What are the signs of a broken pinky toe. How to differentiate between a fracture and a sprain. What is the best treatment for a crushed pinky toe. When should you see a doctor for toe pain. How long does it take for a pinky toe injury to heal.

Understanding Pinky Toe Injuries: More Than Just a Minor Inconvenience

Despite its small size, a pinky toe injury can cause significant discomfort and impact your daily activities. The fifth toe, located on the outer edge of your foot, is particularly vulnerable to injuries due to its position. Athletes and individuals who frequently engage in high-impact activities are especially prone to pinky toe problems. This article delves into the various causes, symptoms, and treatments for pinky toe injuries, providing you with comprehensive information to better understand and manage these painful conditions.

Common Causes of Pinky Toe Pain: From Breaks to Sprains

Pinky toe pain can stem from various sources, ranging from minor issues to more serious injuries. Some of the most frequent causes include:

• Fractures or breaks
• Sprains
• Dislocations
• Stress fractures
• Tight-fitting shoes
• Corns or calluses
• Bone spurs

Understanding the root cause of your pinky toe pain is crucial for determining the appropriate treatment and recovery plan. Let’s explore these causes in more detail.

Fractures and Breaks: When the Pinky Takes a Hit

A broken pinky toe often results from a direct blow or severe stubbing. Fractures can range from simple breaks to more complex injuries involving multiple bones or open wounds.

Is a popping sound always indicative of a broken toe? While a popping sound at the time of injury can be a sign of a fracture, it’s not always present. Other symptoms of a broken pinky toe include:

• Immediate, throbbing pain that may subside after a few hours
• Difficulty bearing weight on the affected foot
• Misalignment of the toe
• Swelling and bruising
• Possible damage to the toenail

Proper diagnosis and treatment of a broken pinky toe are essential for proper healing and preventing long-term complications. Your doctor may use X-rays to assess the type and severity of the break, looking for displacement, bone fragments, and potential damage to the metatarsal bones.

Pinky Toe Sprains: When Ligaments Take the Strain

A sprained pinky toe occurs when the ligaments supporting the toe are stretched or torn. This can happen from sudden twisting movements, overextension, or direct impact.

Can you differentiate a sprain from a fracture? While both conditions can cause similar symptoms, there are some key differences:

• Sprains typically allow for some movement, albeit painful
• Fractures often result in more severe pain and instability
• Sprains may cause less visible deformity compared to fractures

Treatment for a sprained pinky toe usually involves the RICE method (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation), along with over-the-counter pain medications. In more severe cases, your doctor may recommend immobilization or physical therapy.

Stress Fractures: The Silent Injury of the Pinky Toe

Stress fractures, also known as hairline fractures, are small cracks or bruises within the bone that develop over time. These injuries are common in athletes and individuals who engage in repetitive high-impact activities.

How can you identify a stress fracture in your pinky toe? Look out for these symptoms:

• Gradually worsening pain, especially during activity
• Pain that eases with rest
• Swelling and tenderness
• Possible bruising

Treating a stress fracture typically involves a combination of rest, ice therapy, and sometimes immobilization. Your doctor may recommend wearing a walking boot or cast to allow the bone to heal properly.

Dislocations: When Your Pinky Toe is Out of Place

A dislocated pinky toe occurs when the bones of the toe are forced out of their normal position. This can happen from a sudden impact or extreme bending of the toe.

Are all dislocations the same? Dislocations can be either partial (subluxation) or complete. Symptoms of a dislocated pinky toe include:

• Severe pain when moving the toe
• A visibly crooked or misaligned appearance
• Swelling and bruising
• Possible numbness or tingling sensation

Treatment for a dislocated pinky toe usually involves realigning the bones, which should be done by a medical professional. In some cases, surgery may be necessary to properly reposition the toe and repair any associated damage.

Diagnostic Procedures: Pinpointing the Problem

Accurate diagnosis is crucial for effective treatment of pinky toe injuries. Your doctor may use various methods to determine the nature and extent of your injury:

• Physical examination
• X-rays
• CT scans
• MRI scans

Why might a doctor order multiple imaging tests? Different imaging techniques can provide various perspectives on the injury. For example, X-rays are excellent for identifying fractures, while MRI scans can reveal soft tissue damage that may not be visible on X-rays.

The Importance of Proper Diagnosis

Seeking professional medical advice for persistent or severe pinky toe pain is crucial. A proper diagnosis can help prevent complications and ensure appropriate treatment. Remember, what may seem like a minor injury could potentially be a more serious condition requiring specific care.

Treatment Options: From Home Remedies to Medical Interventions

The treatment for a pinky toe injury depends on the type and severity of the condition. Options range from simple home care to more complex medical interventions.

Home Care and Conservative Treatments

For minor injuries, the RICE method is often the first line of treatment:

• Rest: Avoid putting weight on the injured foot
• Ice: Apply cold packs for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day
• Compression: Use a bandage to reduce swelling
• Elevation: Keep your foot raised above heart level when possible

Over-the-counter pain medications like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help manage pain and reduce inflammation.

Medical Treatments

For more severe injuries, your doctor may recommend:

• Immobilization with a walking boot or cast
• Buddy taping (strapping the injured toe to an adjacent toe)
• Physical therapy
• Surgery in cases of severe fractures or dislocations

How long does recovery from a pinky toe injury typically take? Recovery time varies depending on the type and severity of the injury. Minor sprains may heal in a few weeks, while more serious fractures can take 6-8 weeks or longer to fully heal.

Prevention: Protecting Your Pinky Toe from Future Injuries

While accidents happen, there are steps you can take to reduce your risk of pinky toe injuries:

• Wear properly fitting shoes with adequate toe space
• Use protective footwear in high-risk environments
• Practice proper form during sports and exercise
• Strengthen foot and ankle muscles through targeted exercises
• Be mindful of your surroundings to avoid tripping hazards

Can specific exercises help prevent pinky toe injuries? Yes, exercises that improve foot strength and flexibility can help reduce the risk of injuries. Some beneficial exercises include toe curls, ankle rotations, and calf stretches.

The Role of Proper Footwear

Choosing the right shoes is crucial in preventing pinky toe injuries. Look for shoes that:

• Provide ample toe room
• Offer good arch support
• Have a sturdy sole for protection
• Fit well without pinching or rubbing

Remember, different activities may require specific types of footwear for optimal protection and performance.

When to Seek Medical Attention: Red Flags for Pinky Toe Injuries

While many pinky toe injuries can be managed at home, certain symptoms warrant immediate medical attention:

• Severe pain that doesn’t improve with home treatment
• Visible deformity of the toe
• Open wounds or bleeding
• Signs of infection (increased redness, warmth, or pus)
• Numbness or tingling in the toe
• Inability to move the toe

Should you always see a doctor for a suspected broken toe? While not all broken toes require medical treatment, it’s advisable to consult a healthcare professional if you’re unsure about the severity of your injury or if symptoms persist despite home care.

Potential Complications of Untreated Pinky Toe Injuries

Ignoring or improperly treating a pinky toe injury can lead to various complications:

• Chronic pain
• Arthritis
• Deformity
• Reduced mobility
• Increased risk of future injuries

Prompt and appropriate treatment is key to preventing these long-term issues and ensuring a full recovery.

Recovery and Rehabilitation: Getting Back on Your Feet

Proper recovery and rehabilitation are crucial for regaining full function of your pinky toe and preventing future injuries. Your recovery plan may include:

• Gradual return to weight-bearing activities
• Specific exercises to improve strength and flexibility
• Use of supportive devices like orthotics
• Regular follow-ups with your healthcare provider

How can you tell if your pinky toe is healing properly? Signs of proper healing include:

• Decreasing pain and swelling
• Improved range of motion
• Ability to bear weight without significant discomfort
• Return to normal appearance (in case of visible injuries)

It’s important to follow your doctor’s instructions carefully and not rush the recovery process. Returning to full activity too soon can lead to re-injury or incomplete healing.

The Importance of Patience in Recovery

Recovery from a pinky toe injury can be frustrating, especially for active individuals. However, giving your body adequate time to heal is crucial for long-term foot health. During the recovery period, focus on low-impact activities that don’t stress your injured toe, such as swimming or stationary cycling.

Remember, every injury is unique, and recovery times can vary. Listen to your body and consult with your healthcare provider if you have any concerns about your progress.

Living with a Pinky Toe Injury: Adapting Your Daily Routine

While recovering from a pinky toe injury, you may need to make some temporary adjustments to your daily routine:

• Use assistive devices like crutches or a cane if recommended by your doctor
• Wear supportive, comfortable shoes with a wide toe box
• Avoid activities that put excessive strain on your foot
• Consider using a shower chair to prevent slips and falls
• Use ice therapy and elevation to manage pain and swelling

How can you maintain your fitness while recovering from a pinky toe injury? Focus on exercises that don’t involve impact on your injured foot, such as:

• Upper body strength training
• Core exercises
• Seated or recumbent cycling
• Swimming or water aerobics (once your doctor approves)

These activities can help you maintain your overall fitness while allowing your pinky toe to heal properly.

Emotional Impact of Pinky Toe Injuries

While often overlooked, the emotional impact of a pinky toe injury can be significant, especially for athletes or individuals whose daily activities are severely affected. It’s important to:

• Set realistic expectations for recovery
• Stay positive and focus on progress, no matter how small
• Seek support from friends, family, or a support group if needed
• Consider talking to a mental health professional if you’re struggling with the impact of your injury

Remember, a positive mindset can play a crucial role in your recovery process.

Innovative Treatments and Future Outlook

As medical science advances, new treatments for pinky toe injuries continue to emerge. Some innovative approaches include:

• Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy
• Stem cell treatments
• Advanced imaging techniques for more precise diagnosis
• Minimally invasive surgical procedures

What does the future hold for pinky toe injury treatment? Ongoing research is focused on developing:

• Improved materials for casts and braces
• More effective pain management techniques
• Advanced rehabilitation protocols
• Personalized treatment plans based on genetic factors

While these innovative treatments show promise, it’s important to consult with your healthcare provider to determine the most appropriate and effective treatment for your specific condition.

The Role of Technology in Recovery

Technology is playing an increasingly important role in the treatment and rehabilitation of pinky toe injuries. Some emerging technologies include:

• Wearable devices that monitor healing progress
• Virtual reality systems for pain management and rehabilitation exercises
• 3D-printed custom orthotics and braces
• Telemedicine platforms for remote consultations and follow-ups

These technological advancements aim to improve treatment outcomes, enhance the recovery experience, and provide more personalized care for individuals with pinky toe injuries.

In conclusion, while a pinky toe injury may seem minor, it can significantly impact your daily life and mobility. Understanding the causes, symptoms, and treatment options for these injuries is crucial for proper management and recovery. By following appropriate treatment protocols, practicing prevention strategies, and staying patient during the healing process, you can overcome a pinky toe injury and return to your normal activities. Remember to consult with a healthcare professional for personalized advice and treatment, especially if you experience severe or persistent symptoms.

Pinky Toe Broken, Fractured, or Sprained? Symptoms and Treatment

Your pinky toe may be small — but if it gets injured it can hurt big time.

Pain in the fifth toe is actually very common and can have many causes, including a break or sprain, tight-fitting shoes, a corn, bone spur, or some other factor.

Here’s a look at the possible causes of a painful pinky toe and what you can do.

Your pinky toe is prone to injury because of its location on the outside of your foot. The metatarsal bones leading to the fifth toe are one of the most common locations for foot injuries, especially for athletes.

If your toe is swollen and painful, and home remedies don’t help, it’s a good idea to see your doctor.

Proper treatment early on can help ensure that your toe heals correctly and it doesn’t lead to any other issues.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common causes for a painful small toe.

If you stub your toe really hard, or if you have a direct blow to your foot from a heavy object, your toe could be broken. A break is also called a fracture.

If you experience an open fracture, which includes an open wound or tear in the skin, you should see a doctor immediately.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of a broken pinky toe include:

• a popping sound when the injury occurs
• throbbing pain that’s immediate and may fade after a few hours
• difficulty putting weight on your foot
• pinky toe seeming out of alignment
• swelling and bruising
• burning
• a damaged toenail

Treatment

Your doctor will likely X-ray your toe to examine the type of break. They’ll look for displacement, bone fragments, stress fractures, and injury to the metatarsal bones that connect to your pinky toe.

Treatment depends on the kind of break you have:

• If the toe bones are in alignment, your doctor may have you wear a walking boot or cast to immobilize the toe bones while they heal.
• For a simple break, your doctor may splint your pinky to your fourth toe to keep it in place while it heals.
• If the break is serious, surgery may be necessary to reset the bone.
• Your doctor will likely recommend over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications, rest, and home care.

A stress fracture, also known as a hairline fracture, is a small crack or bruise that develops within the bone over time. This typically happens from repetitive activities like high-impact sports that involve running and jumping.

Symptoms

Pain is the most common symptom of a stress fracture, and it can gradually get worse over time, especially if you continue putting weight on it. The pain is typically worse during activity and eases if you rest your foot.

Other common symptoms include:

• swelling
• bruising
• tenderness

Treatment

If you think you may have a stress fracture, you can perform the RICE method until you’re able to see a doctor. This involves:

• Rest: Try to avoid putting weight on your foot or toe.
• Ice: Use a cold pack (ice or ice pack wrapped in a moist cloth or towel) on your toe for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day.
• Compression: Wrap a bandage around your toe.
• Elevation: Rest with your foot raised up higher than your chest.

Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin can help ease the pain and swelling.

Depending on the severity, stress fractures are often treated similarly to breaks.

Other fractures

Two other types of metatarsal fractures may also cause pain on the outside of your foot, including your pinky toe. This includes:

• Avulsion fracture. This happens when a tendon or ligament that’s attached to the metatarsal bone is injured and pulls a small piece of bone away with it. This tends to happen in sports, especially with sudden turns.
• Jones fracture. This is a break at the base of the fifth metatarsal bone.

With both types of fractures, the most common symptoms include:

• pain in the area of the fracture
• bruising and swelling of the foot
• pain when you try to put weight on your injured foot

When you bang your toe or stretch it too far backward, you can separate one pinky toe bone from another. This is called a dislocated toe.

Dislocation is fairly common among athletes and people over 65.

Your pinky and all the other toes, with the exception of your big toe, have 3 bones. Dislocation can occur at any of these joints.

The dislocation can be partial, which means the bones aren’t completely separated. This is known as subluxation. A full dislocation is when the bone is intact but completely out of its normal position.

It’s possible to dislocate one toe bone and also have an injury to another toe bone, such as a fracture.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of a dislocated pinky toe include:

• pain when you move the toe
• a crooked appearance
• swelling
• bruising
• numbness or a pins-and-needles feeling

Treatment

Your doctor will examine your toe to feel for a dislocation. They may take an X-ray to confirm a diagnosis.

Sometimes other tests may be necessary to check if you have damage to your blood vessels or nerves.

In most cases, a doctor can manually put the dislocated bone back into position. This realignment is called a closed reduction. You may have a local anesthetic for this procedure so you don’t feel any pain.

Depending on how serious the dislocation is, you may need to wear an elastic bandage, splint, cast, or walking boot to keep the toe in alignment while it heals.

In some cases you may need surgery to fit the dislocated bone back into position. This is known as open reduction.

A sprained toe involves injury to a ligament, not your toe’s bone.

Ligaments are the connective tissue fibers that attach bones to each other and to joints. They’re different from tendons, which are the connective tissues that attach muscle to bones.

You can sprain your toe by bumping it hard or stretching it beyond its normal range of motion.

A sprained toe can be painful, but you’ll usually be able to walk on it.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of a sprained pinky toe include:

• pain while moving the toe
• a throbbing sensation
• tenderness to the touch
• swelling
• bruising
• joint instability

Treatment

Treatment for a sprained pinky toe depends on the severity of the sprain. Sprains are categorized in 3 grades:

• Grade I: minimal pain and loss of function
• Grade II: moderate pain and difficulty putting weight on the toe
• Grade III: severe pain and an inability to put weight on the toe

For grade I sprains, you may only need to rest and ice your toe and possibly do buddy taping.

For grades II or III, your doctor may recommend additional measures, such as a walking boot.

A tailor’s bunion, also called a bunionette, is a bony bump on the outside of the base of your pinky. It can cause your pinky toe to become very painful.

Tailor’s bunions can be caused by an inherited abnormal structure of your foot, where the metatarsal bone moves outward while the pinky toe moves inward.

It can also be caused by shoes that are too narrow in the toe.

In both cases, the resulting bump gets irritated by shoes that rub against it.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms include:

• a bump on the toe that starts small but grows over time
• pain at the bunion site
• redness
• swelling

Treatment

Depending on the severity of your pain, your doctor may recommend:

• wearing shoes that have a wide toe box and avoiding shoes with high heels and pointy toes
• putting soft padding over the painful area
• orthotics to relieve pressure on the area
• a corticosteroid injection to reduce inflammation

In some cases, if pain interferes with your daily activities, or the bunion is more severe, your doctor may recommend surgery.

A corn consists of hardened layers of skin. It typically develops from your skin’s response to friction and pressure, like a shoe that’s too tight.

A hard corn on the outside of your pinky toe can be painful, especially if your shoe rubs against it. If the corn is deep set, it may lead to entrapment of a nerve or bursa (fluid-filled sacs around your joints).

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of a corn include:

• a tough, rough, yellowing patch of skin
• skin that’s sensitive to the touch
• pain when wearing shoes

Treatment

Your doctor may:

• shave a corn or advise you to file it after bathing
• recommend soft padding to relieve pressure on the corn
• recommend wearing wider shoes or stretching the toe box of your shoes

Several types of toe abnormalities can make your pinky toe painful, uncomfortable, or swollen.

Misshapen toes

When your posture or movement is unbalanced, it can put extra pressure on your feet that causes changes to your toes. You may develop a hammer toe or claw toe.

• A hammer toe is when your toe bends downward instead of straight ahead. It can be caused by an injury to the toe, arthritis, ill-fitting shoes, or a very high arch. Some people may be born with this condition.
• A claw toe is when your toe bends into a claw-like position. You may be born with a claw toe, or it may develop as a result of diabetes or another disease. If not treated, your toes can freeze into a claw position.

Both hammer toe and claw toe can become painful. They can also lead to the formation of corns, calluses, or blisters on the toe.

Other toes may also develop corns or calluses because of the abnormal pressure on them.

Treatment

• For both hammer toe and claw toe, your doctor may recommend a splint or taping to keep your toes in the proper position.
• For a claw toe, your doctor may recommend exercises to keep your toe flexible.
• For ongoing problems that don’t improve with conservative treatment, your doctor may recommend surgery to correct the toe.

Overlapping pinky toe

Some people are born with a pinky toe that overlaps the fourth toe. It’s thought to be inherited. In some cases, it can cause pain and discomfort. In about 20 to 30 percent of people, it occurs on both feet.

Sometimes children born with this condition self-correct as they begin walking.

It’s estimated that 50 percent of people with an overlapping fifth toe have pain, including bursitis, calluses, or problems with footwear.

Treatment

The first line of treatment is to use conservative therapies to try to reposition the pinky toe. This can include taping, splinting, and corrective shoes.

If these therapies aren’t effective and pain persists, surgery may be performed.

Depending on the cause of the pain in your little toe, taking care of the pain at home with the right self-care measures may be all you need to feel better.

If the cause of the pain is something more serious that needs medical attention, you can follow these self-care measures until you see your doctor.

To help ease the pain in your pinky toe:

• Rest your foot and toe as much as possible. Try to avoid putting weight on your toe.
• Use crutches or a cane to help you get around without putting pressure on your toe.
• Elevate your foot so that it’s higher than chest level.
• Ice your foot for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day, for the first few days after an injury. You can use ice, an ice pack, or bags of frozen vegetables wrapped in a moist towel or cloth.
• Take an OTC pain medication to help with the pain and inflammation.
• Use moleskin or padding to prevent your painful pinky from coming into direct contact with your footwear.

Your toes play an important role in keeping you balanced as you move, whether you’re barefoot or wearing shoes. Your pinky is the smallest toe, but it’s crucial in helping you to maintain your balance.

It helps to think of your foot as having a triangular base of balance. The triangle is formed by 3 points: your big toe, your pinky toe, and your heel. Damage to any part of that triangle can throw off your balance.

So, it makes sense that if your pinky toe gets hurts, it may throw off your balance and affect how you walk and move.

Be sure to get medical attention if you have intense pain or swelling in your pinky toe, are unable to put any pressure on it, or its out of alignment.

Structural abnormalities can also be remedied with medical treatment.

Less severe conditions, such as a mild sprain, can usually resolve with good home care and OTC products. Sometimes wearing good-fitting shoes with a wide toe box may correct what’s making your pinky toe painful.

Pinky Toe Broken, Fractured, or Sprained? Symptoms and Treatment

Your pinky toe may be small — but if it gets injured it can hurt big time.

Pain in the fifth toe is actually very common and can have many causes, including a break or sprain, tight-fitting shoes, a corn, bone spur, or some other factor.

Here’s a look at the possible causes of a painful pinky toe and what you can do.

Your pinky toe is prone to injury because of its location on the outside of your foot. The metatarsal bones leading to the fifth toe are one of the most common locations for foot injuries, especially for athletes.

If your toe is swollen and painful, and home remedies don’t help, it’s a good idea to see your doctor.

Proper treatment early on can help ensure that your toe heals correctly and it doesn’t lead to any other issues.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the most common causes for a painful small toe.

If you stub your toe really hard, or if you have a direct blow to your foot from a heavy object, your toe could be broken. A break is also called a fracture.

If you experience an open fracture, which includes an open wound or tear in the skin, you should see a doctor immediately.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of a broken pinky toe include:

• a popping sound when the injury occurs
• throbbing pain that’s immediate and may fade after a few hours
• difficulty putting weight on your foot
• pinky toe seeming out of alignment
• swelling and bruising
• burning
• a damaged toenail

Treatment

Your doctor will likely X-ray your toe to examine the type of break. They’ll look for displacement, bone fragments, stress fractures, and injury to the metatarsal bones that connect to your pinky toe.

Treatment depends on the kind of break you have:

• If the toe bones are in alignment, your doctor may have you wear a walking boot or cast to immobilize the toe bones while they heal.
• For a simple break, your doctor may splint your pinky to your fourth toe to keep it in place while it heals.
• If the break is serious, surgery may be necessary to reset the bone.
• Your doctor will likely recommend over-the-counter (OTC) pain medications, rest, and home care.

A stress fracture, also known as a hairline fracture, is a small crack or bruise that develops within the bone over time. This typically happens from repetitive activities like high-impact sports that involve running and jumping.

Symptoms

Pain is the most common symptom of a stress fracture, and it can gradually get worse over time, especially if you continue putting weight on it. The pain is typically worse during activity and eases if you rest your foot.

Other common symptoms include:

• swelling
• bruising
• tenderness

Treatment

If you think you may have a stress fracture, you can perform the RICE method until you’re able to see a doctor. This involves:

• Rest: Try to avoid putting weight on your foot or toe.
• Ice: Use a cold pack (ice or ice pack wrapped in a moist cloth or towel) on your toe for 20 minutes at a time, several times a day.
• Compression: Wrap a bandage around your toe.
• Elevation: Rest with your foot raised up higher than your chest.

Over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as ibuprofen and aspirin can help ease the pain and swelling.

Depending on the severity, stress fractures are often treated similarly to breaks.

Other fractures

Two other types of metatarsal fractures may also cause pain on the outside of your foot, including your pinky toe. This includes:

• Avulsion fracture. This happens when a tendon or ligament that’s attached to the metatarsal bone is injured and pulls a small piece of bone away with it. This tends to happen in sports, especially with sudden turns.
• Jones fracture. This is a break at the base of the fifth metatarsal bone.

With both types of fractures, the most common symptoms include:

• pain in the area of the fracture
• bruising and swelling of the foot
• pain when you try to put weight on your injured foot

When you bang your toe or stretch it too far backward, you can separate one pinky toe bone from another. This is called a dislocated toe.

Dislocation is fairly common among athletes and people over 65.

Your pinky and all the other toes, with the exception of your big toe, have 3 bones. Dislocation can occur at any of these joints.

The dislocation can be partial, which means the bones aren’t completely separated. This is known as subluxation. A full dislocation is when the bone is intact but completely out of its normal position.

It’s possible to dislocate one toe bone and also have an injury to another toe bone, such as a fracture.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of a dislocated pinky toe include:

• pain when you move the toe
• a crooked appearance
• swelling
• bruising
• numbness or a pins-and-needles feeling

Treatment

Your doctor will examine your toe to feel for a dislocation. They may take an X-ray to confirm a diagnosis.

Sometimes other tests may be necessary to check if you have damage to your blood vessels or nerves.

In most cases, a doctor can manually put the dislocated bone back into position. This realignment is called a closed reduction. You may have a local anesthetic for this procedure so you don’t feel any pain.

Depending on how serious the dislocation is, you may need to wear an elastic bandage, splint, cast, or walking boot to keep the toe in alignment while it heals.

In some cases you may need surgery to fit the dislocated bone back into position. This is known as open reduction.

A sprained toe involves injury to a ligament, not your toe’s bone.

Ligaments are the connective tissue fibers that attach bones to each other and to joints. They’re different from tendons, which are the connective tissues that attach muscle to bones.

You can sprain your toe by bumping it hard or stretching it beyond its normal range of motion.

A sprained toe can be painful, but you’ll usually be able to walk on it.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of a sprained pinky toe include:

• pain while moving the toe
• a throbbing sensation
• tenderness to the touch
• swelling
• bruising
• joint instability

Treatment

Treatment for a sprained pinky toe depends on the severity of the sprain. Sprains are categorized in 3 grades:

• Grade I: minimal pain and loss of function
• Grade II: moderate pain and difficulty putting weight on the toe
• Grade III: severe pain and an inability to put weight on the toe

For grade I sprains, you may only need to rest and ice your toe and possibly do buddy taping.

For grades II or III, your doctor may recommend additional measures, such as a walking boot.

A tailor’s bunion, also called a bunionette, is a bony bump on the outside of the base of your pinky. It can cause your pinky toe to become very painful.

Tailor’s bunions can be caused by an inherited abnormal structure of your foot, where the metatarsal bone moves outward while the pinky toe moves inward.

It can also be caused by shoes that are too narrow in the toe.

In both cases, the resulting bump gets irritated by shoes that rub against it.

Symptoms

The most common symptoms include:

• a bump on the toe that starts small but grows over time
• pain at the bunion site
• redness
• swelling

Treatment

Depending on the severity of your pain, your doctor may recommend:

• wearing shoes that have a wide toe box and avoiding shoes with high heels and pointy toes
• putting soft padding over the painful area
• orthotics to relieve pressure on the area
• a corticosteroid injection to reduce inflammation

In some cases, if pain interferes with your daily activities, or the bunion is more severe, your doctor may recommend surgery.

A corn consists of hardened layers of skin. It typically develops from your skin’s response to friction and pressure, like a shoe that’s too tight.

A hard corn on the outside of your pinky toe can be painful, especially if your shoe rubs against it. If the corn is deep set, it may lead to entrapment of a nerve or bursa (fluid-filled sacs around your joints).

Symptoms

The most common symptoms of a corn include:

• a tough, rough, yellowing patch of skin
• skin that’s sensitive to the touch
• pain when wearing shoes

Treatment

Your doctor may:

• shave a corn or advise you to file it after bathing
• recommend soft padding to relieve pressure on the corn
• recommend wearing wider shoes or stretching the toe box of your shoes

Several types of toe abnormalities can make your pinky toe painful, uncomfortable, or swollen.

Misshapen toes

When your posture or movement is unbalanced, it can put extra pressure on your feet that causes changes to your toes. You may develop a hammer toe or claw toe.

• A hammer toe is when your toe bends downward instead of straight ahead. It can be caused by an injury to the toe, arthritis, ill-fitting shoes, or a very high arch. Some people may be born with this condition.
• A claw toe is when your toe bends into a claw-like position. You may be born with a claw toe, or it may develop as a result of diabetes or another disease. If not treated, your toes can freeze into a claw position.

Both hammer toe and claw toe can become painful. They can also lead to the formation of corns, calluses, or blisters on the toe.

Other toes may also develop corns or calluses because of the abnormal pressure on them.

Treatment

• For both hammer toe and claw toe, your doctor may recommend a splint or taping to keep your toes in the proper position.
• For a claw toe, your doctor may recommend exercises to keep your toe flexible.
• For ongoing problems that don’t improve with conservative treatment, your doctor may recommend surgery to correct the toe.

Overlapping pinky toe

Some people are born with a pinky toe that overlaps the fourth toe. It’s thought to be inherited. In some cases, it can cause pain and discomfort. In about 20 to 30 percent of people, it occurs on both feet.

Sometimes children born with this condition self-correct as they begin walking.

It’s estimated that 50 percent of people with an overlapping fifth toe have pain, including bursitis, calluses, or problems with footwear.

Treatment

The first line of treatment is to use conservative therapies to try to reposition the pinky toe. This can include taping, splinting, and corrective shoes.

If these therapies aren’t effective and pain persists, surgery may be performed.

Depending on the cause of the pain in your little toe, taking care of the pain at home with the right self-care measures may be all you need to feel better.

If the cause of the pain is something more serious that needs medical attention, you can follow these self-care measures until you see your doctor.

To help ease the pain in your pinky toe:

• Rest your foot and toe as much as possible. Try to avoid putting weight on your toe.
• Use crutches or a cane to help you get around without putting pressure on your toe.
• Elevate your foot so that it’s higher than chest level.
• Ice your foot for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, several times a day, for the first few days after an injury. You can use ice, an ice pack, or bags of frozen vegetables wrapped in a moist towel or cloth.
• Take an OTC pain medication to help with the pain and inflammation.
• Use moleskin or padding to prevent your painful pinky from coming into direct contact with your footwear.

Your toes play an important role in keeping you balanced as you move, whether you’re barefoot or wearing shoes. Your pinky is the smallest toe, but it’s crucial in helping you to maintain your balance.

It helps to think of your foot as having a triangular base of balance. The triangle is formed by 3 points: your big toe, your pinky toe, and your heel. Damage to any part of that triangle can throw off your balance.

So, it makes sense that if your pinky toe gets hurts, it may throw off your balance and affect how you walk and move.

Be sure to get medical attention if you have intense pain or swelling in your pinky toe, are unable to put any pressure on it, or its out of alignment.

Structural abnormalities can also be remedied with medical treatment.

Less severe conditions, such as a mild sprain, can usually resolve with good home care and OTC products. Sometimes wearing good-fitting shoes with a wide toe box may correct what’s making your pinky toe painful.

Shamil Basayev is recognized by his arms and legs – Newspaper Kommersant No. 125 (3456) of 07/12/2006

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6 min.

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Yesterday, experts began to examine the remains, presumably belonging to terrorist Shamil Basayev, who blew himself up in Ingushetia the day before. A piece of the terrorist’s skull was sent to a special laboratory. Experts from the Vladikavkaz judicial morgue are working on his torso and arms, which have a total of six fingers left. Shamil Basayev, according to law enforcement agencies, died due to his own negligence, but the Chekists could help him with this.

As operatives of the Ingush criminal investigation told, the body of the alleged Basayev was taken away from the site of the explosion near the village of Ekazhevo in two large plastic bags and, as it were, in two stages. The upper part of the torso with two arms, discovered not far from the epicenter of the explosion, was placed in the first. In the second, they began to collect smaller fragments scattered at a distance of up to half a kilometer. Among them were the left upper part of the head, the tongue, the lower abdomen with genitals, the foot of the left leg and, presumably, the prosthesis of the right. In any case, only this last find, in the opinion of the policemen, would have allowed FSB director Nikolai Patrushev to tell Russian President Putin about the liquidation of terrorist #1 Basayev so confidently.

Different experts will identify the remains: the Prosecutor General’s Office has ordered Ossetian forensic doctors to work with the torso and arms, the rest will apparently go to the special laboratory of the Ministry of Defense or the FSB. At the first stage, the experts of the Vladikavkaz morgue had to perform two procedures: take tissue samples from the corpse for subsequent genetic examination, which will be carried out at the Central Laboratory of Medical Forensic Identification in Rostov-on-Don, and take fingerprints from the deceased.

The specialists did the first procedure without difficulty yesterday, but the fingerprinting had to be postponed indefinitely. “Formally, we have quite enough material for taking prints,” one of the experts participating in the work explained to Kommersant. the fingers turned out to be very sooty, and in some places charred, so all yesterday we had to carefully clean off the soot with brushes so as not to damage the papillary pattern.

After the alleged Basayev’s fingers were cleaned, another problem arose – the skin on the pads turned out to be too soft and almost slipped off with the phalanges of the stocking when they tried to smear the fingers with paint. “For some reason, the process of tissue exfoliation, or maceration, is going on in the corpse,” the interlocutor of Kommersant explained. “This could have happened because someone tried to extinguish the burning body – covered it with a tarpaulin or doused it with fire foam. One way or another, but in order not to completely lose the material, we had to cut off both brushes, put them in Ratnevsky’s alcohol solution and leave them overnight in the freezer. Let’s hope that by morning the skin on the fingers will harden and we will finally be able to ‘roll’ them onto film. ”

Two other victims of the explosion, Tarkhan Ganizhev and Isa Kushtov, were easily identified by local residents. Another corpse, as investigators first suggested, could belong to Ali Taziev (Magas), a well-known field commander in the republic, but upon closer examination, they managed to find the driver’s license of this person, who, according to the documents, turned out to be a certain Musa Mutaliev. The latter was not listed in any of the operational files, so the police assume that the militants simply hired Mutaliyev as a driver. By the way, despite the identification in Ingushetia, the corpses of these militants were also sent to Vladikavkaz, where experts will also work with them.

Meanwhile, yesterday employees of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and the prosecutor’s office of Ingushetia reconstructed the events connected with the death of terrorist #1. According to investigators, late on Sunday evening, several cars arrived at the unfinished estate located on the outskirts of the village of Ekazhevo: three cars and two KamAZ trucks, with one of the trucks pulling the other on a cable. For some time in the estate, according to the few eyewitnesses that the operatives managed to find, there was some kind of movement: people in black special uniforms came and left the estate in the forest adjacent directly to the fence, going to the very border with North Ossetia. They also pulled out some boxes from the trucks, shifting them from one car to another. Then there was a powerful explosion.

Arriving at the scene, local police officers found a smoking carcass of one of the KamAZ trucks with a thick rope with a loop at the end tied to its front bumper, and a huge funnel near the back of the car frame. Another truck stood a few tens of meters away and was relatively intact – in its back were 150 unguided rockets and about a hundred zinc with cartridges of various calibers. Around, approximately within a radius of half a kilometer, dozens of pipes from RPG-7 and RPG-26 grenade launchers, unexploded charges for them and a huge amount of cartridges for small arms were scattered – all this was in the back of a blown up KamAZ. In addition, four corpses and four machine guns were found.

Early on Monday morning, about six hours after the explosion, Chekists arrived at the scene. Pushing aside the local police and the prosecutor’s office, they declared the incident to be their special operation, and some time later they reported that Basayev had been eliminated in its course.

Meanwhile, material evidence collected by experts indicates that the militants most likely blew themselves up as a result of careless handling of ammunition. The empty new buildings were apparently used by the separatists as a kind of wholesale base, where they received and distributed large quantities of weapons coming from abroad. Having met another such batch on Sunday evening, the suppliers from different groups divided what they received among themselves. Perhaps most of the arsenal was supposed to be transported on the same KamAZ trucks, but since one of them broke down, the weapons had to be urgently reloaded into cars.

The division was most likely led by the main recipient of the goods, Basayev. Watching the unloading, he became interested in some explosive device that was not on the list, perhaps an anti-tank mine or, for example, a large-caliber artillery shell. It can be assumed that Shamil Basayev asked to put this object on the ground near the rear side of the truck and personally began to examine it. At that moment, an explosion occurred. “The man whose corpse came to us for research died from a mine-explosive injury,” Ossetian forensic experts say. “The explosive device was quite powerful, of a fragmentation type, and the victim was in close proximity to the epicenter. crushed chest. Most likely, the bomb was lying on the ground, and the victim was bending over it or squatting in front of it. ”

In the opinion of explosives experts interviewed by Kommersant, most likely, the alleged Basayev was blown up as a result of his own negligence, but the FSB specialists could have “helped” him in this. According to one of the explosives experts, the Chekists could have known in advance through their agents that the militants from abroad, presumably from Georgia (the head of the FSB Patrushev also hinted at a foreign trace), were to receive a large batch of weapons, and organize the so-called controlled delivery. The meaning of the operation was that the operatives at some stage detained the cargo along with the intermediaries accompanying it, after which they obtained consent from the merchants for cooperation. A booby trap was laid in the batch of weapons – an ordinary-looking artillery shell or a regular army mine, in which the factory fuse was replaced with an ultra-sensitive to any manipulation or a radio-controlled detonator. The device could have aroused the terrorist’s suspicions, but while examining it, Basayev accidentally pressed the disguised button, thus setting the warhead into action. It is possible that he was “helped” in this by an unknown operator with a remote control, hiding somewhere in a safe place. At the same time, if the explosion was carried out remotely, then Shamil Basayev was certainly not his goal – it would be quite difficult for the operator to identify him in the dark even with the help of a night vision device. Most likely, the button was pressed only in order to liquidate the cargo along with unknown recipients. That is why the FSB from the very beginning did not take responsibility for the incident, calling it a “self-explosion” of ordinary militants. The special operation was announced only after the fragments of “dear” Shamil Basayev were found. The death of the latter, we recall, the authorities estimated at $ 10 million.

SERGEY Ъ-MASHKIN

New on the market: strange things from China | ChinaLogist.ru

Reviews

Word of the Expert

ChinaLogist.ru

02/19/2015

The most resourceful people in the world are the Chinese. At the same time, their ingenuity is effective, active, all-encompassing! Everyone knows the feeling when the thought suddenly comes to mind: “It would be great if . ..”.

For us, a dream remains a dream, but a Chinese/Chinese woman is not like that: they immediately project a thought into a project, a project into a layout, a layout into a model, a model into a product – and onto the market. Apparently, several hours pass from idea to model. China is also famous for easily copying other people’s inventions regardless of brands. And in the mass production of goods, China now simply has no equal! Therefore, the most unusual things, although sometimes unfinished, of not very high quality (not always!), often very necessary, are available to customers in online stores in any quantity 24/7/365.

e.g. gloves with built-in Hi-Call headset for smartphone . Obviously, it is not hot everywhere in China, and they are well aware that it is unpleasant for a person to answer a call when it is cold outside, especially if the conversation is going to be long. The microphone is built into the little finger, the earpiece is on the thumb, the control buttons are placed on the glove, and the battery is built into the device. The user answers the call by raising a gloved hand to the face – thumb to ear, and the little finger is set aside.

A logical continuation of the glove idea are multimedia caps and head bands for listening to music. The usual hat, with buttons to control playback, but how much extra fun. It is difficult to overestimate the benefits of such devices for people who are fond of outdoor sports. Those who tried to answer the phone while running and / or picked up the remains of headphones that fell during jumps, instantly crushed by a trained foot, will understand. The fundamental question is why such things are invented and produced not in our country, where people do not take off their hats and mittens for half a year. Perhaps because you can’t tell by a hat and gloves how expensive a user’s smartphone model is, and this is extremely important for us.

Our country is experiencing serious demographic problems, one of which is the predominance of the female population over the male from the age of 25, that is, there are not enough men physically, not to mention the moral aspect – women in Russia traditionally complain about the low quality of us men . But the enterprising Chinese industry has taken care of this too, presenting “ hugging pillow ” as the most necessary and important part of the male torso: side-shoulder-arm. With such a functional paradise with a friend and in a hut in the literal sense of the expression. You can also hug a hugging pillow on an airplane, on a bus, at home in front of the TV. It is difficult to overestimate the benefits. But! A brief marketing study showed that only the left part of the male torso with an arm is for sale. But not all women and / or not always sleep on their right side. It also happens vice versa.

Suitcase with built-in scooter – what could be better for chronically business travelers and those flying out of the country? Those who caught up with the Sapsan train from Nizhny Novgorod to Moscow in order to catch a plane to Domodedovo, trying to quickly run with a suitcase the size of a bed (the built-in wheels are simply ridiculous to the point of obscenity), will immediately appreciate the need for a suitcase scooter. It can, however, be assumed that if the suitcase is heavy, then the inertia of movement is large, and it is possible to overtake the train by accident, so you should practice at your leisure. In addition, such a suitcase can be filled denser and harder with things, samizdat, nesting dolls, ciphers from the center – it rolls itself.

Phenomenal in its philanthropy invention – ostrich pillow for the traveler . This is not a Chinese invention, European, but the easiest way to buy it is in a Chinese online store. The pillow is worn over the head like a large soft hat, only the nose and mouth remain open so that you can breathe. In addition, the pillow has a seal so that you can put your head on the table, while the hands are pushed into the ear holes of the ostrich pillow like a muff. In such a strange thing, you can sleep anywhere, not only at the station, but also in the library, in the cinema, restaurant, at the workplace, finally. It dampens sounds, lights, and maintains a constant comfortable head temperature – the perfect place to sleep. I dare to predict the booming distribution of the ostrich pillow in the developed civilized countries.

The light version of the ostrich head pillow is a pillow that is worn on the hand – on the palm or elbow and is used for its intended purpose. That is, for sleeping in the office: the head fits on the arm or in the crook of the elbow. The owners of such a pillow say that sleeping with a pillow is much more convenient than just resting your forehead / ear / chin on the table.

From pillows back to high technology. Chinese online stores present the device Handyscan – a wireless portable scanner. Almost a spy thing: you just need to move the scanner on the surface of the document and it will copy the image to the microSD. A handheld scanner performs its work better than a camera or a mobile phone with a camera, since it has guide rollers, the scan turns out to be clear, smooth, indistinguishable from the original with due skill, it is converted immediately to PDF, for example, or ABBYY Fine Reader. The device scans everything: accounting reports, invoices, passports, photographs, illustrations, pictures, and so on.

The touchpad is quite comfortable to work on a laptop in most situations, a regular mouse is more convenient for some tasks. But what if you have to work in a narrow, cramped space, such as a minibus during rush hour, or a Moscow metro train car at any time? In such a situation, touchpad finger movements anger nearby citizens as if you were swinging oars or a Lithuanian scythe, and it’s also inconvenient to work with your elbows pressed to your body. To solve this problem, device 9 appeared in Chinese online stores0045 Finger Mouse , that is, a small USB mouse worn on the finger of the hand. With the help of this device, you can barely move your finger, and on any surface without encroaching on the peace of your neighbors in public transport.

An amazing invention by Google employees in Paris is also made in China: 3D glasses from a cardboard box. That is, this is a real cardboard box, as for cartridges, for example, or soap. And a smartphone or mobile phone based on Android / iOS is inserted into it, which divides the picture into a stereo pair, and the magnets built into the mask box track the position of the head.

You can make a device yourself, since you need, in fact, a box, two round lenses, a neodymium magnet with a diameter of about 20 mm and a thickness of 3 mm, a rubber ring, Velcro, NFC stickers are desirable (you can also order in a Chinese online store, they value is negligible). Anyone who in childhood made a telescope out of whatman paper and grandmother’s glasses will cope with the creation of a simple 3D helmet in the shortest possible time.

And again, it is strange that such a thing was invented and promoted by non-Russian citizens, with their experience in constructing anything from cardboard boxes (and we just have heaps of boxes). But what is, is, and therefore cardboard boxes, necessary accessories and software for viewing 3D movies can be purchased in a Chinese online store, especially since it is inexpensive.