However, it can be intensely painful.
Stubbing a toe can even cause breaks, sprains, broken nails, and infections.
The pain of a stubbed toe usually subsides after a few minutes.
In some cases, however, the impact could break the toe or the toenail, causing intense pain that may get worse over hours or days.
What is a stubbed toe?
A stubbed toe is the name for any injury that happens when a person suddenly hits or jams their toe.
Some common causes include accidentally kicking the toe into a wall or doorframe, tripping over a toy on the floor, or catching the toe on a gate or other object.
The symptoms of a stubbed toe are similar at first, regardless of whether the injury is serious or minor.
They include:
1. intense pain that can be either dull or sharp;
2. pain that radiates elsewhere in the foot or ankle;
3. pain when putting weight on the injured area.
Stubbed toes can hurt a lot, even when the injury is not serious.
This is because there are many nerves in the toe, including two nerves on either side.
There is little fat to cushion the toes, which can intensify the pain and increase the risk of injuries such as bone bruises and fractures.
Is it stubbed, bruised, broken, or sprained?
It can be difficult to self diagnose a stubbed toe.
Strains, sprains, bone contusions, and broken toes can all feel very similar.
If symptoms do not improve after a few minutes, it may mean that the toe is broken.
Stubbing the toe can result in several different injuries:
Broken or fractured toe
A broken toe or a toe fracture is a break in one of the 14 toe bones.
It can be very painful and make it difficult to walk.
Symptoms of a broken toe include:
1. swelling around the toe and sometimes into the foot;
2. discoloration, such as black or blue bruising, around the toe;
3. a change in the shape of the toe, if a bone is out of place;
4. trouble moving the toe;
5. significant pain when walking or putting weight on the toe;
6. pain that gets worse over several hours;
7. a loss of feeling in the toe or foot;
8. a visible bone poking into the skin, which can occur after trauma, such as closing the toe in a heavy door.
