Broken toe
A broken toe can be painful, but you don't usually need to go to hospital. There are things you can do to treat it at home.
Check if you have a broken toe
You may have broken your toe if it's:
- red or bruised
- painful and swollen
- difficult to walk on
Don't worry if you're not sure if it's broken or just bruised, treatment is usually the same for both.
Go to an urgent treatment centre or A&E if:
- you think you've broken your big toe
- your toe is pointing out at an odd angle
- the bone is sticking out of your toe
- you have a bad cut or wound after injuring your toe
- there was a snap, grinding or popping noise at the time of injury
- you have severe pain
- you have any tingling or loss of sensation in your toe or foot
- it's your child that has hurt or broken their toe
You may need further treatment in hospital such as a boot, cast or surgery.
What we mean by severe pain
What you can do about a broken toe
Doctors will usually suggest you treat a broken toe at home first if:
- it's not your big toe
- the bone isn't sticking out of your foot
- your toe isn't pointing at an odd angle
- there is no wound on your toe
Broken toes usually heal within 4 to 6 weeks, but it can sometimes take several months.
Do
- take ibuprofen and paracetamol for the pain and swelling
- rest your foot and keep it raised
- hold an ice pack (or bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel on your toe for up to 20 minutes every few hours
- wear wide, comfortable shoes with a low heel
- avoid walking around as much as possible
- strap up your broken toe – put a small piece of cotton wool or gauze between your sore toe and the toe next to it, then tape them together to support the sore toe
Don't
- do not strap up your toe if it's pointing out at an odd angle or you've hurt your big toe – get medical advice
- do not put ice directly on your skin
- do not walk or stand for long periods
- do not wear tight, pointy shoes
- do not play any sports like football, rugby or hockey for 6 weeks or until the pain eases
- do not try and treat your child's toe – take them to an urgent treatment centre or A&E
You can ask a pharmacist about:
- the best painkiller to take
- what you need to strap up your toe
- if you need to see a GP
See a GP if:
- the pain and swelling hasn't started to ease after 2 to 3 days
- it still hurts to walk on after 6 weeks
- you have diabetes – foot problems can be more serious if you have diabetes
They may send you for an X-ray to see if you need any further treatment.