Toe Pain: Foam Toe Caps May Be Helpful

http://www.mooremedical.com/Index.cfm?Ntk=all&No=0&Search=Search&Ns=Searchorder%7C0%7C&Ntx=mode+matchpartialmax&Ntt=foam+toe+caps&x=27&y=3

Toe Pain: Help with Budin Splints (email advice)

`Budin Toe Splint 1 ToeEmail from 10/25/10
Hi Dr. Blake:

When I saw you last week, we talked about using the Budin Splint, and I am getting some minor relief, but I suspect it will take some time. As you will remember I’m having pain on the third toe/metatarsal. Currently I’m using the Budin splint on that toe. But you also had them give me a double splint to use on the 2nd and 4th digits. I’m unsure as to when to use that – in place of the single budin splint eventually or alternating between the two?

Thanks.

Doug

Hey Doug, Thanks for the question. The picture above is a Budin Splint for the 2nd or 3rd toe. For pain in the 2nd or 3rd toes, patients have experimented with the loop over the 2nd alone (even for a 3rd toe problem), over the 3rd toe alone (even for a 2nd toe problem), or opening up the loop for buddy taping the 2nd and 3rd toes together. One of these 3 options should feel the best if you experiment for a week or so. Then try every other day with the double loop over the 2nd and 4th toes (even for a 3rd toe problem, and even though the packaging has the loops over the 2nd and 3rd toes. If you find one way that helps the most, go for it. If 2 ways seem equally helpful, then I would alternate ways every other day to put varying stresses on your foot. Good Luck. Rich
Also see one of the original posts on this subject.
http://www.drblakeshealingsole.com/2010/04/pain-in-front-of-foot-possible-help.html

Buddy Taping: Treatment for Toe Injuries

Hello, I am back from Hawaii and ready to get blogging. Thank you followers (now up to 34!!) for allowing me the 10 day hiatus from blogging. The break was needed and Hawaii unbelievably beautiful and restful.

The above video described the principles of Buddy Taping for toe injuries. Several key points like never buddy tape the first and second toes together are brought out. 1 inch Coban by 3M  company is commonly used since it sticks to itself and not your skin. I hope this short video demonstrated by Liz will be informative. Remember to use the Comment Section following this and all posts to leave personal stories, ask questions about the topic, and even give suggestions of other topics I could explore in this blog format. Thank you Rich

Toe Injuries: Coban Wrap for Compression and Stabilization

Coban Wrap was supposedly invented by a very smart engineer at 3M Company two years before he invented the glue for post-its. Both products have helped me and I am very grateful. Coban does not stick to your skin. The tape also has a latex-free version and can be found at www.3M.com/ The tape is corrigated to bind to itself. It is a stretch tape, so it gives with swelling. With any wrap, it should not be used if someone as poor circulation, but especially if they lack feeling. When you wrap a foot, or toe like in the photo above, you must be able to feel when it is too tight and should be loosened. It is fairly water-proof, so you can shower with it, and the skin dries under it. I have had patients leave on to protect a corn, or other sore, for a month at a time. The photo above shows the tape being used for compression following a broken toe. This will be on totally for 12 weeks to control the swelling and minimize the pain associated with this swelling. There will always be some stabilization of an injured area with Coban which can help speed healing of fractures. "Buddy taping" is when you tape a broken toe to the toe next to it for greater stability. First you wrap the injured toe completely, then continue the tape over the next toe. The big toe can not be buddy taped. The second toe if broken is taped to the third toe. The third toe if broken is taped to the second or fourth, whichever feels the best. The fourth toe if broken is taped to the third toe. The fifth toe if broken is taped to the fourth toe. The normal amount of time of taping is 3 months.