Don’t Ignore The Pain Of Stubbed Toes: Paul Betschart, DPM: Podiatrist

Don’t Ignore The Pain Of Stubbed Toes: Paul Betschart, DPM: Podiatrist

WELCOME! YOU’VE COME TO THE RIGHT PLACE!

You know the feeling: that awful split second when you’ve stubbed a toe and you wait for the pain to rush in. Stubbing a toe is a very common injury, especially when barefoot. Although painful, a stubbed toe is not usually very serious. But pay attention if the pain persists or worsens with pressure, or if there is an abnormal toe appearance, discoloration or swelling. These can be signs of a fractured toe.

Stubbing the toes is an extra painful injury because the toes have extra nerve endings that send pain signals directly to the central nervous system. Also, the toes don’t have a lot of fatty tissue that can absorb trauma.

A broken toe should be assessed by a foot doctor. Call Advanced Foot & Ankle Center for an examination and to rule out other injuries like a contusion, ligament sprain, dislocation or tendon injury.

Special Note of Caution: Contact us right away if you suspect that your child has a toe fracture. If treatment is delayed, bone inflammation, or osteomyelitis, can result. Please bring your child into our office right away.

Treating a Stubbed Toe

Normally the pain from a stubbed toe subsides in a day or two. If the pain continues or if the toe looks deformed, come in to our office. After a careful examination, including comparing the toes to the healthy foot and x-rays right in our office, we will recommend treatment for the stubbed toe.

For a fractured toe, we will immobilize it by splinting or taping the toe. A post-op boot or shoe will help keep it stable. Surgery may be indicated in serious cases based on the fracture location or if any bone fragments are near the joint.

Watch for Other Complications from a Stubbed Toe

Even in the absence of a fracture, your toe injury may be more serious than you think and can lead to other complications.

When a stubbed toe includes broken skin, infection can set in especially if the injured to had an ingrown toenail. Patients with diabetes must act quickly in this case as the broken skin may cause a foot ulcer or bone infection.

Another complication can be osteoarthritis which may appear months or even years after an injury to the big toe. Stubbing the toe or dropping a heavy object on it can cause this chronic, painful condition.

A Stubbed Toe May Not Be As Simple As You Think

Please contact Dr. Paul Betschart, board certified podiatrist if you have a stubbed toe or any other foot and ankle injury. We will examine your foot carefully and begin treatment for any condition that we find. Call our Danbury office at (844) 375-7622 or our Middlebury office at (844) 221-0942 for an appointment, or contact us via the website. Stubbed toe complications won’t heal themselves so come in for a consultation soon.

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When a Stubbed Toe Is Serious

A stubbed toe is usually a minor injury that occurs when one suddenly hits or jams their toe. It can happen from kicking something hard, tripping, or catching the toe on an object. Pain that is felt after stubbing one’s toe typically subsides after a few minutes but in some cases, the pain can worsen as time goes on. The toes have lots of nerves and little to no fat cushioning, which can make this injury quite painful. Stubbing one’s toe can cause fractures, sprains, broken nails, and infections, and if one of these things happens, it can be more serious. There is a possibility the toe is broken if it is excessively painful to put weight on it after the injury. Similarly, if the toe and foot swell or appear discolored, if a bone is out of place or poking through the skin, or if one has trouble moving the toe, it may be broken. If you feel you have sustained more than a minor injury to your toe, it is suggested that you visit a podiatrist for proper diagnosis and treatment.

Toe pain can disrupt your daily activities. If you have any concerns, contact Dr. Kennedy Legel of Advanced Foot & Ankle Care Specialists. Our doctor can provide the care you need to keep you pain-free and on your feet.

What Causes Toe Pain?

Most severe toe pain is caused due to a sports injury, trauma from dropping something heavy on the toe, or bumping into something rigid. Other problems can develop over time for various reasons.

Toe pain can be caused by one or more ailments. The most common include:

• Trauma
• Sports injury
• Wearing shoes that are too tight
• Arthritis
• Gout
• Corns and calluses
• Hammertoe
• Bunions
• Blisters
• Ingrown toenails
• Sprains
• Fractures (broken bones)
• Dislocations

When to See a Podiatrist

• Severe pain
• Persistent pain that lasts more than a week
• Signs of infection
• Continued swelling
• Pain that prevents walking

Diagnosis

In many cases the cause of toe pain is obvious, but in others, a podiatrist may want to use more advanced methods to determine the problem. These can range from simple visual inspections and sensation tests to X-rays and MRI scans. Prior medical history, family medical history, and any recent physical traumatic events will all be taken into consideration for a proper diagnosis.

Treatment

Treatments for toe pain and injuries vary and may include shoe inserts, padding, taping, medicines, injections, and in some cases, surgery. If you believe that you have broken a toe, please see a podiatrist as soon as possible.

If you have any questions please feel free to contact our office located in Dallas, TX . We offer the newest diagnostic tools and technology to treat your foot and ankle needs.

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causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment

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Bruising: causes, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment.

Definition

Contusion – closed mechanical damage to internal tissues or organs without significant damage to their structure. Bruises are characterized by suddenness, speed and short duration of the traumatic factor. Bruises are mostly local in nature. The dermis and the vessels located under it are most vulnerable, which leads to the formation of hematomas and edema. As a result of a severe bruise, internal organs can be injured. The severity of the process is determined by the type of damaged tissue or organ affected by the traumatic agent (skin, subcutaneous tissue, muscles, parenchymal or hollow organs, brain or spinal cord, etc.).

In cases where the damage is severe, multiple ruptures of small vessels occur, followed by hemorrhage and dysfunction of the organ.

Causes of bruises

A bruise is considered the most common type of domestic injury and usually occurs when falling or hitting hard objects. Children of the first years of life are dominated by domestic, playing injuries, bruising of the soft tissues of the face and neck. At an older age, transport, sports and street injuries are considered the main ones.

Contusion of the lung and/or contusion of the heart as a result of mechanical impact on the chest is a potentially dangerous injury – the vast majority of victims are drivers who hit the chest on the steering column of a car.

A bruise of superficial soft tissues is always accompanied by swelling of the injury site as a result of soaking the skin with lymph, blood and local aseptic inflammation. The severity of edema depends on the area of ​​damage to the subcutaneous tissue at the site of injury. So, for example, in the region of the cranial vault, due to the thin layer of subcutaneous fatty tissue, the edema is insignificant, while even slight bruises of the face are accompanied by severe edema.

A head injury can lead to a concussion.

Severe deep bleeding often leads to additional trauma to neighboring tissues as a result of their compression, which is accompanied by a gradual increase in pain and impaired function of the injured organ.

Often, abrasions and shallow wounds are observed at the site of injury, which serve as entry gates for infectious agents.

Disease classification

Bruises vary in severity:

• first – slight damage without breaking the integrity of the skin or with minor scratches and abrasions, almost painless, self-healing for several days;
• second – muscle contusion, accompanied by severe pain, edema and bruising;
• third – as a result of a bruise, ligaments and tendons can be damaged;
• fourth – contusion of internal organs with severe swelling and pain, with the possibility of disruption of the damaged organs.

Symptoms of injury

The main signs of a bruise are pain in the area of ​​damage, hemorrhage due to rupture of capillaries, hematoma formation and edema.

Hemorrhage at the site of injury appears as a blue-purple spot, the color of which gradually changes to greenish and yellow. Depending on the location of the bruise, bruising and swelling may appear immediately, as occurs in the case of damage to the subcutaneous tissue and the upper layers of the skin. In the case of bruises of deeply located tissues, a hematoma forms after several hours or even days.

Soft tissue injuries are accompanied by pain of varying intensity. So, with bruises of large nerves and their endings, the pain is always sharp, shooting. With bruises of the trunk and limbs, intense hematomas can occur with bursting pains, sometimes with superficial numbness.

Swelling accompanying a bruise reduces the mobility of injured tissues, creating discomfort during movement or rotation of the torso (eg, bruised ribs). The victim experiences the most severe pain immediately after soft tissue injury, and after a couple of hours it subsides. When pressed, the pain increases.

When a joint is bruised, a few hours after the injury, its volume increases, function is impaired, and pain increases (especially when moving).

Severe pain occurs when the periosteum, external genitalia, large nerve trunks are bruised.

The symptoms of a bruise and a closed fracture are very similar to each other: severe pain, swelling, limitation of mobility. But if in case of a bruise the pain subsides within 2-3 hours, then in case of a fracture, on the contrary, it can intensify.

The general condition of patients with limited, superficial bruises usually does not suffer. But with multiple bruises of the body, large or festering hematomas, hemarthrosis (hemorrhage in the joint cavity), a fever with a temperature of up to 38 ° C and above is possible, due to the absorption of blood decay products.

Symptoms of pulmonary contusion include increased sensitivity and pain in the chest, ribs, and in some cases shortness of breath. Other physical signs may be due to associated injuries.

Contusion diagnosis

Basic diagnostic methods:

• chest x-ray;

Plain chest x-ray

X-ray examination of the structure of the lungs to diagnose various pathologies.

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Ultrasound of the mammary glands and regional lymph nodes

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Which doctors to contact

In the first hours after the injury, you should consult a traumatologist. The doctor determines the safety of nearby organs, bones and joints. If a contusion of the lung and heart is suspected, the patient must be examined by a thoracic surgeon. In case of eye injuries, you need to seek help from an ophthalmologist.

Treatment of a bruise

Treatment during the first two days after injury should be aimed at reducing hemorrhage in the tissue. Reducing pain with minor soft tissue bruises helps to apply cold to the affected area. Immediately after the injury, it is recommended to apply a pressure bandage to the site of the bruise and create peace. In case of violation of the integrity of the skin, a sterile bandage is applied.

Resorption of the bruise in the subsequent period (a few days after the injury) is promoted by thermal procedures (hot water heater, warm baths, etc.), warming compresses, active movements with increasing amplitude in the joints located near the injured area. With more extensive bruises, treatment is carried out according to the doctor’s prescription and under his supervision (therapeutic exercises, massage, physiotherapy, etc.).

With a significant hematoma or hemarthrosis, a puncture is performed to remove the spilled blood.

To prevent the development of necrotic processes, it is important to be able to competently provide first aid for bruises. In cases of severe skin damage, with multiple bruises, bruises of the joints, internal organs, immobilization is carried out (they create rest for the damaged part of the body) and the victim is taken to the nearest medical facility. In case of violation of the respiratory function and cardiac activity, artificial respiration and indirect heart massage are immediately started at the scene. At the same time, an ambulance is called. If damage to the internal organs is suspected, the victim should be kept calm and in no case should he be allowed to get up and walk.

Depending on the injury and well-being, the patient may be prescribed medication:

• non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs – to relieve fever, pain, swelling, inflammation;
• medicines containing heparin – for resorption of bruises;
• vasodilating ointments;
• pain relievers;
• enzyme preparations – for resorption of hemorrhagic infiltrate, reduction of edema, restoration of joint function.

Complications

In severe bruises, along with damage to blood vessels, destruction of tissue and cellular structures, primary traumatic necrosis occurs. Large hematomas may not resolve, which in the future is fraught with the formation of a traumatic cyst, the walls of which are formed by dense connective tissue. In clinical practice, suppuration is sometimes observed, as well as petrification (calcification) of hematomas.

Bruised joints often lead to hemarthrosis.

Head contusions accompanied by loss of consciousness, weakness, nausea, vomiting often result in concussion or even contusion of the brain.

In case of neck bruises, in addition to damage to soft tissues, the blood flow in the vessels passing through here can be disturbed for the second time, which worsens the blood supply to the brain.

Bruises of the back and spine may disrupt the circulation of the spinal cord – there is a decrease in sensitivity in the limbs, muscle function, etc.

With severe bruises of the chest, breathing may be disturbed, and with a blow to the heart, it may stop.

Abdominal injury is sometimes accompanied by damage to internal organs (for example, rupture of the liver, spleen).

Prophylaxis

It is recommended to observe the following precautions:

• use protective equipment when cycling, skateboarding, rollerblading, playing hockey, rugby and other injury-prone sports;
• use a seat belt in a car;
• during icy conditions, attach special anti-icing pads to the soles of shoes.

Sources:

1. Big Medical Encyclopedia (BME), edited by Petrovsky B.V., 3rd edition. Volume 26.
2. Zhukov D.V., Ustikova N.V., Prokhorenko V.M. Treatment of soft tissue injuries. breast cancer. Medical review. 2021;5(3):145-149. DOI: 10.32364/2587-6821-2021-5-3-145-149.
3. Denisov A.V., Suprun A.Yu., Gavrilin S.V. et al. Pulmonary contusion: diagnostic methods and treatment tactics. Military Medical Journal, Vol. 339, No. 7 (2018), pp. 28-34.
4. Korpacheva O.V., Dolgikh V.T. The course of the post-traumatic period in contusion of the heart (experimental study). General resuscitation. 2008;4(1):13.

IMPORTANT!

The information in this section should not be used for self-diagnosis or self-treatment. In case of pain or other exacerbation of the disease, only the attending physician should prescribe diagnostic tests. For diagnosis and proper treatment, you should contact your doctor.
For a correct assessment of the results of your analyzes in dynamics, it is preferable to do studies in the same laboratory, since different laboratories may use different research methods and units of measurement to perform the same analyzes.

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Symptoms of bruised ribs, hands and other locations, methods of treatment – Dobrobut Clinic

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Medical Library Dobrobut

Publication date: 2020-03-10

Bruises: signs and treatment.

Symptoms of bruised ribs

Among all injuries, bruises occupy the first place in frequency. Often only soft tissues are damaged in them, bones are rarely affected, and critical consequences are usually not noted. However, sometimes the treatment of a bruised knee can take several weeks, and a chest injury will lead to serious health problems.

Causes of bruising

Soft tissues are usually damaged by impact with a hard object or surface, although, for example, bruising of the back and tailbone when falling into water from a great height is not uncommon. The severity of the bruise depends on:

• the hardness of the traumatic object;
• force and speed of striking;
• damage zone size;
• elasticity of tissues and features of their blood supply;
• age.

Signs of contusion

The main sign is pain that occurs immediately at the moment of impact. A hematoma (accumulation of blood in tissues) may also form. The larger the hematoma, the stronger the pain due to compression of soft tissues and irritation of pain receptors.

Outwardly, the bruise is manifested by swelling at the site of impact. Where the subcutaneous tissue is more pronounced, the swelling will also be more pronounced. Facial tissues can serve as an example – here hematomas are more pronounced. When feeling the site of injury, the patient feels a sharp pain. In case of injuries of the limbs, their functions may be impaired.

Symptoms of bruised ribs include increased pain when breathing, coughing, laughing. The absence of a characteristic crunch when the ribs are compressed on both sides or in the anterior-posterior direction does not yet indicate that there is no fracture. Severe bruising of the chest can also cause other complications, such as damage to the heart or lungs. Then disturbances of activity from the side of the heart or lungs come to the fore.

A form of bruising that will require the prescription of certain drugs for treatment – a contusion of the joint. Hemorrhage in this case can be not only in the periarticular tissues, but also in the joint itself. The phenomenon is called hemarthrosis, while the joint is enlarged, its contours are smoothed, and movements in it are difficult and painful.

Treatment of bruises

The general principles of treatment for bruises are the same. First of all, it is the rest of the affected area of ​​the body. On the first day, cold compresses are recommended for 2-3 hours with a half-hour break. This allows you to reduce the size of the hematoma, reduce swelling, improve microcirculation at the site of injury.

On the second day, UHF is prescribed, and as the severity of pain decreases, compresses, ozocerite and paraffin applications are prescribed. It is possible to use agents that promote the resorption of hematomas – ointments with heparin, as well as electrophoresis with antibiotics or novocaine (for severe pain). Novocaine can also be used to perform a blockade if conventional painkillers are not effective enough.

Hematomas after a large soft tissue injury are usually pierced with a thick needle, the blood is sucked off with a syringe, after which antibiotics are injected into this place and a sterile pressure bandage is applied. If blood has entered the joint, it is also aspirated. After this procedure, a plaster cast is applied. With hemarthrosis, exercise therapy is also prescribed.

What not to do with bruises

On the first day after the bruise, any local thermal procedures are absolutely contraindicated. Warming leads to the expansion of damaged vessels, increased bleeding from them, an increase in hematoma. The blood that is in the tissues, at too high a temperature, becomes a favorable environment for the reproduction of pathogenic microbes, which often leads to the development of phlegmon (diffuse suppuration of soft tissues).

For the same reason, do not rub or massage a fresh bruise. In addition, if the injury results in a fracture that is not immediately recognized, the sharp ends of the broken bone can damage soft tissue, including blood vessels and nerve endings.

Features of treatment for bruised hands

In this case, complete rest and elimination of the hematoma are important. The arm is immobilized with an elastic bandage, and if necessary, a plaster splint is used. With a large hematoma, blood is aspirated, a small one is treated with ointments that promote the resorption of accumulated blood. It is extremely important to prescribe a massage of the affected hand and exercise therapy, otherwise contracture may develop – stiffness of the joints, which will lead to a decrease in the person’s ability to work.

Treatment of a bruised toe

Carried out according to the general rules. On the first day, bed rest is desirable, in the future gentle walking is allowed – so as not to step on the injured finger. Treatment for a bruised toe usually lasts no more than one week.

Severe bruising of the chest and abdomen can also damage internal organs. Therefore, it is important to consult a doctor as early as possible in order to avoid complications. You can learn more about treatment for bruises of the hand and other locations on our website Dobrobut.com. If, in the event of an injury, incomprehensible changes have developed in the tissues, immediately contact the emergency room.

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