A sprained toe is a common injury that is often tender and painful. Do not take any of this opinion as fact, this is for entertainment only. Treatment. Accessed Sept. 22, 2022. We are currently open to treat all orthopedic needs. Because the symptoms vary so widely and breaks can be mild to severe, many individuals will struggle to tell the difference between a broken toe and another injury, such as a muscle sprain or a bad bruise. Broken Pinky Toe Treatment: The most common cause of sharp shooting pinky toe pain or 5th toe pain is compression in your shoe. Other than a broken pinky toe, there are many reasons a person might have pain or swelling in their smallest toe. Toe arthritis may be due to sprain, broken toe, gout, rheumatoid arthritis, and osteoarthritis. 5th ed. The result will be inactivity on the foot which . While the pinky toe may be the smallest toe, pinky toe pain isnt always so small. How are they classified? Sometimes rest is all that is needed to treat a traumatic fracture of the toe. Treatment For A Broken Toe DxTx 78K views 3 years ago How to Wrap a Broken Fifth Toe Douglas Robinson DPM, Podiatrist 884 views 4 months. After walking around, you should check the toe for any swelling. 4 Treatment should continue until point tenderness is resolved, usually at least three. Avoid wearing shoes until the swellings gone down, since this can make it worse. He completed his fellowship in Surgical Critical Care at North Shore-Long Island Jewish Health System and was a previous American College of Surgeons (ACS) Fellow. Your child should not walk on it until he or she can do so without too . Avoid applying ice directly to the skin, rather grab a towel, wrap it around an ice pack and then apply. X-rays of the foot can confirm a broken toe. It is best to visit a doctor as soon as someone suspects that there is something wrong. This article looks at the symptoms of a broken small toe, along with some other problems that can cause pain and swelling in the area. Wearing a stiff-soled shoe can also help, as can using crutches to help keep weight off of the toe while it heals. This is the best pinky toe fracture guide! If left untreated, a broken pinky toe can develop an infection of the bone. Learn about the symptoms, Stubbed toes happen to everyone. Our mission is to return our patients back to pain-free mobility and full strength as quickly and painlessly as possible using both surgical and non-surgical orthopedic procedures. For grades II or III, your doctor may recommend additional measures, such as a walking boot. (n.d.). (2016). Therefore, any damage to it can cause issues. Do not in any way rub the ice directly to the affected area. If youre looking for compassionate, expert orthopedic surgeons in Portland Oregon, contact OSM today. What kind of pain does a broken pinky toe cause? If the trauma is severe, broken bones may be exposed through the soft tissues (called a compound fracture). % of people told us that this article helped them. By seeing a healthcare professional for a diagnosis and following instructions about caring for the toe, individuals may encourage the healing process. Most of the time, this arthritic pain impacts the big toe. A broken pinky toe is a fracture of the smallest toe. For pain, over-the-counter pain medications such as ibuprofen will be prescribed. Ligaments are the connective tissue fibers that attach bones to each other and to joints. However, if the toe is in normal alignment (not bent out of . On the other hand, if you make an appointment with your podiatrist to have your toe checked out as soon as possible, you will not only mitigate the risk of a bone infection, but youll also greatly reduce your pain and discomfort. Sometimes, a person hears a pop or crack sound as the bone breaks, but this is not always the case. If pain persists after awhile, it is wise to seek medical attention from a podiatrist. The most common symptoms of a broken pinky toe include: Your doctor will likely X-ray your toe to examine the type of break. Your child's broken toe may need to be buddy-taped for 2 to 4 weeks to heal. At home, people can use the RICE method to try to reduce swelling and allow the pinky toe to heal. Keep your toe elevated around heart level by propping your foot up on a chair or stool. It's just a fifth toe. This article has been viewed 134,033 times. You may also need to support the toe in a cast. If you stub your toe really hard, or if you have a direct blow to your foot from a heavy object, your toe could be broken. To make sure see your dr. DOI: nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), acfas.org/Media/Media-Resources/Bunion-Deformity/, podiatryinstitute.com/pdfs/Update_2015/2015_03.pdf, foothealthfacts.org/conditions/fractures-of-the-fifth-metatarsal, foothealthfacts.org/article/frequently-asked-questions-about-bunion-surgery, bmcmusculoskeletdisord.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/1471-2474-15-295, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4908446/, mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/broken-toe/symptoms-causes/syc-20370463, ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5813123/, niams.nih.gov/health-topics/sprains-and-strains/advanced#tab-overview, orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/stress-fractures-of-the-foot-and-ankle/, foothealthfacts.org/conditions/tailor-s-bunion-(bunionette), Everything You Should Know About a Broken Toe. For ongoing problems that dont improve with conservative treatment, your doctor may recommend surgery to correct the toe. Significantly hurting your pinky toe isnt an emergency, but its definitely cause for seeing your podiatrist as soon as possible. To do this, keep your leg raised on a chair or cushion while sitting down. Some of the most common treatment options are as follows. It is important to seek medical attention if a person suspects a broken toe, as it can get worse without treatment. Any medical information published on this website is not intended as a substitute for informed medical advice and you should not take any action before consulting with a healthcare professional. Youll be able to get an accurate diagnosis and a thorough treatment plan. Orthopedic & Sports Medicine Center of Oregon is an award-winning, board-certified orthopedic group located in downtown Portland Oregon. Take ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), acetaminophen (Tylenol) or naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn) for pain relief. In this article, find out about the different causes and their associated symptoms and treatments. I - Ice. Brace Direct. Fifth toe deformities: Overlapping and underlapping toe. Learn More . Theyll look for displacement, bone fragments, stress fractures, and injury to the metatarsal bones that connect to your pinky toe. It can be hard to tell whether the toe is bruised, broken, or sprained. Wearing a stiff-soled shoe can also help, as can using crutches to help keep weight off of the toe while it heals. Do not take pain medication if you have high blood pressure, diabetes, or any bleeding disorders, such as ulcers. Learn more about toe fractures and other conditions that can cause these symptoms, plus treatment, A sprained toe is a common injury that is often tender and painful. Double nail of the little toe. Most often these activities are a problem when an athlete or weekend warrior ramps up their activity too quickly. A single copy of these materials may be reprinted for noncommercial personal use only. Prevent Swelling and Further Injury Stay off the foot as much as possible. Ligaments are the bands of tough, elastic connective tissue that connect the bones in the toes to each other. These are all indications that it is safe to treat the toe at home. This realignment is called a closed reduction. Toenail discoloration. Pain is the most common symptom of a stress fracture, and it can gradually get worse over time, especially if you continue putting weight on it. The correct way to use crutches is to hold them on the side opposite the broken toe. Factors that can affect symptoms of a broken toe include: There are a few ways a toe could break. We include products we think are useful for our readers. It may be difficult to walk because of the pain, especially if the big toe is fractured. Any use of this site constitutes your agreement to the Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy linked below. Doctors will first recommend either a walking boot or a cast, along with a toe plate, for around 23 weeks. Nevertheless, it is best to contact a healthcare professional for the correct treatment to ensure the bone heals properly. A person may need to have their broken toe buddy taped to an adjacent one. This cushioned fabric bandage takes some of the pain out of the 4 - 6 week broken toe . The reason for this is that the natural movement of the foot will be affected if the crutches are used wrongly. Our website services, content, and products are for informational purposes only. Some people may be able to continue walking on the toe after a break, while others may find the pain debilitating. Surgery may be necessary if there are multiple breaks or if nonsurgical treatment does not work. Talusan PG, et al. The pinky toe works with the rest of the toes to keep a person balanced. According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the most important treatment for a stress fracture is rest. Up ahead, well outline what to expect if you fracture or break your pinky toe and need treatment. After a couple of weeks, you can start to carefully put more pressure on your broken toe each day to see how it's recovering. In some cases, corticosteroid injections can help treat the inflamed tissue around the joint. 1. As with broken toes, R.I.C.E and stiff-soled shoes are a mainstay of sprained toe therapy. Bruising of the skin around the toe may also be noticeable. Sokkar SM, et al. It's also a good idea to see a doctor if your big toe is the one affected, as injuries to this toe are more likely to be severe. For a claw toe, your doctor may recommend exercises to keep your toe flexible. How do you know when a stubbed toe is serious? The intensity of these symptoms may vary from person to person. Big toe pain has several possible causes, with some being more serious than others. Ice or a shot of anesthetic numbs the toe. Wrapping your toe with an elastic bandage will immobilize the toe and reduce swelling. We use cookies to make wikiHow great. Follow the dosage instructions on the label. Raising the affected leg will also help to reduce the pain of the broken pinky toe. Treatment Medications You can usually manage pain from a broken toe with medicines such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others), naproxen sodium (Aleve) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) that you can get without a prescription. The first step to finding, A pinched nerve in your foot can be caused by many different issues, like an injury, bone spurs, tight shoes, and more. Structural abnormalities can also be remedied with medical treatment. A person can treat milder problems at home, by changing their footwear, taking NSAIDs, and resting. The main cause of this ailment is the toe joint's inflammation. Don't let toe cramps cramp your style. You might notice redness, warmth, and direct pain in the area if this happens. Make a donation. Thank you for supporting us!No Sponsorship: Unless indicated specifically in the videos, we do not receive payment ahead of time for the products we review. What you should know about a broken pinky toe, https://orthosportsmed.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/What-you-should-know-about-a-broken-pinky-toe.jpg, https://orthosportsmed.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/01/osm-header-vs7.png, Orthopedic & Sport Medicine Center of Oregon | 503-224-8399 |, Bone Health for Life: Health Information Basics for You and Your Family, American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), a snapping, grinding, or popping noise at the time of the break, pain at the place of impact at the time the fracture occurs, pain during or after performing normal activities, pain that goes away when resting but returns when standing or during activity, using a walking boot, which is a stiff boot that protects the toe as it heals, a visible bump on the outside of the pinky toe, pain and tenderness at the site of the bump, making shoe modifications, such as wearing wider-fitting footwear, takingnonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as ibuprofen, shavingthe corn, but only when a health professional carries it out, soaking the feet and using a pumice stone on the corn, wearing a donut shaped foam pad over the corn to reduce the pressure. . Other potential causes of pinky toe pain include a stress, avulsion, or Jones fracture, a dislocation, a sprain, a tailor's bunion, a corn, or a pinky toe deformity like hammertoe. When you can walk without irritating your broken pinky toe, try going for short walks so you dont put too much pressure on it. Sprains are categorized in 3 grades: For grade I sprains, you may only need to rest and ice your toe and possibly do buddy taping. It's usually done without cutting the skin. Depending on the extent of the injury, a broken pinky finger is treated through conservative or surgical methods: A conservative treatment typically involves the placement of a cast or a splint to immobilize the finger, enabling the fracture to mend on its own. Traumatic fractures can range from minor to severe. Most suspected bruised toes also are broken. Examples include: In some cases, a surgeon may need to use pins, plates or screws to keep the bones in place during healing. Healing of a broken toe may take 68 weeks. https://www.uptodate.com/contents/search. Although the bones in the toes are small, they play an essential role in walking and balance. You should also see a doctor if you experience any numbness or tingling in your foot, or if your toe doesn't improve with home . The non-injured toe acts like a splint. Deformity. If left untreated for an even longer period, the issue may lead to the death of the bone or septic arthritis. Historically, this name comes from the tailors who sat cross-legged all day, with the outside edge of their feet rubbing on hard surfaces. The proximal phalanx is the toe bone that is closest to the metatarsals. Seattle podiatrist Larry Huppin will demonstrate why buddy taping is the worst treatment for toe. This will help decrease swelling and pain. In some cases, your podiatrist may need to manipulate the bones within your pinky toe in order to set the toe and allow it to heal properly. The metatarsal bones leading to the fifth toe are one of the most common locations for foot injuries, especially for athletes. In some cases, a displaced fracture may break the skin and result in the bone protruding out of a wound. Eventually, start to ease back into your activities. Most broken pinky toes heal on their own within six weeks and do not require immediate medical attention beyond an exam to make sure it has not been seriously fractured. 1998-2023 Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research (MFMER). Once your toe is exposed, examine it to ensure no bones have broken through your skin. Broken fingers or finger fractures may account for up to 10% of all broken bones. Never tape the toes together skin-to-skin. Learn about symptoms and diagnosis, as, A broken pinky toe can cause swelling and pain. It also examines the treatment and management options for this injury. The pinky toe is a commonly broken toe, and the fracture usually occurs at its base. pain when you try to put weight on your injured foot, a bump on the toe that starts small but grows over time, wearing shoes that have a wide toe box and avoiding shoes with high heels and pointy toes, putting soft padding over the painful area, orthotics to relieve pressure on the area, shave a corn or advise you to file it after bathing, recommend soft padding to relieve pressure on the corn, recommend wearing wider shoes or stretching the toe box of your shoes. Eiff MP, et al. Put a small piece of cotton or gauze between the toes that are taped together. For a simple break, your doctor may splint your pinky to your fourth toe to keep it in place while it heals. Learn more about a, Stubbing a toe can be very painful. A hard-soled, sturdy, and supportive shoe or boot should be worn. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. The most common symptoms of a corn include: Several types of toe abnormalities can make your pinky toe painful, uncomfortable, or swollen. We also offer Telehealth appointments. Medical Treatment Depending on the location and severity of the toe fracture, the fracture may need to be reduced (put back into place) and splinted or casted. Fortunately, treatment of toe sprains can usually be performed at home and include reducing swelling, foot support, immobilization of the toe, or exercises to strengthen the joint. But continue to buddy tape outside jits for 6-8 weeks. Some people are born with a pinky toe that overlaps the fourth toe. Swelling. This is a process called reduction. If the break is severe, the toe may stick out at an angle, or the bone may poke through the skin. Usually, you can treat a broken toe by taping it to a neighboring toe. This means the injured toe is taped to the toe next to it for support. 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Support the toe after a break, your doctor may recommend surgery to the..., a broken toe pinky toe can develop an infection of the broken pinky toe if you fracture or your... Toe, and injury to the affected area this, keep your leg raised on a or. No bones have broken through your skin mainstay of sprained toe therapy for seeing your as! Not bent out of the skin is needed to treat a traumatic fracture the... Contact a healthcare professional for a simple break, your doctor will likely X-ray your flexible! Eventually, start to ease back into your activities but this is not always the case adjacent one until... By propping your foot up on a chair or stool may be for. Time, this arthritic pain impacts the big toe pain has several possible causes, with some being more than. Called a compound fracture ) Mayo Foundation for medical Education and Research ( MFMER ) need to have their toe... Over-The-Counter pain medications such as a walking boot their smallest toe, your doctor may recommend surgery to the...