Patient education: Common toe injuries (The Basics)

What are common toe injuries? — 

Common toe injuries include:

●Toe fracture – "Fracture" means a broken bone.

●Toe sprain – A sprain is when a ligament tears or gets stretched too much. Ligaments are tough bands of tissue that connect bones to other bones. Symptoms of a toe sprain can include pain, swelling, bruising, or weakness. A sprain to the big toe is also called a "turf toe."

●Sesamoiditis – Sesamoids are pea-sized bones inside the tendons in the feet (figure 1). Tendons are strong bands of tissue that connect muscles to bones. In sesamoiditis, the sesamoid or the tendon around it gets swollen. Symptoms can include pain that gets worse when walking barefoot.

●Hammer toes – Toes normally point forward. A hammer toe happens when the bones in the foot are out of place and cause the toe to bend down (figure 2).

●Hallux rigidus and hallux limitus – These mean a stiff big toe (figure 3). Symptoms can include pain and stiffness. A person might also have an uncomfortable bump on the top of the foot, near the base of the big toe.

Other conditions can also cause pain or other problems with the toes. For example, arthritis and gout often affect the toes.

Will I need tests? — 

Maybe. Your doctor nurse will ask you questions and do an exam. During the exam, they might:

●Ask you to stand or walk

●Ask you to move your toes or foot

●Push on different parts of your toes or foot

●Measure how far different parts of your toe or foot can move

They might also order imaging tests. These might include X-rays, ultrasound, or MRI. They create pictures of the inside of the body.

How are toe injuries treated? — 

Treatment depends on the type of injury and how severe it is.

If you have a lot of pain or a severe injury, your doctor might prescribe pain medicine. They might also give you a steroid injection, or "cortisone shot," for severe pain. Steroids help reduce swelling and pain.

If your injury is mild, your doctor might recommend that you take an over-the-counter medicine for your pain. Over-the-counter medicines include:

●Acetaminophen (sample brand name: Tylenol)

●Ibuprofen (sample brand names: Advil, Motrin)

●Naproxen (sample brand name: Aleve)

Depending on your injury, treatment might include 1 or more of the following:

●Rest your foot.

●Prop your foot on pillows – This can help with swelling.

●Put ice on your toe – Put a cold gel pack, bag of ice, or bag of frozen vegetables on the injured area every 1 to 2 hours, for 15 minutes each time, as needed. Put a thin towel between the ice (or other cold object) and your skin.

●Use crutches, a cane, or a walker when you walk.

●Wear comfortable shoes with plenty of room for your toes. You can also get shoes that are specially designed to have extra space around the big toe.

●Tape your toes to give them more support. This might include using tape to help support your toe or keep it from moving.

●Work with a physical therapist (exercise expert) to strengthen the muscles in your toes and feet.

●Wear special inserts called "orthotics" in your shoes. Your doctor, nurse, or physical therapist might also help you add padding to your shoes.

●Surgery to fix a ligament or tendon. Toe surgery is usually done by a specialist. This can be a foot and ankle surgeon or a podiatrist.

How long do toe injuries take to heal? — 

It can take weeks to months to heal, depending on the type of injury.

It also depends on the person. Healthy children usually heal very quickly. Older adults or adults with other medical problems can take much longer to heal.

If you smoke, it can take longer for injuries to heal. If you are having trouble quitting smoking, your doctor or nurse can help.

What can I do on my own? — 

Follow all of your doctor's instructions while your toe injury is healing. For example, you might not be allowed to bend your toe for a certain amount of time. Your doctor might also recommend that you avoid certain activities.

When should I call the doctor? — 

Your doctor or nurse will tell you when to call them. In general, call them if you have:

●Severe pain, or your pain or swelling gets worse

●Numbness or tingling in your toes, or your toes look blue or purple

●Signs of infection – These include a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher, or chills.

More on this topic

Patient education: Toe fracture (The Basics)
Patient education: Bunion (The Basics)
Patient education: Ingrown toenail (The Basics)
Patient education: Metatarsalgia (The Basics)
Patient education: Steroid injection (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use crutches (The Basics)
Patient education: How to use a walker (The Basics)
Patient education: Sprains (The Basics)