Just about everyone has stubbed their toe at some point which has caused swelling and bruising.  After this happens, there are two responses we see in our office: 1) The patient will come in right away because they want to know if something is broken or 2) The patient comes in several weeks later and the toe is still painful.  These people don’t come in right away because they say, “there is nothing to do for a broken toe”. Well, that’s not true. The majority of toe fractures just need rest and immobilization for a few weeks.  There are fractures however that extend into the small joints of the toes. These fractures are the type that linger, especially when you don’t seek treatment. If the fracture doesn’t heal properly, than you may have chronic pain because the joint is no longer aligned and you can develop post traumatic arthritis which will require surgery to repair.  Many of these cases can be avoided by coming to our office and having one of our doctors evaluate you and take X-rays to prevent long term complications. At Advanced Foot and Ankle Center, Dr. Silvers, Dr. Lloyd and Dr. Witt have seen and treated all types of injuries to the foot and ankle. If you have a question about this or any other issue with your feet and ankles, please call us at 972-542-2155.