November 2020 | Jeffery LaMour, DPM, PA

It often happens in the middle of the night, when you’re in a rush, or when you’re not quite watching where you’re going. A stubbed toe can be one of the most painful everyday events, but, thankfully, the pain usually subsides relatively quickly. Nevertheless, there are some instances when a stubbed toe is more than just a painful “stub.” In fact, a hard enough hit can lead to a list of bigger problems. Take a look at just a few of the injuries that can stem from stubbing your toe.

Broken Bones

Believe it or not, broken toes are most often caused by the notorious accidental stub. While the toes in your feet are relatively strong, they do not have a great deal of fatty tissue to protect them. Therefore, hitting your toe directly against something can be enough to cause a fracture. If your toe is broken after you have stubbed it, you will likely know it. The symptoms of a broken toe include:

Swelling around your toe or up into your foot
A change in the overall shape of the toe
Severe pain that gets worse and does not subside
Difficulty trying to move your toe

Cracked Toenails

Smacking your toe against a hard surface can cause cracks in your toenail, which can be incredibly painful. While cracked toenails are not necessarily a major health threat, this is an issue to keep an eye on. The toenail will not mend back together; you simply have to wait for the broken portion of the nail to grow. If your toenail comes off or is hanging off and you can’t remove it, it is best to see a podiatrist for advice.

Infection

If the hit against your toe causes a wound, your toe can be prone to infection. In some cases, you can get an internal injury you may not spot right away. For example, a hard enough hit could force the edge of your toenail into the interior tissue of your toe. If bacteria are allowed to get inside this kind of injury, it could easily lead to an infection. Your toe may be red or irritated and feel hot to the touch. If you see any of these signs, schedule a visit to your podiatrist for help.

Get Help for Toe Injuries at an Austin Podiatrist

While your toes are one of the smaller parts of your body, these small body parts have some of the biggest responsibilities. If you suspect you have injured your toe after a run-in with a door frame, table leg, or corner, reach out to us at the office of Dr. Jeffery LaMour, DPM, PA in Austin, TX to schedule an appointment.

Your podiatrist in Austin sees a lot of issues with feet, including chronic itch. Chronic foot itch is more common than you might think. It’s a condition that affects people all over the world, and it doesn’t matter how young or old you are. However, there are several possible causes of chronic foot itch, which is why a professional diagnosis by your Austin podiatrist is always recommended.

Athlete’s Feet

Athlete’s feet is so-called because it most often occurs in athletes. This is actually a fungal infection and fungi thrive in dark, warm, and moist environments, like that inside of sweaty socks after exercising. Athlete’s feet causes chronic itch, but there are other symptoms like redness and skin sloughing. It can be quite painful, but it’s easily remedied with over the counter powders and sprays. If your athlete’s feet doesn’t respond to over the counter treatments or if it looks like it’s getting infected, talk to your podiatrist.

Allergies

Sometimes the cause of chronic itchy feet may be something as benign as an allergic reaction. Allergies can develop suddenly, even if you’ve never had allergies in the past. Your podiatrist may ask if you’ve been traipsing barefoot anyplace new, or if you’ve recently bought a new pair of shoes or switched laundry detergents. Discovering the source of your chronic itchy feet sometimes requires a bit of detective work on the part of your Austin podiatrist, but soon the mystery will be solved!

Psoriasis

Psoriasis is a condition that causes rash, itching, and flaking on the skin. All parts of the body can be affected, including the feet. Depending upon where the chronic itch is and whether or not it appears on other parts of the body, you may be diagnosed with psoriasis. If this happens, your podiatrist will be able to recommend treatments.

Don’t assume that your chronic itch is nothing to be concerned about. If you have chronic itchy feet, talk to your podiatrist. Diagnosis and treatment options are available. Contact us today.

Kidney Disease

Obviously, if you have kidney disease you’ll need to see a specialist. But diagnosing kidney disease often involves first diagnosing the cause of your chronic itchy feet. If you have chronic itchy feet and your podiatrist can see no other obvious reason, you may be referred to a physician for more tests. This is just one example of how a chronic itch can indicate a serious problem.

OUCH! That Stubbed Toe May Be more Problematic Than You Think