To see the doctor or not to see the doctor?

[Dijita]

I'm 95% sure that I broke my toe (the one beside my big toe) about 2.5 months ago.

 

It's still twice the size of my other toe and sometimes it bruises right up. I've been buddy taping it all of the time. It still hurts. I grabbed the broken toe with my hand and physically tried to bend my toe at each joint. It can bend where the toe joins the foot, but limited because of swelling... but when I bend the first joint it does not move, I cannot bend it at all. Not because of the pain but because it physically will not bend at that join any longer.

 

I called the clinic to see if it's worth making an appointment, but the lady at the desk said that even if it is broken theres nothing they can do about it.

 

Should I see a doctor? If it didn't hurt I wouldn't care. However it's uncomfortable to wear footwear. I hate seeing doctors for stupid things... but darn what am I supposed to do with my toe.

 

Has anyone had something similar happen?

 

(edit: Shoot, sorry, I accidently posted this in the wrong discussion, should have gone under Health and Fitness)

[italian_guy]

I had a problem with my big toe few months ago.

 

It completely healed in about 20 days but during these 20 days it was slowly but constantly improving. If you have the problem since 2.5 months and it does not show any sign of improvement I suggest you to see the doctor.

 

Before going to the doctor it can be wothwhile to show it to some instructor or senior student at your dojo, surely they have some experience... but I think if it is that bad their advice will be the same as mine.

[CanuckMA]

Go see a doctor. It probably was broken and may have healed wrong. It may need to be re-broken and then reset.

 

The lady at the clinic was only partially right. True, you can't immobilize a broken toe more than buddy taping, but it must be set right first.

 

Good luck.

[EvilTed]

Yeah, I think you broke it or fractured something at the base of it.

 

I did a simillar thing with my right foot (same toe) and left it alone.

 

Months later when I broke my pinky toe on the same foot I got an X-Ray which showed lots of chips and fragments at the base of the first toe damaged.

 

It had the caption 'probably old' and an arrow pointing at it

 

Get it X-Rayed and be sure.

 

Osu!

 

ET

[Dijita]

Haha, probably old.

 

Yeah but did they actually do anything with it? Is having bone fragments bad?

[karatekid1975]

EvilTed had sound advice. Get it X-rayed.

 

I'll move this to the health forum so you will get more help.

[Red J]

I'm 95% sure that I broke my toe (the one beside my big toe) about 2.5 months ago.

 

It's still twice the size of my other toe

 

Not a good sign....see the doc....just my two cents....

[trekmann]

As someone who works in the health industry I would definitely recommend seeing a doctor.

[aefibird]

Yep, definately go see a doctor! Hope your toe heals up soon.

[Dijita]

Awww man....

 

I went and saw a doctor last night about my toe. He said "Yes you broke it, and of course you can't move it." I said "Why not?" and then he explained to me how the bones fused together so I basicly do not have a joint in my toe anymore . It still hurts, and that bugs me. He said the only thing they can do is go in and do surgery to actually shorten that toe so it's not always jamming into things. He added that he'd only do that as a last resort.

 

Anyways he sent me on my way with a prescription for some anti-inflammatory stuff that's real expensive. Hopefully once the inflammation goes away my toe won't hurt so much. He also wants me to get an x-ray anyways.

 

Lesson learned though.... even with a broken toe, get it checked out sometimes they might actually be able to do something for it. Perhaps if it got set properlly the bones wouldn't have fused together.