Broken toe

[freestone]

Getting an x-ray of the little toe would not be worth the exposure to ionizing radiation and chances are the doctor would not order one anyway. Save the dose for when you really need it.

[rlown]

It isn't broken until you have proof. Otherwise a sprain.

[SSSdave]

Have had some painfully smashed toes over the years. Some I thought might have simple hairline fractures. But such tends to heal on its own as our body's have amazing abilities to heal. Anything more serious is probably going to be obvious.

[rlown]

It isn't broken unless you know it is broken.

[rayfound]

So I do an x-ray, then what? Seriously I do not want to get near a medical facility right now. It is getting better every day. I bought some oversized wide running shoes and am wearing them now. Still a week before I will be actually backpacking.

As I currently have a broken big toe, I think the biggest thing for the x-ray is learning that bones are properly positioned, and that you're dealing with a bone injury and not specifically something else. And also to have a reference point for a recheck after 3-5 weeks of healing.

That said, I've never personally gone for xrays on a pinky toe injury and both of mine would appear to be mis-shapen from repeated injuries.

Injury to my big toe advice from doc was as follows:
1. Manage activity to pain.
2. Tape to immobilize as possible
3. reduce activity as much as possible early on - more rest, early = shorter recovery
4. expect it to be a good long while before it is "normal".
5. come back in 4 weeks for recheck of xray and evaluation of healing.


Good luck... toes HURT.

[rayfound]

It isn't broken unless you know it is broken.

It exists in a state of being both broken, and intact, until it is examined.

[rlown]

Broken stuff haunts you for the rest of your life.. Even sprains..

[rayfound]

Broken stuff haunts you for the rest of your life.. Even sprains..

Don't tell me that!

[rlown]

ibuprofen and aspirin become your friend.

[Wandering Daisy]

Well, the continuing saga of the "maybe broken" pinky is documented in my trip reports in the "Beyond Sierra" sub-forum. It works fine now, no pain, but is just a slight bit larger than the other one. But since I never really inspected my toes in much detail in the past, maybe it was always different. I strained my shoulder early last spring too, and that injury has NOT totally healed. I still cannot bend it back to put on my pack without a slight tweak pain. And add to all that, my arthritic hands which make the pinch-closures on my pack difficult to work. Oh, the joys of getting old!