Broken Toe - Appalachian Trail

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#1

Doing something foolish, I broke my big right toe over a year ago. I didn’t know it was broken at the time because I had other wounds to distract me and I just thought it was complaining like a little baby girlie-toe. When I finally went to the doctor (who didn’t believe me that it was broken and kept wiggling and jiggling it, saying “does this hurt?” and “does this hurt???”) I learned it was broken but there was little to do but keep off of it for a while to let it heal.

My toe gets throbby sometimes at the point where I broke it. Sometimes worse than others. I’ve noticed on some of my hikes recently that it feels almost achey.

Have any of you had similiar experiences? I’m wondering if there’s grounds for nervousness here. I’ll be hiking the AT this year, and I’d hate for this toe of mine to cause any problems.

Advice / experiences/ opinions are welcomed.

Whoa

#2

My big toes went numb on the AT. That might help you :slight_smile:

yogi

yogi

#3

Think this through. What is going to make or break you hike? The condition of your feet.

It’s better to see an excellent podiatrist as a preventative measure than to have to leave the trail because of something that could have been remedied prior to beginning.

Not only did I have a podiatrist conference but I also had new orthotics made when it wasn’t absolutely necessary, just advisable. This precaution worked.

Kinnickinic

Sawnie Robertson

#4

I’d had multiple injuries to my left foot over the years…a broken bone when I was 11 and then a couple of broken toes (probably, but never officially diagnosed) when a 15 lb weight fell on my foot; this happened 3 years before our hike. As our hike proceeded, my foot got more and more sore as the day went on. It didn’t help that my boots didn’t do a good job of accommodating the spread that happens with day after day pounding of thru hiking. I got looser low cut garmonts in Waynesboro, but still had problems. Took vitamin I (ibuprofen) like there was no tommorrow. (don’t do that by the way, that’s another story) A doctor looked at my foot in PA and was sure it was broken until the xrays came back and it was just “overused”. So, with the help of an orthologist(?)(one who makes orthotics) we fashioned an insole to help distribute the weight better and it got me to Maine. Long term affects however are still there. I still get sore when taking long hikes, even with a more custom designed orthotic.
Bottom line, go to a podiatrist and ask for her/his advice before your hike. Try to find one who specializes or has an interest in sports. You may be able to minimize and long term affects. You may not eliminate them, so you might have a little reminder of your trek! But, its all worth it, right?!

Bramble

#5

Well five years before i thru hiked i broke everything from my waist down… hip, pelvis, legs, all my toes, wrist, etc. I have two steel rods in one leg and full metal plating and fifty screws in the other. I believe the people who finish are the people who mentally want to finish. It isn’t a race for the swift, but a test of endurance and mind power. Listen to your body. Take a zero if it tells you to. I had and do have pains every single day of my life. I choose not to let it stop me from living the way I see fit. On the flipside, I get better reception on a tv than most.

Aswah

aswah

#6

My fourth toe, left foot was broken on February 19, 2003. It took a good 6 months for that stupid thing to heal enough where I could continue my training program. I had to get new shoes and he*l yes it still hurts and aches. Some days for no apparent reason it will ache. But I will swear to anyone that the cold does make it hurt more. I’ve had to experiment quite a bit with shoes, treads, inserts to get the right combination that alleviates my pain. And all this from a stupid, miniscule toe!? It was infuriating to me and I’ve often wondered how it’s going to affect my future long distance hikes. So far I’ve only been able to test it up to an 8 mile day. And it was other things that actually caused me more problems than the toe. But my hikes have all been relatively flat. Couldn’t help you much with the AT terrain of up down, rocks, roots. I would imagine that if it’s been over a year you’re going to have other things cause you more pain and misery than the healed bone in that toe. I had more problems with tendons and ligaments in my foot than the broken bone after the 6 month time period. Hope this helps and hope you get to have your own great hike! :girl

AquaAllie

#7

Whoa, Last year on second day out, I Dislocated my big toe, Didn’t let it stop me (other things did that later). It hurt bad every step for about a week and then started getting better. Your feet are going to take a pounding at first but like the rest of you they will keep getting stronger and stronger, Heck if you take it easy on those hush puppies and let them get used to it, you might come out never having to worry about that problem again. Make sure your boots fit right and watch out for the roots.

BearKat

#8

A few years ago, I broke my big toe a week before I went on a hike in the Tetons. It hurt to walk but good shoes and taking it easy did me okay. Later I had orthotics for my work boots. But I kept walking andstand on my toes exercises. I’m more worried about the shin splints that come and go.

jayne

#9

I broke the great toe on my right foot in a motorcycle accident. It doesn’t bend at the second joint at all and is quite deformed at this point. It did not cause any problems in reaching Katahdin though. Contrary to Sawnies response it is not your feet that make or break your hike. It is your attitude! If you are fortunate enough to reach Maine I will tell you this, you will find that you can walk many miles with aches and pains that in everyday life might send you seeking medical advice. Thru hiking can be a rough business on your body, but it is also an anodyne for the soul. As Aswah said it is a mind GA-ME! Listen to your body and give it the things it asks for. This is the surest way to keep walking while others go “off-trail”. Finally, if you really, really, really want to thru hike the AT, nothing will cause you to fail, not pain, yellow blazing, blue blazing, bad weather nothing. If you don’t really, really, really want to thru hike the AT then nothing will carry you to Maine, not great weather, lack of pain or the latest gear. To paraphrase Grand Ma Gatewood “most people are panty-waists” and pantywaists don’t make Maine.

yo-yo

#10

Thanks for taking the time to craft such good responses y’all. I appreciate everything you have to say. The sentiment in your post, yo-yo is especially good tonic for the brain.

“Mind GA-ME”. That is brilliant.

Whoa