I stubbed my toe 4 weeks ago (middle toe). I have stubbed my toes harder than this but I must have hit it just right because it turned black and blue. I was able to walk on it fine. I wasn’t running at the time since I was taking a break from running. I picked up running 2.5 weeks later. But after every run it is sore and turns red like its aggravated. It’s okay running and doesn’t bother me. I’m wondering if I continue to run it what is the worse that can happen. I’m assuming I broke it and just needed more time to heal and its going to take a long time to get back to normal if I keep on running.
I stubbed my toe 4 weeks ago (middle toe). I have stubbed my toes harder than this but I must have hit it just right because it turned black and blue. I was able to walk on it fine. I wasn’t running at the time since I was taking a break from running. I picked up running 2.5 weeks later. But after every run it is sore and turns red like its aggravated. It’s okay running and doesn’t bother me. I’m wondering if I continue to run it what is the **worse **that can happen. I’m assuming I broke it and just needed more time to heal and its going to take a long time to get back to normal if I keep on running.
**worst **
you should probably consult a doctor, but if you took 2.5 weeks off you will probably be ok - you’ll just prolong the period until you’re pain free post-runs.
HTFU. Kidding. Even if you did break it there isn’t much to be done for a broken toe. The doctor would probably just tell you to stay off it for a couple more weeks. Swim and bike a bunch and give yourself another week or two if it’s still really bothersome after runs. Good luck.
Its not unbearable after runs. Just sore and red. The redness goes away by the next day. I guess I will give it a few more weeks.
I’ve broken the toe between the middle and big about 4 times, a couple stubbing it and once (as a kid) kicking my brother and missing…full speed contact with a chair leg isn’t fun. After the last time, I think it’s permanently broken as it’s a bit floppy, and will also occasionally turn red or ache, but long story short doesn’t impact the running much.
Every time I’ve re-broken it, it takes about 4 weeks to get back to full usability, including swimming (the kicking was quite painful for a while). I’ve even been able to race (sprint) with it just buddy taped, when necessary, which poor decision-making has probably led to the ongoing broken-ness.
That’s probably the worst case.
What’s the worst?
Due to the injured toe and pain receptors, your body will compensate and use other muscles in different sequences, ones you likely haven’t been using much. This will cause another injury and the body will compensate again. This will happen over and over again until there is so much instability and unbalance that you fall flat on your face because the last muscle in your ear has given up compensating for your toe that you became dizzy. Because you are so disoriented a pack of rabid chipmunks eat you little bites at a time until you are nothing but a bloody pulp with one good ear to hear from as all the towns people see and scream in horror. Then you die.
Or keep running.
What’s the worst?
Due to the injured toe and pain receptors, your body will compensate and use other muscles in different sequences, ones you likely haven’t been using much. This will cause another injury and the body will compensate again. This will happen over and over again until there is so much instability and unbalance that you fall flat on your face because the last muscle in your ear has given up compensating for your toe that you became dizzy. Because you are so disoriented a pack of rabid chipmunks eat you little bites at a time until you are nothing but a bloody pulp with one good ear to hear from as all the towns people see and scream in horror. Then you die.
Or keep running.
Couldn’t agree more. I broke my big toe two years ago and never did anything about it. I’ve developed hip and knee problems since from changing the way I run (I essentially take all the weight off my big two, kind of slightly rolling my ankle outwards). The toe still hurts - especially in humid conditions - and I can’t bend it. There is a surgical option that would help with the pain but that means fusing the joints and losing all mobility in the toe (as I understand it).
I ignored everyone’s recommendation to take a bit of time off when it happened and now I’m paying for it. Seriously, it’s not worth it.