Three weeks and the pain is still exquisite. Broken big toe.

[DemoTex]

WTF? How long does it take a broken big toe to heal? I haven't been to a doctor on advice of my radiologist brother and orthopedic-surgeon brother-in-law. Well, they both said that there is not much to be done for a broken toe. I'm taking Aleve and I don't want to take anything stronger (Rush has me spooked on pain pills).

Now, I don't know for a fact it is broken. However, the whole front of my foot turned black and blue for two weeks. That's why my bros. thought it to be broken. Fair assumption, IMHO!

Anyway, any DUers that have had broken big toes that can give me any idea when the hellish pain will end? Puh-leeze!

Mac

BTW: Please keep this kicked. I can't kick because of my toe!

[flamingyouth]

1. A broken bone takes at least 6-8 weeks to heal

I don't know that they can do anything for it, but if it is really swollen, I know that gently taping it (use the non-adhesive kind, which will be easier on your skin) to the next toe can help somewhat. I would say it's broken, if it still hurts after all this time.

Hurts like hell - I think Aleve is probably the best OTC pain reliever for this, plus it will help with the swelling.

Try to stay off of it, so don't go running any marathons this weekend.

Take care.

:kick: - just for you! :hi:

On edit: I broke my middle toe on my right foot almost 10 weeks ago, and it still hurts sometimes. Ouchies!

[DemoTex]

4. Taping it to next toe

You should charge me $125 for that advice. That's exactly what my brother-in-law orthopedist said. And he said that with some modicum of scepticism!

[flamingyouth]

6. I was skeptical too

But, like you, I suffered for about 3-4 weeks, then went to the doctor. He told me that if I had come in right when I broke it, they would have splinted it (now it's somewhat permanently crooked and weird-looking). But other than that, just the tape advice. I actually did it, and I think it worked pretty well.

I'm on my feet much of the day at work, so I couldn't "stay off it," but I do think the taping kept it from swelling as much during the work day.

But yes, $125 would be lovely right about now. Hope you're feeling better soon!

[radwriter0555]

2. CLOGS. I discivered Dansk clogs because of a broken toe. You're

almost to the end of it though. hang in there.

[flamingyouth]

3. Yes, those are the best shoes w/a broken toe

Very roomy, plus they're sturdy in case you bump into anything.

[Capn Sunshine]

5. if its in the joint you could be ruined for life

without proper orthopedic attention.
get an x ray Tex.

[DemoTex]

8. Cap'n, you are right.

I think I'll roll down to Greenville on Monday to see my Bro-in-law. I'm up here in the mountains to do major hiking and fishing. Time to quit limping and get with the program.

[Nikia]

7. I don't know

I thought that I had broken my pinky toe when I accidently kicked my husband's metal brief case on the way down the stairs. It turned black and blue and was badly swollen. It was very painful to walk on for a few days. Then it started to heal and only hurt when I moved it. I don't know if it was really broken. Big toes are probably worse though. Is it just the big toe? Were there possibly other bones that were broken in your foot? Have your experts looked at your foot or did you just tell them about it? If it is just the toe, tape it. If it keeps on bothering you, seek medical treatment.

[DemoTex]

9. Big toe only

Every thing else is fine now. Ironically, the whole front of my foot turned black. That is all gone now, even on the painful toe. (God I hate to bitch about a toe with soldiers dieing for Bu$h in Iraq). Maybe I should cork it.

[Nikia]

10. You're on the way to recovery

It sounds like it has healed a lot. If it doesn't look funny, keep on taking aleve and wait. The pain should lessen and then disappear. It's alright to be concerned. I've gone to the doctor several times right before I've recovered. It's just if you've been suffering for a while, you start to get concerned.

[many a good man]

11. Your life is Hell for another two months

Just wait until your toenail falls off.

I guess it depends where exactly its broken. Anything less than three months of misery consider yourself lucky. At least that was my experience when a 250# Nicaraguan beat me out of a rebound and landed square on my big toe.

[DemoTex]

12. The toenail is not discolored!

The whole front-foot was black and blue for a while. Now, everything is normal color with a throbbing big toe!

[qwertyMike]

13. Tried Oxycontin??

Effective and harmless

R. Limbaugh
Happy Hollow

[DemoTex]

14. Bwaa haa haa! Exactly why I'm avoiding MDs!

That's what they will prescribe!

[Ilsa]

15. I broke my second smallest toe

and I suffered for a couple of months. Lots of ibuprofen for pain and swelling.
I hope you feel better sooner.

[Hell Hath No Fury]

16. Owwww!

Having broken many, many bones I always say that a broken toe is the MOST painful of all!

I've bever broken The Big One, but just about all the others. Glad to hear you're getting an x-ray just to be safe. Otherwise, it's tape that puppy up -- put a wad of cotton between your big toe and the next (make sure the wad is a comfortable size) and create a split with the two toes. This has had me walking pretty well withdays of breaking toes.

Good luck!

[SOteric]

17. I dunno dude, when I broke my toe some years back

there was again, general agreement that there was not much that could be done for it. But...

The docs put a splint on it and taped it, and it actually felt better immediately. Though, there was still some pain for a few weeks subsequent. They advised heavier than average doses of any OTC analgesic I preferred except Tylenol, frequent icing, and keeping off it as much as possible and keeping it elevated for a couple of weeks.

If you weren't going to go for the x-ray, I hope your various advisors at least told you that much.

[DemoTex]

18. All the advisors said X-Ray it!

Especially my radiologist brother. But I'm in the mountains now! We will see.

[no_hypocrisy]

19. Find a certified Reiki specialist and go for treatments to heal and to

relieve the pain.

I'm a third-degree Reiki practitioner. More than two months ago, I stubbed my toe in the dark, and fell forward. I hobbled to my bed and immediately applied Reiki and constantly did the same throughout the week after the injury. The pain was alleviated and there is no permanent damage.

Feel better.