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A broken ankle usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal, but it can take longer. The doctor will tell you: how long you’ll have to wear the boot or have the plaster cast on. how much weight to put on your ankle – you may be given crutches or a walking frame to help keep weight off it.
Can you walk on a fractured ankle?
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.
Can an ankle fracture heal in 4 weeks?
Most fractures heal in 6-8 weeks, but this varies tremendously from bone to bone and in each person based on many of the factors discussed above. Hand and wrist fractures often heal in 4-6 weeks whereas a tibia fracture may take 20 weeks or more.
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.
How do you sleep comfortably 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.
Can a fracture heal in 2 weeks?
Recovery: Weeks 1-2 An average recovery takes 6-8 weeks but can vary based on the bone, type of break, your age, and your overall health. During the first couple of weeks, you’ll need patience and good old-fashioned self-care. This is where you set the stage for healing.
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.
Should I sleep in my fracture boot?
If supplied, wear the boot for comfort and use crutches when walking. It is ok to take the boot off at night, when resting at home and to wash.
Can you walk on a hairline fracture?
Medical treatments. Your doctor may recommend that you use crutches to keep weight off an injured foot or leg. You can also wear protective footwear or a cast. Because it usually takes up to six to eight weeks to completely heal from a hairline fracture, it’s important to modify your activities during that time.
How long before you can put weight on a broken ankle?
Your provider will tell you when it is OK to place any weight on your injured ankle. Most of the time, this will be at least 6 to 10 weeks. Putting weight on your ankle too soon may mean the bones do not heal properly.
What is the fastest way to heal a broken ankle?
Ankle Fracture Treatment Self-Care at Home
- Stay off the injured ankle so you do not injure it further.
- Keep the ankle elevated to help decrease swelling and pain.
- 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.
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.
Can I still walk with a fractured foot?
Most foot fractures take 6 to 8 weeks to heal. Healing time varies, so ask your doctor when you can resume normal activities. Most people make a full recovery and can walk again after breaking a foot. However, complications are possible.
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.
What is the best pain relief for a broken ankle?
Medications. To reduce pain and inflammation, your doctor may recommend an over-the-counter pain reliever, such as acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) or ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or a combination of the two. If you’re experiencing severe pain, your doctor might prescribe stronger pain medications.
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.
How do I know if my fracture is healing?
Signs Your Broken Bone Is Healing
- What You Experience During Healing. The following steps are what you will go through as your broken bone is healing:
- Pain Decreases.
- Range of Motion Increases.
- Swelling Goes Down.
- Bruising Subsides.
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How long will my ankle be swollen after fracture?
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.
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.
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.
Do you have to wear a cast for a fractured ankle?
Treatment Options for an Ankle Break / Fracture You’ll probably need to wear a cast, splint, or walking boot for around 6-10 weeks which keeps your bones in place while they heal.
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.
