If you have fractured your foot or toe, essentially you have broken it. Medical professionals use the words fractured and broken interchangeably. Bones can break or fracture from an acute injury or as is found most often in the foot, from repeated stress to the bone over a sustained period. If you think you have a broken foot or toe, contact Hattiesburg Clinic first. We have x-ray and imaging services available onsite, saving you from costly emergency room visits.
There are 26 bones in your foot and a variety of ways to break them. While a broken foot can occur from an acute injury, often overuse and osteoporosis can cause stress fractures or small splinters in the bones.
While it may be tempting to follow the RICE method (rest, ice, compression, elevation), a fracture that is not treated can lead to long-term foot pain and arthritis, affecting your ability to walk. The podiatrists at Hattiesburg Clinic will properly diagnose the type of break and create a treatment plan to heal your foot.
A broken toe is a common injury since the toes are small and bones are vulnerable. Because the bones in the toes are connected to the rest of the foot, one broken toe can be very painful and cause issues with walking or standing.
It may be tempting to treat a broken toe at home, but a podiatrist can help determine the seriousness of the break and what kind of treatment is necessary for a speedy recovery. Treatment of a fractured toe may include splinting, buddy taping, special shoes or a walking boot. If it is the big toe that is fractured, additional treatment may be necessary, including surgery if x-rays show the injury is severe. It is important to see a podiatrist to help prevent nerve damage or further stress to the surrounding foot bones.
The initial pain and swelling from a broken toe should go away within a week, but with proper rest and immobilization, full recovery of the bone can take six to eight weeks.
If you think you have a fractured foot or toe, Hattiesburg Clinic can help. Our board-certified podiatrists treat patients of all ages and are currently accepting new patients. Contact us today to schedule an appointment.