Broken Toe
How to treat a broken toe at home
Most broken toes can be treated at home. See below for advice about when to see your GP and when to go to hospital .
The following tips can be used to care for a broken toe:
- Put a piece of cotton wool or gauze betweenthe injured toe and the one next to it, and tape them together with a plaster or surgical tape.
- Keep your foot raised(ideally above the level of your heart) whenever you can during the first few days for example, by resting it on cushions. This will help reduce swelling and pain.
- Hold an ice pack (try frozen peas wrapped in a towel) to the toe for 15-20 minutes every few hours for the first couple of days.Don't apply ice directly to the skin.
- Rest the toe by not walking or standing for too long at first, and not putting weight on the toe until the pain starts to improve.
- Take over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol or Painkillers, ibuprofen to relieve the pain. Don't give aspirin to a child under 16 years of age.
- Wear sturdy shoes with a stiff solethat don't squash or bend the toe.
You can gradually return to your normal activities once you're able to wear shoes and walk around without discomfort.
Medically Reviewed by a doctor on 21 Dez 2018
Introduction
Find out about the symptoms of a broken toe, when you should get medical advice, and how to look after it at home.
Symptoms of a broken toe
A broken toe will usually be: extremely painful and tender swollen red or bruised difficult to walk on If the break is severe, the toe may stick out at an angleor the bone may poke through the
How to treat a broken toe at home
Most broken toes can be treated at home. See below for advice about when to see your GP and when to go to hospital . The following tips can be used to care for a broken toe: Put a piece of cotton
When to see your GP
Check the toe every day and call your GP if: the pain gets worse or isn't relieved by ordinary painkillers your GP may be able to prescribe a stronger painkiller the swelling or discolouration does
When to go to hospital
Go to your nearest accident and emergency (A&E) department if: you have had a severe injury, such as your foot being crushed or a road traffic accident you think your big toe is broken your t
Treatment for abadly broken toe
If your toe is badly broken, youmay need: an X-ray of your foot to check if your toe is broken and how severe the break is a procedure to move anyout of placebones back into the right position a d
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