Quick Answer: Can You Wiggle Your Toes With A Broken Ankle

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 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.

How can I tell if my ankle is broken?

Symptoms of a broken ankle include:

1. Immediate and severe pain.
2. Swelling.
3. Bruising.
4. Tenderness when touched.
5. Inability to put any weight on the injured foot (or pain when you put weight on your foot)
6. Deformity, particularly if there is a dislocation as well as a fracture.

Can’t bend foot up after injury?

If you had an injury to your foot or ankle, and now can’t move it, you may have a broken bone or a bad sprain. A ruptured Achilles tendon could also cause pain and make it difficult to bend your foot down. That can also be caused by an injury.

How long will a broken ankle stay swollen?

The foot and ankle become swollen, painful and can no longer hold any weight. It takes several days or weeks for the swelling to go down completely, and can take months for the ankle joint to fully recover from the fracture.

How do you sleep with a broken ankle?

Invest in a specialized pillow, like a body pillow, for elevation—keeping the broken bone above your heart prevents blood from pooling and causing swelling. Try sleeping on your back first while propped up on a few pillows. If that doesn’t work, slowly adjust yourself to a side position if possible.

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.

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 do you strengthen a broken ankle?

Ankle dorsiflexion

1. Sit with your affected leg straight and supported on the floor. Your other leg should be bent, with that foot flat on the floor.
2. Keeping your affected leg straight, gently flex your foot back toward your body so your toes point upward.
3. Repeat 8 to 12 times.

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 you still walk on a sprained foot?

If you’re wondering, “Can I walk on a sprained foot?”, the answer is no! Refrain from walking on your foot to aid healing. Ice:Apply ice to your injury for about 20 minutes every three hours.

What happens if a broken ankle goes untreated?

An untreated break can hinder the ultimate development of an individual. Moving left and right or landing badly are most likely to end in ankle injury. Basketball moves or landing on someone else’s foot, forcing you to twist your ankle, can lead to the injury.

How do I know if Ive broken a bone in my foot?

If you have a broken foot, you may experience some of the following signs and symptoms:

1. Immediate, throbbing pain.
2. Pain that increases with activity and decreases with rest.
3. Swelling.
4. Bruising.
5. Tenderness.
6. Deformity.
7. Difficulty in walking or bearing weight.

How do you tell if ankle is broken vs sprained?

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.

Why does my 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 is the fastest way to heal a broken ankle?

Ankle Fracture Treatment Self-Care at Home

1. Stay off the injured ankle so you do not injure it further.
2. Keep the ankle elevated to help decrease swelling and pain.
3. Apply cold packs to the injured area to decrease swelling and pain. Do not apply ice directly. Cold packs are effective for up to 48 hours.

How do I know if my foot injury is serious?

You should make a doctor’s appointment after a foot injury if:

1. you feel pain in your foot for most of the day and it’s been a few weeks since your injury.
2. you have swelling that isn’t getting better two to five days after your injury.
3. you feel tingling, numbness, or burning pain—especially in the bottom of your foot.

Is it possible to walk on a broken ankle?

Many people assume that if you can put weight on the ankle then it isn’t broken, however, it is possible to walk on a broken ankle, particularly with a less severe fracture. If you’re concerned your ankle may be broken, we recommend contacting your doctor, who can conduct an examination or order and xray if necessary.

What is the easiest bone to break in your foot?

The fifth metatarsal bone is the most common metatarsal bone to be fractured in sudden (acute) injury to the foot. It may be broken at various points along its length, depending on the mechanism of injury. The other metatarsal bones can also be broken.

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 happens if you walk on a broken foot too soon?

Until you see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment plan, you should not walk on a suspected broken foot, because walking on a broken foot too soon could cause more damage to the foot.