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Broken Toe

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 8:04 pm
by fatherofmany
The story is as follows...

I was letting the dog out for a midnight pee (her not me) so I thought I'd be kind and considerate to the rest of the family and didn't put the light on. My tired eyes relying solely on the faint green glow from the microwave clock, what could possibly go wrong?. Not so carefully navigating my way across the dining room into the kitchen I had veered off course and by the time I had crossed the room was about 20cm too far to the right. I kicked a childproof gate we have up between the kitchen and dining room, unintentionally I assure you. The gate was open, I just clipped the edge of it, and no, the upright bar could not just slide straight between my naked digits, I managed to whack it fair and square on the end of my second toe. Needless to say my efforts at not waking the household were now in vain as the noise from a: the loud impact between body and metal and b: my vocal expression of searing pain, was let's say, not subdued.

So after recovering from a broken rib and wrist in a crash a few months back I've now gone and broken a toe. Second toe right foot at the 3rd joint right where it meets the foot, underneath. It's hard enough applying no pressure while walking so riding is definitely out for a couple more weeks. I'm into week 3 now and already missing my rides. I suppose it could have happened in warmer weather and I'd be feeling worse, it's not that hard to stay off the bike in winter, but it will make getting back on a bit more of a tough time.

Anyone else out there broken toes, I have but it was a long time ago, and I wasn't riding back then. Should be able to start applying pressure again about week 5 or 6 shouldn't I?

FoM

Re: Broken Toe

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:01 pm
by twizzle
Ba ha ha!

I broke my little toe and raced on it the following day. And kept on training and racing, I just avoided anything with bumps on it - thank goodness for the smooth crit circuit.

That was January - it still hurts if I try and curl it up.

Re: Broken Toe

Posted: Wed Jun 30, 2010 9:46 pm
by fatherofmany
twizzle wrote:That was January - it still hurts if I try and curl it up.
5 months recovery for a broken toe is not what I really want. I'm not a stranger to htfu, I broke my rib and wrist in a crash on my way home from work on a Friday and then rode the 90km LTL in just over 3hrs on the Sunday. Now that was a whole new experience. I want to give this one the best chance at a good recovery and not be in pain around summer, when I would prefer to be out and about on the bike ejoying each pedal. FoM

Re: Broken Toe

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 11:29 am
by rustychisel
as I understand it the major problem with broken bones and extremities can be blood supply to affected tissue.

Re: Broken Toe

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 12:14 pm
by gorilla monsoon
FoM, have you ever herard the phrase "accident prone" ?

Please stay away from me :D

Re: Broken Toe

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 12:23 pm
by fatherofmany
Thanks Gorilla, I'll stay down my end of the CC while recovering anyway.

FoM

Re: Broken Toe

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 1:34 pm
by philip
Have you given cycling a try at least? I once had a frozen T-bone steak fall out of the freezer onto my foot (true story) so had couple of quite sore toes, walking wasn't fun for a couple of days but cycling was no problem at all - there's really not much pressure put on your toes while riding and they shouldn't bend. I guess if it's broken/swollen lots it might be a different story, but at least give it a go.

Re: Broken Toe

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:02 pm
by fatherofmany
Yeah Philip, have tried.

The break is actually underneath, right at the base of the toe. Just enough to be in the way of the spds. One of the guys at work said can't you just unclip and ride on your heel or something? but alas not.

The last toe I broke at the 1st joint and although there was a little swelling and wonderful technicolour changes there was no need to apply real pressure to it and it didn't even affect my walking too much. This time if I walk (or ride) applying pressure it feels like someone's hammering in a nail with each step.

I will be putting the bike in the trainer this weekend (think TDF Tragic) to give it a go. I think that's better for safety's sake, ie there's no emergency unclipping and also for the wimp out factor... if it gets too sore after 15 - 20 minutes then I don't have to get the 15 - 20 minutes back home again.

FoM

Re: Broken Toe

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 2:38 pm
by Alex Sniga
When i broke my toe i was really frustrated because of the circumstances. If something like that happens I would want to do some extreme activities, not like what happened to me - I was in a bedroom walking past my bed when I hit my toe :roll: - there was this huge snap, then pain and whatever else comes with broken toe. I'm not sure how long it took to heal, but it didn't have very long impact on my cycling, as the sole in my shimano cycling shoes is hard and rather flat - so there was no real pressure on my toes. What was really painful - is walking barefoot on a beach where your toes get pushed in different directions, or any similar surface (pebbles were really bad too!).

Re: Broken Toe

Posted: Thu Jul 01, 2010 10:32 pm
by rogan
My broken toe was a Xmas Day special. I tell you, Hornsby Hospital is EMPTY at 3.30 pm on Xmas Day. Definitely the time to have an accident.

Fracture in the third bone of second toe, right foot, fairly clean and not too close to the joints. Also sprained my ankle at the same time, so walking was very difficult and painful for days, but due to both toe and ankle. Cycling was possible with a slight ache after 4 weeks. I didn't try earlier, but it would have been possible. Absolutely no ongoing pain or other effects.

Re: Broken Toe

Posted: Fri Jul 02, 2010 8:13 am
by twizzle
Well, FOM - pics or it never happened. :P
fatherofmany wrote:The break is actually underneath, right at the base of the toe. Just enough to be in the way of the spds. One of the guys at work said can't you just unclip and ride on your heel or something? but alas not.
Which bone did you break? I split my metatarsal in half at the first joint running back to the top of the second joint. Ie. I split the articulate surface of the first joint down the middle, which is why it's never going to be pain free. Got an XRay? There's a pic of my break in this thread. I just kept the toe taped to the second toe, wore thongs for weeks... but I could ride as long as there were no bumps.

What you might want to try is putting a tarsal dome in the shoe to lift/separate the tarsal bones under the ball of the foot, this *should* take keep the load through the ball of the foot and away from the toes.

Re: Broken Toe

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 12:22 pm
by fatherofmany
Hi Twizzle, I don't think of keeping xrays any more, I could've papered a wall with them over the years between breaks and other injuries. Same bone, just the other end, you've cracked off the end near the tip of your toe, close to the 2nd joint (bit hard to tell on little toes) I've done the other end near the 3rd joint. By second toe, I meant the one next to my big toe, that's why it hurts alot, all the pressure is placed right there under the ball of the foot. Anyway, got on the trainer last night, managed about 40 min before it started to hurt and then kept at it for 20 more. It's not too bad this morning, no sorer but no better than it has been of late. But the idea, brilliant, the old bunion pads... seeing as though it only hurts when putting pressure on it, not hurting curling my toes or bending them back anymore, they may be of assistance. A quick trip to the chemist is in order methinks.

FoM

Re: Broken Toe

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 1:01 pm
by twizzle
Lol - I'd never noticed that there was another joint there in the small toe. Yes, I split the bone between second and third joint but at the other end to yours. I did also dislocate the sucker as well - that was the really freaky part, seeing the toe sticking out at a 45 degree angle. :shock:

Good luck with the bunion pads.

Re: Broken Toe

Posted: Mon Jul 05, 2010 1:39 pm
by fatherofmany
Ah now dislocating, that's fun isn't it. Did my right little finger playing basketball at about 17. Not fun to experience and really freaky to look at. And don't want to do it again.

Re: Broken Toe

Posted: Tue Jul 06, 2010 11:57 am
by fatherofmany
Bunion Pads are too small. Had to DIY apad, and the best thing I could come up with was to cut a complete insole from an old mouse pad and then chop a hole in it under my toes. Took the insole from my boots and traced it to fit, then slid in the cut out one, put the insole back in over the top and it seems to be doing the trick. A little tight around the toes but OK. Then I had to make another one for the left foot without the hole cut out of course.