Broken Toe?

[ladyjai]

I hope not!!!

I was taking a shower, grabbed the towel off the towel hanger thingie, and it fell apart. the metal wall attachment slammed into my toe, and i reeled in pain. a circlish area with a dot in the center appeared where the assailant had slammed my middle toe - in the center. it hurt, but not so bad. OK, fine, grr. but ouch. I finished getting ready, and after eating lunch, i notice the toe is very tender and hurts when i walk. It's starting to swell. another hour later, I put my foot on the ground and the world stops for a moment. give it a little and it seems to settle to a dull roar. we go to performance as i need a new chain - 45$$$ for a campy 10 speed!!! I walk around a bit as my friend checks out the shoes, and finally sit down realizing walking isn't the greatest idea - even limping as I am.
I get home and my foot is almost useless. there's significant swelling - no bruising or the red mark i'd seen earlier - and i'm walking on the side of my foot. the tweaking of my toe that causes is not good. I've taped it to the other 2 toes and it's much better when hobbling around. (I also had ice on it for awhile).

are there any other damages one can do to one's toes with projectiles coming from shoulder's height? i'd prefer a jam or something, but it really wasn't jammed...

I've broken a bone before and it hurt, not like this hurts when I move it, but it doesn't hurt much when i hold still. my leg hurt constantly 24-7... getting an x-ray for a toe, when they can't do much about it anyway... i've seen enough doctors if i can help it...

I refuse to be off my bike for 3-4 months over a toe. even if I can't ride faster than 10mph, i will be on that bike! However, does anyone have any tips for what I could/should do when attempting such a thing? lol. hopefully it is not broken, but I don't know at this point...

[annie]

Ice the toe. Elevate the toe. Take an anti-inflamatory (I'd opt for ibuprofen) and rest for at least a day. Then see how it feels. Do not stress it with any pressure, such as uncomfortable shoes (spikes! ) Hope it feels better quickly!

annie

[Nanci]

I'm betting you didn't break it. Toes mostly get broken by kicking something accidentally with the full force of a normal stride, or by getting crushed by something _very_ heavy. I can't tell you how many times my toes have been stomped _hard_ by a horse without breaking. (X-ray tech by profession, so know the mechanisms of broken toes.) (But used to be a horseshoer, plus owned horses my whole life until I moved to FL- got stomped a _lot_.) I'd ice and elevate it as much as possible and keep it taped if that makes it more comfortable. Put cotton or gauze between the buddy toes so you don't get blisters. Sleep with it on a pillow. Probably really not worth x-raying, since they aren't going to do anything different even if it is fractured, unless the bone is actually displaced, which you probably would have felt/seen yourself.

Nanci

[Selkie]

I've broken toes three separate times. You're right--the doc can't do anything for it except tell you to tape it to a buddy toe. You should be able to limp around on it in a day or two, but you might want to wear comfy shoes. The last time I broke a toe, I think I was back in normal shoes within a week or 10 days. Sounds like your plan---ice/elevation/advil--is right on target.

You probably won't be off the bike long, if it wasn't a big toe. It took longer for my big toe to heal than the two "little piggies" that I broke.

[Susan126]

I hope not!!!
I refuse to be off my bike for 3-4 months over a toe. even if I can't ride faster than 10mph, i will be on that bike! However, does anyone have any tips for what I could/should do when attempting such a thing? lol. hopefully it is not broken, but I don't know at this point...

I really know what you mean ladyjai! The part about being off your bike for 3-4 months! I have been off my bike since December 13th! And it's killing me! I had bunion surgery! To be more specific "Lapidus Procedure" . . . three screws in my foot and a full air boot cast. This week I may finally remove the cast and begin walking and do some easy spinning on my trainer. Maybe in a week or two my doctor will allow me to ride outdoors on my road bike! Yippee! And he said by June I may start riding my mountain bike.

So, I really really hope, pray, and wish that you do not have to take 3-4 months time off from your riding. Take it from me it STINKS! If I had a bunion on my other foot (THANK HEAVENS I DO NOT . . . JUST THE ONE FOOT) I would never ever do this again. NEVER . . . EVER!

My husband says it's been worse for him, my foot surgery and recovery. Now I wonder what he meant by that statement?!? LOL

I hope your toes are just badly bruised and that you will be up and riding asap! Good luck to you ladyjai! And some good advice here . . . ice and elevate and take it easy for a few days!

Sue

[ladyjai]

blessings!!!

Not broken. still hurts, and I can't stand flat footed, but it isn't broken. the pain went down too much. I'll still be limping for awhile.

thanks so much for your encouragement.

susan, I feel for you. I couldn't stand being off for as long as i was after i was hit.
As for it being worse for your husband, if he's like many guys I know, he likes being able to fix problems. You are in pain and miserable, and it is a problem he is helpless to fix, and it's driving him nuts to hear your distress, because he wants to be your white knight - even if he won't admit it

thank you

[Susan126]

Glad to hear you are feeling much better ladyjai! Oh yes, Joe is definitely my knight in shining armor! And then some! For the last 4 months he has been doing laundry, cleaning house, doing the grocery shopping, and bringing me my hot tea while I sit in the family room watching tv at night. It's going to be hard giving all this up . . . but . . . I'm ready! I can't wait to get back in the saddle. Joe has not biked for the duration of my recovery. Many of his guy friends have called but he always declined. He said it would not be the same without me riding along side of him!

[ladyjai]

Joe has not biked for the duration of my recovery. Many of his guy friends have called but he always declined. He said it would not be the same without me riding along side of him!

Now That's love!!

[Susan126]

Now That's love!!

Yes, he is my sweetie . . .

or maybe after 29 years of marriage he just knows better to go cycling without me! LOL