Toe Sprain

Home care

• Keep your leg raised (elevated) above heart level when sitting or lying down. This is very important during the first 48 hours to reduce swelling. Stay off the injured foot as much as possible until you can walk on it without pain. If needed, you may use crutches during the first week or more for this purpose. Crutches can be rented at many pharmacies or surgical/orthopedic supply stores.

• You may be given a cast shoe to wear to prevent movement in your toe. If not, you can use a sandal or any shoe that does not put pressure on the injured toe until the swelling and pain go away. If using a sandal, be careful not to hit your foot against anything, since another injury could make the sprain worse.

• Apply an ice pack over the injured area for 15 to 20 minutes every 3 to 6 hours. You should do this for the first 24 to 48 hours. To make an ice pack, put ice cubes in a plastic bag that seals at the top. Wrap the bag in a thin towel or cloth before using it. Continue to use ice packs for relief of pain and swelling as needed. As the ice melts, be careful to prevent getting your wrap, splint, or cast wet. After 48 hours, apply heat from a warm shower or bath for 20 minutes several times daily. Alternating ice and heat may also be helpful.

• If buddy tape was applied and it becomes wet or dirty, change it. You may replace it with paper, plastic, or cloth tape. Cloth tape and paper tapes must be kept dry. Apply gauze or cotton padding between the toes, especially near webbed area. This will help prevent the skin from getting moist and breaking down. Keep the buddy tape in place for at least 4 weeks, or as advised by your health care provider.

• You may use over-the-counter pain medicine to control pain, unless another pain medicine was prescribed. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen or naproxen may work better than acetaminophen.

  If you have chronic liver or kidney disease, ever had a stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding, or take a blood thinner, talk with your health care provider before using these medicines.

• You may return to sports after healing, when you can run without pain.

Follow-up care

Follow up with your with your health care provider as advised. Sometimes fractures don’t show up on the first X-ray. Bruises and sprains can sometimes hurt as much as a fracture. These injuries can take time to heal completely. If your symptoms don’t improve or they get worse, talk with your provider. You may need a repeat X-ray. If X-rays were taken, you'll be told of any new findings that may affect your care.

When to get medical advice

Contact your health care provider right away if:

• You have redness, warmth, or fluid leaking from your toe.

• Pain or swelling increases.

• Your toes become cold, blue, numb, or tingly.