A “bent” or “misaligned” appearance Bleeding A broken or misplaced nail Bruising Heavy swelling and/or discoloration Depending on which (if any) of the above signs you see, the treatment for your toe can differ. See below for specific suggestions. If it is too painful to remove your shoe and sock, you probably have a fracture or sprain in your toe and/or foot. This is not a dangerous condition, but you should still see a doctor to receive treatment.

Replace the bandage every day as the toe heals. [2] X Trustworthy Source FamilyDoctor. org Family-focused medical advice site run by the American Academy of Family Doctors Go to source See How to Clean a Wound for step-by-step information.

Whatever you use for your cold compress, wrap it in a towel or rag before pressing it into the skin. NEVER put your ice pack directly on your skin. Direct, prolonged ice-on-skin contact can further damage the skin, making your injury worse. [3] X Research source For the first 24 hours after you stub your toe, you should ice it for 20 minutes every waking hour. After that, you’ll only need to ice it two to three times a day until the pain subsides. See our article on cold compresses for more detailed information.

Once the swelling has subsided in your injured toe, light cushioning (for instance, a gel insole) can help minimize pain from walking. If the pain in your toe doesn’t subside after an hour or two, you may want to take a break from physical activities like sports, etc. for a few days until you no longer feel pain. Additionally, keeping it elevated with a pillow while laying down can help reduce both pain and swelling.

Open-toed shoes like sandals and flip-flops can be the best choices of all — not only do they put no pressure on the top and sides of the toe, but they also allow easy access for cold compresses, bandage changes, and so on.

Be sure to follow any and all dosage instructions on the medicine’s packaging. Even (OTC) medicines can have dangerous side effects when taken in large doses. Do not give aspirin to children.

Change the cotton daily.

Pain that doesn’t lessen within an hour or two Pain that fully returns whenever pressure is put on the toe Swelling and/or inflammation that makes it difficult to walk or wear shoes for a few days Bruise-like discoloration that doesn’t go away within a few days

An audible “crack” or “pop” at the time of injury A toe that visually appears “bent,” “kinked,” or “crooked” Being unable to move the injured toe Prolonged pain, inflammation and bruising. Note that many broken toes don’t prevent the injured person from walking. Being able to walk isn’t a sign that a toe isn’t broken.

In addition, if an injury is serious enough to break your nail, it is possible that it has also caused a fracture or another problem that requires a doctor’s help.

Always follow your doctor’s advice over advice you find online. If anything your doctor tells you contradicts something you’ve read in this article, listen to your doctor.