Just my luck.. broken / sprained toe - going on holiday Saturday!

Basq

Well, balls!

Am off to the US on Saturday (but going to Dublin tomorrow) and think I may have sprained or broken my toe this morning getting out of the shower.

Any telltale signs besides going to the doctor? It looks slightly swollen and is unpleasant to stand on, but I can stand on it (in fact, I walked 15 minutes to work with it this morning.. slowly but I did it).

Am gonna see if the swelling goes down in the next few hours.. and if not, guess I'll go up to casualty.

PS - sorry for putting this in here but couldn't see anywhere else it really suits. We really need a 'Medical Advice' type forum. Think it was proposed at one stage!

Ron DMC

I say wait. It might just be bruised. See if the swelling goes down. Saturday's ages away.

Oh, and I think the forum doesn't exist because of the chances of people giving bad advice.

moneyman

Doesn't sound broke to me. Sounds like a sprain.

But then again, I'm not a doctor. Just going by past experiences for me.

Basq

Ronny Mitchell wrote: »

I say wait. It might just be bruised. See if the swelling goes down. Saturday's ages away.

Oh, and I think the forum doesn't exist because of the chances of people giving bad advice.

Cheers Ronny.. and yeah, that was the exact reason it was denied IIRC.

moneyman wrote:

Doesn't sound broke to me. Sounds like a sprain.

But then again, I'm not a doctor. Just going by past experiences for me.

Odds are it is a sprain.. but would be ideal to get it treated before I go if it's not.

It'll also make walking around in the Florida heat very enjoyable!

Sherifu

Unlucky basq. Ice'er up.

RedXIV

Broke my toe before, you wouldn't be walking around much if you did.
(although i'm assuming it's the big one like me)

If its swollen, give it plenty of rest, walk very little on it and best bet is cold cloth wrapped around it, be it with ice or simply soaked in cold water.

Hope ya get better by sat

Steve_o

If it were broke, theres no way you'd have been able to walk on it... As Sherifu said... Ice it up!!!

Standard Toaster

Trust me, if it was broken you'd know it

Dave!

Concentrate on the positive: you're going to the US on Saturday

Basq

Should be no real point in going to the doctor / casualty if it is a sprain anyways, right?

Sherifu wrote: »

Unlucky basq. Ice'er up.

Cheers mate.. that's the plan!

RedXIV wrote: »

Broke my toe before, you wouldn't be walking around much if you did.
(although i'm assuming it's the big one like me)

If its swollen, give it plenty of rest, walk very little on it and best bet is cold cloth wrapped around it, be it with ice or simply soaked in cold water.

Hope ya get better by sat

It is indeed the big one. Looks slightly bigger than the big toe on my left foot.. but not obviously bigger. Though the swelling may increase unless I put some ice on it. Can't leave work though as I'm the only one in the office!

No real room for resting I'm afraid. Busy this evening, work tomorrow, going on the train and flying all day Saturday!

No ice or cold water in the office. But might try and find a bowl somewhere and fill it from the taps.

DaveMcG wrote:

Concentrate on the positive: you're going to the US on Saturday

True.. but this couldn't have happened at a worse time!

whiskeyman

is there a shop nearby?
Go out (or ask someone) to get a small bag of frozen peas (or similar) to put on yer toe.
Sounds badly bruised / sprained. Just rest up and you'll be fine.

Bon Voyage!

RedXIV

basquille wrote: »

It is indeed the big one. Looks slightly bigger than the big toe on my left foot.. but not obviously bigger. Though the swelling may increase unless I put some ice on it. Can't leave work though as I'm the only one in the office!

No real room for resting I'm afraid. Busy this evening, work tomorrow, going on the train and flying all day Saturday!

No ice or cold water in the office. But might try and find a bowl somewhere and fill it from the taps.

If your the only one in the office, feel free to take your shoes off and rest on your heels with your feet pointing up. I've no idea why your supposed to do this, just something the doc told me when i did it.

P.S. keeping it cold is highly recommended

Draupnir

Ice it to high heaven and just look forward to your trip. It will probably be sore for 2/3 weeks but sure thats not a big problem at all.

Basq

whiskeyman wrote: »

is there a shop nearby?
Go out (or ask someone) to get a small bag of frozen peas (or similar) to put on yer toe.
Sounds badly bruised / sprained. Just rest up and you'll be fine.

Bon Voyage!

Yeah, there's a shop fairly near me alright. Might do that so. Cheers!

RedXIV wrote: »

If your the only one in the office, feel free to take your shoes off and rest on your heels with your feet pointing up. I've no idea why your supposed to do this, just something the doc told me when i did it.

P.S. keeping it cold is highly recommended

Yeah, shoes have been off all morning.

Found a bowl and put some cold water in it.. foot is sitting in it now though water is starting to warm already. Might go get peas so!

Draupnir wrote:

Ice it to high heaven and just look forward to your trip. It will probably be sore for 2/3 weeks but sure thats not a big problem at all.

Yeah, am away for 10 days but hopefully it should ease up (in terms of pain) over the next few days.

Hail 2 Da Chimp

Actually I've often wondered if you went to the chemists would they be able to tell you if it was broken?
Same thing happened me a few weeks ago, think it may have been broken before as I can't bend it as much as my other big toe.
No way I'm paying for an X-ray either...

Basq

Hail 2 Da Chimp wrote: »

Actually I've often wondered if you went to the chemists would they be able to tell you if it was broken?

Doubt it without de-shoeing and de-socking and propping it up on their counter and shouting 'LOOK IT AT............. IT'S HUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUGE!11!'

Hail 2 Da Chimp wrote:

Same thing happened me a few weeks ago, think it may have been broken before as I can't bend it as much as my other big toe.

Possibly.. not too late to go and get it checked out now. Better to pay a bit of cash to put your mind at ease... you can live without that pretty new dress you've had your eye on, right?

Hail 2 Da Chimp

Well they won't actually do anything for a broken toe. Prob painkillers is all you'd get. I don't think if you went to A&E they'd even bother X-raying you...

And no... I can not live without that new dress - it's so super fabulous!

hairymolly

Ouch that brings back memories. Two years ago we were going to Portugal on hols due to go on a Tuesday. Friday my son's school were playing a 'friendly' match against an english team. He put his leg up to block the ball, instead he got an almighty kick into the side of the knee. Long story short, spent five hours in a filthy A&E, thankfully nothing broken, damage to cartilage, very swollen and painful. He had no choice but to rest it on the lead up to the hols, same advice to you. I would get it checked out to be on the safe side.

Thephantomsmask

Having done the same to my big toe, there's nothing a doctor can do except splint it to the neighbouring toe for support. If you ask a pharmacist for some advice on strapping tape and padding to put between it then they'll be able to steer you right. Neurofen to ease the swelling and inflammation will help too. Like everyone else said keep the weight off and icing will be more effective if you put some ice cubes into a bowl of cold water without letting yourself get frostbite.

Mackman

Definatly not broken, ya wouldnt be walking around if it was. Could be chipped though. Happened me before. was a little sore for about 2 days, then got progressevly worse untill i couldnt walk and needed crutches.
went to the doctor, got x-ray and all that, then they just put a splint on it and sent me home. was better in a week