5 min read
Two of the most common questions people search after hurting a foot are whether the toe is broken and whether anything can be done about it. The second question is worth addressing directly, because the widely repeated idea that nothing can be done for a broken toe is not accurate.
Why "nothing can be done" is not right
The belief is common enough that people delay being seen. It matters because fractures differ, and some need more than time.
What is being broken, whether the bone has moved out of position, whether a joint surface is involved, and which toe it is all change the picture. A fracture involving the great toe is not equivalent to one in the smallest toe — the great toe carries a substantial share of load when you walk and push off.
Stress fractures are a different thing entirely
A stress fracture is not caused by a single injury. It develops over time when bone is loaded repeatedly without enough recovery, and it is common in people who have recently increased their activity.
It behaves differently from an acute break. There is often no moment of injury to point to. Pain tends to build gradually, is worse with activity and better with rest, and may be quite specific to one spot. Because there was no obvious accident, stress fractures are frequently walked on for weeks before anyone thinks to have them examined.
Why an X-ray is the starting point
A foot cannot be reliably assessed for a fracture by looking at it. Bruising and swelling say very little about whether bone is broken — a badly bruised foot may have no fracture, and a broken foot may look unremarkable.
It is also worth knowing that stress fractures do not always appear on an initial X-ray, which is one reason persistent pain with a normal early film still warrants follow-up.
When to be seen
Circumstances where an evaluation is appropriate rather than optional include:
- You cannot bear weight on the foot.
- The toe or foot looks misshapen, or a toe points in a direction it did not before.
- There is a wound over the injury.
- Pain has persisted beyond a few days, or is not improving.
- Pain built up gradually with activity and is focused in one spot — the pattern of a stress fracture.
- You have diabetes, neuropathy, or reduced circulation. Foot injuries need closer attention in these cases.
If you have hurt your foot and are unsure whether it needs attention, our Chillicothe office evaluates foot and ankle injuries and can determine whether imaging is warranted.
This article is general information about a common foot and ankle condition. It is not medical advice and it is not a diagnosis of your own symptoms. If something is wrong with your foot, have it examined.
Care at Bends Foot and Ankle is provided by Eric Storts, DPM, FACFAS, board certified podiatric foot and ankle surgeon.