Sprained Toe: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Sprained toes are a common injury that can affect your physical activity. It can happen to anyone and is usually caused due to physical trauma to the tissues in the toes or overstretching of the toes that tear the ligament, thereby causing swelling and pain in the toes. Sprained toe symptoms may include pain, swelling, and difficulty walking or bearing weight on the affected toe. This injury is not serious and can be treated at home with self-care using simple home remedies. 

When does a toe sprain occur?

Our toes consist of one big toe and 4 smaller toes. The toes are made of muscles, tendons, and ligaments surrounding the bone under the toe skin. A toe sprain occurs when an injury to the ligaments or tissues in the joints of the toes. This injury may be a,

• tear in the tissue
• hyperextension of the ligaments
• heavy load on the toes

The smaller 4 toes are more prone to getting a sprain since each of the small toes has 3 joints. At the same time, the single big toe has only two joints. Still, it is possible to injure and sprain any of the toes, and there are a few common causes of spraining your toe. 

Causes of toe sprain -

A sprain in the toes occurs when there is physical trauma to the toes that can be caused by one or more of the following reasons:

1. Stumbling accidents

There's a good chance you have been a victim of stumbling your pinky toe against the edge of a bed or a cupboard. Similar stumbling accidents are possible daily and cannot be avoided.

2. Over-training

Sprained toe is commonly seen in athletes who overtrain without a break. It is very important to take breaks in between physical activities.

3. Over-pronation

This is the phenomenon when the arch in your foot collapses and becomes parallel to the hell. This pushes more strain on the toes, which can injure the ligaments.

4. Turf toe-

Turf toe is the more commonly known injury to the toe. It occurs when the big toe is stretched too forwards and upwards, causing strain to the joint and leading to a tear in the tissues. Usually occurs while wearing flip-flops.

5. Hypermobility syndrome-

is a condition where the patient has excessive joint flexibility. This can lead to hyperextension of the muscle and ligaments in the joints of the toes, leading to a Spain. Read Also: Sprain vs Strain Ankle: All You Need to Know 

Sprained toe symptoms -

A sprained toe involves the wear and tear of a ligament in the toe. Sprained toe symptoms may include the followings:

• Intense pain in the toe
• Pain while moving the toe
• Swelling in the toe
• Reddening due to inflammation of the ligament
• throbbing
• Pain while touching/tapping the toe
• Curled toe
• The area turns purple after a few days

You should seek medical attention if the Sprained toe symptoms get worse -

• The toe turns blue or black
• The toe becomes numb for days
• The toe starts oozing fluid with an increase in the swelling

How long does a toe sprain last?

Depending on how badly you have sprained your toes and how deep the injury is to the ligaments, a sprained toe can last between 4-12 weeks. The redness and inflammation seen in the first week of the sprain eventually turn into purple-colored bruises that are blood clots. These clots take a while to dissolve, and the repair of the ligaments may take a few weeks. Severe cases of toe sprains may require more than 12 weeks to heal. The doctor may even suggest using a toe cast to avoid further trauma to the toe. Also Read: Understanding Sprains Vs Strains

Treatment for toe sprain -

Treatment for sprained toes usually involves home rest and self-care. The RICE (Rest, ice, compression, elevation) technique is a common therapy to treat sprained toes. It is possible to heal a sprained toe with home remedies and bed rest. But if the pain is unbearable and persists longer than 6 weeks, you must consult a doctor.

1. Rest -

An important aspect of recovery from a toe sprain is rest. If you sprain your toe, you must not move around unless needed. Please do not touch it or play with the injured toe. Giving your toe bed rest and keeping it steady will help the ligaments heal faster. Resting your toes will give your tissues enough time to heal. Also Read: Ligament and Tendon Repair FAQ

2. Ice -

Applying an ice cube or an ice pack on the injured toe can reduce inflammation and relieve pain. Ice will cool and numb the inflamed and reduce the pain. Also, using ice can stop any internal bleeding. Use an ice pack for 10 minutes every 3-4 hours daily until the redness and swelling reduce. Continued use of an ice pack daily will fasten the recovery and repair the ligaments' tears.

3. Compression -

Applying gentle pressure on the sprained toe in the form of a hot compress (hot compression bag) or a cold compress (cold compression bag can help straighten out a curled toe. Apply a hot compress twice daily to reduce swelling until the pain completely subsides.

4. Elevation -

Keep the injured toe at an elevation using a table or stack of pillows under your feet. Keep the elevation above heart level. This will help reduce the swelling in the sprained area. The elevation is especially important during the first few hours of the sprain and, if done, can prevent inflammation and swelling in the bruised toe.

5. Medical Tape -

Also known as buddy tape, it is used to fix the injured toe with the adjacent toe for support. Tying the two toes together supports the sprained toe and helps recover the ligament tea faster. 

6. Toe brace -

like a knee brace, it helps support the toes by keeping them in place by applying gentle pressure. Your doctor may recommend wearing toe braces if your Sprained toe symptoms are severe. The toes cannot move around, which gives the ligament the time it needs to heal. Use a toe brace even while resting to avoid any physical trauma to the injured toe. 

7. Insoles -

Thick insoles can be a perfect cushioning for shoes. Though movement must strictly be avoided, if you must move around, wear thick padding under your toes to protect them from further injury.

8. Pain medication -

OTC analgesics such as Ibuprofen and Paracetamol can be taken to relieve pain from the toe injury. 

Precautions - 

Sprains are usually caused due to accidents and unknown mishaps. Hence it is not avoidable, but you can take a few precautions to reduce the frequency of the occurrence.

• If you're an athlete or someone who enjoys spending time outdoors, you should wear well-fitted shoes with a good cushion for the toes.
• Warm up before performing any strenuous physical activity. This helps the toes get used to the impact and intensity of the exercise and causes less tearing of the tissues and ligaments.
• Do not walk barefoot on a playground or in areas with a huge crowd. These are accident-prone areas for your feet, especially when barefoot. 

Also Read: Athlete's Foot: Meaning, Causes and Symptoms

FAQs -

Also Read: Nimesulide and Paracetamol Tablets: Uses, Benefits, Side effects, and Warnings.

Conclusions -

A sprained toe is a common injury that not only athletes suffer but regular people as well. While sprained toes are not a serious condition, they can be painful and hinder your daily activities. Sprained toe symptoms can be relieved or treated completely with bed rest and hot compression on the injured area to temporarily relieve pain. However, since prevention is better than cure, protect yourself from any injury by observing caution with your tiny toes.  Also Read: What Is A Muscle Strain? Know Its Causes & Treatment