Healing Time for Toe Bone Bruise

Hello, I'm new to the forum and brand new to skiing.  (My husband and I relocated to Colorado this summer from the Midwest and decided to try it this season.)  After a couple of outings for about a half day each early in December, I ended up with my left big toe very sore, swollen, and sensitive on the end.  I suspect this was due to my not having that boot buckled up tightly enough, and also not keeping my shins forward, (thereby banging my toes.)

 I expected the soreness to go away after two or three days, but finally resorted to going to a podiatrist when it didn't improve after three weeks.  (I mostly rested it during this time, and also have not attempted to ski on it.)  He said that this was very common, especially among new skiers, and that it was most likely a bone bruise.  He said they typically take somewhere between six to eight weeks to heal.

It's now been nearly five weeks, and it's still swollen and very sensitive.  (It's difficult to walk, even in comfortable shoes without doing a sort of limp.)  It seems like there should at least be some improvement at this point, so I'm wondering how long this is going to take to heal. Has anyone had any experience with this, or know anything about how long it might take to see some noticeable improvement? Also, does anyone know anything I can do that might help speed up the process at all?

Any input would be welcome!

Hello, thanks for answering.  The x-ray was normal, and the toenail isn't dark.  The cuticle area doesn't hurt, and the end of the toe is definitely not numb.  It's been about six weeks, and the end of the toe has been swollen a bit the entire time.  It's mainly just very sensitive at the end, right near the end of the nail, so is problematic for wearing shoes or walking normally.  I love to hike, so am anxious to be able to do that comfortably again.

the doctor told me they see this all the time among skiers, so I was hoping to get a better idea how long it takes to heal.  (He couldn't tell me much, other than that it takes a long time, and CAN take up to several months.)  I just started learning to ski, so had no idea a person could even have this kind of injury, just from the boots.

That's interesting.  It sounds like you know something about that, or have experienced it.  Would that cause a lot of sensitivity right in one small spot, right at the end of the nail?  I also get sort of a weird "hot" or burning feeling through my foot periodically, since I've had this.

Any idea how long that would take to heal?

Thanks

Chase -

It seems strange to me too, although being so new to skiing, I wouldn't know if it was common or not.  The boots were new ones that I'd recently bought, and only worn the two times in December.  When I'd originally tried them on, I felt like the fit was OK for my right foot, but that the left boot might be a bit cramped for my toes.  (It's the bigger foot.)  I mentioned that to the fitter, and he suggested that since the right one felt OK, to go with that size and have the shell of the left boot punched out a bit if it felt too cramped after a couple of outings.

I'm pretty sure at least one of the times I was at the resort I didn't have the left boot buckled up tight enough also, which might have made the situation worse. 

I was pretty much just spending the time on a little beginner hill, trying to work out stopping and turning.  Being a total novice, I was doing things wrong, like standing up too straight and not keeping my shins forward enough, but given that my right foot is completely unscathed, I'm assuming it had more to do with the fit of the left boot.

It sounds like your experience with a bone bruise has gone on for quite a long time.  I was hoping you'd say it healed in two months or something! :)  Thanks for the good wishes, and good luck to you too!

I'm not giving up on skiing yet, but am a little leery of that boot... I did go ahead and have the shell punched out in the toe area a little, but I don't know when I'll be able to wear them again with my foot seeming to heal so slowly.  I guess I'll see how it goes!

Chase -

It seems strange to me too, although being so new to skiing, I wouldn't know if it was common or not.  The boots were new ones that I'd recently bought, and only worn the two times in December.  When I'd originally tried them on, I felt like the fit was OK for my right foot, but that the left boot might be a bit cramped for my toes.  (It's the bigger foot.)  I mentioned that to the fitter, and he suggested that since the right one felt OK, to go with that size and have the shell of the left boot punched out a bit if it felt too cramped after a couple of outings.

I'm pretty sure at least one of the times I was at the resort I didn't have the left boot buckled up tight enough also, which might have made the situation worse. 

I was pretty much just spending the time on a little beginner hill, trying to work out stopping and turning.  Being a total novice, I was doing things wrong, like standing up too straight and not keeping my shins forward enough, but given that my right foot is completely unscathed, I'm assuming it had more to do with the fit of the left boot.

It sounds like your experience with a bone bruise has gone on for quite a long time.  I was hoping you'd say it healed in two months or something! :)  Thanks for the good wishes, and good luck to you too!

I'm not giving up on skiing yet, but am a little leery of that boot... I did go ahead and have the shell punched out in the toe area a little, but I don't know when I'll be able to wear them again with my foot seeming to heal so slowly.  I guess I'll see how it goes!