Broken toe

A broken toe can be painful, but you do not usually need to go to hospital. There are things you can do to treat it at home.

Check if you have a broken toe

You may have broken your toe if it's:

• red or bruised
• painful and swollen
• difficult to walk on

Do not worry if you're not sure if it's broken or just bruised, treatment is usually the same for both.

Get help from 111 Wales if :

• you have a bad cut or wound after injuring your toe
• you have severe toe pain
• your child has hurt or broken their toe

You may need further treatment in hospital, such as a boot, cast or surgery.

You can call 111 Wales or get help from 111 Wales online.

Go to A&E if :

• you think you have broken your big toe
• your toe is pointing out at an odd angle
• the bone is sticking out of your toe
• there was a snap, grinding or popping noise at the time of injury
• you feel tingling in your toe or foot or it feels numb

What you can do about a broken toe

Doctors will usually suggest you treat a broken toe at home first if:

• it's not your big toe
• the bone is not sticking out of your foot
• your toe is not pointing at an odd angle
• there's no wound on your toe

Broken toes usually heal within 4 to 6 weeks, but it can sometimes take several months.

Do

• take ibuprofen or paracetamol for the pain and swelling
• rest your foot and keep it raised
• hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel on your toe for up to 20 minutes every few hours
• wear wide, comfortable shoes with a low heel
• avoid walking around as much as possible
• strap up your broken toe – put a small piece of cotton wool or gauze between your sore toe and the toe next to it, then tape them together to support the sore toe

Don't

• do not strap up your toe if it's pointing out at an odd angle or you have hurt your big toe – get medical advice
• do not put ice directly on your skin
• do not walk or stand for long periods
• do not wear tight, pointy shoes
• do not play any sports like football, rugby or hockey for 6 weeks or until the pain eases
• do not try to treat your child's toe – take them to an urgent treatment centre or A&E

A pharmacist can help with a broken toe :

You can ask a pharmacist about:

• the best painkiller to take
• what you need to strap up your toe
• if you need to see a GP

Find a pharmacy

See a GP if :

• pain and swelling has not started to ease 2 to 3 days after you injured your toe
• it still hurts to walk 6 weeks after injuring your toe
• you have diabetes and have injured your toe – foot problems can be more serious if you have diabetes

They may send you for an X-ray to see if you need any further treatment.