Toe Injury - A Concern?

[ALCapshaw2]

My Big Toe got 'smacked' (on top of the nail) this afternoon. NO Blood, NO Bruise, but it is 'sore'. Should I be concerned?

My last Lovenox Bridge shot is scheduled for tonight (resumed Coumadin Wednesday evening) and I'm having my INR checked Monday morning. (I could also check it tonight with my home monitor but was planning to wait until just before the Clinic test, just to compare instruments).

FWIW, my neighbor was helping me clear a fallen tree when his chain saw got 'stuck' in the cracked trunk. I cut it free with a bow saw and another part of the cracked trunk landed on my big toe, primarily on the nail, which was somewhat protected by a rubber boot and the fact that most of the brunt was taken by the ground where the rest of the piece landed. The impact 'smarted' but was NOT intense.

Thoughts?

'AL Capshaw'

 

[bvdr]

Al, I think I would just watch it for now. Don't change anything. It might be more bruised and sore tomorrow but hopefully you will be fine. When I'm on LOvenox I bruise much more readily than when I am on warfarin but even so, I think I would stay with your plan. Ice to the area might keep the bruising down and you should rest it and elevate it as well. Watch out around those saws!

 

[Cris N]

Ummm, you probably realize this now, but steel-toed shoes or boots might be in order the next time you play lumberjack

 

[jeffp]

Yeah, what bvdr said, "use ice on it". If you didn't get a bleed under the nail rather quickly (like minutes) you likely did not tear the nail bed (these bleed like crazy!). If you fractured the bone underneath at the end of the toe, there's not much to do other than local care. If it was ,you'll get more bruising than just a soft tissue wound. So long as you're not getting pooling of blood deep (the toe will look like a plum in size and color) it should not pose much risk long term. Main worry is if the bleed (if any) causes enough pressure to restrict the vascular status to the toe. If it does (toe color does not respond to gentle pressure, icy cold, etc), you'll need to see someone (and not the guy who wanted to take you off coumadin for a week for an ingrown nail either).