How can you tell a sprained toe from a broken one?

[zanana1]

Last night, I tripped over a wrinkle in my carpet and landed on the floor with alot of pain in my toes.
Both big toes are swollen, but have no bruising. It's very painful to walk.
We had a snowstorm here yesterday and rain is turning to ice. I don't have any transportation and I'll be damned if I call an ambulance for sprained/broken toes.

I need suggestions. Has anyone out there ever been in this situation? I'd appreciate any help I can get.

[FSogol]

1. Minor breaks in the foot aren't really treated different than bad sprains.

Remember RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. So kick back, wrap your foot, put some ice on it, and put your foot up. Take it easy and stay off of it.

Hope you feel better soon.

PS, been in that spot many times.

[zanana1]

2. Thanks for the advice.

It hurts too much to walk, so resting won't be a problem! I have ice and I'll splint them to other toes. I just wonder how long I'll have to do that.

[WhiteTara]

5. The only toes I haven't broken are both my big toes

I'm so sorry this has happened to you. I have set many of those breaks myself. Gently lift the end of the toe until it fits on the top of the bottom bone. Tape and RICE. My sister has a test for broken bones as opposed to sprains...did you throw up? When I broke my knee cap (yes that really hurt) I did throw up.

Good luck!

[Squinch]

12. I've had lots of breaks and didn't throw up.

[WhiteTara]

16. Glad my sister isn't a doctor!

[underpants]

3. Correct. 20 minutes on the ice. Also tape it to another foot.

There's no way to heal an injured toe other than just staying off of it as much as possible.

[FSogol]

4. You probably meant another toe, not another foot.

Hitting the eggnog early, huh?

[underpants]

6. No first cup of coffee

Well come to think of it taping it to another foot WOULD keep you off your feet now wouldn't it?

[FSogol]

10. Can I tape the injuried toe to Salma Hayek's foot?

[asiliveandbreathe]

14. Fur Shur - you will heal quickly..laughter is the best medicine - a toe truck perhaps??

Thanks for the giggles.... merry merry...

[hlthe2b]

7. True unless there is major displacement

Which can be hard to tell with swelling... once you have iced and elevated it may be apparent—which may require care but not necessarily immediately

[Voltaire2]

9. exactly, unless you did something spectacularly horrible, just wait, it will fix itself.

[JustABozoOnThisBus]

17. "RICE"? or "BRICE".

"Beer" enhances the recuperative down-time, I've found.

Disclaimer: This opinion is anecdote-based, not science-based or evidence-based.

[FSogol]

18. Since i keep my beer in my bloodstream, the b is redundant.

[PJMcK]

8. Only way to know for sure is an X-ray

Can you take a cab?

In any event, the above advice seems informed and sound and I hope you heal quickly!

Happy holidays, zanana1!

[FSogol]

11. I'd advise against that unless the pain or swelling continues. You can get a xray, find a broken toe

be given a cane and pain reliever and sent home to rest.

[Lochloosa]

13. Can you walk on it? Yes. Not broken. No. Broken.

[randr]

15. Ice it down in cold ice water, as cold as you can stand it

until your toes are numb. Breaks or strains are painful from the inflammation and that you can control. Do this as pain returns. If discomfort persists for more that two days make it to an emergency room for xrays.

[MFM008]

19. I've broken my little toe

Twice. They said they couldn't do much about that one BUT a break to the big toe can destabilize the bones in the foot. While an ambulance may not be called for a taxi or Uber may be needed to get in for an x ray.

[left-of-center2012]

20. How can you tell ...

An X-ray.

I've had both a broken big toe and a 'sprained' (stubbed) big toe.
Both were treated by doing nothing.

OTC pain pills and time.

That said, I'm not a doctor and not qualified to give medical advice.
Just telling you what my experience was and what docs told me.
One gave me the option of nothing or wearing a medical 'walking boot'.

I didn't want the boot.

[discntnt_irny_srcsm]

21. If trump sprains his toe, can we give him the boot?