Advice after your nerve block for surgery
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How do broken toes occur?
A broken toe can occur in several ways. Broken toes are commonly caused by a direct hit, such as kicking a hard object or something landing on the toe.
A toe can also break from a twisting type of injury: if you play a sport where you don’t wear shoes (for example, martial arts, ballet, and gymnastics) you are at an increased risk of a toe injury.
What are the symptoms?
- Pain, swelling and tenderness.
- Difficulty walking or running.
- Toe may turn bruised.
- Bleeding or discoloration underneath the toenail.
- Toenail may fall off.
Diagnosis and treatment
A fracture can only be diagnosed by X-ray. However, if the toe is in normal alignment (i.e., not bent out of normal position) then an X-ray will generally not be taken, unless it is your big toe. The treatment for a broken toe is the same as the treatment for a bruised toe and therefore giving radiation is deemed unnecessary.
Usually, the injured toe is taped to the toe directly next to it if this is comfortable (change once wet)
- Rest: you need to rest your foot with the injured toe, with minimal weight-bearing initially (you may be given a special medical shoe to wear if your big toe is fractured)
- Ice: during the first 48 hours post-injury, it is recommended that you use cold rather than heat. You can use ice packs or frozen peas applied over a thin piece of material to you toe. Do not apply directly to the skin as this can cause ice burns. Do this for 5-10 minutes, 3 x a day.
- Elevation: raising the injured foot above the height of your heart helps to decrease the amount of swelling, therefore aiding healing. This may not be possible but raising it above the height of your hip can help (be careful if previous hip replacement). In bed, rest your foot on a pillow and avoid placing the covers over your foot to prevent snagging.
- Analgesia: adequate pain control is essential to allow gentle mobilization and to decrease swelling. Simple painkillers such as Paracetamol and Ibuprofen are recommended and may be taken together if needed. Always check that you can take this medication prior to consumption and carefully read the instructions on the packet for dosage.
If your toenail is loose and has not yet fallen of, keep a plaster around it to avoid sudden lifting. The new one will grow and gradually push the old one off.
How long do the effects last?
It usually takes 4-6 weeks for a broken toe to heal, although symptoms may last longer than this.
If the fracture goes into a joint, your toe may continue to feel stiff and can lose some range of movement. Sometimes, a toe may become shorter after a fracture.
When can I return to my normal activities?
Everyone recovers from an injury at a different rate. Returning to your activities will be determined by how soon your toe recovers, not by how many days or weeks it has been since your injury occurred.
The goal of rehabilitation is to return you to your normal activities as soon as possible. If you return too soon, you may worsen your injury.
You may safely return to your normal activity when you can walk straight ahead without pain or limping.
To help improve the movement of you toe and avoid long term pain, it is advised that you.
- Avoid bare feet, especially if you have hard wooden or tiled floors; ensure that you wear a slipper, trainer, or shoe for 2-3 months post injury.
- Avoid wearing flip-flops for 2-3 months. They offer little support to your foot and because you must curl your toes up or down to help keep them on, this can potentially cause pain to your injured toe and slow down healing.
- To improve the mobility of your toe if it is feeling stiff, practice picking up a pencil with our bare toes to encourage flexion movements. You will find this more comfortable 4-6 weeks post injury.
If you have any further concerns, seek advice from your GP, Call NHS 111 or visit
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Contact us
If you have any queries relating to this information, please contact the Emergency department (ED) service.
About this information
Service:
Emergency department (ED)
Reference:
A/004
Approval date:
1 November 2024
Review date:
1 November 2027
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Important note
This page provides general information only. It is developed by clinical staff and is reviewed regularly every 3 years for accuracy. For personal advice about your health, or if you have any concerns, please speak to your doctor.