I know this isn't WebMD, but.....

llecs · ‎01-02-2009

....some advice: never ever run in the dark to turn off a forgotten wake up alarm with bare feet.

My left middle toe ran right into an unpacked suitcase and my 6'3" frame came fwomping down. Nothing bad came of the fall, but my toe has been throbbing for the past 2 hrs. Hurts to walk, but bearable.

Dilemma: I don't want to sit in the ER for 5-8 hrs (always busy in the DC area) only to be subscribed pain reliever and told to keep ice on it while propped up. I can do that myself without the wait.

I don't know if it is broken or not. It is straight and there is little swelling. I did break my big toe once and know what a break in the foot area feels like, and this pain is close.

If broken, would there be any perm. harm done by not going to the doctor?

MidnightVoice · ‎01-02-2009

The first time I broke a toe I went to the doctor and he said "it is broken and there is nothing you can do other than avoid breaking it again"

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llecs · ‎01-02-2009

MidnightVoice wrote:
The first time I broke a toe I went to the doctor and he said "it is broken and there is nothing you can do other than avoid breaking it again"

Classic.

Anonymous · ‎01-02-2009

Yes the last poster is right....in general they won't do anything for a broken toe. I would go buy some Iburophen and take that for a while. It will help reduce any swelling and ease the pain. If you are in bad enough pain you could always get one of those attractive open toe bootie shoes. No field goal kicking for you for awhile.

Anonymous · ‎01-02-2009

stick it in some ice. every few hours.

PS: Put a cloth between toe and ice or you will do more damage.

Message Edited by casinoannie97 on 01-02-2009 06:14 AM

llecs · ‎01-02-2009

wildcat wrote:
No field goal kicking for you for awhile.

Too bad that my chance to turn around the Detroit Lion's season had already passed anyway.

Scamp · ‎01-02-2009

llecs, do they have any walk-in clinics, either stand-alone 'urgent care' kinds of places or something like some of the drug stores' in-store clinics for non-emergencies, near you? I've never used the latter, but my SIL did when one of her kids had a cold or something, and I too often seem to end up at the local walk-in urgent care clinic when I really need to see someone same-day and my doc can't squeeze me in.

The urgent care clinics can still be a bit of a wait (I think I sat for an hour or 2, last time I went after a head-on collision with another cyclist that wrenched/bruised my shoulder something wicked), but they're not as bad that way as ER's nor as expensive, and often they can dispense drugs on-site for you.

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guiness56 · ‎01-02-2009

You can tape the bad toe to a good one next too it. It keeps it from moving around too freely and eases the pain.

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Anonymous · ‎01-02-2009

Ouch, but I can relate to the pain. My dad left his metal tool box at the foot of the stairs one day and I went running down them to answer the phone (this was way back when with corded phones only in like one room of the house) and I saw the tool box too late and my foot slammed into it breaking one of my toes (the middle one) and sending me airborne.

They took me to the ER and there was not much they could do. Gave me some crutches since my foot was pretty much a mess and painful to walk on. It took some time to heal and it sure hurt. I kept it propped up and ice on and off for however many minutes you are suppose to rotate it. Yes, and do as Annie says to keep a towel in between the ice pack and skin. That hurts too! (So does falling asleep on a heating pad and having to have it peeled from your back, but that's another story but sorta gives you an idea)

Hope you get to feeling better.

llecs · ‎01-02-2009

Thanks for the tips guys! Pain isn't bad at all. Could be worse, I guess. Swelling has picked up a little, but it is one of the busiest days of the month at the office today.

Scamp wrote:
llecs, do they have any walk-in clinics, either stand-alone 'urgent care' kinds of places or something like some of the drug stores' in-store clinics for non-emergencies, near you? I've never used the latter, but my SIL did when one of her kids had a cold or something, and I too often seem to end up at the local walk-in urgent care clinic when I really need to see someone same-day and my doc can't squeeze me in.

The urgent care clinics can still be a bit of a wait (I think I sat for an hour or 2, last time I went after a head-on collision with another cyclist that wrenched/bruised my shoulder something wicked), but they're not as bad that way as ER's nor as expensive, and often they can dispense drugs on-site for you.

Other than the doctor (who really can't do much without an x-ray) and the hospital, the only other option are urgent care centers. There's a few, but the wait is long. A little OT, but I don't trust them. I had appendicitis, and two different urgent care centers diagnosed my symptoms as resulting from a bad cold or flu. Since then, I've stayed away.