Dealing with a fractured/hurt toe...

[Tbone]

Alright guys, about 3 and a half weeks ago I messed up my right big toe by jamming it into the ground REALLY hard. I didn't see a doctor or anything as it wasn't broken, but the foot had a lot of swelling. I iced and elevated it for a few days but had to stand on it at my job(where I hurt it). I figured it would be short lived but I still can't bend the toe without jolting pain.

Should I be prudent with it or continue doing what I am doing now which is squats at the gym(doesn't hurt if my foot is flat) and swimming in place of running(hurts bad the second my toe bends)? I would hate to delay the healing process but can't stand doing nothing(see what I did there ).

 

[TLDR20]

Have you been to the doc? Sometimes toe injuries require a surgical fix.

 

[Tbone]

Have you been to the doc? Sometimes toe injuries require a surgical fix.

I didn't see a doctor because the toe looks fine....no bruising,displacement or anything...but it hurts to move the toe up or down. Don't get me wrong, compared to day one it is better I guess but I figured almost 4 weeks would yield better improvement.

 

[x SF med]

I'm with TLDR20 on this go to a Doc.... the initial injury could have caused a nerve impingement or a tendon sheath injury that will not swell or bruise, but if left untreated could cause huge problems in the future.

Your health, your responsibility.

 

[Tbone]

Thanks for the input, I will see what I can do.

 

[Red Flag 1]

I'm with TLDR20 on this go to a Doc.... the initial injury could have caused a nerve impingement or a tendon sheath injury that will not swell or bruise, but if left untreated could cause huge problems in the future.

Your health, your responsibility.

Concur, strongly. Any other toe than the great toe, has natural splints, the toes next to them. Even the smallest toe can be naturally splinted by simply taping it to the next toe. The great toe is another story. You need that toe on your foot for balance. A close friend of mine lost a great toe under a lawn mower. To this day, he still has trouble taking a shower because of the balance issue; but then again, he is an USAF 0-6 . If you have a fracture through the joint, it will take a very long time to heal. As already pointed out, you may need an ORIF, open reduction and internal fixation, surgery for adequate treatment of your fracture. As my two colleagues have suggested, let a physician examine your injury. Without that exam, you will not be adequately treated, and will have continued troubles. Best of luck with your injury.

 

[Tbone]

Concur, strongly. Any other toe than the great toe, has natural splints, the toes next to them. Even the smallest toe can be naturally splinted by simply taping it to the next toe. The great toe is another story. You need that toe on your foot for balance. A close friend of mine lost a great toe under a lawn mower. To this day, he still has trouble taking a shower because of the balance issue; but then again, he is an USAF 0-6 . If you have a fracture through the joint, it will take a very long time to heal. As already pointed out, you may need an ORIF, open reduction and internal fixation, surgery for adequate treatment of your fracture. As my two colleagues have suggested, let a physician examine your injury. Without that exam, you will not be adequately treated, and will have continued troubles. Best of luck with your injury.

Thanks, and I have suggested seeing someone about it but the mom and pops are a part of the "Only go to the doctor if you're dying" crowd. Convincing them to pay a visit would be the hardest part of this. Although, my dad at least acknowledges the fact that after a few weeks it is odd that it hasn't healed more......He and my brother actually joke about how funny it would be if I could never join the military cause I had to have my toe amputated.....hahaha so funny.....soooooo funny............(silent weeping)

 

[TLDR20]

If it doesn't heal properly it could prevent you from joining the military.

 

[Tbone]

If it doesn't heal properly it could prevent you from joining the military.

That is what I was afraid of. Let's say I go get it fixed and it is like new, would that still prevent me from qualifying for an 18x?

 

[Red Flag 1]

Thanks, and I have suggested seeing someone about it but the mom and pops are a part of the "Only go to the doctor if you're dying" crowd. Convincing them to pay a visit would be the hardest part of this. Although, my dad at least acknowledges the fact that after a few weeks it is odd that it hasn't healed more......He and my brother actually joke about how funny it would be if I could never join the military cause I had to have my toe amputated.....hahaha so funny.....soooooo funny............(silent weeping)

 

[Tbone]

I see your problem a little clearer now. My apologies for not looking at your intro sooner. A few thoughts: you could easily explore health care through your high school. If you participate is sports, it is even better. Most schools carry insurance to cover students who become injured on school grounds. While I do not support falsehoods, sometimes it can work in your favor to bend the truth some. Let's say that you injured your toe on school grounds. This could happen in many different ways; football injury season, varsity and intramural, is in full swing now. A visit to the school nurse could get you into the medical care arena. Your parents will likely be notified, but if the school calls Mom & Pops, and says your son has a fractured toe, and needs medical attention, you have the school backing you up in approaching your parents.

Perhaps the above, and letting pops know that your toe injury could be in the way of joining the military after graduation, might be enough to swing his point of view enough to get you to a doc. I do wish the best for you and hope your toe injury gets resolved. It is hard to make a call on how this will impact an 18 X contract, without knowing a diagnosis and treatment outcome. Keep us posted on how this turns out for you.

Well I'm homeschooled so that option is gone. Funny enough I was at work today( This is where I hurt it) and since I work with kids afterschool sometimes where I work, I was walking over to a kid who hurt himself and I stubbed my toe on a gymnast mat :-( Now the tow hurts like it did the first week.....sigh. I will try my best to see a doc and post any news I get.

 

[Red Flag 1]

Well I'm homeschooled so that option is gone. Funny enough I was at work today( This is where I hurt it) and since I work with kids afterschool sometimes where I work, I was walking over to a kid who hurt himself and I stubbed my toe on a gymnast mat :-( Now the tow hurts like it did the first week.....sigh. I will try my best to see a doc and post any news I get.

.

 

[Tbone]

That it happened on school grounds, does open a doorway for you, or so it seems. If I can help at all, shoot me a pm, and I will do all I can.

It's my fault I wasn't clear enough in my post, I work at Pump It Up which has an after-school program. So no, the injury did not happen at a school, it happened at work. I hope that clears it up a bit.

 

[CDG]

Why don't you file a claim/report through work then?

 

[Tbone]

Why don't you file a claim/report through work then?

because I did it to myself and I really like my boss and would hate to put more stress on her than she already has.

 

[x SF med]

because I did it to myself and I really like my boss and would hate to put more stress on her than she already has.

That's why employers are required to have worker's comp insurance. You are naïve if you think you are doing anybody a favor by not reporting a workplace accident, especially one that could stop your entry into the military.

 

[CDG]

because I did it to myself and I really like my boss and would hate to put more stress on her than she already has.

Agree 100% with what x SF med said. She's a boss, not a friend. You need to do what's in your best interest. Is it worth risking not getting the job you want, or not getting into the military at all? We're downsizing right now, so it's far from a guarantee.

 

[Tbone]

Thank you both for the wisdom, I know what I need to do so I'll get the ball rolling.

 

[TLDR20]

I'm going to go ahead and disagree. If you hurt your toe fucking around keep that shit to yourself. If it was hurt in the process of your job, think about a claim, but if you have insurance, again keep it to yourself.

 

[Tbone]

I'm going to go ahead and disagree. If you hurt your toe fucking around keep that shit to yourself. If it was hurt in the process of your job, think about a claim, but if you have insurance, again keep it to yourself.

Yes, it was hurt by screwing around(kicking a ball) and we have insurance and I have convinced my parents to see somebody. I just don't know the day yet.