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Broken ankle — can you still walk? Typically, a minor ankle fracture won’t prevent you from walking. You might even be able to walk right after the injury. If you have a serious break, you’ll need to avoid walking for a few months.
How do you tell if your ankle is fractured?
Symptoms of a broken ankle include:
- Immediate and severe pain.
- Swelling.
- Bruising.
- Tenderness when touched.
- Inability to put any weight on the injured foot (or pain when you put weight on your foot)
- Deformity, particularly if there is a dislocation as well as a fracture.
Will walking on a fractured ankle make it worse?
A broken ankle, also known as an ankle fracture, is one of the most common lower leg injuries. It can be very painful and needs to be seen by a medical professional as soon as possible because it may need treatment to heal properly. Walking on a broken ankle can make the injury worse so if in doubt, get it checked out.
How much force does it take to break an ankle?
As a rough estimate, it would take 218 pounds of pressure to produce a tibial fracture in a healthy adult using a hammer. You could decrease the force requirement by choosing a tool with less surface area, such as a hatchet—then again, you’d be increasing the risk of soft tissue damage and significant blood loss.
How do I know if my foot is sprained or fractured?
Is it a sprain?
- Pain that is in the soft, “squishy” tissue over a bone rather than directly on the bone itself.
- You can usually put weight on it, even if it’s painful.
- Swelling and bruising around the area.
- Limited movement or mobility of the affected area.
- A “popping” (not “cracking”) sound at the time of the injury.
Why does broken ankle hurt more at night?
Bone stress injuries occur because of an unfamiliar increase in physical activity and is related to overuse, under recovery and several considerations that result in the bone not being able to keep up with the required adaptations. A fracture can result and this will cause pain at night time.
What does a fractured foot feel like?
Signs and symptoms of a broken foot may include pain, limping, swelling, bruising, and refusal to bear weight on the affected foot. Initial treatment may include RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation). Rest may include the use of crutches to limit weight bearing.
Can a fractured ankle heal on its own?
Although minor fractures can heal on their own, more serious fractures will require surgery. If you’ve experienced a fracture in your foot and/or ankle, you’ll need to be treated by an orthopaedic surgeon who has knowledge of the intricate workings of the bones, tendons, ligaments and muscles of the foot and ankle.
How do I know if my ankle is sprained or fractured?
With a sprain, you feel pain. But if you have numbness or tingling, your ankle is most likely broken. Where is the pain? If your ankle hurts or is tender to the touch directly over your ankle bone, you probably have a fracture.
Should I go to the ER for an ankle sprain?
Go to urgent care if your pain level and swelling is significant and you have difficulty walking, to the point that you need assistance, due to the pain. Go to the emergency room if your foot is bruised, deformed, or you are unable to walk at all. You may have a fracture, broken bone or serious ligament damage.
What happens if a hairline fracture is untreated?
Ignoring a hairline fracture can lead to a more serious fracture or break occurring, which is more difficult to treat. If not treated or ignored, the hairline may not heal, resulting in a non-union fracture.
What is the fastest way to heal a hairline fracture?
Treatment. The majority of hairline fractures will heal by themselves if the person refrains from activities that put a strain on the affected area. For the first 24 to 48 hours, a person can help the healing process by elevating the affected area and applying ice where possible.
How painful is a broken ankle?
The most common symptoms of an ankle fracture are pain and swelling, either of which may be present only in the ankle region itself or spread to parts of the foot or up toward the knee. Any pain will usually be more intense if the injured person tries to put weight on the ankle.
What does a hairline fracture in the ankle feel like?
What are the symptoms of a hairline fracture? The most common symptom of a hairline fracture is pain. This pain can gradually get worse over time, especially if you don’t stop weight-bearing activity. Pain is usually worse during activity and lessens during rest.
Can you move your toes if your ankle is broken?
Most believe that if they can wiggle their toes or move the ankle around that an ankle fracture has not occurred. The reason this is not true is because the nerves and muscles that allow the movement of the ankle have not been affected by the fracture.
Can you walk on a fractured ankle with a boot?
Once the initial swelling improves over the first several days, either a cast or a fracture boot can be applied to the ankle to properly protect and immobilize it. Both a cast and a boot can provide adequate protection to the ankle.
How long does it take for a broken ankle to stop hurting?
You may be asked to avoid certain movements so that you do not make the injury worse. A broken bone and the surrounding soft tissue damage need a minimum of six to eight weeks to heal. However, depending on your general health and the condition of your bone and soft tissue, healing can take much longer.
Can you wiggle your toes with a broken foot?
Compound fractures are severe and require immediate medical attention. Loss of Mobility – If you can’t say where any of them are broken, wiggle your fingers or toes. If doing so happens to be difficult or painful, you may have a break above that point. Intense Pain – Breaks are painful, especially under pressure.
