How can i tell if i broke a toe?

i hit my toe on a piece of workout equipment and instantly saw 'stars' . this was about a half hour ago - the pain is worse and it looks to be swelling a bit and the pain is going halfway up the foot. i have broken bones but was too young to remember it.

i do know from my mom (she's broken several) that all the hospital will do is *literally* put a bandaid on it b/c they can't set a bone that small. just wondering if i broke it or just contused it.

i have no health insurance currently so i can't seek treatment for it if it is broken. i'm simply wondering if it possibly is. if it wasn't one am then i'd call my mom and ask her - she's broken the same one three times.

get an XRAY

Can you wiggle it? If not, it is broken.

No that isn't true.
i've been in the er all month, and we see baby's bones that are broken that are much smaller than your toe.
If it is broken, it will show up on xray
we will see it
and it will get proper care.

well if you have a feeling you did go to the doctor, they not going to make fun of you or something if its only a sprain

Only real way is to have an X-Ray. My wife has jammed her toe on several occasions where one day after weeks of pain, it popped really loud and then suddenly felt "good" again.

Don't take this story for granted though- I don't know if it's broken or not. So don't take hurting yourself lightly.

If you have insurance, get it checked out. Seeing "Stars" is never a good thing. That means INSANE pain.

it hangs down

it will be a ***** to move. it will hurt like hell and it will be red and swollen like a tomato. after a few hours you'll think you're on acid..... ha ha.

A broken toe hurts like bloody hell.

You're right about the hospital - they'll charge you a small fortune to tell you the following: Use the RICE method.

R - Rest
I - Ice
C - Compression
E - Elevation

Also, take advil or another ibuprofen to reduce the swelling. Wear sandles or some kind of shoe that won't put pressure on the toe.

see a doctor immediately or it might get worse

if you did all they will do is tape the toe that hurts and the toe beside of it together try that been there done that

If you can't move the toe then it is broken, you need to get a x-ray and a leg-cast.

humm its hard to say. if the pain is going all the way to your foot then its likely that you possibly did break it.

sorry but a xray is in line . broken or not , a Dr can help with the pain an swelling.

One of the things we teach in EMT school, is that in the field, you can not see if a bone is broken unless it is protruding through the skin. There are obvoious fractures that result in gross deformity of the are around the bone. The bottom line is, you can not tell without an X-ray. There is little that they will do for a broken toe as far as setting the bone, but in the event the bone is crushed or there are any soft tissue injuries that need to be addressed, you need to seek medical help. Someone mentioned the RICE method and that is good, but if it hurts and does not improve, go see the doctor.

Keep your foot up, don't walk on it for awhile, keep it covered with a cool compress.
If it feels better in a few days, it is simply squashed, bent, or dislocated.
If it continues to hurt, it is most likely broken.
Be sure to keep it clean, use a breathable bandage to hold it still, and for the next couple of weeks wear large shoes, soft slippers or sandals that do not push on the foot. Best is to stay off the foot as much as you can, and be careful walking...don't hurt it again.
See a doctor if it does not feel better, if the color or the look of the skin around it seems wrong, if there is an open wound, pus, heat, or swelling further from the toes ... listen to your body and see a doctor or a foot specialist if things don't feel right.

buddy tape it with medical tape that's what i did when my boyfriend kicked my toe and broke it so try it.

If the toe is pointing straight up or sideways or down and cant move it, yes it is broken.

If it's broken it will most likely be all purple and swollen and will be bent at an awkward angle. You will also be unable to move it.

My husband broke his toe a few weeks ago. He said the pain was horrible and his toe was all swelled up and purple. Sounds to me as if you did break your toe and your right the doctors can't do anything for a broken toe. Put ice on it and take some aspirin for pain.

you are right, there isn't much you can do with a broken toe. However, you may want to try this great informative web site that also sells over the counter products to help you out, myfootshop.com. you can try taping the toes together to keep them aligned and using a stiff soled shoe that has support on the bottom and sides. best advise is to hit the site in the source. good luck!