Is It Broken?! The Best First Aid For A Stubbed Toe Onboard
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Kickery
verb,singular kik-ker-ee
To strike a toe against an inanimate object creating a sudden intense pain and feelings of disbelief, anger and regret
A striking force to the toe accompanied by a selection of expletives involuntarily emitted by the kicker
Ok, yes I made the word up but I’m using it…
If you’ve just kicked your toe, I’m feeling for you. REALLY. Kicking your toe is a special kind of pain, right up there with standing on a piece of lego in bare feet, but worse because the pain keeps going. And you never expect it right?! Most times your feet are the last thing on your mind (unless you’re an I love looking at strangers’ feet on the internet’ person) until suddenly, the standard brain-to-foot manoeuvre communication is scrambled — just like that you misjudge distance/angle/timing and WHAAM!!! toes collide with hard thing. The shout is involuntary, then there’s a tiny delay in pain response for the thought ‘Oh shit how bad is this gonna be?’, and THEN the intensity of it blasts from your toe leaving you speechless. All you can do is huff and puff hoping for the pain to ease. Then you inspect the damage.
I won’t hold you up if you want to skip to the big question like “Did I just break it?!!!”
A stubbed toe may be a surprising topic to write about in a sailing journal, but sooner or later you’re likely to deal with such an incident onboard. Especially if you’re like me and prefer to be a wild barefooted babe running about on deck. Naturally, this significantly increases your chances of kickery aka a painful toe collision. There’s only one loser when it comes to spraining your toe against a metal winch or deck cleat. If the foot injury isn’t handled correctly, it can lead to significant discomfort and potential complications long-term. So how DO you handle it correctly? And what’s the answer to the big questions like ‘Did I just break it?!!!’ ‘Is it going to fall off??’ ‘Will it ever look normal again??’ These are the things you need to prepare for when sailing or wandering the earth with two bare feet.
Here you’ll find a simple guide to provide effective first aid to your toe, and ensure a smooth recovery process. We’ll have you up and running about again in no time.
Disclaimer: I’m not a medical doctor (shock), but I’ve found the best podiatrist doctors with expert advice and have simplified that for you. Please seek medical attention if you suspect your toe is seriously injured.
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Understanding The Human Foot: The Basics
Symptoms of a Stubbed Toe: For anyone in the lucky 1% who have never experienced this delightful event
Is It Just Sprained Or Is It Broken?: THE BIG QUESTION
Initial First Aid for a Stubbed Toe: 1-3 days
Treatment and Recovery For a Stubbed Toe: Self-care
When to Seek Medical Attention
Preventing Future Toe Injuries: (Just don’t kick things?)
Understanding The Human Foot: The Basics
The human foot consists of 26 bones and over 30 ligaments. Ligaments are the connective tissues surrounding the bones in your toes. Their job is to connect the bones of your toes to your joints. A stubbed toe occurs when a toe forcefully impacts a hard surface, causing pain, swelling, and possible injury. I’ve tested a companionway frame, boat winch, and heavy toolbox on the ground. Such kickery can happen to anyone without shoes on, and understanding its potential risks is essential to prevent further harm.
A sprained toe is caused by damage to the ligaments surrounding your joints. Damage to the ligaments makes it difficult for your joints to move freely without pain.
A broken toe is caused by fractures in any of the toe bones, also known as phalanges (and thanks to Phoebe on F·R·I·E·N·D·S I will always associate this word with mechanical issues on a plane). Your phalanges are connected to your metatarsal bones (five long bones in your feet). Because the phalanges are so small, it can be difficult to detect a fracture.
Symptoms of a Stubbed Toe: For anyone in the lucky 1% who have never experienced this delightful event
I don’t mean to be pessimistic but it’s going to happen. Immediate symptoms typically include sharp pain upon impact, followed by swelling, tenderness, bruising, and potential difficulty in moving the toe. However, being attentive to your toe afterwards and knowing the right things to do next can speed up the healing process.
Is It Just Sprained Or Is It Broken?: THE BIG QUESTION
Most stubbed toes are painful sprains with ‘mild to moderate’ discomfort and are highly inconvenient, but are not broken and not a major issue. This means the pain will subside fairly quickly (within a day or so). These cases can be managed at home. But if it’s not improving and you can’t walk on it after a couple of days, you should seek medical treatment as it may be fractured. But there are some significant signs to look for that differentiate a stub from a break.
Signs of a Broken Toe:
Toe fractures are common and can be very painful. Healing of a broken toe may take 6 to 8 weeks. The good news is that Dr Bauer from Summit Foot and Ankle reassures us that these injuries rarely require surgery and usually heal with rest and a change to low-key activity.
Obviously, if the toe in question is pointing in a different direction to your others (and it wasn’t like that before you stubbed it), then it’s likely a displaced toe fracture. Sometimes, one toe is pushed out to the side, or there’s a subtle twisting that turns the toe up a little bit.
Symptoms of a broken toe, or that indicate a more severe injury include:
a sound like a snap or pop at the time of the incident
intense and persistent pain
severe swelling and bruising
difficulty in bearing weight on the foot
visible deformity or misalignment of the toe
potential numbness or tingling sensation
bone poking through the skin
a deep cut or wound
These very obvious signs of a serious injury do require medical attention asap. If you’re at sea or gallivanting barefoot on the side of a mountain — you’ll need to protect the toe as much as possible until you can make your way to a podiatrist, doctor or hospital for treatment. Read on for initial first aid steps.
Initial First Aid for a Stubbed Toe: 1-3 days
Early management in the first three days of injury is crucial in coping with your discomfort and minimising the risk of further injury. Following these detailed steps can effectively alleviate pain and reduce the likelihood of complications:
Follow the ‘RICE’ guidelines to help pain and swelling:
(R) Rest: Spend most of your time lying down, resting. Avoid any activity that increases pain such as long walks or standing for a long time.
(I) Ice: Ice the toe for 20 minutes every 1-2 hours. Never apply ice directly to your skin. Use an ice pack or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in wet tea-towel. Continue this for 3 to 10 days after your injury.
(C) Compression: You can wear a compression bandage or Tubigrip (elastic stocking you can buy at the pharmacy) if your foot is swollen. If you experience pins and needles, numbness, or colour changes in the toes loosen the compression as it may be too tight.
(E) Elevation: Position your foot above the level of your heart.
Pain Management: Use over-the-counter pain relievers, such as paracetamol / acetaminophen and antiinflammatories such as ibuprofen may help to control your pain. Speak with your local doctor (GP) or pharmacist about your medication options.
Treatment and Recovery for a Stubbed Toe: Self-care
Buddy taping: Taping your broken toe to an adjacent toe can also sometimes help relieve pain. It’s quick and easy enough to do on your own. Dr Richard Blake demonstrates buddy taping very well in this video.
Before you begin, make sure your toes are clean and dry.
Place a piece of gauze or cotton between the injured toe and its buddy for padding. Avoid using your big toe as a buddy.
Gently wrap the tape around the toes two to three times, snug enough to support the injured toe but not so tight that it will cut off circulation to the toe.
When you’re finished, make sure your toes have good circulation. To check, push a fingertip against your toes. When you release it, make sure your toes turn pink again. If they stay pale, your tape is wrapped too tightly, and you should rewrap the toes looser.
Continued Cold Therapy: Regular application of ice packs and intermittent elevation of the foot can effectively reduce swelling and alleviate discomfort.
Pain Management Strategies: Continue over-the-counter pain medications as needed, or follow the prescribed pain management plan provided by a healthcare professional.
Appropriate Footwear: Opt for comfortable and supportive footwear that minimises pressure on the injured toe and promotes a more comfortable healing process. During this time, it may be helpful to wear a wider than normal shoe, and a stiff sole to prevent your toe having to flex too much early on.
Physical Therapy Exercises: Don’t overlook the importance of rehab for your toe! Engage in gentle stretching exercises to maintain flexibility and prevent stiffness in the affected toe. Here’s some good exercises to try from Townsville Hospital & Health Services.
When to Seek Medical Attention
While most cases of stubbed toes can be managed at home or onboard using the RICE method, certain situations necessitate professional medical evaluation. It is vital to seek immediate medical assistance if you notice any of the following concerning signs:
Severe or Persistent Pain: If the pain remains intense and does not improve with home care measures, consulting a healthcare professional is essential.
Visible Deformity or Misalignment: Any noticeable changes in the appearance or alignment of your toe should prompt a visit to a medical facility for further examination.
Difficulty in Movement or Weight Bearing: Inability to move the toe or bear weight on the foot might indicate a more severe injury that requires medical attention.
Signs of Infection: Increased redness, warmth, or discharge around the injured area can be indicative of an infection that requires prompt medical intervention.
Preventing Future Toe Injuries: (Just don’t kick things?)
While it’s challenging to completely eliminate the risk of stubbing a toe — especially in a small environment such as a boat (where everything is just begging to be side-swiped with your pinky toe) — there are 4 things you can do to help avoid it happening regularly.
1. Maintain a Clutter-Free Environment: LOL Yes, yes, I know — onboard there’s plenty of potential for objects to be in your way ALL the time — whether it’s cleaning or maintenance or retrieving something from the bottom of a locker, or rushing back to the cockpit to grab a line — there’s always something inviting kickery. Ideally, your space is shipshape and things are in their place but the reality? At least try and keep your living and working spaces clear to prevent an accident.
2. Proper Lighting: Ensure that your surroundings are well-lit, especially in areas where the risk of tripping or bumping into objects is higher. These LED lights are super popular as a simple, easy and affordable way to add extra light so you can see where you’re going. And if your whole boat needs a lighter-brighter makeover this is what you need to do!
LED strip lighting is an easy, afforable way to add light and see where you’re going!
3. Mindful Navigation: You know your space like the back of your hand day or night but that doesn’t stop the odd accident (sadly). So while things are all action during sailing, just slow down a little — especially in the cockpit or on deck, and minimise the chance of kicking something you didn’t intend to!
Converse shoes are super comfy and perfect to keep your toes protected onboard and around the marina. Whoop!
4. Wear shoes: Promising yourself you’ll wear shoes onboard next time? Wise. Wondering what the best boat shoes are to wear? Here’s the best shoes for sailing to suit your boating lifestyle.
In Summary
While a stubbed and sprained toe is a right pain in the foot, it’s usually a fairly minor inconvenience. In this article, you’ve learned how to administer effective first aid and look after your toe with extra care to prevent potential long-term complications.
But if you do engage in some super kickery and suspect you’ve really broken your toe — do not hesitate to seek professional podiatary advice for a thorough evaluation and tailored treatment plan.
In the meantime, you can be toe-tally confident you’re going to give any stubbed toe the most effective first aid treatment, until you can get medical assistance. Although, I hope that’s not needed anytime soon! (Fingers and toes crossed)
References:
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons
AICA Orthopaedics
Townsville Hospital & Health Service
Dr Richard Blake
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