I've managed to get an injury to my middle toe from kicking the straps. Now whenever I bump it getting into the straps I have a sore, swollen toe for about a week. Doc says nothing to do other than rest it. I tried wearing booties today but still came away with a sore toe.

Anyone had this? Any miracle cures or avoidance tactics gratefully received.

Stop kicking the strap, bottle of bourbon/ rum and a hammer....

brand/pics of straps maybe a help! no pics of your toe would be good too.

Drake Formula board straps, not your plush, comfy Dakine types. I hadn't thought of changing them but now that you mention it GL that would help

windlure

Yep, had the injured toes and yes once you do it it's like you paint a bulls eye on it.

You can till they get better

Tape your toes together
Wear booties (hate them as well)
Not sail
or try harder not to kick the straps

Sent you an email on your gmail

Are you sure it isn't broken?

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paddymac said...

comfy Dakine

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Windxtasy said...

Are you sure it isn't broken?

Doc said quite likely a minor fracture around the second joint from the toe end. But he said that it doesn't matter if it's broken or not - it's the same treatment - don't bang it.

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paddymac said...

I've managed to get an injury to my middle toe from kicking the straps. Now whenever I bump it getting into the straps I have a sore, swollen toe for about a week. Doc says nothing to do other than rest it. I tried wearing booties today but still came away with a sore toe.

Anyone had this? Any miracle cures or avoidance tactics gratefully received.

I wish I had a sore toe from sailing.

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paddymac said...

Windxtasy said...

Are you sure it isn't broken?

Doc said quite likely a minor fracture around the second joint from the toe end. But he said that it doesn't matter if it's broken or not - it's the same treatment - don't bang it.

You need to tape around the toe to stop it swelling, then tape it to the toe next to it for support.
Sore toes do act like a magnet for things to hit them on.

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paddymac said...

I've managed to get an injury to my middle toe from kicking the straps. Now whenever I bump it getting into the straps I have a sore, swollen toe for about a week. Doc says nothing to do other than rest it. I tried wearing booties today but still came away with a sore toe.

Anyone had this? Any miracle cures or avoidance tactics gratefully received.

hey a doctors a doctor for a reason, when i was learning to vulcan and spock the boom smashed constantly into my ring finger and it would be swollen and so sore to the point where i couldnt sail, same thing happens to your toes, the bones bruise or mildly fracture and the only thing that heals them is time...

oh and i would put a lot of effort into getting into the straps a little more carefully

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Windxtasy said...

paddymac said...

Windxtasy said...

Are you sure it isn't broken?

Doc said quite likely a minor fracture around the second joint from the toe end. But he said that it doesn't matter if it's broken or not - it's the same treatment - don't bang it.

You need to tape around the toe to stop it swelling, then tape it to the toe next to it for support.
Sore toes do act like a magnet for things to hit them on.

Totally agree. I broke my toe (self evaluation after it was bent and turned purple) walking out at flat rocks at the start of a holiday. Bit of tape around the broken middle toe and taped to the 'index' toe, all good. sore as hell but got me through 2 more weeks of sailing/surfing.

Did the same thing when i had my formula board. I used elastoplast to bind a good toe to the bad. this reduced the potential for new damage a bit and reminded me to be careful.

As others have stated; tape your toe to the adjacent large toe. From experience - you have a broken toe. Taping it to the next toe is the recommended treatment by medical types.

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jsnfok said...
when i was learning to vulcan and spock the boom smashed constantly into my ring finger and it would be swollen...

Pardon?

Thanks all for the advice.

Not sure whether you've tried, but I moved the front screw (on the rear footstrap), I'm assuming that's the culprit, to the next hole forward. It makes it slightly easier to slot the rear foot in. (has done for me anyway)
Harty suggested getting in and out of the straps when you're on a long run, which I find just plain annoying, but maybe one suggestion for muscle memory.

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Windxtasy said...

paddymac said...

Windxtasy said...

Are you sure it isn't broken?

Doc said quite likely a minor fracture around the second joint from the toe end. But he said that it doesn't matter if it's broken or not - it's the same treatment - don't bang it.

You need to tape around the toe to stop it swelling, then tape it to the toe next to it for support.
Sore toes do act like a magnet for things to hit them on.

and the most important thing - when you get home from a sail sit around with your foot elevated, and let your wife wait on you.
No seriously, elevating the foot for some time after overdoing it will help reduce the pain from a fractured toe.
The tape around the toe to keep the swelling down is important even when not sailing because otherwise you'll end up with a permanently distorted toe.

I broken/sprained by middle toe while it was still in the strap.

Buddy taping to the 2nd toe is essential, as well as the standard RICE method.

I also used an occlusive dressing with Voltaren emulgel overnight (use the finger sections of a disposal glove) for a week.

You need to be extra patient as toe injuries can take a long time to fully heal.

Even though I could still sail, it has taken over 4 months for my toe to be 95-98% healed (it still is a different colour to the surrounding toes).

Cheers

Would wearing booties avoid the problem happening in the first place?

Did it when I started too - the only cure is to either get better at finding the strap without looking, or in my case - not have any wind for months, toes heal & I do it again next time I go out.

Last June I was sailing RSX between Sydney heads when i had a bad accident.
the swell was huge, my training partner sheeted on and i started to go with her when the water disapeared from under me and the board went into free fall. I was strange as i was not going fast and not jumping swells just a super steep swell past and left no water behind. (read Kay Cottees book for something similar) The board crashed into the water and i didnt know it but the centreboards flaps half came off on impact. No damage to myself but i decided to head for home. bearing away the centreboard flaps tripped me up and i got catapulted while in the harness. the mast hit the water hard and at the same time i hit the mast with my legs. i was in massive pain and didnt know how to get in, i thought i had broken my shin bones and angles. i calmed down got myself in somehow and went to accident emergency. i was checked out and i had ligament damage and other stuff, told to rest. nobody was concerned with the toe including myself. everything healed but the toe never did until this week i was able to go for a jog.
i sailed with pain all last season
my advice is to get ascis shoes, they helped me a lot.
A physio told me toes are a real problem, lots of nerve endings!!

Lop it off and install a new and improved carbon fibre prosthesis. Then you will be able to run in the Olympics with the big boys.

Many of us have had this problem and the earlier suggestions of taping and booties will help a lot.

Also you can try easing your foot in. Put it near the strap and then tippy toe your way in. It's a little cumbersome but is does work.

I also found that a particular slalom board I had was always a culprit for toe bang, it just had a more un natural position for the rear strap. I was really suprised to find that The replacement board was a natural step into the rear strap, rarely banged my toe.

Could be a good excuse for a new board