Stubbing your toe happens suddenly and unexpectedly, causing a painful experience even if the actual injury is relatively minor. Because your toes have only a small amount of fatty tissue to insulate them from any shock, a stubbed toe injury can often be very painful without being very severe. This is not always the case, however, and since there is the possibility that you may have a more serious injury like a fracture, it is important to have your toe evaluated by your foot care professional so you don’t accidentally make things worse.

How can I tell if my toe may be broken?

The symptoms of a toe fracture are severe pain in your toe, especially when you try to walk; bleeding under the toenail; swelling and bruising that lasts for more than two or three days.

Stubbing your toe can also create enough stress to cause a tendon or ligament injury, and the possible dislocation of one or more joints. There is also the possibility of infection taking hold. It has also been shown in studies that a stubbed toe is more susceptible to developing arthritis as you get older.

Stubbed and broken toe treatments

If your stubbed toe is not too severe, the pain and swelling will usually subside within a day or two. If it goes beyond that, you may have a more serious problem requiring the services of a podiatrist.

An x-ray will be taken to rule out any broken bones. A broken toe can often be successfully treated by buddy taping it to the toe next to it.  Wearing a special cast boot or shoe will immobilize the area while healing occurs

In severe cases, surgery may be required to realign the toe and to remove any bone fragments that may have gotten into the joint.


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