How Do You Know If You Have A Broken Toe?

How Do You Know If You Have A Broken Toe?

By:


Did you know that you have 26 bones in your foot? That's more than other part of the body. Of those 26 bones in your foot, 19 are toe bones and metatarsal bones (the long bones in the mid foot).

Fractures of the toe and metatarsal bones are common and require evaluation by a foot and ankle specialist. Even if the patient has been to the ER, he or she should still see a foot and ankle doctor.

Fractures (a break in the bone) can be divided into two categories: traumatic fractures and stress fractures.

Traumatic fractures are caused by a direct blow or impact, such as seriously stubbing your toe. Signs and symptoms of a traumatic fracture include:

A sound at the time of the break."Pinpoint pain" at the time the fracture occurs and perhaps for a few hours later, but often the pain goes away after several hours.Crooked or abnormal appearance of the toe.Bruising and swelling the next day.It is not true that "if you can walk on it, it's not broken."

Evaluation by a foot and ankle doctor is always recommended. Stress fractures are tiny, hairline breaks that are usually caused by repetitive stress. Stress fractures often happen to athletes who rapidly increase their activity. They can also be caused by an abnormal foot structure, deformities, or osteoporosis.

Improper footwear may also lead to stress fractures. Stress fractures should not be ignored. They require proper medical attention to heal correctly. Symptoms of stress fractures include:

Pain with or after normal activity.
Pain that goes away when resting and then returns when standing or during activity.
"Pinpoint pain" (pain at the site of the fracture) when touched.Swelling, but no bruising.
Another type of break, a Jones fracture, happens behind the little toe. It is often misdiagnosed as an ankle sprain, and misdiagnosis can have serious consequences since sprains and fractures require different treatments. A foot and ankle doctor can correctly identifying these conditions as well as other problems of the foot.

Treatment of fractures depends on the type and extent of the fracture, but may include:

Sometimes rest is the only treatment needed to promote healing.
Avoid the strenuous activity.Crutches or a wheelchair are sometimes required to give the foot time to heal.Immobilization, casting, or rigid shoe to protect the fractured bone while it is healing.
Some fractures require surgery. Physical therapy, exercises and rehabilitation may be included.

Any type of foot or toe pain is never normal. A foot and ankle doctor can examine your feet and give you the best course of action.

About the Author:
Please call 626-447-2184 (Arcadia) or 310-551-1711 (Century City) to speak to a trained foot and ankle specialist about your foot and/or ankle needs.



Article Originally Published On: http://www.articlesnatch.com


Tags: , , , ,

|

Loading...
Related....
Videos...

Recent Health Articles

Comments

Still can't find what you are looking for? Search for it!

Loading

Site Navigation:

Copyright 2005-2011 ArticleSnatch, LLC - All Rights Reserved.
Privacy Policy | Terms of Service.