Pain & swelling at base of 2nd toe

by Tracy

Hi:

I banged my 2nd toe about 2 1/2 weeks ago. Didn't feel like a broken toe and didn't bruise or anything. It was a little sore the next day as we did a lot of walking - 3+ miles.

Didn't really think anything of it - didn't hurt in shoes or walking - until last week when my toes felt cramped and sore - the next day it was uncomfortable and I realized that is pretty swollen and particularly swollen at the base and around the sides at the bottom. It is tender to the touch on the top of the toe at the bottom right above where it connects to the foot. It does not hurt on the bottom of my foot at all. I can bend it without discomfort. Hurts when it is under the sheets - like the pressure pushing down on the toe from the top - similar to the cramped feeling while wearing shoes the last few days.

My second toe is slightly longer that the big toe and I also had bunion surgery on the same foot approx two years ago.

What do you think I did and do I need to see my foot doc?

Thanks,
Tracy

Hi Tracy,
Unfortunately, the only way you are going to know whether the toe is broken or not is from an xray. It is impossible to tell just by looking at the toe.
It is always better to diagnose a broken bone sooner than later because the earlier treatment is started the better the prospects for normal healing.
If...the toe is broken it then becomes an issue of how bad a break you sustained. A simple "crack" in the bone is usually treated by just splinting the second toe to the adjacent toe; a more severe fracture may require more aggressive treatment.
I think the best advice I can give you is to go see your foot doctor and let he or she take an xray to accurately diagnose your pain and offer some treatment.

Marc Mitnick DPM
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