# I just broke my toe.

**URL:** https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383
**Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share
**Created:** [January 4, 2006, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383 "2006-01-04T12:14:10Z")
**Posts on this page:** 19
**Page:** 1

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### Author: ![conurepete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@conurepete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conurepete)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2006, 12:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/1 "2006-01-04T12:14:10Z")

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Mabey even 2 toes. I was groggy and just woke up and mashed them on a door. The pain is eye popping.

I am a Physical Therapist and normally walk between 5 and 15 miles every day at work. Which starts in 20 min. I have iced and and painkillered. OW OW M----------r! Glargh! mabey they will send me home. I can barely hobble. Thank you, I just had to share.

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### Author: ![norinew](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/eb9ed0/32.png) [@norinew](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/norinew)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2006, 12:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/2 "2006-01-04T12:49:56Z")

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Owowow! You say maybe they will send you home. Do you not have the option of telling them you’re _going_ home, and not giving them a choice in the matter?

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### Author: ![Kalhoun](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/3bc359/32.png) [@Kalhoun](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kalhoun)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2006, 12:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/3 "2006-01-04T12:59:00Z")

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I broke my toe going into a gas station that had a 1" step up to enter. I think the pain _may_ be worse than childbirth. Sucks to be you. Go to the doctor and get some “real” pain killers. You really, really do need them.

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### Author: ![indecisive1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/41988e/32.png) [@indecisive1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/indecisive1)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2006, 1:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/4 "2006-01-04T13:43:38Z")

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[QUOTE=conurepete]  
Glargh!QUOTE]

As a Physical Therapist, you should know that Glargh! is a universal cry of genuine distress. The patient should be made as comfortable as possible and the area causing Glargh should be elevated. I have no medical background what-so-ever, but I do know going to work makes it darn hard to be as comfortable as possible.

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### Author: ![MizGrand](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/cdc98d/32.png) [@MizGrand](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MizGrand)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2006, 1:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/5 "2006-01-04T13:53:43Z")

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My mom once broke her toe kicking me in the ass.

Gotta admit that the karma on that was absolutely ironic and immediate. I still tease her about it.

\*No, I didn’t have abusive parents. I’m sure that the kick was in response to some smart-ass comment, which I conveniently cannot recall.

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### Author: ![Marine\_One](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/marine_one/32/3461_2.png) [@Marine\_One](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marine_One)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2006, 3:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/6 "2006-01-04T15:16:01Z")

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I hope you called [an emergency vehicle](http://www.strangedangers.com/content/item/105875.html).

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### Author: ![Kythereia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/e8c25b/32.png) [@Kythereia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kythereia)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2006, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/7 "2006-01-04T15:22:45Z")

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Oooh, do I ever feel your pain. I broke my little toe on my left foot tripping over a stacked pile of something in my room, and the pain was excruciating. I actually had to stifle a scream, something I haven’t done in _years_.

There was nothing to do for it afterwards but apply ice and hop-hobble around for a few days ☹

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### Author: ![Uncommon\_Sense](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/f9ae1b/32.png) [@Uncommon\_Sense](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uncommon_Sense)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2006, 3:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/8 "2006-01-04T15:57:36Z")

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Never broke a toe but I saw my brother break his.  
He was attempting a ‘Happy Gilmore’ golf swing and his swing came right across his planted left foot.  
Took the shoe off and pulled off the sock and his second toe in was sticking _straight_ up in the air. :eek: My Dad pulled it straight (not without much resistance and wiggling) and taped it to his third toe and he finished the round. :dubious:

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### Author: ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2006, 4:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/9 "2006-01-04T16:27:44Z")

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Ouch. I’ve crunched my little toe a few times so hard I was reduced to rocking in a fetal position on the floor. My condolences go out to your 'lil piggies! 😃

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### Author: ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2006, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/10 "2006-01-04T20:13:49Z")

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I broke my baby toe once too, running into a table leg. I felt pain, then numbness. I took my sock off and my two was facing backward :eek:

It was dislocated too, so I had to go to the ER to get it turned around. They numbed it, but nothing like listening to your own bone-ends grind together to make you feel a little sicky

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### Author: ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2006, 9:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/11 "2006-01-04T21:58:26Z")

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Ohhh, ouch.  
I currently have just one toe broken and this is my fifth one. Though I rebroke two so I don’t know if that counts… But yeah, it sucks ass and you don’t realize how much you need the toe till it hurts with each step. Just tape it to a neighboring toe and be sure not to restub it. Also, be sure to tape it straight or else it’ll heal wonky and the knuckles will be off center\*.  
\*I have learned this from experience

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### Author: ![conurepete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@conurepete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conurepete)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2006, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/12 "2006-01-04T23:39:37Z")

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Yep, I have transversely fractured and laterally displaced it. I got through the day using walkers, crutches, and wheeled stools. I have learned 3 things: 1. My pain threshold is higher then I thought. I’m not a wimp, I am whiney tough cookie. 2. Anyone who is dumb enough to work eight hours on a broken bone is too dumb to be allowed to decide whether they should go home. I will consult with a life form with a more highly developed sense of self-preservation next time. 3. If you start sweating every time you flex your toe, you did more then “stub” it.

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### Author: ![Rubystreak](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Rubystreak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Rubystreak)
#### Post date: [January 4, 2006, 11:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/13 "2006-01-04T23:54:33Z")

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I broke my second-smallest toe on my left foot twice. My whole foot turned black. Gross. It does hurt a lot but there’s not a lot to do for it, except taping it to the toe next to it, I guess. IIRC, it was the swelling that was the worst because I couldn’t wear real shoes for weeks. It was summer both times, though, which made it easier. How the hell are you going to stand and walk on it all day long? I can’t imagine having to do that.

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### Author: ![conurepete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@conurepete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conurepete)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2006, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/14 "2006-01-05T00:41:04Z")

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I seem to have a previously untapped talent. I never really stood on it all day. I spent some time on one leg, lots of time on various supports, and elevated my foot on every available surface. It turns out you can get a lot done sitting on the floor gently waving one leg over your head to keep people from bumping you. I developed high level skills at scooting around on office furniture. Also, you can poke things with crutches.

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### Author: ![flamingbananas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/f4b2a3/32.png) [@flamingbananas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/flamingbananas)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2006, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/15 "2006-01-05T05:11:58Z")

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Know what sucks? Going en pointe with two broken toes.  
_That_ hurts.

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### Author: ![Poysyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/f4b2a3/32.png) [@Poysyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Poysyn)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2006, 6:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/16 "2006-01-05T06:36:20Z")

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> [@flamingbananas](#):
>
> Know what sucks? Going en pointe with two broken toes.  
> _That_ hurts.

That WOULD suck!

Dancers are tough!

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### Author: ![Scubaqueen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c0e974/32.png) [@Scubaqueen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scubaqueen)
#### Post date: [January 5, 2006, 2:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/17 "2006-01-05T14:49:21Z")

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ouch ouch and ouch.  
been there, done that.  
btw, which toe did you break?

i double spiral-fractured my right big toe about five years ago by falling down the damn stairs – breaking THE cardinal rule for those who live alone.  
DO NOT, \*NOT EVER \* leave things on the stairs (guess what made me fall…)!!!

:smack:

knew the minute i landed that it was broken. stuffed foot into sneaker and drove immediately to nearest doc in the box. the conversation went something like this:

‘yeppers,’ said the doc in the box, peering at the xray of my misshapen appendage, ‘you did a number on that toe, alright.’

‘yeah,’ i said grouchily, seeing for myself the displacement on the film, ‘got that part already… make it stop hurting. gimme drugs. gimme grugs NOW.’

happiness is a 10.5 mg tab of vicodan. several of them at once and several times a day (toe? what toe?). that, and a lovely dark-blue surgical boot. went so well with my outfits…

one surgery, two stainless steel pins and three weeks later, i developed cellulitus. end of pins in toe unless i wanted a bone infection. despite all that,  
however, everything turned out fine. hope you’re on the mend now yourself.

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### Author: ![conurepete](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/a88e57/32.png) [@conurepete](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/conurepete)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2006, 12:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/18 "2006-01-06T00:58:27Z")

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I broke my “pinky” toe, right foot. I snapped it clean across, right at the base, and scooted the the bone sideways. Oddly, this has resulted in a nearly perfectly straight toe. I did not get a big boot. I have been doing ice, elevate, and compression like crazy, but not much resting. This has resulted in minimizing the swelling, but I am getting some lovely purple bruises. I have abandoned my crutches, they make my hands hurt and simply upgrade me from “navigational hazard” to “loose cannon”.

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### Author: ![The\_Scrivener](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/eada6e/32.png) [@The\_Scrivener](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Scrivener)
#### Post date: [January 6, 2006, 4:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-just-broke-my-toe/338383/19 "2006-01-06T04:54:33Z")

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**conurepete** , that sounds awful. OTOH, have your birds picked up any new swear words as a result of your mishap? 😃
