Expert Toe Care in Bloomfield & Howell.
What To Do For A Broken Pinky Toe - How To Tape & Best Treatment
What should you do for a broken pinky toe? We go over the 100% best little toe treatment, best shoes, best orthotics, and how to tape your broken pinky toe!
- 5th toe and pinky toe pain can be improved with a few simple treatment changes.
- We are foot doctors & we see this problem get better almost every day.
- The goal is to solve this problem without medication or surgery if possible.
Table of Contents
How to Treat & How to Tape a Broken Pinky Toe Video
WHY CHOOSE BALANCE FOOT & ANKLE SPECIALIST
Foot & Ankle Injury Treatment
What Causes a Broken Pinky Toe?
Your pinky toe may be small, but it’s surprisingly vulnerable. A broken pinky toe most commonly happens from direct trauma—like stubbing it hard on furniture, dropping a heavy object on your foot, or during sports-related accidents. It can also occur from repetitive stress, especially if you’re wearing tight shoes or have a foot imbalance that puts excess pressure on the outer edge of your foot.
In some cases, bone conditions like osteoporosis or previous toe deformities can increase the risk of a break. No matter the cause, early diagnosis and proper treatment are key to avoiding long-term pain or complications.
If you’re unsure whether your toe is broken or just bruised, our podiatry team in Howell or Bloomfield Hills can provide a quick, accurate diagnosis and get you on the path to healing.
Home Treatment Options for a Broken Pinky Toe
If you suspect you’ve broken your pinky toe but can’t get to the podiatrist right away, here are some safe and effective home care tips to manage pain and reduce complications:
1. Buddy Taping
Gently tape the injured toe to the adjacent one to help stabilize it. Use soft gauze between the toes to avoid skin irritation and avoid over-tightening the tape.
2. Ice Therapy
Apply an ice pack wrapped in a towel to the toe for 15–20 minutes every few hours during the first 48 hours to reduce swelling and pain.
3. Elevation
Keep your foot elevated above heart level, especially during rest, to minimize swelling.
4. Rest & Limited Activity
Avoid putting weight on the injured foot. Use crutches or a stiff-soled shoe if walking is painful. Don’t force movement or return to normal activities too quickly.
5. Over-the-Counter Pain Relief
NSAIDs like ibuprofen or acetaminophen can help manage pain and reduce inflammation. Always follow dosage guidelines.
6. Proper Footwear
Wear open-toed or wide, supportive shoes that don’t squeeze or press on the pinky toe during healing.
When to See a Specialist
If swelling or bruising gets worse, the toe looks deformed, or the pain doesn’t improve after a few days, it’s time to see a foot and ankle specialist. Dr. Carl Jay in Bloomfield Hills and Dr. Tom Biernacki in Howell are ready to provide expert diagnosis and care.
Why Treating a Broken Pinky Toe Matters
Ignoring a small fracture can lead to big problems. Here’s why seeking professional treatment for a broken pinky toe is worth it:
1. Prevent Long-Term Pain & Misalignment
Proper treatment ensures the bone heals in the correct position, avoiding future joint pain, stiffness, or crooked toe alignment.
2. Speed Up Healing & Regain Mobility Faster
With a personalized recovery plan, patients often return to normal activity faster and more comfortably than with home care alone.
3. Avoid Complications Like Arthritis or Deformity
Early care from a podiatrist helps prevent complications like chronic inflammation, improper gait, or joint issues in the long run.
How to Treat & How to Tape a Broken Pinky Toe Video:
What To Do For A Broken Pinky Toe Video Summary:
Do you have a BROKEN PINKY TOE?
- We go over the absolute best treatment, how to tape a broken pinky toe if you have a stubbed pinky toe vs. a broken little toe.
- This is the best pinky toe fracture guide!
- A broken pinky toe can be helped with tape or a wrap:
- You will need just 2 things: A small amount of tape and a kleenex or toilet paper!
- We show what a broken pinky toe looks like and how to tell if your pinky toe is broken.
- This will also work for a bruised pinky toe.

How Do You Know If You Broke Your Pinky Toe?

Outside of the Foot Pain Picture Gallery:
Look:
- Fifth toe pain usually has nothing wrong with the bone unless it has recently been broken. The pain usually results from pressure against the front of the shoe, causing a callus or ingrown toenail.
- The fifth toe joint can cause a Tailor’s bunion to occur. This can also result in nerve pain and arthritis of the fifth toe joint.
- The bone connecting to the fifth toe is called the fifth metatarsal. It is possible to develop a stress fracture or “Jones” fracture.
- It is also possible to have pain and tendons and nerves outside the ankle from pressure against the outside of the shoe.
- The peroneal tendons can also be causing pain. This means the peroneus brevis tendon and the peroneus longus tendon.
- Cuboid syndrome can also cause pain at the back and outside of the foot.
Click on the photo gallery to see descriptions!
Broken Pinky Toe Treatment

- If you have a traumatic injury such as a severe bruise or broken bone, or even a ruptured tendon: consider protecting your foot!
- The best way to do this is, of course, to see your podiatrist and get evaluated with an x-ray and potential MRI or CT scan.
- If you cannot do so, it may benefit you to be in a cast, fractured boot, or even keep the weight off of it with a rolling knee scooter or other protective devices.
- We as podiatrists frequently take patients off work for a very long period of time when they suffer a traumatic injury. Unfortunately, there is no other way around us in labor jobs.
- If you have a sit-down job, there are ways to get people back to work quicker, but this can be impossible otherwise.

Best Broken Pinky Toe Boot:
- Our favorite fracture boots and their supplies:








Broken Pinky Toe Scooters:
- These are favorite knee scooters and walking devices:








Best Pinky Toe Products:
- There are usually two phases to the bottom of the foot pain treatment.
- The two phases of treatment include controlling the acute inflammation and correcting the biomechanics, which led to the problem in the first place.
- If the tendons and ligaments are inflamed, they are almost frozen in place and cannot function properly.
- Once the inflammation is decreased, we need to correct the biomechanical causes to ensure that they can never become overworked and inflamed again!
- This doesn’t matter whether it’s plantar fasciitis, plantar fibroma, the sore bottom of the foot, or even Achilles tendon pain. Treatment is all roughly very similar.
Best Pinky Toe Pads & Protectors:
These are our favorite pinky toe pads & protectors:










Removing The Stress:
- The key is to prevent future pain.
- If you can get rid of the pain and swelling, this will let you start walking normally.
- If you can walk normally, the vast majority of your pain should gradually start to go away.
- The best way to ensure that your plantar fascia, foot, and ankle ligaments are not overworked is to support them.
- The best way to support them is to use great orthotics and great shoes.
- Some people may also need to rely on supportive ankle braces and other supportive modalities.
Best Pinky Toe Shoes:
- Getting a great supportive pair of shoes will ensure that there is pressure removed from the heel and plantar fascia region.
- This is especially important if you have plantar fasciitis, heel spur pain, or Achilles tendonitis.
- Consider shoes combined with a good supportive orthotic for the best pain relief!
- The following link will show you what our favorites are.
Best Pinky Toe Orthotics:
- These are our recommended orthotics.
- There are different types of different shoes.
- Women’s shoes usually need a less bulky orthotic but allow for less correction.
- A full-length orthotic requires a running shoe, boot, or comfortable walking/dress shoe.
- We recommend doing everything you can to get a good supportive shoe that can fit a full-length orthotic.
- This is the best way to maximize your orthotics for great results.

Best Full-Length Orthotics:
- These will only work in wider shoes or a good supportive running shoe.
- This will not work in sandals, flats, or most women’s dress shoes.








Best Dress Shoe Orthotics:
- These are a great choice for dress orthotics.






Best 3/4 Length Orthotics:
- These are great options for women’s dress shoes and thinner shoes.
- These are not the most supportive pair of orthotics.


Get A Great Dynamic Stretch:
- It is possible to stretch on your own, but these products can also really help!
- This will take pressure off of the ball of your foot.
- We personally prefer this method of stretching.








Get A Great Static Stretch:
- These devices are great for stretching while you are resting.
- This will also help take pressure off of the ball of your foot.
- This works great for plantar fasciitis.
- It can be used while watching TV or at night time.






Pinky Toe Inflammation:
Massage & Ice Products:
- Ice is an excellent option that can be safe for almost everyone.
- There is some debate whether icing is worth doing, but this can help limit the need for medications and keep your options open for chronic pain.
- This works great for your arch, less for the ball of the foot.
- The more muscle and ligament tissue there is, the better ice will work there.






Menthol Based Gels:
- Biofreeze is one of our favorites.
- These gels have been studied to work 2x as long as ice.
- This works great for the ball of the foot.
- This can be very effective for the bottom of the heel and Achilles tendon sore regions.








Massage Sticks:
- These can work great for loosening your muscles.
- This allows less tightness and pressure on the ball of your foot.
- This is very effective for the arch, the gastrocnemius, calf muscle, and the hamstring and thigh muscles.
- This also works very well for the gluteus muscles if you are having butt cheek or hip pain.






Top-Rated Foot Care Products Recommended by Podiatrists
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Broken Pinky Toe: Common Questions Answered
A broken pinky toe usually comes with significant pain, swelling, bruising, or difficulty walking. If pain persists beyond 1–2 days, it’s best to get a podiatric evaluation with an X-ray.
While minor fractures may heal with rest and buddy taping, improper healing can lead to long-term pain or deformity. A podiatrist can ensure the bone sets correctly.
Treatment may include digital X-rays, buddy taping, protective footwear, and in some cases, splinting or custom orthotics to relieve pressure during healing.
If you suspect a toe fracture, a podiatrist like Dr. Carl Jay in Bloomfield or Dr. Tom Biernacki in Howell can provide expert, targeted care often more effectively than general urgent care clinics.
Most broken pinky toes heal in 4–6 weeks, depending on severity and treatment. Early care speeds recovery and helps prevent long-term complications.
Delaying treatment can lead to poor alignment, arthritis, or chronic pain. Even small fractures benefit from proper care to ensure healthy long-term function.