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How do I Treat a Dislocated Toe?

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

The treatment for a dislocated toe is usually reduction, which involves realigning the dislocated bones. In addition, having the patient rest, keeping the foot elevated, applying ice, and offering pain medication may help the patient stay comfortable before and after reduction. It is usually best to have a doctor perform a reduction, but it may be necessary to perform one without a doctor’s help if the patient is in a remote location. When attempts at reduction are unsuccessful, surgery may be required.

Initially, the first step in dealing with a dislocated toe may be making the patient comfortable and helping him stay calm and relaxed. This may be accomplished by having the patient rest with the injured foot elevated. An ice pack may be helpful for dealing with swelling and pain. Likewise, an over-the-counter pain reliever may help relieve the patient’s discomfort. At this point, it is advisable to seek medical care for a dislocated toe.

Pain medication may help relieve discomfort associated with a dislocated toe.
Pain medication may help relieve discomfort associated with a dislocated toe.

While it is possible to treat the toe at home, it is typically best to have a doctor handle it. Attempting to reduce a dislocation in the big toe at home could lead to further injury, especially if there are fractures involved. As such, at-home reduction attempts may be best saved for treatment in remote locations or when medical help is unavailable.

An individual with a dislocated toe should keep his or her feet elevated until proper medical attention can be sought.
An individual with a dislocated toe should keep his or her feet elevated until proper medical attention can be sought.

If you must attempt to treat a dislocated toe on your own, start out by facing the patient and holding the affected toe with both of your hands. The toe should be held so that it is slightly flexed, which can be accomplished by holding it with one hand at the tip of the toe and the other at its base. With your hands in this position, you may then pull the toe toward you in a lengthening, straightening line to position the bones properly. At the same time, you will need to use your other hand to push the patient's dislocated joint back into its proper place. Once the joint is in its proper place, a splint may be used to keep the toe immobile until the patient can see a doctor.

It is typically best to let a doctor treat a dislocated toe.
It is typically best to let a doctor treat a dislocated toe.

Forcing the relocation of a toe can cause further injury. If the patient's pain increases, you may do well to stop and keep the toe immobile until medical help is available. Likewise, you should usually stop reduction attempts if you encounter resistance when you are manipulating the toe.

In some cases, reduction attempts are unsuccessful or a toe is too badly injured for a manual reduction attempt. In such a case, surgery may be required to realign the toe. Surgeons typically use pins to hold the toe in place and to help it heal properly.

Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...
Nicole Madison
Nicole Madison

Nicole’s thirst for knowledge inspired her to become a TheHealthBoard writer, and she focuses primarily on topics such as homeschooling, parenting, health, science, and business. When not writing or spending time with her four children, Nicole enjoys reading, camping, and going to the beach.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

anon957542

It feels like my big toe on my right foot could be dislocated or sprained. There was not a traumatic moment where I knew I did something to it. It could be that a certain pair of shoes don't fit me as good as my other shoes and this causes me to walk a little differently. I've also been wearing flip flops a lot lately.

The pain came on suddenly within the last 24 to 48 hours and I noticed some slight pain on the outside of my big toe with a slight bump. I continued to walk on it during the day and didn't really ice it until one time tonight. The pain has increased10-fold since I first noticed the discomfort yesterday. My wife thinks the toe looks slightly crooked compared to my other big toe, but nothing extreme. There is some swelling and redness on my toe with a noticeable bump and even some tenderness on my actual foot. It now feels like shooting pain and I can barely walk.

I can still move my toe and slightly bend it. But it hurts to try to lift it or put pressure on it. I try to avoid going to the doc at all costs. Do you have any ideas what this is or what I can do? I haven't taken Tylenol or anything for pain yet, but I am going to start R.I.C.E. the next few days since it’s the weekend and I don't need to work. FYI: I have a desk job and I'm not extremely active, so this is confusing to me. I'm not overweight or obese either. Any advice is much appreciated!

RationallyMellow

If you decide to perform a reduction at home, be prepared for it to hurt! A dislocated toe seems like a small, insignificant injury, until you actually experience it. If you have dislocated toe symptoms, and can visit the doctor to have the toe treated, you may experience less pain.

In addition, the doctor can evaluate you to be sure that you have a dislocated toe instead of a broken toe, and can provide you with necessary pain medication to help keep you comfortable while your foot heals.

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    • Pain medication may help relieve discomfort associated with a dislocated toe.
      By: Syda Productions
      Pain medication may help relieve discomfort associated with a dislocated toe.
    • An individual with a dislocated toe should keep his or her feet elevated until proper medical attention can be sought.
      By: 夢見る詩人
      An individual with a dislocated toe should keep his or her feet elevated until proper medical attention can be sought.
    • It is typically best to let a doctor treat a dislocated toe.
      By: Dron
      It is typically best to let a doctor treat a dislocated toe.
    • An ice pack, which can help with swelling from a dislocated toe.
      By: Marc Dietrich
      An ice pack, which can help with swelling from a dislocated toe.
    • A person dealing with a dislocated toe may use crutches to help with healing.
      By: Alison Bowden
      A person dealing with a dislocated toe may use crutches to help with healing.