It is incredible how big of an impact a toe injury can have on our overall well being. Our toes are some of our smallest body parts, and yet if just one of them is hurt, activities as simple as walking become excruciatingly painful.
We might not give our toes much attention until something goes wrong like we bruise it or sprain it. Suddenly it has total control over your day to day life.
If you suspect that you have a sprained toe, what should you do?
What is a Toe Sprain?
A sprain occurs when the ligaments holding your joints together stretch or even tear. The injury is different from a break because the bone is not affected.
Your big toes have two joints while the rest of your toes each have three. A sprain can affect the ligaments connected to any one of these joints.
What Causes a Sprained Toe?
The most common causes for toe sprains are:
- Stubbing your toe
- Tripping while walking or running
When either of these occurs, your toe is bent or stretched further than its natural capabilities. In turn, this can result in one of the three levels of sprains.
Grade 1: Mild stretching and microscopic tears
Grade 2: Partial tearing of the ligament
Grade 3: Complete ligament tear
How do You Know if You Sprained Your Toe?
You may feel a pop or tear in your toe upon injuring it. That is usually the first sign of a sprain.
Depending on where the sprain occurs and how severe it is, you may experience the following symptoms:
- Pain, especially when walking
- Tenderness
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Throbbing
- Difficulting moving your toe
- Unstable movement when standing on the joint
Each situation is different, so you might not have all these symptoms. For example, will a sprained toe bruise? Although it is listed in the symptoms, you might not see any discoloration. Swelling and tenderness are much more common.
Diagnosing Your Toe Sprain
To properly diagnose a toe sprain, you will want to visit your doctor. Make sure you describe precisely how the injury happened and where the pain is.
Your doctor may then test the range of motion on your toe and rule out any broken bones or other possible causes with an X-ray. An MRI scan will verify that you have a sprain, showing the extent of the injury.
Toe Sprain Treatment
If your sprain is minor and categorized as a grade 1, the most a doctor will do is tape your injured toe to the healthy toe beside it, giving it stability and protecting it from overextending again.
When dealing with a more severe sprain that may have involved a tear in the ligament, such as a grade 2 or 3, your doctor may want you to wear a walking boot for added protection and stability.
To encourage healing, you should:
- Stay off your feet when possible
- Elevate your injured foot
- Apply a cold pack several times a day
- Take anti-inflammatory medication as needed
- Wear protective shoes that will prevent your toes from being injured further
Getting Professional Support
If you suspect that you sprained your toe, please contact our highly trained staff at Canyon Oaks Foot & Ankle. They will adequately diagnose your sprain and help you get moving again as quickly and safely as possible.
Simply fill out our online contact form, and one of our professionals will contact you promptly.