are wider and have a stiff sole.
• Take ibuprofen for the pain and swelling.
• Strap up the broken toe to one of the toes next to it for stability.

Trusted Podiatrists

If the pain from a broken toe doesn’t start to subside after a couple of days, the podiatrists at Canyon Oaks Foot and Ankle are ready to provide the help you need. Contact us and let us bring relief quicker.