OT: How long for a broken toe to heal?

[cuppycake]

Well, lucky me. I tripped over my 5 year old and heard my pinky toe (thankfully on my left foot) snap!

I did have it x-rayed to make sure that there was nothing funky about the break (and it is nice and broken)...but I'm wondering....those of you who have been there, how long did it take for you to feel a little bit normal with sneakers and such?

Any great tips on how to speed up healing? Shoes that help it not hurt? I'm currently buddy taping the toe, and using Arnica gel for the bruising/swelling, also elevating and icing for swelling.

We have our trip planned for Sept 9, and thankfully it's just us and the girls (a slow paced relaxing type of trip). I'm wondering if i'll be able to walk around all day in a sneaker by then without too much pain, or if I should invest in a giant bottle of motrin Maybe a different shoe perhaps?

Oh, way to go, grace! Only me.

 

[grumpyvet]

I broke the second bone in the toe next to the pinky by crashing into a cedar chest on the way to the bathroom one night. Nice clean diagonal break. I was hobbling for only about a week to ten days in sandals, then back to my normal shoes. I am on my feet all day at work (veterinarian) and by 2 1/2 weeks, I seemed to be close to normal. Toe hurt a bit, but didn't slow me down and I was wearing my normal shoes. (I am into the roomy toe-box type of shoe however!!!!)

My husband broke his pinky toe on the Nordic Track a few years ago, and was pitiful for 4 weeks.

Results will vary

 

[puffin25]

4 weeks before our 1st trip in 95 my wie broke 2 toes, and she was fine when we got there. Then last Sat, 1 month beofre our trip this tiem, I broke the pinky toe on my right foot. It was bent 90 degrees. I reached down and straightened it out. It was sore an swollen for a couple days, but now, except for the end being numb, it is okay. The doctor said toes are some of the strangest things, as far as breaking, hurting etc. Some people hurt for weeks, others for days, some hardly at all.

 

[puffin25]

4 weeks before our 1st trip in 95 my wie broke 2 toes, and she was fine when we got there. Then last Sat, 1 month beofre our trip this tiem, I broke the pinky toe on my right foot. It was bent 90 degrees. I reached down and straightened it out. It was sore an swollen for a couple days, but now, except for the end being numb, it is okay. The doctor said toes are some of the strangest things, as far as breaking, hurting etc. Some people hurt for weeks, others for days, some hardly at all.

 

[WantToGoNow]

I would think you shouldn't be too uncomfortable by the time of your trip. Several trips ago, I was up getting ready to leave at 4:00 am when I stubbed my toe on the bathroom door. I put on my sock and shoe and off we headed. We drove all day and stopped just short of the FL border for the night -- when I took off my shoe, my entire foot was black. Luckily for me though, my foot stayed pretty much numb the entire week and the toe only really started hurting when we came home.

 

[laughinplace199]

If I recall correctly, it will take a couple of weeks before you're able to wear normal shoes. Hopefully, you'll be fine for your trip.

Your story brought back such memories...It was my first day on maternity leave from work (DD was not born yet). The nesting instinct had kicked in like crazy and I felt the need to wash and iron all of my curtains, in 97 degree heat! I don't know what I was thinking. Apparently, I didn't think it would be responsible parenting if I brought a baby home to a house without immaculately clean curtains. Anyway, I walked right into the leg of a chair and broke my pinky toe. I called the dr and she asked if the toe was swollen. Um...I don't know. Being 9 mos pregnant, I hadn't seen any of my toes in quite some time. Once I contorted myself into a position where I could see my toes, she asked if the injured toe was swollen. Um...I'm 9 mos pregnant - everything is swollen! Anyway, I ended up taping the toe to the next toe and wearing flip flops. The only med I could take was Tylenol, which I didn't bother with becasue it never does much of anything for me. A few days later, I was in labor with DD. The labor kind of stalled and the dr and nurses told me to walk around the hospital to get things going. Ouch! I wasn't sure which hurt more, the contractions or walking around on that broken toe. Eventually, the contractions won out. The good news is that the epidural gave me relief from the contractions and the toe.

 

[brekin67]

If your toenail is full of blood, have the Dr. pin it. After that, it should take a couple of weeks to heal, if you care careful not to put presure on it.
Hope you are comfortable for your trip.

 

[cuppycake]

If I recall correctly, it will take a couple of weeks before you're able to wear normal shoes. Hopefully, you'll be fine for your trip.

Your story brought back such memories...It was my first day on maternity leave from work (DD was not born yet). The nesting instinct had kicked in like crazy and I felt the need to wash and iron all of my curtains, in 97 degree heat! I don't know what I was thinking. Apparently, I didn't think it would be responsible parenting if I brought a baby home to a house without immaculately clean curtains. Anyway, I walked right into the leg of a chair and broke my pinky toe. I called the dr and she asked if the toe was swollen. Um...I don't know. Being 9 mos pregnant, I hadn't seen any of my toes in quite some time. Once I contorted myself into a position where I could see my toes, she asked if the injured toe was swollen. Um...I'm 9 mos pregnant - everything is swollen! Anyway, I ended up taping the toe to the next toe and wearing flip flops. The only med I could take was Tylenol, which I didn't bother with becasue it never does much of anything for me. A few days later, I was in labor with DD. The labor kind of stalled and the dr and nurses told me to walk around the hospital to get things going. Ouch! I wasn't sure which hurt more, the contractions or walking around on that broken toe. Eventually, the contractions won out. The good news is that the epidural gave me relief from the contractions and the toe.

Thanks for the giggle this morning! Now THAT doesn't sound like much fun at all

I blamed this one on my husband (who is 8000 miles away at the moment) because it was his phone call that my daughter and I were both jumping to get It had to not be my fault somehow

Thanks all. It's been about 3 days and it is feeling much better. I'm just trying to keep it taped and stay off of it when I can (with a 3 and 5 year old, and a DH who isn't here, that's just funny!).

I appreciate all of your advice

 

[albertagirl2007]

I've broken several of my toes on separate occasions and what works the best for me is to wear closed shoes (trainers). It kind of hurts when you first put them on but I felt good knowing my toes were "protected" from being stepped on. I also buddy tape - I have one that didn't heal properly and now it's all crooked and funny looking

 

[laughinplace199]

Thanks for the giggle this morning! Now THAT doesn't sound like much fun at all

I blamed this one on my husband (who is 8000 miles away at the moment) because it was his phone call that my daughter and I were both jumping to get It had to not be my fault somehow

Thanks all. It's been about 3 days and it is feeling much better. I'm just trying to keep it taped and stay off of it when I can (with a 3 and 5 year old, and a DH who isn't here, that's just funny!).

I appreciate all of your advice

Glad I could amuse you today! I hope that your toe heals quickly and that you're able to try to stay off it a bit - I know, nearly impossible with little ones around.

By the way, I agree that it is totally your husband's fault.

 

[Justish]

If you have or can borrow a cane or some crutches that may speed
up the process.

Did you have them check the metitarcil to? (spelling?)

When I completely decimated my pinky toe I also bruised the metitarcil
almost to the breaking point. Bruises take WAAAY longer to heal then
breaks and so I was off my foot completely for about 2 weeks.

If you don't have any bad bruises or extra breaks in the foot I would
keep it comfortable, elevate it when you can, be gentle on it when you
can't and slowly ease back into a regular schedule to tough'n it up after
the break.

If it's comfortable to walk on for a while.. each day push up the amount
of time you walk on it and the amount of time you spend in regular shoes.
even if you aren't walking in them every little bit helps!

Hope you heal soon!

~Ally

 

[Tnkrbelle565]

Man, what is going on lately...I leave the 5th and broke a toe last week! Mind you, I also sprained my ankle on 4th of July (opposite foot!!!!). My DH is convinced that I'm going to end in a wheelchair by the time we actually get to Disney