Broken toe

Second day of Chinese New Year 2015 (20 Feb) and I think I broke a toe. I stubbed it on the leg of a fixed chair - I was wearing sandals and the toe hit the metal leg. It was painful but not overly bad. Later when I had quite a long walk back to the car followed by a drive home, it was OK.

It was quite bruised and swollen and hurt a bit when I walked on it that evening. However it was nothing like the time when I broke a bone in my left foot in Feb 2003. That was really painful, incredibly bruised and I ended up having my leg put in plaster.

The next morning it was OK until I started walking, then it was grumbling. The swelling and bruising were worse. I googled it, and was comforted to read on the NHS broken toe website, that -

"A broken toe is a common injury..............., usually caused by dropping a heavy object on the foot or hitting the toe on something. It usually takes four to six weeks to heal, although severe injuries may take longer.
A break or a crack in a bone is also known as a fracture.

 

This advice is about the care of a toe following an injury. If you're not sure whether the toe is broken or just badly sprained, don't worry – in most cases, a painful and swollen toe caused by an injury should be cared for at home, regardless of whether or not it's broken.

How do I know if I’ve broken my toe?

A broken toe will be painful, swollen and red. There may be bruising of the skin around the area and sometimes a collection of blood beneath the toenail. You'll find it difficult to walk and wearing a shoe will be painful.
If the break is severe, the toe may stick out at an angle.
Most broken toes can be cared for at home and medical treatment may not be necessary.

When to see your GP

Check the toe every day and call your GP if:

• the pain gets worse or isn't relieved by ordinary painkillers – your GP may be able to prescribe a stronger painkiller
• the swelling or discolouration doesn’t improve after a few days
• you have a wound near the injured toe, which will need cleansing to prevent infection "

So according to that, I don't need to see a doctor. The website continued with tips for caring for the broken toe at home.
First evening -

 

Next day -