Hi there. I'm sorry you have broken your toe.

Are you still online?

I will wait for several minutes and if you don't join the chat I will go ahead and answer.

Before I answer, let me first say that the information I provide is for education/informational purposes only and does not constitute treatment or substitute for seeing a real live physician. Please do no accept until all of your questions have been answered. I usually check messages once a day because I am seeing patients during the day. Please bear with me if you have posted as I will respond usually the next day.

Have you seen a doctor? How badly did they say your toe was broken?

For simple non-displaced breaks, buddy taping is usually adequate. Also, you should use a hard-soled shoe, also known as a fracture shoe. Did the doctor or hospital give you one of these?

Toe fractures that are simple usually heal on their own with no need for surgery if the bones are already aligned. If they told you to buddy tape it then that is probably the type that you have.

In order for the broken toe to heal you cannot separate the broken fragments. To allow them to heal in place it is best to use a hard soled fracture shoe. When you walk you usually push off with the toes and this force is strong enough to separate the fracture. Therefore a hard soled shoe will prevent you toe from feeling the force.

You could also use a fracture boot or CAM walker instead of the hard soled fracture shoe. The flat hard soled show is hard to walk with because it does not allow you to bend your toes. However the fracture boot or CAM walker is a "rocker bottom" shoe that allows you to heel strike and rock your foot to the toes and that is how you advance the foot in walking.

So you can try the fracture shoe or boot if buddy taping is inadequate.

I hope I have answered your question. Feel free to ask follow up questions if you are not satisfied with the answer. Thanks.