Overview
A broken toe can be painful, but you do not usually need to go to hospital. There are things you can do to treat it at home.
Symptoms of a broken toe
You may have broken your toe if it's:
- bruised or red - this may be harder to see on brown and black skin
- painful and swollen
- difficult to walk on
Do not worry if you're not sure if it's broken or just bruised, treatment is usually the same for both.
Urgent advice: Ask for an urgent GP appointment or get help from NHS 111 if:
- you have a bad cut or wound after injuring your toe
- you have severe toe pain
You may need further treatment in hospital, such as a boot, cast or surgery.
You can call 111 or get help from 111 online.
Immediate action required: Go to A&E if:
- you think you have broken your big toe
- your toe is pointing out at an odd angle
- the bone is sticking out of your toe
- you feel tingling in your toe or foot, or it feels numb
- your child has hurt or broken their toe
Do not drive to A&E. Ask someone to drive you or call 999 and ask for an ambulance.
Bring any medicines you take with you.
What you can do about a broken toe
Doctors will usually suggest you treat a broken toe at home first if:
- it's not your big toe
- the bone is not sticking out of your foot
- your toe is not pointing at an odd angle
- there's no wound on your toe
Broken toes usually heal within 4 to 6 weeks, but it can sometimes take several months.
There are some things you can do yourself to help with a broken toe.
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take ibuprofen or paracetamol for the pain and swelling
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rest your foot and keep it raised while it's swollen
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hold an ice pack (or a bag of frozen peas) wrapped in a towel on your toe for up to 20 minutes every few hours for the first few days after you injured your toe
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wear wide, comfortable flat shoes with stiff soles
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strap up your broken toe for 2 to 3 weeks - put a small piece of cotton wool or gauze between your sore toe and the toe next to it, then tape them together to support the sore toe
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do not strap up your toe if it's pointing out at an odd angle or you have hurt your big toe - get medical advice
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do not put ice directly on your skin
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do not walk or stand for long periods for the few first days after you injured your toe - it may help to walk with a support or crutches for a few weeks
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do not wear tight, pointy shoes
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do not play any sports like football, rugby or hockey for 6 weeks or until the pain eases
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do not try to treat your child's toe - take them to an urgent treatment centre or A&E
A pharmacist can help with a broken toe
You can ask a pharmacist about:
- the best painkiller to take
- what you need to strap up your toe
- if you need to see a GP
Non-urgent advice: See a GP if:
- pain and swelling has not started to ease 5 days after you injured your toe
- it still hurts to walk 6 weeks after injuring your toe
- you have diabetes and have injured your toe - foot problems can be more serious if you have diabetes
They may send you for an X-ray to see if you need any further treatment.
Page last reviewed: 06 March 2026
Next review due: 06 March 2029
Information sourced from the NHS. If you have concerns about your medication or symptoms, pop in or call Hedon Pharmacy - we're here to help.
Read on nhs.uk