Fractures - Editor's Choice

So sorry to know about your injury and pain. I just want to share my experience when last year I got injured my left foot and had severely sprained ankle. I could barely walk with one foot and pain was so severe that I couldn't sleep at all that night although I took 4 painkillers.I just wanted to cry loudly. My apartment is upstairs and I couldn't go to hospital or Dr clinic.I have had four little kids to look after. I wanted to be well as quick as possible.What I did, fortunately I have almost all the things at home what I needed. I have MSM not DMSO.I mixed half teaspoon vitamin C Ascorbic Acid, 1 teaspoon MSM and 2 Tab spoon Aeloe Vera paste mixed them well then I added 1teaspoon glycerin in this mixture and applied generously on my foot and ankle and massaged, then I dried my foot with hair dryer 15 min to speed up recovery then applied castor oil and massaged well and wrapped in thick cotton. This same procedure I did 3,4 times a day. Internally I took turmeric 1 teaspoon with one fourth teaspoon black pepper and coconut oil 1,2 tabs, magnesium chloride flakes, Zinc orotate 30 mg, MSM 1 teaspoon, Vitamin C 1000 mg 4 times a day and bone broth.You can take any good collagen supplement too.

Can you imagine just after 2 days I could stand and walk although with pain but bearable. I was happy I could go to bathroom and stand to cook for my kids. My injury or sprain was so severe If I took medical route I would have to stay in bed at least 2 months but with the Grace of God and earth clinic, so much learnt from here, and specially hair dry dried your wound so quickly like a magic.In 2 weeks I was totally well.I hope this will help you. Best wishes and prayers for your speedy recovery.

Maria Khan

In spite of the ice and elevation, I did develop a good bit of swelling and bruising in my foot. The bruising may have been worse due to taking some aspirin for pain, but I did choose aspirin because Tylenol doesn't help with inflammation and I can't take ibuprofen. I also took some turmeric to reduce inflammation.

At first I only needed a cane to get around, but by later in the day, with increased swelling, I was needing to use crutches. I think the swelling in the foot makes walking as painful as the break itself. And bumping or moving my toe wrong stirred up pain afresh. I continued to use ice intermittently and elevation as much as possible.

By the evening of the second day I had significant bruising. I started to use a tincture I had made on my toe and the surrounding bruising. It was an alcohol tincture of arnica and comfrey. This greatly reduced the bruise overnight. I continue to apply the tincture to my toe and surrounding area several times a day.

Cabbage is used as a wrap for swelling, especially for mastitis. I decided to try it for my toe. Typically, cabbage is used fresh from the refrigerator and bruised with a rolling pin before applying to the area in need. I did this once, but then decided it would conform more to my foot and be more comfortable warm. I took a leaf of cabbage and broke it into a few pieces and placed it in a mug. I poured boiling water over it and left it alone for 15 minutes or longer. Then I strained out the hot water and dried the leaves. When the leaves were a comfortable temperature, I applied them to my foot and covered that with plastic, then used cohesive tape to secure everything. I did this two nights in a row and each morning noticed a significant reduction in swelling. Today is day 5 and I can walk without crutches. I am still keeping my foot up a lot and still applying the tincture. I have the toe taped to its neighbor. Actually I have two bandaids holding the toes together as that turned out to be the most comfortable option.

I have also been using comfrey internally. Comfrey promotes cell regeneration and healing to the bones and joints. Its nickname is “knitbone.” My favorite way to eat comfrey is in a saute. I wash and cut up the leaves and saute them in some coconut oil. I usually use 2-5 leaves of comfrey. When the comfrey is almost finished sautéing, I toss a tablespoon of pine nuts and a small handful of raisins to the sautee. I sprinkle this with some sea salt. I think it is delicious.

A broken toe can take 4-6 weeks to heal. I don't know how long it will be before a shoe is comfortable to wear again. I ordered some flip flop socks because wearing flip flops is easy on the toe but leaves my feet awfully cold here in November.

In hindsight I wish I had used the comfrey/arnica tincture earlier, but I didn't think about it at first.

I have also used Epsom salt soaks this week, but I am not sure but that the warm soaks are creating more swelling than they are relieving. Perhaps I started them too early (first night) and perhaps it would be better to soak in cool water.

I hope you don't need any of these remedies ever, but if you do, I hope they help you!

~Mama to Many~