Expert Treatment Little Toe Pain – Pinky Toe in Seattle

Our little toes or “pinky toes” are important for helping us maintain our balance when we stand or move. Injuries or deformities to this toe can be painful and can throw off our gait. We’ll look at the most common causes of little toe pain and how we treat them. 

Broken or Fractured Pinky Toe

Broken, fractured, and sprained pinky toes are extremely common. It doesn’t matter if you’re a seasoned athlete or someone in the twilight of your life we’re all prone to hurting this delicate digit. But what’s the best way to treat this injury? Most often rest, splinting and/or buddy taping may be all that’s needed. But if the injury is more severe surgery may be required.

While some people may want to treat this type of injury on their own, it’s always best to get it evaluated by a podiatrist. Putting off professional treatment can lead to future disability.

Little Toe Stress Fracture

A special kind of pinky toe fracture is a stress fracture. Stress fractures develop over time and are caused by participation in high impact activities like running and sports that involve jumping. Most often these activities are a problem when an athlete or weekend warrior ramps up their activity too quickly. But in addition, wearing shoes that do not adequately support the foot can also put more stress on the little toe and lead to injury.

Treatments for little toe stress fracture include rest and keeping the toe from moving. Similar to a broken or fractured toe, splinting and buddy taping may be recommended.

To prevent a future stress fracture, learn more at “What Is A Stress Fracture and Who’s At Risk”?

Dislocated Little Toe

Sharp pain and a tearing or snapping sound are signs of a dislocated toe. A dislocation means one or more bones have come out of position. If your toe looks crooked, you’ve likely dislocated it. Before treatment your podiatrist will exam your foot and may take an X-ray to confirm it.

Treatment involves putting the little toe bone back in place after numbing the area with an anesthetic. Your podiatrist will likely send you home with tape, splint, or walking boot to help it heal.

Tailor’s Bunion

Tailor’s bunions or bunionettes form on the outside of the little toe. Just like regular bunions on the outside of the big toe, Tailor’s bunions are brought on by faulty foot structure and are made worse by wearing high heels and pointy shoes. Sitting cross legged on one foot too much can also be a culprit in worsening a Tailor’s bunion.

Bunionettes can be treated non-surgically which can help reduce pain and stop progression. Padding and custom orthotics are most often recommended as are shoes with a wider toe box. Surgery may be needed if more conservative procedures aren’t effective.

Learn more here about treatment and prevention of Tailor’s Bunion.

Corns and Calluses of the Little Toe

Corns and calluses of the little toe are caused by a thickening of the skin due to increased pressure. While they may not look like much, they can cause a lot of pain.

Treatment of corns and calluses include trimming and use of pads to offload the pressure that caused it. Toe separators can also be used to reduce the pressure. In addition, custom orthotics can help if there is an underlying foot deformity. Shoes that fit properly can also help relieve the pressure on the little toe.

Hammertoe

If you have a little toe that bends upward or curves inward, you may have a hammertoe. Hammertoes form for many of the same reasons as Tailor’s bunions—wearing shoes with a narrow toe box or having faulty foot mechanics such as flat feet. People with Tailor’s bunions are also more prone to develop a hammertoe on their little toe.

Treatment for hammertoe includes correcting faulty foot mechanics with orthotics and other treatments. For more information visit, “Early Treatment Can Prevent Serious Hammertoe Problems”.

Home Treatment for Pinky Toe Pain

Before heading to your podiatrist, here are some things you can do to treat a painful pinky toe at home.

For acute injuries:

• Stop all activities and rest as much as possible. Avoid putting weight on your toe.
• Ice your toe for up to 20 minutes at time using an ice pack or frozen peas wrapped in a thin towel.
• Elevate your foot higher than your heart.

For offloading pressure:

• Use Dr. Jill’s toe separators
• Wear shoes with a wider toe box such as Alegria for woman and Hoka for men.

Treatment at Our Office for Pinky Toe Pain in Seattle

If none of the home treatments reduce your pain, make an appointment with our office. Dr. Berg will determine which condition is affecting your pinky toe so proper treatment can begin. If you’ve had trauma to that toe and it’s not resolving, our office will image it using X-ray or MRI to determine if surgery is needed.

Need Relief From Little Toe Pain in Seattle, Washington? Request an Appointment Now

Don’t let little toe pain cause you to miss out on the activities you enjoy. Complete the contact form on this page or call our office at 206-368-7000 to schedule an appointment with Dr. Berg.

Most new patients are seen within 1-2 week’s time. During your initial visit, Dr. Berg will spend up to 30 minutes getting to know you, your podiatry complaints, and your goals so that he can recommend the treatment best meets your needs. Don’t wait—contact us today.

Is My Toe Dislocated? Here’s How to Tell

You finally got your child back to sleep after a nightmare and are sneaking out of their room when Bam! one of your toes slams into the wall. Ouch!

You hobble back to bed thinking everything will be okay only to wake up the next morning with your second toe looking swollen and a bit crooked. A quick Google search reveals that you’ve most likely dislocated your toe.

What is a dislocated toe?

“A toe dislocation is when the bones of a joint completely separate and the tissues or ligaments that hold the joint together are forced out of their usual positions,” said Joseph Dobrusin, DPM, a podiatrist at Banner Health Center. “A toe can go from normal, to subluxation (a partial dislocation) to being completely dislocated.”

Toes can commonly dislocate at the joint where the phalanges (or the bones of your toes)join: the distal interphalangeal joint (closest to the tip of your toe), the proximal interphalangeal joint (middle of your toe) or the metatarsophalangeal joint (where your toe meets the foot).

“Dislocated toes most often develop over time due to birth defects or progressive diseases like rheumatoid arthritis or hammer toe which can cause knuckles and joints to go from normal to contracted to dislocated,” Dr. Dobrusin said. However, dislocation can also occur from blunt trauma (such as stubbing your toe late at night!), repetitive moments that cause wear and tear or from certain sports and activities.

What are the signs of a toe dislocation?

Symptoms of a dislocated toe may include the following:

• Swelling and bruising
• Toe looks out of place, bent or crooked
• Difficulty moving and walking on the toe
• Pain and tenderness
• Numbness or tingling of the toe

The tricky part of toe dislocation is that some of these symptoms can also mimic symptoms of a sprained, fractured or broken toe, so it’s best to get medical help right away.

“If you fail to address the injury appropriately, you could run the risk of further injury,” Dr. Dobrusin said. “While it’s a low percentage of cases, if the dislocation pinches any blood vessels, it could cause permanent damage to the tissues of your toe if not fixed as soon as possible.”

How is a dislocated toe diagnosed?

In most cases, the diagnosis is determined by a clinical examination and an x-ray.

“X-rays are typically done to identify where the dislocation is occurring and to look for other damage, such as a fracture,” Dr. Dobrusin said.

What is the treatment of a dislocated toe?

When it comes to treating a dislocation, you’ll want to seek medical care first. Don’t try to put your toe back into place on your own! Instead, focus on not moving your injured toe, ice it to reduce swelling and pain and keep your foot elevated until you can get in for an evaluation.

The goal of treatment for a dislocation is to realign the bones in a joint, which is known as a reduction. Reductions can be done closed (without surgery) or open (with surgery).

Closed reduction: In a closed reduction, your medical provider will use a local anesthetic to numb the area and will pull or turn your bone back into place.

Open reduction: Your medical provider may recommend surgery if your dislocation is severe or if the closed reduction wasn’t successful.

What does recovery of a dislocated toe look like?

After the toe bones are put back into place, recovery may include:

• Taping the toe to a nearby healthy toe
• Use of a splint, cast, walking boot or crutches
• Rest, icing and foot elevation
• Physical therapy to restore strength, flexibility and range of motion
• Slow return to normal activity

Whether your reduction is open or closed, be prepared for healing to take some time.

“For most people, it can take about 6 to 12 weeks, depending on the deformity, how much work was needed to fix the problem, etc. ,” Dr. Dobrusin said. “It’s important to remember that once your toe dislocates, it may easily dislocate again so it’s important not to rush the healing process.”

Is there anything I can do to prevent a dislocated toe?

While some causes may be out of your control, you can help reduce your risk for injury by wearing proper shoes and protection during sports or other activities.

For other foot-related articles, check out:

• Toe Pain, No Gain: Causes for Second Toe Pain
• Are Over-the-Counter Insoles a Waste or Worth It?
• 8 Things Your Feet Can Tell You About Your Health
• When You Shouldn’t Just Walk Off Your Injury

Wellness

How to understand that a toe is broken, ways to determine a bruise

Contents

• The essence of the injury
• Symptoms
• How to recognize
• What to do
• Conclusions

9000 5 Related videos

Toe bruises are one of the most common injuries. The foot is vulnerable to various injuries. But such injuries are usually not dangerous, and the functions of the limb are restored in a few days. But often a severe bruise is accompanied by a fracture of the metatarsal or phalangeal bones. Such damage without proper treatment can lead to complications and disruption of the supporting functions of the foot.

But sometimes victims do not go to the doctor. They don’t feel much pain and can’t figure out if the finger is broken or not. Therefore, it is important for everyone to know how to distinguish a fracture from a bruised toe. The signs of these injuries, at first glance, are similar, even a doctor without an examination cannot always determine whether the bone is broken. But a fracture has certain distinguishing features that will help make a preliminary diagnosis.

The essence of injury

Any bone in the human body can break. But the bones of the foot, especially the toes, are especially susceptible to fractures. Such injuries occur when an awkward movement, a fall or a strong blow. There are open or closed fractures. When open, the signs of damage are so obvious that it is immediately clear to everyone that the finger is broken. A closed fracture is difficult to distinguish from a dislocation, sprain or bruise. After all, there are no external injuries, and the pain is often not very strong.

A fracture is a break in the integrity of a bone. It may crack or completely separate into several parts, a piece may break off from it. The toes are often damaged in this way, especially when playing sports or walking barefoot. You can break your finger by hitting the corner of furniture with your bare foot, on the street on a stone, twisting your leg due to uncomfortable shoes or ice.

The little toe is particularly susceptible to this injury. This is due to the fact that his bones are very thin, and the muscular-ligamentous apparatus is weak. This injury is usually quite painful. But sometimes the victim may not feel pain. Such damage is not very reflected in the ability to move. An uncomplicated fracture of the little finger can heal without a cast, and not all victims with such an injury go to the doctor.

Often the thumb is also injured. Its fracture is dangerous, as it performs a supporting function. It is larger than all other fingers, and its fracture is always accompanied by severe pain, swelling, often spreading to the entire foot, and a hematoma. Improper treatment of such an injury can lead to arthrosis, the development of flat feet, foot deformity, which in the future will cause serious problems when walking.

IMPORTANT: any toe fracture requires medical intervention. This will help you avoid inconvenience in the future. After all, if it grows together incorrectly, it can lead to serious problems in movement and in choosing shoes, constant pain in the foot, and the development of arthritis or arthrosis.

See also:

What to do if a toe is swollen

Symptoms

Many victims do not immediately notice that they have broken a finger, believing that they just hurt themselves. Indeed, with such damage, severe pain, hematoma also occurs, edema and restriction in movements develop. Therefore, not always the victims after such an injury go to the doctor. They try to relieve pain with analgesics and folk remedies. But the lack of proper treatment of a fracture can lead to serious complications.

To identify a broken toe, you need to know its characteristic features. With an open fracture, it can be seen immediately, since there is damage to the skin, bleeding, sometimes fragments of bones are visible. A closed fracture is more difficult to determine, since its manifestations are very similar to a bruise.

It is difficult to determine without an examination whether a toe is broken or just a bruise.

But if you look closely, you can see that these damages are different. An experienced traumatologist can immediately make a diagnosis. It is possible to independently understand that a finger is broken if you know the main symptoms of a fracture:

• severe, often unbearable pain that is felt in the injured finger and in the entire foot, and unlike a bruise, it does not subside after a few hours;
• the pain is aggravated by any movement, by trying to touch the injured area, or by tapping the tip of the finger;
• gradually increasing edema due to damage to soft tissues and blood vessels, it can spread to the lower leg;
• tingling, numbness, or coldness of the finger may occur;
• after a few hours, a hematoma appears, first blue-purple, then changes color to yellow-violet;
• the finger may be deformed, shortened or out of place;
• when you try to step on the foot in any place, the pain intensifies, it often hurts just to move the foot.

In contrast to a fracture with a bruise, the pain gradually subsides, but the bruise appears immediately. It’s called a bruise. Swelling with a bruise does not always occur, and if it does, then immediately, but disappears in less than a day. The mobility of the foot is not limited, often the victim can walk calmly. These characteristic signs appear half an hour after the injury. It is at this time that you can try to determine if the finger is broken. After all, with a bruise, usually after half an hour, the pain already subsides.

How to recognize

It is quite difficult for an ordinary person to independently understand that a toe is broken. The signs of these injuries are specific, and the fingers do not have such a big load. Therefore, many continue to walk or play sports after receiving an injury. Even doctors are not always able to recognize a fracture by external signs, but they use x-rays or CT scans.

But there are certain rules by which the victim can check if his finger is broken before visiting the doctor. To do this, you need to take off your shoes and carefully examine your feet, stand on your feet and assess your well-being. It is recommended that you follow certain steps that will help you find out what damage the injury caused.

• Try to assess the intensity of the pain. Usually, when bruised, it is very strong only in the first half hour. It is easily removed with ice and analgesics. A fracture is characterized by a sharp pain that does not subside, but may intensify.
• You need to step on your foot. With a fracture, pain will increase dramatically, even if you do not lean on the injured finger.
• Then examine the site of the injury and compare the affected toe with the healthy toe on the other leg. If it is larger, very swollen, and red or blue, the toe is most likely broken.
• The position of the affected finger needs to be assessed. If it is deformed or in an unnatural position, then it is a fracture.
• With this injury, the finger itself and the nail change color. They may turn red, turn blue, or even turn black. This is due to hemorrhage from damaged vessels.
• You should also feel the area of ​​the injury. With a fracture, bone mobility, a crunch can be felt. But touching the finger with this injury is very painful.
• You should try to move your finger, bend it. If it is broken, any movement will be impossible.

To determine if a toe is broken, compare the injured leg with a healthy one.

IMPORTANT: If you are not able to notice the signs of a fracture yourself, you should consult a doctor in case of any damage. After all, the most effective way to determine if a finger is broken is an x-ray.

What to do

Having understood the features of the injury, it is necessary to properly provide first aid to the victim. Without this, the bone can grow together incorrectly, and damage to the nerves and blood vessels can negatively affect the functions of the limb. After providing first aid, it is advisable to consult a doctor.

This is especially important if the thumb is broken. It performs a supporting function, and its improper healing will limit a person’s mobility and create problems with the choice of shoes. Medical attention is needed when there is doubt whether a toe is broken. Better to be safe and investigate.

Before going to the emergency room, it is important to try to immobilize the injured foot. If the foot was in shoes, it should be carefully removed, as swelling will develop later and it will be difficult to do this. You need to try not to move and not step on the injured leg. It is recommended to sit or lie down, and raise the foot higher – on a pillow or on the back of a sofa.

Then it is recommended to apply ice to the injury site. This will help reduce pain and swelling. You need to do such compresses for 5-10 minutes with breaks. This will help prevent frostbite. If the pain is severe, you can take painkillers. Most often, it is recommended to take Ibuprofen, Nimesil or Ketanov. You can not put pressure on the affected area, move your finger, try to combine the bones. Such injuries should be treated by a specialist.

These measures also apply for bruised toes. Sometimes rest and application of a cold compress can completely eliminate all symptoms of this injury in a few hours. In case of a fracture, these measures can slightly alleviate the condition of the victim, then you still need to seek medical help.

Many people think that it is not necessary to do this if the toe is injured, especially if the pain is not severe and the fracture is closed. But in fact, even minor injuries are best treated under the supervision of a specialist, this will help to avoid complications.

Conclusions

A broken toe is a fairly common injury. But not all victims go to the doctor, believing that the bone in this place can grow together on its own. It is not always possible to understand that the finger is broken. But knowing the main signs of a fracture and its difference from a bruise, you can correctly provide first aid to the victim. If such damage is left unattended, the bone may not heal properly. In the future, this will lead to constant pain, problems when choosing shoes, a change in gait or the development of arthrosis.

Is it possible to determine a fracture “by eye”? What to look for if an injury occurs?

Is it possible to determine a fracture “by eye”? What to look for if an injury occurs?

Fracture: Truth and Fiction

Fracture usually causes severe pain that can lead to loss of consciousness. From personal experience: a small pebble fell under the heel, the leg turned up. Yes, it hurt a lot! But – tolerable, so much so that she reached home on her own, and in the morning – her leg became black and terribly swollen. It turned out to be an axial fracture of the ankle.

So it turns out that not always with a fracture you can not move a limb, and pain shock does not always come either.

And what, besides an X-ray, can tell that a leg or arm is broken?

Firstly, pain (but, as we can see, this is not the most accurate indicator, it is no less with dislocation). Secondly, swelling. But this is closer: from the fracture site, the limb swells and turns blue (blackens). And, thirdly, deformation. Well, of course, a 90-degree turn of the foot certainly does not occur when stretched.

Yes, very attentive victims sometimes hear the characteristic crunching of bones. But for me, it’s better to do without it.

Plastering?

If after an injury you find even one of the mentioned signs of a fracture, hurry to the doctor. He will either correct the dislocation, if it is a dislocation, or correctly fold and fix the broken bone so that they grow together as they should.

By the way, my previously broken leg periodically “aches” from the load. The possibility of such a post-reaction is also noted by traumatologists.

Women of Balzac age have crystal bones

It is said that women over fifty are more likely to have fractures due to developing osteoporosis.

Well, heredity and proper nutrition play a big role here (eat fish, cottage cheese and calcium-containing foods). Also train your core muscles.

Everything is individual here. Personally, I know several women over the age of 70 who, after a hip fracture, got on their feet and even managed without a cane.

Fracture of the little toe

Fracture of the little toe is one of the most common. But what to do with it? Some are convinced that “it will grow together by itself.”

Yes, they won’t put a cast on your tiny toe, but the doctor will still check for pathology, and also help fix the foot to reduce the pain of the injury. The little finger fuses for 4-6 weeks.

But if the big toe is broken, it’s a serious matter. Here they can also apply plaster, fixing the finger with the neighboring ones.

Fracture of the metatarsal bone (next to the finger bone) usually does not require a cast. The main thing is that the foot is at rest.

A projectile does not fall twice in the same funnel

Some are convinced that bones become stronger after fractures.