For All You Amature Orthopaedic Docs.

[charlie sherrill]

I need a little advice. I realize a gun forum may not be the best place for medical advice, especially since it involves a broken bone, but I've just got to ask anyway. About 4:00 a.m. this morning me and the prostrates was coming back to bed after one of several visits to the head when I inadvertently kicked the heavy bed post on my bed. It was dark and until this a.m. I have had no trouble finding my bed. It hurt and I said some things that should have awakened my grandchildren who were spending the night but they never moved.

I turned on the light and I could tell my "index toe" on my left foot didn't look like it had earlier that day. It seems to be listing to port. I'm sure it is broken as it has turned a real pretty shade of purple and hurts real bad if I put any pressure on it. I found I could get some relief by taping my big toe, the broken toe, and the next two toes (no little toe) together with some tape I had left over from my last knee replacement in 2008.

My question is this. If I go seek medical attention for this affliction are they going to do anymore than I did? Is this a life threatening condition or just a PIA until it quits hurting? If any of you have ever had this problem I would like to know what you did or didn't do and what was the end result. Thanks in advance.

 

[Ivan the Butcher]

free Medical advice isn't really worth what you pay for it! But after that disclaimer, I can say that in my experience you are suffering from a non-life threatening injury. My best friend did almost the same exact thing 2 Fridays ago he went to the Doc and they taped it up (after the expensive x-ray, of course) gave him a very expensive flip-flop and a expensive feel good prescription, that he didn't fill because the VA gives the same stuff for free for an old injury. After this clears up you might see about padding the bottom of the bed post with an old tee shirt ( if the missus will stand for it). Ivan

 

[Silver Dollar]

Not a whole lot you can do for a broken toe. I did that to my index toe and wore my combat boots wherever I went until it healed. I used the boot as a cast.

 

[Gunhacker]

I did the indentical stunt a few years ago. Happened on a weekend, I taped the toes together and when I saw the Doc on Monday, it was x-rayed and given a prescription for pain meds, I was told that was about all that is usually done in addition to the tape.

 

[snowman]

I broke the middle one on my left foot a number of years ago. Just hobbled around a bit until it healed. It's not exactly 'aligned', and the joint near the end won't bend like it did originally, but that's all mainly cosmetic. As I recall I was told by others at the time what you have been told here, so I never went to the doctor.

Regards,
Andy

 

[arjay]

They'll X-ray it to make sure it's aligned right and then tape it.Id get it checked
(From the guy who never goes to the doc)

 

[Cpo1944]

If you feel like spending the time and money on the Doc , ok .
I`d just stay with the tape and if you think you need some more support a splint will help a lot.
Wear a loose fitting shoe and try to not hurt your back while your walking so "funny".
My Prostrate and I sympathize with you and hope it heals quickly so you can enjoy those Grands. By the way I have been in the Prosthetic and Orthotic profession for 47 years, so I have a bit of experience.
Jack

 

[David LaPell]

Tape the toes together and then kick the bed with the other foot, that way they will all match. Take two aspirin and call me in the morning.

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

I'd get it checked out-Hell it ain't gonna cost you anything you're on medicare Plus I saw an episode of "House" one time where some gal at the South Pole was throwing clots and they couldn't figure out what was causing it until the last few minutes of the show when they found out that she had a broken toe and the boyfriend with her set the toe using long distance instructions from the doctors and she lived. SO according to te TV it IS a life threatening situation if you start throwing clots from the bone marrow.



Hey, I know some stuff!

 

[mtgianni]

My wife broke her toe and did the same as you. It healed crooked and now she wishes that someone had straightened it before her tape job. That was 5+ years ago and she walks 2-5 miles a day with no problems other than it snags her nylons occasionally. Good luck with it.

 

[nachogrande]

FREE MEDICAL ADVICE

it's true there is GENERALY not a lot to be done for a broken toe. but there is a possibility there is something that would require treatment and make your future more comfortable. an x-ray would be everything to gain and only $ and time to lose. not all breaks are the same and a bone chip pressing against a nerve for instance will be extreme pain every time you put wt on it and never really go away. that toe does bear wt (when standing/turning/walking) normally, and not being able to would put more stress on the others.

 

[H Richard]

A good friend had a broken toe as a youth (he's now 72) and he has had to endure three surgical procedures to correct a toe that had never healed correctly and he couldn't hardly walk any longer. He had suffered for years. I'd say get it looked at. Most probably you are O.K. but there is that chance.

 

[Jyezahn]

I did the same thing a few years ago before I left the Air Force. Had to go to the doctor to get put on a physical profile and he said the best thing to do is to wear hard soled shoes, and tape it to the middle toe. Other than that, not much else to be done. I would go in to see if there might be other complications though, just in case.

 

[feralmerril]

Charlie you do have medical insurance dont you? Take the guesswork factor out of it. My wife had a invasive foot operation 4 weeks ago and will be laid up another 4 weeks. She was in big time pain the first week or two. She even had a cavador bone put in. Probley your right, maybe they really wont do anymore than you did but I would pay the $20s co pay to find out.

 

[Straightshooter2]

Charlie, it really depends on how bad the break is. Friend of mine broke a couple of toes bad enough they did surgery and put a wire in them. Looked real funny with a cast on his foot and those wires hanging out the end of his toes. Seemed like you ought to be able to plug him in and watch him dance or something. Of course my friend's broken toes were due to dropping a car on them (brake drum minus tire.)

Seriously, get it checked out so that you know it's at least back in place where it should be.

CW

 

[Len]

Add one to the check it out group. The important thing you need to find out via x-ray is if A] it's a fracture, and B] if it's displaced.

If displaced, you'll need to have the ortho guy set it. Then, whether displaced or not, it'll be taped off, you'll probably be given a special shoe to wear for a while, some crutches to keep you off it, and some pain meds.

They'll tell you to rest, ice and elevate it too, whenever you can.

If you ignore it, and it heals ok, but is deformed, you may find your shoes don't fit as well as they used to.

Len

 

[CAJUNLAWYER]

If you ignore it, and it heals ok, but is deformed, you may find your shoes don't fit as well as they used to.

Len

Don't know why....he cuts the toes out of them anyway.
Don't worry amigo-your brother is on his way up to settle some old scores...I mean help you out.

 

[kozmic]

This is the perfect place for quality, reasonably-priced medical advice Charlie.

Wrap it up with a coupla ol' popsicle sticks and some duct tape and switch to sleeping on a hammock.

Remember....we're here for you.

 

[Delos]

California logic, be cheap, see local doctor

At least get checked for diabetes. I worked with a guy with diabetes (long ago) that busted his toe and it got gangrene because of his diabetes. They took off his foot, then leg, then as it spread with nothing left to cut off he died. (Pretty common I hear)

On the logical side. It probably costs less for a doctors visit than it will for new shoes later on.

And 20 minutes in local doctors office exposes one to fewer germs than a long hospital visit later on.

If you have diabetes you need to know the odds. Oxygen is the only thing I know of that helps and singing in the choir is the only safe way to get extra oxygen in your system?

 

[Airpark]

Charlie, I know your pain. I get up and do this occasionally. As I read in Forbes Magazine some time back there are only two words that really matter and are appropiate at the time:

Aw Shucks..............NO

Aw Shaw................NO

Aw Shan.................NO

Aw Shazam.............NO

AW Shoot...............NO

Aw SH$$.................YEP, finally got it right.

Good luck....and it will feel MUCH better once it QUITS hurting.