[Closed] Broken bones - when is late, too late?

get it looked at - could be other things. Cure might be worse than the issues you have now but without expert advice you don't know

Prob better to have it looked at now rather than leave it another 8 weeks

I broke both my big toes playing basketball at school. All they could do is a buddy splint, no cast etc. so not sure what they do now.

Depends, if it was broken and hasn’t healed in a decent alignment it might need fixing. From memory they’re more likely to sort big and little toes than the others as you’re more dependent on those for walking.

IIRC Mrs @funkydunc is the resident ‘pod and would know; I just stop them screaming while the surgeons operate…

I broke mine in my early 20’s windsurfing and as it was straight and seemed to mend ok without too much pain forgot about it until my mid 40’s when it started being problematic due stiff arthritis in the joint. Has it fused almost 10 years ago, which was by and large successful at removing the pain without too many knock on effects.

Quick, re-break it with the ban hammer and use splints this time! 😉

I broke mine about a year ago smacking it off a tree stump and getting foot dragged under the pedal (or at least I assume I did 'cause it was very sore for a few months with very obvious point pain and really nasty black to yellow bruising all over for the first 3-4 weeks). Wasn't out of position or anything so I just taped it and treated myself to a box of Solphadine (Yum Yum). No probs at all 1 year on. It's your call obviously but I'd still be expecting pain and restricted movement after 8 weeks from a broken big toe so personally wouldn't be overly concerned.

Walked around with a broken big toe for the better part of a year. Every time I played football or rode the bike off road etc it would become painfuk for a while but would seem to get better after about a week. Eventually got tired of it and got it checked out. It was broken it two places on and the bottom of the breaks we're opening up leaving a triangular gap. They put a largish metal U shaped splint and gave me a walking boot cast. They said it was the only way to make sure it healed because of where the breaks were.

So maybe get it checked.

Thanks all for the advice. Maybe time to get someone to having a quick look. Don't want to bother A&E but assume that's the only place that would be worthwhile-guessing an X-ray is only way to diagnose properly.

How's about a walk in minor injuries unit?

How’s about a walk in minor injuries unit?

Clue's in the name! They don't do foot injuries as you can't walk 😛

They don’t do foot injuries as you can’t walk

You need to go to hopital

Yeah anything that still hurts after 8 weeks should be seen.

You can go to your GP, but they'll likely refer you for an X-Ray and you'll wait a while, probably weeks. Once they've ruled out infection/gout etc.

You can go to A&E, but you fall pretty short of what they consider to be the minimum for A&E, they will see you, but you'll wait.

Minor injuries is the right place, just be clear when and where you did it, my Wife was almost turned away from one because she couldn't pin point exactly when she hurt herself and the grumpy Nurse said "well, it's not an injury the is it?" I think she was just being a dick, she changed her mind when Mrs "fancy specialist Nurse" Jay reminded her of what constituted an injury and not to take the piss.

Totally get that checked out!

A&E when it is likely to be quiet (dunno when that would be tho) or minor injuries can sort you with an xray.

Check online if your Minor Injuries Unit does X-rays, I'd be surprised if they don't

It is also normally waaaaaaaaay quicker

Just been googling. Apparently they are now being called 'Urgent Care Centres'

I waited a month after I broke my hand, it healed in a shonky place and if I'd gone even a week earlier they'd have reset it. If it'd been a little bit more out of line they'd have rebroken it regardless. But I ended up in a sort of perfect shitty place where there weren't any good options, because of waiting. Get it checked.

I broke my big toe years ago. Was put in a cast to my ankle for around six weeks. I’d get it checked out but you know that now!

I went to a chiropodist about a sore toe and he actually had an xray machine which took tiny little plates. One xray later you could see a small chip of bone on the edge of the joint. He was adamant that a hospital xray wouldnt have picked it up as it was so tiny they would have overlooked it in search of a typical 'bigger' fracture. Anyway treatment was as expected ie no treatment. Pain probably lasted two to three months, worse when wearing wellies in hot weather for work.
Cost was maybe 30 or 40 nicker, was nearly 30 years ago though (toe now fine).

Very easy to break a toe