Broken Toe ??? How long to heal?

[jrnunzio3]

Hi Everyone,

I have a question for you all. Sorry that this is long.

11 weeks ago I dropped a pretty big table on my right foot at work. Went to walk in center as toe was bleeding and hurt pretty bad.

X-rays were taken and I broke my big toe in 2 places. Placed in a boot and put on crutches. Needed to see foot specialist.

Saw foot specialist who removed my toe nail as it was damaged in the accident. Kept in the boot for a few weeks. I was taken off of the crutches.

I have seen this doctor 3 times since the accident and he takes x-rays and tells me that the fracture is still not healed and to stay off my foot as much as possible as it is still swelling.

How long should it take for a broken big toe to heal? He never buddy taped it or anything and now I can't bend it at one of the joints and it still hurts when I put weight on it.

I called an orthopedic today and I can't get in until at least August 3rd (Worker's Comp has to approve it before they will schedule an appointment).

Just wondering if I should be worried that the toe isn't fusing.

Thanks for any comments or recommendations.

 

[SMD]

I'd get a second opinion. If you can't bend a joint and it hurts the joint could be infected. Is it hot to the touch?
How is the nail growing back? I had the nail on my big toe removed after an injury, it grew back wrong several times over about a year and had to be removed several times. It hurt. More importantly it was gross.

 

[slo]

Definitely get a second opinion.
I know someone that broke their toe, it didn't heal correctly and she needed surgery on it.
I'd go to another foot doctor and see what they say.

Good luck!
Foot problems stink.
I tore my planta fascia 3 years ago and needed surgery on it - so I understand your pain and frustration.
I hope you heal quickly and get this behind you.

 

[aprilchem]

I broke my next-to-last toe in January of 2014 and it still hurts sometimes.

 

[TLSnell1981]

My first thought when I read your title was "I hope it wasn't the big toe". OUCH!!!

I've broken several toes, but never the big one. I bruised and swelled, halfway up my calf. It took a good 6 weeks to heal. Broken toes are a pain in the...foot .

If you have numbness, tingling, increased pain or swelling...I would definitely put in another call to the doctors office. You should insist on speaking with your physician or his nurse. Address your concerns and let them know, it is not healing as you expected. DO NOT minimize your symptoms or concerns.

Good luck!

 

[Bella the Ball 360]

I hate to deliver bad news but sometimes it NEVER feels better. I broke my little toe in HS and I am now in my late 40's. I have had surgery and it worked for a few years but it is back. I am very limited in my shoes and even when it comes to sneakers I need to wear a men's 7.0 quadruple EE! IT is so awful. I would go to the dr and cross my fingers. It might not be as bad if you broke the big toe because it will not rub against the side of you shoes like mine does but I would get a second opinion or I won't be the only one walking WDW in HUGE Mickey Mouse sneakers!

 

[Mrs Eeyore]

I broke my baby toe last summer and the doc said all they could do was tape it, even though the toe had been knocked out of position. I was told healing would take 4-6 weeks but it healed super-fast, and I ran a 5K without pain only 5 weeks later. However, it is slightly deformed and is more sensitive than it used to be.

 

[jrnunzio3]

Thank you everyone for the responses and well wishes, I really appreciate it. The new doctor won't schedule an appointment until they have the Worker's Comp information and approval. I left them a message yesterday, but have not heard back.

SMD- my toe is not hot to the touch. The last time I was at the doctor, I asked about my toe nail as it doesn't look good. He told me that part of it was still the scab from the injury (over 9 weeks later)??? that part of the toe nail is all jagged and rough. The regular toenail is just starting to grow in, so I can't really tell if it is going to grow in straight or not. I still can't touch the tip of my toe (where there is no toenail) OUCH!!

I also have a pins & needles feeling in my toe most of the time, especially when I put any type of weight on it. I was told that I could have damaged my nerves or my tendon and that they don't know if it will be permanent. I hope not. I also have pain across the top of my foot (where the rest of the table landed and bruised the foot).

I just want to get back to my regular routine. Hopefully, it will start to heal.

 

[yoopermom]

Not my toe, but did something similar to my pinky on my dominant hand, almost two years ago. GP had me tape it for six weeks. Then, when it was no better, went to a "hand to shoulder" orthopedic specialist, who did lots of xrays, mri, physical therapy, etc over the period of six months. It was decided that the ligament was stretched and not torn, and would never truly be the "same" but that surgery might make it even worse.

It's usable on a daily basis, but if I do a ton of keyboarding it aches, if the weather's weird, it aches, at night if I sleep on it funny, it tingles, etc.

The doctor said that finger/toe injuries are often this way, that we just have to "learn to live with them". Hoping that yours will have something fixable in it.

Terri

 

[jrnunzio3]

Got a phone call from Worker's Comp today. They sent over the authorization to the new doctor that I want to see. Called doctor's office to schedule the appointment, they are closed today. I will have to call on Monday. Hopefully, I can get in before my vacation on 8/8/15.