Treating a Stubbed Toe Step-by-Step
A person may frequently experience a painful stubbed toe. It’s very important to know exactly how to deal with it given that it may be as serious as fracture capable of leading to osteoarthritis. Even though most of the times it’s not serious, knowing how to treat it is quite necessary.
1. Checkout Its Condition
The first thing you need to do is to check out how bad the condition is by gently removing the shoe and looking for a broken nail, swelling, bent appearance or bleeding. If it’s too hard to remove the shoe, you might have had a sprain or fracture and seeing a doctor is required.
2. Clean and Disinfect
If you notice a cut or a broken nail, wash the toe gently with soap and water and dry it with a paper towel or clean cloth. Apply an antibacterial and cover the toe with a bandage.
3. Reduce the Swelling with a Cold Compress
In order to reduce the painful swelling, use an ice bag or a bag of frozen vegetables as a cold compress. Wrap your compress in a towel and apply it on your toe for 10 to 15 minutes at a time.
4. Avoid Pressure on Your Toe
A stubbed toe can be painful while you walk or stand. In order to avoid this, try to shift your weight on your heel instead of your toe. If the pain goes on, avoid physical activity all together until the pain subsides. Sandals and flip-flops are also suggested to minimize the pressure.
5. Elevate your Injured Toe
When you rest, elevate your injured toe by laying it on a pile of pillows. This will decrease the blood flow to the toe reducing the swelling.
6. Try Over-the-Counter Drugs
Over-the-counter painkillers such as paracetamol and NSAIDS can help alleviate the pain of the stubbed toe. Keep in mind that overdosing on these drugs causes complications.
