Broken toe

Find out about the symptoms of a broken toe, when you should get medical advice and how to look after it at home.

A broken toe can be painful, but you do not usually need to go to hospital. There are things you can do to treat it at home.

You may have broken your toe if it's:

  • bruised or red – this may be harder to see on brown and black skin
  • painful and swollen
  • difficult to walk on

Do not worry if you're not sure if it's broken or just bruised, treatment is usually the same for both.

Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:

  • you have a bad cut or wound after injuring your toe
  • you have severe toe pain

You may need further treatment in hospital, such as a boot, cast or surgery.

You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.

Go to A&E if:

  • you think you have broken your big toe
  • your toe is pointing out at an odd angle
  • the bone is sticking out of your toe
  • you feel tingling in your toe or foot, or it feels numb
  • your child has hurt or broken their toe
Find your nearest A&E

Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.

Bring any medicines you take with you.

Doctors will usually suggest you treat a broken toe at home first if:

  • it's not your big toe
  • the bone is not sticking out of your foot
  • your toe is not pointing at an odd angle
  • there's no wound on your toe

Broken toes usually heal within 4 to 6 weeks, but it can sometimes take several months.

There are some things you can do yourself to help with a broken toe.

Do

  • take ibuprofen or paracetamol for the pain and swelling

  • rest your foot and keep it raised while it's swollen

  • hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel on your toe for up to 20 minutes every few hours for the first few days after you injured your toe

  • wear wide, comfortable flat shoes with stiff soles

  • strap up your broken toe for 2 to 3 weeks – put a small piece of cotton wool or gauze between your sore toe and the toe next to it, then tape them together to support the sore toe

Don't

  • do not strap up your toe if it's pointing out at an odd angle or you have hurt your big toe – get medical advice

  • do not put ice directly on your skin

  • do not walk or stand for long periods for the few first days after you injured your toe – it may help to walk with a support or crutches for a few weeks

  • do not wear tight, pointy shoes

  • do not play any sports like football, rugby or hockey for 6 weeks or until the pain eases

  • do not try to treat your child's toe – take them to an urgent treatment centre or A&E

You can ask a pharmacist about:

  • the best painkiller to take
  • what you need to strap up your toe
  • if you need to see a GP

Find a pharmacy

See a GP if:

  • pain and swelling has not started to ease 5 days after you injured your toe
  • it still hurts to walk 6 weeks after injuring your toe
  • you have diabetes and have injured your toe – foot problems can be more serious if you have diabetes

They may send you for an X-ray to see if you need any further treatment.