(HealthDay News) -- If you've fractured a toe, it will usually turn black or blue, swell, and may bleed beneath the nail. A broken toe typically is very painful, is often difficult to walk on, and is usually just taped until the break heals.
The University of Michigan Health System offers these suggestions on how to deal with a broken toe:
- For the first two or three days after the injury, apply an ice pack for 20 to 30 minutes, every three or four hours. After the first few days, you should ice the injury once a day until swelling and pain subside.
- Prop your foot up on a chair, pillow or other object -- try to keep it above the level of your heart.
- Take an over-the-counter or prescription pain medication or anti-inflammatory as directed by your doctor.
- Wear comfortable, firm-soled shoes that will support but not pinch your broken toe, and use crutches if you still have difficulty walking. Your toe should be healed in four-to-six weeks, at which time you should be able to resume normal physical activity.
