"Pinkie" Toe--Broken, Not Displaced

by Terry
(Wilmington, Delaware, USA)

Question

Sat. Dec. 2, 2011

I'll briefly describe the kind of toe fracture I experienced and ask a few questions about treatment until I see a podiatrist. I'm not sure how often this site is checked for comments, but I appreciate that there's a place where I can seek sensible, well-informed advice.

I think I'm lucky in that I sought an X-Ray within two hours of stubbing my left "pinkie" toe yesterday morning. That "trauma" and the instantaneous sharp pain convinced me that I'd experienced something more severe than just a routine contusion. At a walk-in medical aid unit I found out that, as I suspected, I had a fractured toe. The X-Ray showed that the break was located in the middle of the "second" bone (proximal phalange, I think--the one immediately above the "end" bone-- of my smallest, or "pinkie" toe.

The fracture was not displaced, which was good, the doctor said. I was given a boot to wear, an Rx for Vicodin, and told to see a podiatrist (which I've scheduled for on Monday, 48 hours from now).

I bought a cane, which I'm using with my left hand to ease the weight on my left foot. Is this the proper way to use the cane? Also, I'm taking Tylenol, not NSAID like Alleve, which I remember from previous fractures is to be avoided. My only other question is whether to use ice after I'm upright and walking around? (I have a dog and must get outside to walk her.)

Thanks for considering my entry on this thread.

Terry

Answer

The cane is used simply to remove pressure from the healing fracture.

Ice is best for soft tissue injuries. It does not help with broken bones. This is why pain relief is sometimes required in the form of medication for fractures.