Duration of one toe break
After the fracture of a small toe, the discomfort can last for a long time. Although the bones can be expected to grow together within 2-3 weeks, the irritated nerves in the area of the toe can lead to longer lasting pain. Impaired movement and pain during movement are reported by some patients up to 4-6 weeks after the accident.
In most cases, however, the pain from a toe fracture disappears after 2-3 days if a consistent cooling and pain-relieving treatment is carried out in parallel. It is important, however, that in the case of a toe fracture, the toe is fixed in place with a bandage. If a fractured toe leads to prolonged pain episodes, further imaging should be considered. In this case, an X-ray of the affected toe would be taken again. If no clear cause for the existing pain can be seen, the patient should think again about an MRI, which can better depict not only bones but also muscles and nerves.
Prognosis
Usually the toe fracture heals completely within a few weeks and no further aftercare is necessary. The foot is then fully resilient again and the original state of mobility is restored. However, if complications occur, the healing process can be delayed. In order to avoid these complications, medical help should be sought as early as possible when a toe is broken.