Diabetes Cartoons

You wake up in the middle of the night with a call of nature. No need to light a light ... you know the path. BAM! You walk barefoot, right into the rocking chair! Like a Loony Tunes cartoon, you see the stars. As you hop back in bed, you can not go beyond the throbbing pain. You know you just broke the big toe.

In the morning, you see your foot with the big toe swollen and bruised. Wearing a shoe is uncomfortable or impossible. You know you should call a doctor. You pick up the phone and call your podiatrist's office. Of course, he is happy to work later in the afternoon.

Before your appointment, you enjoy with friends opinions. The most common of which is "There is nothing to do for a broken toe." Wondering if it's true, do you think the cancellation of your appointment. If you? Do you hear it?

What most people mean when they tell you that nothing can be done for a broken toe, is that the plaster is not applied. A cast in plaster or fiberglass, is the treatment most recognizable for a broken bone. If you do not throw it, you do not treat it, right? Wrong!

The big toe has two bones in him, with all the others having at least three. Although small, they are classified as long bones, like an arm or a leg. When a bone, especially a long bone, breaks, it is very important to ensure that it is not moved, otherwise it will not heal properly.

Once you get the x-ray taken, your podiatrist will be able to recommend treatment. If the bone is not displaced, it can be as simple as applying a splint buddy. This type of splint attaches simply to a broken toe digit. This provides the compression and stability.

If there is movement, most of the time your podiatrist can align the bones in the right office. There is numbness of the feet and using the pull to get the bones in proper position. In most severe cases, surgery may be necessary.

Believe it or not, broken toes can become a medical emergency! Any person who has poor circulation, as a person with diabetes or peripheral arterial disease (PAD), may be left with a small artery spasm caused by trauma, which may stop the blood supply to the toes. This can be reversed if immediate care is required. If left untreated, even for one day, however, it can lead to amputation.

It is clear that much can be done, and must be done to properly care for a broken toe. The sooner you receive treatment, the faster the pain and swelling is reduced. Do not let others tell you this, call your podiatrist immediately.