Broken toe
A broken toe can be severely painful, but often it doesn’t require any hospital treatments. There are some self-treatments to help to get better.
Broken toe symptoms
You have a broken toe if your toe is:
- Bruised or red
- Swollen and painful
- Difficult to walk on
Don’t worry whether it’s just a bruise or broken toe; the treatments are usually the same for both.
What to do?
Doctors might suggest you self-treatment for a broken toe if:
- It isn’t your big toe
- The bone is not out of your foot
- Your toe isn’t pointing at an odd angle
- There is no wound on your broken toe
Broken toes heal within six weeks, which can sometimes take several months.
Broken toe self-treatments
- Consider painkillers
- Rest your foot and try to keep it raised
- Place an ice pack wrapped in a towel for up to 20 minutes every few hours
- Wear comfortable, wide shoes with no heel
- Avoid walking as much as possible
- Place a tiny piece of cotton between your sore toe and the next one, then tape both together for more support
Kindly don’t practice the following:
- Don’t strap your toe with the next one if the broken toe is pointing at an odd angle; seek medical advice
- Don’t place ice directly on your skin
- Don’t stand or walk for long
- Don’t wear pointy shoes
- Don’t play sports that involve running or kicking for six weeks or until the pain eases off
- Don’t try and treat your child’s toe; seek medical help immediately
Consult a doctor if:
- You think your big toe broke
- Your injured toe is pointing in an odd direction
- The bone is out of your toe
- There was any snap, popping, or grinding noise during the time of injury
- You feel numbness or tingling sensations on your injured toe
For personalized advice and support tailored to your health needs, consider our free doctor consultation service, where you can connect with experienced professionals ready to assist you.
Reviewed by – Dr. Priyanka, MBBS MD Microbiology
Page last reviewed: 16 JULY 2022