What To Do With A Broken Toe

What are you supposed to do with a broken toe? In truth, it's tough to deal with this injury, as a broken toe is on a part of the body which you use regularly. There are a number of bones in your feet which can't be treated the same way other broken bones are treated. First, it all depends on how you broke your toe and how badly you broke it. Was it slammed in a door and compound fractured in a grisly fashion? Or was it simply stubbed really hard, turned black and blue and won't stop hurting? For the first situation, the more grisly type of break, head to the emergency room ASAP and let the doctor put the bones back under your skin. For the other more minor broken toe, there are really only a few things that can be done, as doctors can't put a cast on it.

Things you'll need:

• Medical gauze and tape
• Open-toed shoes
• A plastic boot
• Ice pack and towel

1. Wrap it up. While a cast can't be put on the broken toe, try to protect it as much as you can if you must move around. Wrap it up in tape or a splint of some kind to keep it from bouncing around in a shoe when you move or so it at least has a little protection if some oaf steps on your injured foot in line for the bank.
2. Take it easy. Don't walk on your broken toe unless it is absolutely necessary. Consider getting crutches or a boot for your foot to give your toe extra protection when you walk around. Exercise, at least any exercise which involves using your feet and toes, is out of the question.
3. Ice it and elevate. Over the first two days it is important to keep the swelling down, so you should ice it and elevate the foot with the broken toe above your heart for about two hours at a time. Soon the swelling will stop and the healing will begin.
4. Keep an eye on it. If the toe is not much better in a week, head to the doctor for an x-ray and a more thorough examination and diagnosis.