In non-work situations, you might find yourself coping with a broken toe, but ignore the common wisdom that broken toes can't be treated.
Each toe is made up of multiple bones, each of which can be broken. A broken toe can be painful, and in some cases, require surgery to heal.
A doctor can diagnose a broken toe through a physical examination and radiographs, according to American Family Physician. Dr. Robert L. Hatch and Dr. Scott Hacking wrote that while fractures of the toe are one of the most common fractures of the lower extremities, they are most often caused by a crushing injury or caused by force. Joint hyperextension and stress fractures are less common, they wrote.
Medline Plus, a medical encyclopedia maintained by the National Institutes of Health, notes that a broken toe can be treated at home unless the big toe is involved or the injury is severe enough to create an open wound. See a doctor if the injury causes the toe to be crooked.
The medical encyclopedia offers these self-care tips:
* Keep the foot still, and raised, to minimize swelling.
* Apply ice for 20 minutes each hour in the first day after the injury, then 2-3 times a day afterward.
* Wrap the affected toe and the toe next to it. This treatment is called "buddy wrapping" and can help immobilize the toe.
* Be sure to schedule a follow-up appointment with a physician. 73-x