Broken Toe Treatment Specialist in Walnut Creek, CA, and Brentwood, CA

If you have incurred trauma to your toe and suspect that it may be broken, there are a few things that you can do to ensure that the bone can heal properly until you have access to medical attention. The first step is to rest the affected foot and avoid putting weight on the foot. This means you should minimize walking or movement to prevent placing unnecessary weight on the foot. To help reduce pain and swelling, applying a cold compress or ice pack to the broken toe is typically recommended, along with wrapping the toe lightly in a bandage to apply pressure to the toe, further reducing swelling. It is also highly recommended that you elevate the affected foot as much as possible to help reduce any swelling. A healthcare provider will be able to provide more specific instructions or recommend medication to provide pain relief. As well, they may recommend exercises to do throughout the healing process to maintain the range of motion and strength in the affected toe.

In general, broken toes are not considered an emergency medical situation, although they are likely to be quite painful and should be sought by a qualified healthcare provider for an accurate diagnosis and treatment plan. Emergency medical situations typically refer to life- or limb-threatening situations, but a broken toe may warrant a visit to the emergency room if it is associated with excessive bleeding, severe pain, or the toe appears to be physically deformed. If you aren’t sure what kind of care your broken toe requires, it is typically better to be overly cautious and go for care that is more intensive than to risk having serious complications by not receiving care quickly enough.

If you think you have broken your toe, you should most likely see a doctor to make sure that you receive an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment to ensure that the toe can heal properly. A doctor will also be able to make sure that the broken toe is aligned properly to minimize the risk of any complications down the road. They will be able to provide you with any recommendations throughout the healing process and can address any concerns that may arise. While a broken toe is not generally considered to be a medical emergency, it can be incredibly uncomfortable, and complications can arise if no medical interventions are made or if the broken toe goes untreated.

Broken toes are typically treated a bit differently from other broken bones due to the size of the bone, but there are still a variety of treatment options available depending on the severity of the break. As with all broken bones, it is important to immobilize a broken toe to ensure that the bone can stay properly aligned as it heals. A broken toe may be immobilized through the use of a splint, a special type of shoe that keeps the toe protected and stable, or through buddy tapping, which involves taking the broken toe to one of the toes beside it to provide support. Pain management is another important component for treating a broken toe, with most over-the-counter pain relievers being sufficient to manage the pain.

In cases of severe toe breaks or if the bone has become misaligned, a doctor may recommend undergoing a procedure to realign the toe, sometimes requiring a surgical procedure to ensure that it is done properly. Minor toe breaks can often just be treated at home through rest, ice packs, compression, and elevation, but they should still be assessed by a qualified healthcare provider to make sure that the healing process will be as smooth as possible. Patients can expect their broken toe to have healed entirely within 4 to 6 weeks, although everyone heals at their own pace so this can vary a bit. If your healing seems to be taking longer than expected, medical attention should be sought to ensure that it is still progressing properly.

Broken toe treatment is available at Bay Area Foot and Ankle Associates. For more information, contact us or schedule an appointment online. We have convenient locations in Walnut Creek CA and Brentwood CA. We serve patients from Walnut Creek CA, Brentwood CA, Concord CA, Pleasant Hill CA, Pittsburg CA, Antioch CA, Alamo CA, Danville CA, Oakley CA, and surrounding areas.