Suggest Treatment For Bruise On Foot After An Accident

Posted on Fri, 1 Jan 2016

Medically reviewed by Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team

Fri, 1 Jan 2016 Answered on

Fri, 5 Feb 2016 Last reviewed on

Question : On December 29, I slipped in the bathtub, jamming my right foot rather badly. I developed an instant knot on the inside of my foot near the base of the big toe. I iced it and the knot went down. The next day, my foot had a very large bruise located near where the knot was. Yesterday, I was on my feet quite a bit and last night, the entire bottom of my foot was bruised. My pinky toe was swollen and also very bruised looking. My foot up to my ankle was swollen. The swelling went down over night but the pain is persistent. It has now even climbed up into my calf giving me the feeling of a constant XXXXXXX horse. Additionally, there are two spots on the bottom of my foot that are extremely sensitive to touch. My questions are the following:
Do you think it is possible I fractured my foot or could it be severe bruising?
If so, is there any reason to go into the doctor at this late date? In other words, is there anything they can do?

Answered by Dr. Bonnie Berger-Durnbaugh (24 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Concern about a deep vein clot.

Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX

I am sorry you are having this trouble. In reading our history, I am concerned about the calf symptoms and the extent of the swelling. While there isn't much we can do about a fractured pinky toe, a fractured pinky toe would not cause this degree of swelling.

Yes, I think you should go in to a doctor tonight for evaluation. An urgent care or ER. There is possibility of a fracture, and at 3 days, that fracture will show up on the X-ray. And there is a need to evaluate the cause of the swelling because there is a possibility of a deep vein thrombosis (clot). So yes - do go in.

I hope this information helps.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar