Last night my living room furniture plotted against my going to Louisville and the couch was voted the one to carry out their nefarious plans. It jumped out and made me stub my little toe so freakin hard I’m pretty sure it’s broken. I iced it right away but it’s still pretty swollen, bruised and at an angle away from my other toes. Conventional wisdom has it that you can’t really do anything for a broken toe so I’m wondering what I can do to facilitate the healing. Do I abstain from running for a while now? I think I can still bike and swim okay. Anyone else ever have a broken toe? And what did you do about it? Should I tape it to the next toe in line? Pease help; inquiring feet want to know.
I don’t think you have to do any of that stuff. I can’t remember where I read it, but it said most people break their little toe several times in their lives and continue walking, running as normal. I can think back to at least 3 occasions where I thought I stubbed it, but it was probably broken. I’m no doctor, but I think taping it to other toes will just make running awkward. With that said, you’d be screwed if it were the big toe!
Ice the “pinky” down and continue tapering. Good luck in Kentucky!!
I have always heard to tape the toes together and ice it. Hang in there, you will be ok for your race!! Think positive
completely not true that “nothing” is done for a broken toe (“pinkie” or otherwise). Depends upon where the fractures is (in/through the joint, etc.), needs closed reduced, etc.
That being said, 95% of the time you are right - nothing needs done (and that includes buddy taping unless obviously unstable)
Since you have an important race that you trained for a long time for, a simple X-ray is a good idea - realize that likely nothing will be done, but if you are one of the unlikely 5% or so …
Good luck and see you there!
Thanks for the replies. I’m sure it will be okay in time for IMLOU, I was more concerned with my tapering. I had planned my 2 hr run for Thursday but the whole right side of my foot is swollen so I may have to wait til the weekend.
Okay, I’ve heard one person say to tape it to the next toe, one not to. Any others?
I cringed when I saw this thread! I remember one year ago reading a thread from a guy that was like one week out from his IM (I think Wisconsin) and kicked the corner of his bed breaking his toe. That has made me totally paranoid 3 weeks out from IMC. I’m watching every step being overly cautious. You’ll be okay I think. Just baby that thing for a bit and see how it goes. Good luck!
*Depends upon where the fractures is (in/through the joint, etc.), needs closed reduced, etc. *
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I just felt around the base of the toe (Yes, it’s a slow work day) and it seems okay. It feels like it might be between the second joint and the base.
And good luck to you in Canada! Watch out for furniture! I recommend steel-toed safety shoes at this point.
Tape it…ibprofen…ice… go have fun in the Ohio!
Now if it is up into the foot part…go see doc.
That is the location of the typical ‘bedpost’ fracture - oblique fracture of the proximal phalanx and “should” do well
Nothing like a forced taper anyway … 
That sucks. Good luck with the recovery. If it hurts stay off it. I make a point to not do anything now that I’m so close to the race that might lead to unfamiliar strains and aches. No riding the lawnmower (it strains the back), rakeing leaves (blisters), no sun where it could burn, careful lifting anything, etc., etc., etc. I’m extremely careful and it’s always a thought as I’m doing my daily activities.
*I’m extremely careful and it’s always a thought as I’m doing my daily activities. *
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Same here. I just didn’t see the toe stubbing coming, and it’s the worst I’ve ever had. Oh well, maybe a forced taper will be a good thing…
Tape it…ibprofen…ice… go have fun in the Ohio!
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Took ibuprofrin 30 min ago. I’ve got it iced as I type. In fact, I work for a company that makes medical rehabilitation products and the line that makes cold pacs is just down the hall. Now I just need to find the tape…
I broke my pinky toe a month before my first IM in Lake Placid a few years ago and had the same feelings of panic. I think I missed about 7-days of running. But I got a last long run in before the race that was a bit painful but doable. By IM, I knew the injury had been there, and felt a slight twinge, but I was able to finish the race without diffuculty from the toe. Ice it a lot and spend your time swimming and biking. I bet you will be fine.
Thanks. It’s good to hear from someone who went through the same thing.
I thought I at least fractured a toe 3-4 days before my first HIM. I was practicing open water swimming and while walking out in the water hit my foot so hard on a rock that it brought tears. The toe looked bad, swollen, etc and I was limping almost up to the start of the race.
I had no problem during the race though. For the race I taped the toes together and about mile 6 of the run stopped and removed what tape was left.
My friend broke his big toe while dog paddling before the start of the swim at last years Lake Placid race, somebody kicked him in the foot 5 minutes before the gun…My wife remembers him screaming at her, asking if she had some Ibubrofin at the exit of the swim.
He went on to finish the race, pretty close to his PB.
I guess the moral of the story is you don’t need your big toe intact to finish an Ironman.
Ron W.
I jammed my toe badly 2 days before an HIM, thought it was broken. I taped it to the next toe and it helped - do what makes it feel better. I agree with ice, ibuprofen and keeping it elevated when possible to reduce swelling.