Broken Toe, Who to seek?

Jenners!

I've read that no medical advice is to be given out on boards, my query is regarding what professional I should seek advice from. Mods please delete if still inappropriate, apologies if so.

I broke my big toe a month ago and ignored it as I thought it would heal on it own.

Having being running and surfing however I think it needs medical attention.

Any time I go to the doctor.. I'm not cured. I feel my General Practitioner has a general idea on the body, and just makes assumptions without curing. Every doctor I see actually, I have this experience with. Therefore I have not gone in for my toe, as I don't want to spend another fifty euro on nothing.. again.

So I'm seeking advice for some other profession I could seek advice from instead, such as those that specialist in feet or bone or toes, such as (google search) Chiropodist, or physiotherapist. I would like to be given advice worth it's money, and since in my experience I can't find a GP to help, unfortunately, could someone inform me perhaps on their knowledge regarding these professions? Would they be relevant?

Im unfamiliar with specialists, such as physiotherapist etc, and am afraid that I might find a charlatan if I seek without a little prior advice. How do you know if a practitioner is worth their fee in jargon terms? How will I know if Im accepting a unnecessary service ?

Im skeptical from experience, but ignoring the problem seems to be solving nothing. Any advice for a novice appreciated!

ultraman1

A+E maybe

Jenners!

After a month? Never been before, maybe they would just send me away? Does A & E cost money, like for xrays?

username123

A&E is your cheapest option. No, they cant send you away, and the cost of x-rays is included in the fee for the visit.

Gingernuts31

Jenners! wrote: »

After a month? Never been before, maybe they would just send me away? Does A & E cost money, like for xrays?

If you don't have a medical card or health insurance then yes it costs money. You don't pay it there and then you'll get a bill to your house.

Jenners!

No medical card or insurance,

I suppose that is the safest option then, thanks for the advice !

huskerdu

Jenners! wrote: »

No medical card or insurance,

I suppose that is the safest option then, thanks for the advice !

The fee for a visit to A&E is €100. If you are referred by your GP, there is no fee.

It is cheaper to go to your GP and ask for a referral letter for A&E, then pay the hospital fee.

The Rook

huskerdu wrote: »

The fee for a visit to A&E is €100. If you are referred by your GP, there is no fee.

It is cheaper to go to your GP and ask for a referral letter for A&E, than pay the hospital fee.

Fixed your post, and in this case the grammar change does make a difference to the content & context, I'm not being a pain in the ass!!

Cartman78

It may be a bit late in the day going to A+E a month after the break.

If you had gone initially they could have done a manual realignment and buddy taping, but the healing process of the bone should be well under way now so there would be very little they could do at this point (other than give you a progress report via an x-ray).

Would recommend going to a pysio and getting a massage on your foot and toe. Assuming that the toe is healing ok, any pain you're getting know is probably from tissue and/or nerves around the area.

JohnnyCrash

Not being funny,but how do you know that you broke it

Jenners!

.. not fishing for medical advice here, but to explain why I believe it is broken, in response to JonnyCrash question,

When I fell (running in from the rain) the next day it was completely swollen and black and blue. I could not move it due to the swelling, when that subsided a day or two later I forced myself to bend it with my hands thinking it would not move if broken or be unbearably painful. So I could move it after a few days, with pain. But I could bend it so I assumed it was just a sprain. Then I stubbed it while moving house the next day, and then it was really painful. That's when I suspected it was broken.

After the swelling went down completely I went surfing a week after the initial injury, and when standing up from the water I kept bending my toe back sliding onto the board, as you do. Lots of pain though.

A month later I cannot fully bend it compared to the other big toe, and there is an abnormal bump along the side of it too, and something that moves within it too.. (gross). I'm become aware of my toe also as I run and drive, it pains me still.

So that's why I believe it broken.

Maybe my question should be asking if anyone knows of a good GP since I don't..!
Even when advised here on boards to go to my GP to get referred to A & E I can just imagine her sending me home as usual. That's why I ask if anyone is familiar with another professional I could go to instead regarding feet, from their experience. I don't mind spending money as long as I will get on the road to recovered, but I do mind spending fifty euro to just be sent home.

username123

dandanmur wrote: »

https://www.facebook.com/pages/Kevin-Boyd-Sport-Personal-Injury-Clinic/288260684611958 Went to this lad a few times, with foot problems, knows his stuff

hmmmm

Fully Qualified Athletic Rehabilitation Therapist

In other words no medical training whatsoever. At your own risk.

Gingernuts31

Jenners! wrote: »

.. not fishing for medical advice here, but to explain why I believe it is broken, in response to JonnyCrash question,

When I fell (running in from the rain) the next day it was completely swollen and black and blue. I could not move it due to the swelling, when that subsided a day or two later I forced myself to bend it with my hands thinking it would not move if broken or be unbearably painful. So I could move it after a few days, with pain. But I could bend it so I assumed it was just a sprain. Then I stubbed it while moving house the next day, and then it was really painful. That's when I suspected it was broken.

After the swelling went down completely I went surfing a week after the initial injury, and when standing up from the water I kept bending my toe back sliding onto the board, as you do. Lots of pain though.

A month later I cannot fully bend it compared to the other big toe, and there is an abnormal bump along the side of it too, and something that moves within it too.. (gross). I'm become aware of my toe also as I run and drive, it pains me still.

So that's why I believe it broken.

Maybe my question should be asking if anyone knows of a good GP since I don't..!
Even when advised here on boards to go to my GP to get referred to A & E I can just imagine her sending me home as usual. That's why I ask if anyone is familiar with another professional I could go to instead regarding feet, from their experience. I don't mind spending money as long as I will get on the road to recovered, but I do mind spending fifty euro to just be sent home.

You can't just call A&E and ask them if they can deal with it? I think after a month id say it going to stay as it is now. You've prob done long term damage to it by not seeking help right away so don't be suprised if they tell you it can't be fixed cause its left so long.

username123

dandanmur wrote: »

He's done a masters in DCU & worked at the University of Pittsburg, so yeah you're right he's unqualified......................

So what? He wont be covered by any medical regulations in this country as Fully Qualified Athletic Rehabilitation Therapist is not a protected medical professional term in this country. His qualifications could be in plumbing. Its important when seeking treatment to seek it from the correct people who have the correct medical insurance, going to unqualified people leaves you wide open, if the guy injured you further you would have no legal comeback and would only be able to sue him civilly.

Its also a bit odd that you registered on this site purely to advertise the services of this non professional.

andrew241983

If Mister Miyagi was still alive he could sort you out no bother

Cartman78

Gingernuts31 wrote: »

You can't just call A&E and ask them if they can deal with it? I think after a month id say it going to stay as it is now. You've prob done long term damage to it by not seeking help right away so don't be suprised if they tell you it can't be fixed cause its left so long.

Yep...agree with everything here.

I think the only realistic option is to go to a GP. They'll be able to examine the toe and determine if it's healing properly and give informed direction and advice.

As mentioned in previous posts, anything else would be risky. The big toe is more important than people seem to realise so not something you want to flute about with and hope it gets better all by itself.

spurscormac

At this stage I agree with going to a GP, but I would advise on getting to one who has some interest in sport.
My doc as a kid was great with sports injuries as he was big into running & cycling himself and took a keen interest in the subject. There was also a great doc in UL when I was there, but I've not got as good a GP since then.
As I'm doing less of the team sports, the injuries are kept to a minimum, so fingers crossed it stays that way.

If you can get recommendations for a sports enthusiast GP in your area, that can certainly help reduce the likelihood of the "there's nothing we can do at this point" response, as they are more likely to understand the impact the injury can have on training etc.

Jenners!

Hmm that is a pretty good point actually, and obvious now that I think about it, a problem shared I suppose!

Thanks for the input and thoughts,

Oregano_State

Jenners! wrote: »

I've read that no medical advice is to be given out on boards, my query is regarding what professional I should seek advice from. Mods please delete if still inappropriate, apologies if so.

I broke my big toe a month ago and ignored it as I thought it would heal on it own.

Having being running and surfing however I think it needs medical attention.

Any time I go to the doctor.. I'm not cured. I feel my General Practitioner has a general idea on the body, and just makes assumptions without curing. Every doctor I see actually, I have this experience with. Therefore I have not gone in for my toe, as I don't want to spend another fifty euro on nothing.. again.

So I'm seeking advice for some other profession I could seek advice from instead, such as those that specialist in feet or bone or toes, such as (google search) Chiropodist, or physiotherapist. I would like to be given advice worth it's money, and since in my experience I can't find a GP to help, unfortunately, could someone inform me perhaps on their knowledge regarding these professions? Would they be relevant?

Im unfamiliar with specialists, such as physiotherapist etc, and am afraid that I might find a charlatan if I seek without a little prior advice. How do you know if a practitioner is worth their fee in jargon terms? How will I know if Im accepting a unnecessary service ?

Im skeptical from experience, but ignoring the problem seems to be solving nothing. Any advice for a novice appreciated!

If you're not happy with your GP then you can change Doctor pretty easily. Physiotherapists are not as qualified as medical doctors to deal with broken bones, and I wouldn't consider them specialists, even on muscle injuries.

A good doctor is always a safe bet for health matters. If they don't know, they should refer you to someone who does.

JohnnyCrash

I think I did pretty much the same damage to my big toe many many many years ago(35-40 years ago). Caught it under a door whilst sliding down the hallway in stockinged feet, as you do when you are a young lad.Toe went up like a baloon,black and blue,all I could wear was one of my dads slippers on it. Went to family doc who said it was very badly sprained,that was that. In hindsight,I think the damage was worse than diagnosed and at this present moment in time,as a result,I have hallux limitus,bordering on hallux rigidus.This can be corrected with surgery but at this stage,I could'nt be bothered.If you can get it seen to sooner rather than later,you wont have problems down the line like I do.
P.S. Even though my toe is almost totally fused,I can still knock out 45 miles a week without too much hassle:D

zymar

i would reccommend A+E as your first choice of assessment/treatment.it will probably be the cheapest and best option