{"id":10559,"date":"2019-08-22T05:47:03","date_gmt":"2019-08-22T05:47:03","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/?p=10559"},"modified":"2021-04-26T14:47:45","modified_gmt":"2021-04-26T14:47:45","slug":"15-home-remedies-to-relieve-a-broken-toe","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/simplyhealth.today\/15-home-remedies-to-relieve-a-broken-toe\/","title":{"rendered":"15 Home Remedies to Relieve A Broken Toe"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Breaking a bone is never easy, but when it is a bone in the foot it can seriously hamper a person\u2019s ability to walk. As small as toe bones may be, their role in providing the balance is crucial. Broken toes are not only inconvenient, but they are also extremely painful. Many people believe that there is no remedy for a broken toe, but like all fractures, it is important to have it evaluated by a medical professional. Toe injuries are among the most common non-life threatening injuries to humans as a whole experience. Often, it can be hard to tell if a toe is simply bruised, sprained, or if it is actually broken. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The symptoms of a broken toe vary according to where the bones are broken as well as from person to person. Some people are able to walk with a broken toe while others may have to stay off of their feet completely. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Regardless of where the break is, some home remedies can help relieve the pain. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

1. Buddy Taping<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The most common way to help heal a broken toe at home is through the buddy taping method. Buddy taping is simply a method of taping a healthy adjacent toe to the broken one which will give it support while it heals. \u00a0To perform this treatment you will need to place a thick piece of cotton between the toes that will be taped together. This helps reduce the chances of blisters <\/a>from forming. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Using surgical tape from your local pharmacy, bind the two toes together. Make sure that the binding is loose enough to allow proper circulation but tight enough to endure there is not much movement. Buddy taping is an effective way to help relieve pressure and help the toe heal properly. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can bathe with a buddy taped injury however the toe will need to be re-taped following submersion. It is best if the taped toe remains dry until the bandage needs to be replaced.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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2. Safety\/Surgery Shoe<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Wearing a post-surgery boot or a safety shoe will help you walk without the need of bending your broken toe. These types of shoes are made with very stiff soles that help support walking while also protecting the foot from further injury<\/a>. Protective footwear can also help reduce the amount of pressure placed on the injured foot which will reduce the amount of time it takes for it to heal. A post-operation\u00a0shoe can be purchased from any local hospital or clinic. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many pharmacies may also have a selection of safety shoes available to the public.  Although these are typically used after foot surgery to provide support and protect the foot, they are equally helpful when dealing with a broken toe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

They are designed to be spacious enough to accommodate bandages so if you are using the buddy tape method this is simply more protection. It is also an innovative way to manage the weight-bearing mobility portion of your recovery.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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3. Rest<\/strong>– R.I.C.E.<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

is a common way to treat various forms of injuries, even broken toes. Not only will it help reduce the pain, but it will also help the bone heal quickly. In most instances, this is all that is needed for minor toe fractures<\/a>. The first thing you should do is rest the injured area. Don\u2019t stand for extended periods and avoid strenuous exercise or walking long distances. Depending on your level of pain, you may need to use crutches as extra support to help you get around. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Don\u2019t be afraid or embarrassed to take breaks when you do have to move from one place to the other. To help your toe heal properly, make sure to wear supportive shoes that will distribute the weight away from the fracture while it heals. The main goal is to reduce swelling and allow your foot the rest it needs to heal properly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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4. Ice<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

When it comes to small injuries like broken toes, R.I.C.E. is an effective home treatment. Following this treatment plan will help the bone heal quickly and lessen the pain. Often, minor toe fractures heal perfectly with this treatment<\/a>. Even if you don’t know if your toe is broken directly after an injury, you should introduce this step to help jumpstart the healing process. The main goal if using ice is to reduce the pain and swelling immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are at home when the break occurs, place ice or some other cold item such as peas in a bag. Allow the injury to remain packed in ice for 15 minutes at a time with two-hour breaks in between. Follow this schedule for the first three to five days following the injury.  Make sure that you wrap the ice or cold items in a thin towel to prevent discomfort on the skin.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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5. Compression<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

R .I.C.E. is a great way to treat small injuries including broken toes. Getting rid of the pain and speeding recovery time are two benefits of this treatment method. Toe fractures that are not complex will heal well with this treatment. When dealing with a broken toe, you can use light amounts of compression. Typically compression <\/a>is used to treat twisted or sprained joints. Compressing the injury is a great way to reduce swelling, however, tying a broken toe to tightly can cause more injury to the bone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can use a light amount of compression paired with an ice pack to reduce pain and swelling until the injury can be wrapped in a splint or with buddy bonding. If you suspect that you have a broken toe, you should seek an x-ray from your healthcare provider before applying too much compression to the injury. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Not only do you risk further pain, but you can cause the bone to break further, or to heal improperly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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6. Elevation<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Not all small injuries need medical attention, in some cases, like with broken toes, R.I.C.E. is sufficient. The pain from the break will be greatly reduced as will the time it takes for the bone to heal. In most cases, this is the only treatment required for minor toe breaks. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

One of the best ways to reduce swelling in a foot that has a broken toe is to elevate the limb. Make sure to keep your foot above the level of your heart. You can lay in the bed and prop your foot up with pillows, or you can sit in a chair with your leg propped on another chair or the table. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

When you sleep, make a sling that can keep your foot elevated, or sleep in a position that allows your foot to remain elevated above your heart<\/a>. This will keep the blood from pooling around your broken toe and help it to heal much quicker.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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7. Medication<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

In most painful broken toe cases, the best treatment involves medication<\/a>. The type prescribed depends on the degree and cause of pain. Medication used may include but is not limited to Antidepressants, opioid pain medicines, corticosteroids, non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs or NSAIDS, non-aspirin pain relievers. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of these drugs are targeted at minor pain while some are for chronic pain. A broken toe can be extremely painful, but you can treat some of the pain at home without a prescription. Tylenol, aspirin or ibuprofen are all reliable over the counter medications that can help manage the pain from a broken toe. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you are suffering from more intense pain, you can visit a medical professional to obtain a prescription for stronger pain aid. Depending on the severity of your break, the location of the break, and your personal medical history, a doctor may give you an injection or other medication.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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8. Salt Therapy<\/strong> <\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Traditional medication can help control the effects of a broken toe, as well as help, manage the pain and swelling. Like any treatment, traditional medication has its limitations and is also prone to various negative side effects. There are many home cures and homeopathic routes you can take to help manage your treatment, but the most effective is natural salt therapy. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Salt <\/a>in its natural form is nature\u2019s way of reducing inflammation both inside and outside of the body. When applied to a broken toe, it is able to reduce the amount of swelling present in the tissue which will help manage pain and encourage healing. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

In addition to reducing swelling, natural salt serves as a simple and healthy way to effect a reduction in blood buildup. You can purchase medical-grade salt from any pharmacy and then simply make a thick compress and wrap it around the broken toe gently. Allow it to sit for an hour before removal.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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9. Direct Application of Heat<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The direct application of heat is sometimes recommended to relieve the pain, swelling, and discomfort <\/a>that can be associated with larger bone fractures and breaks \u2013 but you\u2019ll be relieved to know that the same method works just as well for relieving any pain associated with a broken toe.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where ice isn\u2019t available or feels too cold to bring any relief to the injury (common in cases where the nerve damage is present either from the toe injury, a previous injury or another condition) the application of moderate but direct heat can help. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Warm water is one way to encase the entire foot in heat, although placing the foot on a heated compress and pillow can also achieve the same results. Remember to double-check the source of heat first to ensure that you don\u2019t risk additional burn injuries at the same time. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

The best heat is applied for short periods at a time, and should never be hot enough to burn or cause any bulging of the veins, which can increase your pain levels.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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10. Wearing Thicker Socks<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Any broken bone can be very sensitive to environmental factors like cold, and this can sometimes happen even several years or decades after the original injury <\/a>has occurred. For this, wearing thicker socks than you normally would \u2013 ones that provide some cushioning around the foot and toes \u2013 can be a great help to relieve the pain associated with past injuries.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If we\u2019re talking about a new injury or fresh break instead, then you should combine wearing thicker socks together with some of the other methods that have been mentioned in this article (including the buddy tape system) for the best possible results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember that thicker socks should never mean tighter ones. This can only make the likelihood of more damage occurring more likely, and might even make the injury (and associated pain) worse by circulatory damage. If you feel any pins and needles, it could be that the socks (or the brace or bandage) is tighter than it should be. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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11. Using KT Tape<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

KT tape is one of the best ways in which you can bring relief to any muscle, joint <\/a>or bone injuries at home, whether the injury occurred recently or whether you are experiencing associated pain and discomfort from an injury that happened several years back. It\u2019s a versatile product that can help you to \u201cstrap up\u201d fractures and joint injuries in such a way that they cause a lot less pain \u2013 and a lot of people out there have never even heard of the product or its benefits.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KT tape is commonly used by professionals in sport but is gaining increasing popularity everywhere else as a means to tape up injuries on-the-go. Many people who find traditional joint braces to be too restrictive (and some who are allergic to these) would much rather prefer to switch to KT tape. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

For certain types of breaks, they can also help to aid the healing process. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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12. The Use of Toe Braces<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

If you can\u2019t find KT tape<\/a> or you feel like it might not be the best way to deal with your individual injury, then there are plenty of other alternatives on the market which can help you to bring relief to what\u2019s wrong. Toe fractures are one of the many which can benefit from the use of braces where KT tape is not available, especially when combined with some of the other methods mentioned earlier on in this article (such as the buddy tape method of keeping a toe fracture in one place).\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Where you have a broken toe it might be best to take some time off work in careers where you have to spend a lot of time in your feet, but where you can\u2019t take time off, the best thing you can do is to keep the fracture as still as possible while the rest of you is still able to move. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some types of toe braces can be worn hidden under shoes or socks, and they can help to keep an injury in one place for the healing period. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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13. Massage<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Breaks, fractures, and other muscle injuries can often benefit from a massage<\/a>, and there are many good medical reasons for this. Where any kind of break has taken place, there\u2019s likely to be swelling and issues with circulation apparent during the healing period \u2013 which can take as long as six to eight weeks to heal over properly.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Massage is one way in which circulation can be promoted, and this can help to reduce the swelling and pain felt. There\u2019s a lot of research that supports the theory that massage can be even better for your body, and might even lead to increased healing rates in general. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

It\u2019s obvious that you are likely to be unable to touch or massage the toe itself, though should be able to massage the area around it in order to help promote blood flow. If you aren\u2019t sure how to approach this, see a pedicure professional. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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14.  Some Natural Plants<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

An increased number of people are preferring to opt for natural treatment methods before they go straight for pharmaceuticals, and more research shows that natural means can be a great supportive treatment when combined with the right clinical treatment methods \u2013 and there are many plants and compounds which can make a broken toe feel a lot better, and might even help to increase your body\u2019s natural healing rate and immune system<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Some of the plants that have been shown to be great for bone healing includes knitbone (usually available in supplement form at most pharmacies or available to order online) and aloe vera, which can improve wound and fracture both when directly applied to the site or when consumed in the form of a supplement. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Speak to your doctor if you would like to know more about the various natural methods that are out there which you can combine with your treatment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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15. Increasing Calcium Intake<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Everyone knows that calcium is important for bone growth, but a lot of people often look past the simple fact that calcium <\/a>is just as essential for bone regrowth.\u00a0<\/p>\n\n\n\n

If you have experienced any kind of break or fracture (or if you have any kind of health conditions like arthritis that can affect the bone further), then you should make sure that your diet contains enough calcium-rich foods.  There\u2019s a lot of research that supports calcium as a means to improve bone health and growth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

You can also add to your health routine even further with the inclusion of calcium supplements, which can fill the gap which your regular diet has. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Should you notice that it\u2019s not making enough of a difference to your general health or having any adverse health effects or symptoms, speak to your doctor before continuing supplements or home treatments. <\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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