Sound familiar? Believe it or not, one of the most common ailments doctors are seeing as a side effect of working from home—and just being home so much in general—is toe and foot injuries, right up there with neck and back pain and Covid-somnia. “Most people do not wear shoes while at home and walk around in their sock feet or bare feet, which leaves the toes unprotected and, consequently, very susceptible to not just stubs and broken toes, but cracked toenails, infections and plantar fasciitis,” explains podiatrist Dr. Joseph Costello, DPM. But how do you know if your toe is broken, versus just badly stubbed? And what can you do to take better care of your feet while working from home? Here’s your guide to giving your toes a break.
Why you keep hurting your feet
Dr. Monara Dini, DPM, a Bay Area-based podiatrist says that walking around shoe-less with lots of furniture around and bad lighting isn’t just leading to an uptick in broken and stubbed toes, but some of the other foot issues that Dr. Costello pointed out. But she adds chillblains (skin sores, bumps, or discoloration of the toes that come with cold temperatures) and gout to that list. “People are home, not wearing shoes, bumping toes into furniture, doing home improvement projects, construction, remodels … everything is contributing to all these toe and foot problems,” Dr. Dini says.
When to see a doctor about a stubbed toe
OK, so we know stubbing our toes all the time is actually pretty normal in 2021, if annoying and painful. But when should you see a doctor about your toe? “Bruising, redness, swelling in the toe, blue and purple discoloration—these are all signs that you should see a doctor,” says Dr. Dini. “A soft tissue injury—which is what your standard stubbed to is—won’t show discoloration.” It’s especially important not to wait to get your toe checked out if you suspect it’s broken, because a podiatrist will need to take an x-ray to confirm that there was no deformity created by the injury. “Once the x-ray shows that the toe is stable, the doctor will let you know that there’s not much to do and it will heal in time,” explains Dr. Dini. “But if you break your toe and you have a fracture that’s displaced, if it heals that way you could have future problems. If seen early enough, the doctor can reduce the fracture for you. If it’s missed or delayed, it could cause bigger problems down the line.” Dr. Costello adds that another sign that your toe is broken versus badly stubbed is an inability to move it with severe pain. We can usually move stubbed toes, even if only slightly. And like Dr. Dini, he emphasizes the importance of getting to a doctor sooner rather than later if you suspect you might be dealing with a fracture. “Many people believe that nothing can be done for a broken toe, but that is not true,” he says. “Depending on the severity and location of the break, such as if it within a joint or the bone fragments are greatly displaced, surgery may be required, so don’t delay seeing your doctor.”
How to give your feet a break
Ideally, we wouldn’t have to deal with broken and stubbed toes and cracked toenails in the first place—or other issues like plantar fasciitis, chillblains, or gout. While accidents happen, there are measures you can take to reduce the chances of a foot injury. “I know we’re all at home, but just don’t walk around barefoot,” says Dr. Dini. “Wear a good supportive sandal or shoe that protects your toes so if you run into something the shoe will hit it. Don’t get up in the middle of the night in the dark and try to do things, either! If you have to get up, turn the light on. And try to reduce clutter, including the amount of furniture in your path.” Next up, here’s what might be going on if you’re experiencing sudden knee pain.
Sources
Dr. Joseph Costello, DPM, podiatrist based in Kirksville, Missouri.Dr. Monara Dini, DPM, a Bay Area-based podiatrist
