Broken Toe Symptoms

So you stubbed your toe and now you're looking for broken toe symptoms. Toes are surprisingly easy to break, you can break them by stubbing it, dropping something on it, or simply by increased exercise. The symptoms of a broken toe are easy to identify.

1. A snap or pop was heard at the time of injury. Sometimes when you injure your toe you will be able to hear or feel a snapping and popping sound or sensation. This could possibly indicate that you broke or dislocated your toe.
2. Increased pain when you touch or attempt to move the toe. This particular symptom of a broken toe could be misleading. Many times if you experience pain or stiffness in the area of injury it could be dislocated or simply bruised.
3. Swelling and bruising. If after injury you experience swelling or bruising on or around the toe, it could indicate a break.
4. Toe pointing in the wrong direction or twisted. A dislocated toe can also appear this way, but this is usually the best indication that your toe needs medical attention.
5. Inability to move the toe. If you are unable to move the toe, or it is very difficult to move the toe, it may be broken and you'll need to seek the advice of your doctor.

Symptoms of a broken toe can occur immediately following the injury, or they can occur days, weeks, or even years after the initial injury. When you have a broken toe, you may also experience injury to the toenail. The toenail may need to be trimmed or removed, in extreme cases it may develop a pocket of blood underneath the nail called a subungual hematoma. If this occurs it may need to be drained.

To diagnose a broken toe you will need a physical examination, and potentially X-rays to determine if it is a broken or dislocated toe. Your physician will look for swelling, bruising, pain or stiffness when moved, and other symptoms previously discussed. He will examine the overall condition of the broken toe to determine the severity of the break and appropriate treatment. If you suspect your toe is broken, seek the advice of a medical professional.