Broken/Hurt Toe - Running Through It

Consider getting an x-ray...

See a doctor

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I'd take some time off.

I hurt my foot and I carried on running on it.

It had been broken. By the time I found out, it was too late to do anything about it. I don't think my biomechanics have been the same since and it lead to another injury. OK, so that's my foot but I think a toe could really alter how you run as well.

Thanks for the input so far. Bumping to get some more replies.

I broke my pinky but toughed it out and ran through it with no time off except for maybe a week.

You may want to consider cross training for a month or so. Since it's not the big toe it's not as urgent, but if the pain is enough that it's altering your form you'd be better off letting it heal.

Running on it really delays the healing too - it will likely hurt for 2 months or so and you could easily rebreak it just when it's starting to feel healthy. Personally I'd probably just start hitting the bike and elliptical and catch up on the heavy lifting we typically neglect.

I've broken nearly all of my toes and I will never run through that again. it's not worth accidentally kicking a root at 5 weeks and starting all over. Better to pull out the fruit boots and get strong hips.

Tape it to the toe next to it. Not the little toe, but the middle one. Wrap some tape around the toes. You'll be amazed how it will ease the pain. It worked for me, hopefully it'll work for you too.

I would see a doctor. I broke my fourth toe and couldn't wear a shoe for a week but then I tried to run on it and it fractured more and I had to see an orthopedic doctor. Just take a couple weeks off.

I just had this exact problem.

Take time off.

Do not keep running as doing so will delay the healing process.

If you keep running you will likely need a boot or surgery.

My healing took 6 weeks and now i am back running 25 to 30 hobby jogger miles per week.

I agree with what everyone else has said.

I have stubbed toes before and run on them and it just delays recovery. I end up having to take more time off later than I would have at the start.

Take a week or two off. It will save you possibly months of dealing with it and maybe more time off later. You can cross train on the bike or elliptical as long as it doesn't hurt.

I typically go to an urgent care for an x-ray just to see. If nothing shows up and it isn't getting better after a week or so you could go to a specialist and see what they think.

I would ice it and buddy tape. Also wear the most comfortable shoes you can during the day.

Broke my pinky toe a couple years back and was instructed to take 6-8 weeks off - I started feeling better after 2, so I rushed back. It will dislocate every now and then on a run, but other than that, no long term problems. Like a lot of things with running, go by feel.

Same thing happened to me in September but with middle toe. Went to doctor got an x-ray and bam! broken toe. Doctor told me it would take 4-6 weeks to completely heal but that I could cross-train through it as long as I didn't put weight on my foot. I was bummed because my peak race was 2 weeks away but Doctor told me I could do long term damage if I continued to run on the broken toe.

So I did absolutely nothing for 6 weeks - nothing. No exercise. Just taped up the toes like doctor said and wore a boot when I had to walk. Sat on the couch and basically ate whatever I wanted. Gained 15 pounds but had fun doing it. Lots of good, fatty meats and red wine but plenty of protein and Halloween candy washed down by milk to heal the bone. Smoked some cigarettes to pass the time too.

Got an x-ray in 6 weeks and bam! - bone completely healed. Doctor cleared to run again. Been running ever since with no problems at all. Awkward at first and had to retrain my muscles because I was idle for so long and basically stopped using my leg muscles. Built the base back up, did some strengthening, added some speed and tempo, slowly lost the weight and was right back where I was a few months later and just ran Boston. To be honest I kind of miss sitting around doing nothing.

Bottom-line - let the bone heal. See a doctor. You're not doing yourself any favors by continuing to run on it and you may get arthritis. If you leave it alone it should heal relatively quickly (assuming you already haven't made it worse). I know it's no fun having a setback but the time off will do your body and mind good if you make the best of it and don't stress.

As somebody else pointed out, if you are in the base phase, let your toe heal and switch to an alternate aerobic activity such as swimming. It is not worth running through an injury during the base phase. Be smart.

It's the same advice as any other running injury:

1. Ice

2. Keep us updated

Pay attention to the dates. Original post was 6/5/2013. Hope this injury is not still going on...

So I broke my toe a few months ago. Non-Running injury, was my big toe.

I thought it was just a sprain for a week and a half. MY advice get it X-ray'd immediately. If you go to the doctor immediately and its broken they can set it if need be or add screws. If you wait, like I did, this can complicate things if some healing has already occurred.

Listen, don't run on an injury without getting it checked out first. You can exacerbate it and it can turn into something much worse. I strained my back once and ran on it thinking it wouldn't hurt. The next day I was in agony and remained so for weeks. Not worth it.

I'm a stubbon guy, if you're not, then rest a bit and maybe see a doctor depending on how much you care about continuing running the next month.

If you're like me, tape it to the toe next to it and run though it. Ice it when you can. Broke my toe pretty badly a couple summers ago and just got through it. It was fine within 2 months and completely normal after 4.