My 4th toe next to the baby toe on my right foot is broken. I have taped it to the toe next to it, but the pain persists after three weeks. I have a huge deductible on my medical insurance and cannot afford to go to the doctor. Is there some kind of splint I can buy? I am using an old cast shoe, which helps a little, but there is no ankle support.My left hip is starting to hurt from the limping. I am a 50 year old woman of average build, about 10% overweight. My tendons seem fine, so I believe it is just a painful fracture. I caught the toe on a lawn chair and it bent backwards hard. Any advice, please???

Dear Imollyq
The standard treatment for broken lesser toes is ususally taping one to another. Are you wearing a surgical shoe? An alternative may be wearing a stiff soled shoe. These shoes are intended to limit the motion occuring at the joints therefore reduce pain to the affected areas. I do have patients who continue to complain of pain to the toes after sustaining a fracture even after 3 weeks. It 's also partly due to the amount of residual swelling, extent of fracture or patient's activity. If your toe is fractured, limit your activity. If you continue to have pain get re-evaluated by your doctor, a follow-up x-ray will be necessary to evaluate the healing progress within the affected bone.

Good-luck and thank-you for contacting foot.com,
Sbarlizo, DPM, C Ped
foot.com