About Stubbed Toes
Stubbed toes have been the object of jokes by movie comedians, but in reality they are nothing to laugh about. Just stubbing a toe on even a small object can cause an injury serious enough to send someone to an emergency room. The toes are fragile and can be damaged easily and stubbed toes should not be ignored.
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Features
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There are signs to look for that will tell you if your stubbed toe is going to cause more problems than a bout of pain. If the toe turns blue/black and the color does not start to fade in a few days, you probably have a more serious injury. Examine the nail carefully and if it is split, cut off as much as possible. Swelling will almost certainly occur. It the swollen area is very tender to the touch it is a good indication of serious damage.
Effects
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A stubbed toe can have lasting effects that you may not feel until a few years have passed, such as arthritis, a fractured toe, a torn tendon or a sprain. If you break a nail when you stub your toe, it will not only cause excruciating pain, but it can be forced into the skin as if it were a knife point and cause a good deal of bleeding. A nail can actually die, meaning the damaged one will fall off, but a new one will never grow back leaving the toe susceptible to cuts and even serious infections.
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Prevention/Solution
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Keep your toe nails trimmed to prevent them from being injured. Wear shoes or closed toe slippers around the house. Use night lights in every room. Don't read and walk at the same time. Keep your eyes on where you are going. Keep things off the floor. Don't wait until the morning to put them away. When moving heavy objects, wear hard shoes, not sneakers.
Potential
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Stubbing your toe has the potential to cause damage to the point where you will miss work and have permanent damage. The potential to stub your toe is everywhere. It can happen in the home, at work or taking a walk in the park. It does not take a large object to cause damage. Even the smallest object has the potential to cause serious injury.
Warning
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You should take measures immediately to not only ease the pain, but prevent further injury. In order to prevent further damage to the toe, try to keep it straight and try to walk on more of your heal. Wear extra-wide, soft shoes. If you have an old pair that you can cut out the area over the injured toe, all the better. Apply ice, not heat, as soon as possible. Resist the temptation to put on any bandage. You could do more harm than good. Keep you foot elevated as much as possible. And do go and get an x-ray. It is better to know nothing is wrong than to have problems a few years down the road.
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