Help me help my toe.

October 17, 2009 10:43 PM

I injured my big toe and want/need to wear closed toed shoes but the top of the toe is still too sensitive. Can you help me come up with some sort of "toe protector" to ...well, protect my toe. (Gory details kept to a minimum, but some info is necessary to explain.)

A very large, very heavy metal gate dropped on my big toe about two weeks ago. No bones were broken but the toenail is gone and there is still some bruising. The top of the toe is very sensitive (I accidentally dropped a dime on my bandaged toe yesterday and it felt like a brick!) so I keep it covered with antibiotic ointment and 1 or 2 layers of gauze. I can get a pair of closed-toed shoes on, but then it's painful if I take a step because the bandage presses down on the toe.
Is there something that can cover the bandage to protect the toe from pressure? If nothing exists, can you help me create something? I was thinking of a "fake toenail" but larger, to cover more than just the toenail area. I don't think a splint will work. It would be hard to get a shoe on over it and I don't need to immobilize the toe- it doesn't hurt to move it if there is nothing touching it.
Oh, and YANMD. I have seen my Dr. and she said the toe will be fine, someday.

posted by Ochre,Hugh to health & fitness (8 comments total)

dr. scholl or a similar co. sells cylindrical foam-rubber toe protectors.
posted by JimN2TAW at 11:09 PM on October 17

I had foot surgery a year ago on the top of my pinky toe, and though I can't recommend anything specific for right now while your toe is still raw, one of the biggest things that helped me as I was healing was to wear seamless socks. The seam that runs right along the top of your big toe will probably bother you for quite a while. I ended up borrowing a few pair of these from my mother which she has been purchasing from Lands' End for longer than I can remember.
posted by kthxbi at 11:22 PM on October 17

Blind improvisation: Take a plastic film canister (you can get them free from photo labs) or a small plastic bottle. Cut it to the length of your toe. Cut the whole thing in half, lengthwise. Pad as necessary, and put over your toe, under your sock. Let me know if it works!
posted by embrangled at 12:51 AM on October 18

I'll probably get flack for mentioning it, but traditional Crocs shoes are very roomy in the toe and should provide plenty of space to not bump your owchie. Especially if you use a splint of some sort on it. (Fwiw, I broke my next-to-pinky toe in June. It's still dented and still hurts and probably will forever, but Crocs and sandals made it bearable.)
posted by cuddles.mcsnuggy at 6:28 AM on October 18

Agreeing with embrangeld. It sounds like you need some sort of solid structure to protect it. Film canister, toilet paper tube, something similar.
posted by CharlesV42 at 7:17 AM on October 18

Thanks everyone! I'm going to try the film canister. A friend had a similar idea when she was cleaning out her car and found an empty Tic Tac box. If I cut it to fit and taped it on then I could have a "Tic Tac Toe"!
I don't have a pair of Crocs, but I know where I can borrow some to try out. They'll do for around the house, but I couldn't wear them to work.
posted by Ochre,Hugh at 8:43 AM on October 18

I have found that wiffle balls are one of the most underutilized MacGyver products known to man. They are easy to cut, you can soften the sharp edges (post-cut) with three seconds over a candle, and they hold their shape under any kind of pressure. Cut one so it's larger than your toe or toenail and fit it to where you need it. Add gauzetape and you are in business for less than $3.
posted by 8dot3 at 9:44 AM on October 18

8dot3- very interesting! Bonus pts for the most creative answer.
posted by Ochre,Hugh at 3:47 PM on October 19