Even before you see a doctor to confirm a stress fracture of your pinky toe, you should apply ice or some form of cold therapy to any musculoskeletal injury in order to reduce inflammation and numb the pain. Use crushed ice wrapped in a thin towel (so it doesn't cause frostbite) or a frozen gel pack on the front part of your foot. Small bags of frozen veggies work well also.  Apply the ice or cold therapy for no more than 20 minutes at a time to the lateral (outside) part of your foot. Use the cold therapy 3-5x daily for the first few days post injury. Wrap the ice bag or gel pack around the front of your foot with an elastic bandage for better results because compression helps to reduce swelling too. While you're applying ice to your lateral forefoot in order to combat the swelling, it's also a good idea to keep your foot elevated. Elevating your foot reduces blood flow, which helps to minimize inflammation during injuries. Prop your foot up whenever possible (before, during and after icing) so that it's higher than the level of your heart for best results.  If you're on the sofa, use a footstool or a few pillows to keep your leg / foot elevated above your heart. While in bed lying down, use a pillow, folded blanket or foam roller to prop up your foot a few extra inches. Always try to elevate both feet at the same time so you don't create hip, pelvis and/or low back pain or irritation. Another important element of home care for a broken toe is some rest and relaxation. In fact, resting by taking the weight off your foot is the primary treatment and recommendation for all stress fractures of the foot. As such, avoid the activity that triggered the injury and all other weight-bearing exercises (walking, hiking, jogging) that put weight on the lateral portion of the foot for 3-4 weeks.  Cycling can still be a good option for exercise and maintaining fitness if you're able to position the pedal closer to your heal and away from your toes. Swimming is a non-weight bearing exercise and appropriate for a broken toe once the swelling and pain have subsided. Don't forget to re-tape your toes afterwards. Breaking a toe, even if it's just a stress or hairline fracture, is painful and managing the pain is an important part of the healing process. As such, in addition to applying cold therapy to dull the pain, consider taking over-the-counter medication such as non-steroidal anti-inflammatories (NSAIDs) or painkillers, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol). To minimize the chances of adverse side effects, such as stomach irritation, take these medications for less than 2 weeks on a daily basis. For most simple fractures, 3-5 days of medication should be sufficient.  NSAIDs include ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin), naproxen (Aleve, Naprosyn), and aspirin (Excedrin). NSAIDs are better for bone fractures because they inhibit swelling, whereas painkillers don't. However, NSAIDs such as naproxen may slow bone healing, so they should be used with caution.  Aspirin should not be given to children, whereas ibuprofen should not be given to infants — stick with acetaminophen if your child needs pain relief.

Summary: Apply ice or cold therapy. Elevate your foot to reduce inflammation. Cut back on walking, running and other exercises. Take over-the-counter medication short term.


A study of Japanese men was done on the effect of green tea on gums. Drinking at least a cup of green tea once a day was shown to ward off gum disease. It may be because green tea contains the antioxidant catechin, which can help reduce inflammation.  Remember that green tea has caffeine, which can keep you up at night. Drink it earlier in the day if you find that's a problem for you. Be aware that drinking too much green tea can have side effects, such as causing stomach discomfort or even an irregular heartbeat. You can sidestep some of these issues by drinking a caffeine-free version. The acid in citrus juices can wreak havoc on your teeth, breaking down the enamel over time. Grapefruit and lemon juice are two of the worst culprits, and soda can also be a problem.  If you still want to drink these juices, try using a straw and then rinsing or brushing your teeth immediately afterwards. A straw will protect the teeth in the front of your mouth to some extent, and the water will help rinse away the acid in the back of your mouth.  In addition, skip swishing. If you tend to swish soda or juice around your mouth, you should get into the habit of swallowing more promptly. The longer you hold soda in your mouth, the more damage it can do. Foods that are harder to break down, such as crunchy or chewy foods, increase the saliva in your mouth. That saliva is essential to keeping your mouth healthy, as it reduces the amount of acid in your mouth that is created by bacteria. In addition, these types of crunchy foods help remove plaque from your teeth.  The acid leads to cavities, which is why it's important to keep the acid level down. Try foods such as carrots, apples, or nuts.  However, stay away from sticky, chewy candy. Their stickiness allows the sugar to hang around in the mouth for longer, encouraging the bacteria to create more acid. You should also try to avoid snacks like potato chips and cookies, which can be even worse for your teeth because they stick around for even longer. Eating a bit of hard cheese, such as cheddar, after dinner can help reduce the acid in your mouth. It also has a protein called casein, that protein, along with the calcium and phosphate cheese also provides, can help protect your teeth against cavities. Cheese also increases saliva flow, helping to wash away acids and sugars. Other hard cheeses include Parmesan, Colby, and Gouda. Water can help wash away the bacteria and acids that plague your teeth. Try drinking some after every meal. In addition, if your mouth stays too dry, it can increase cavities. Be sure to limit dark drinks like coffee, soda, and red wine that stain teeth.

Summary: Drink green tea. Skip citrus juices. Pick foods by texture. Have a cheddar dessert. Drink water.


Mental health stigma remains the number one reason many people do not get the treatment they need. Worrying that you will be viewed or treated negatively by family, friends, or society actually keeps you from getting better. Feeling shame about your illness or isolating yourself because of it perpetuates stigma. The only way to overcome this stigma is to build your knowledge and self-confidence about your illness by getting treatment.  Research shows that when people see effective outcomes for mental illnesses and know people who have been successfully treated, they are less likely to stigmatize or discriminate.  Another way to reduce stigma is to stop associating yourself with the disorder. Instead of saying "I'm bipolar", you should say "I have bipolar disorder". If you are ready to tell someone what's going on, it will be enormously helpful for you to reach out for support. Try to find someone in your life who usually supports you without judgment and share some details of what you're going through. If you're not ready for that, it's okay. You can get support in other ways — it could even just be spending time together.  You could say, "Hey, I need to be around other people tonight. Would you be up for a Netflix binge?" The ability for you to recognize your need, and build up the courage and skills to actually reach out is a huge part of finding support and getting through a tough time. Remember that talking to others about mental illness is a great way to reduce stigma and misinformation. Involving others in your life might also help going to the doctor become less frightening. After you have become more accepting of your condition, another way to overcome your own tendency to suffer in silence is to speak out and influence others to get help, too. Research either a regional advocacy group or a national group (or both) and figure out how you can get involved.  Spreading awareness and educating others about mental illness can help fight stigma and discrimination that may be keeping another suffering in silence.
Summary: Stop perpetuating stigmas. Get support from a friend or family member. Be an advocate.