How can you tell if ankle is broken?
If you have a broken ankle, you may experience some of the following signs and symptoms:
- Immediate, throbbing pain.
- Swelling.
- Bruising.
- Tenderness.
- Deformity.
- Difficulty or pain with walking or bearing weight.
Can you still 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.
Should I get my ankle checked out?
Seek immediate medical attention if you: Have severe pain or swelling. Have an open wound or severe deformity. Have signs of infection, such as redness, warmth and tenderness in the affected area or a fever greater than 100 F (37.8 C) Cannot put weight on your foot.
What happens if a broken ankle goes untreated?
When a bone fracture is untreated, it can result in either a nonunion or a delayed union. In the former case, the bone doesn’t heal at all, which means that it will remain broken. As a result, swelling, tenderness, and pain will continue to worsen over time.
What happens if broken ankle untreated?
Permanent Nerve Damage An untreated foot fracture can cause permanent damage to any of these nerves, causing problems such as tingling sensation, difficulty controlling movement, and reduced sensitivity that may no longer subside.
When should you go to the doctor for an ankle injury?
People with a more severe ankle sprain — characterized by extreme bruising or swelling and an inability to bear weight on the foot without significant pain, or when there doesn’t seem to be any improvement over the first several days after the injury — should seek medical attention, Drs. SooHoo and Williams say.
What hurts more a sprained or broken ankle?
A broken ankle is a more severe injury than a sprained ankle. With a clean break that doesn’t need surgery, recovery can take around 6 to 8 weeks. If you need surgery, recovery will take longer. With a minor ankle sprain, it may take around 2 weeks to heal.
Can a broken ankle be mistaken for a sprain?
A broken ankle can often be mistaken for a sprain, even with an X-ray, due to the complex structure of tissue, muscle, and ligaments concealing the bone. If not properly treated, an ankle break can lead to further pain, damage to the ankle joint, and impede mobility.
Is my ankle sprained or twisted?
A sprained ankle is similar to a twisted ankle but to a greater degree. When you sprain your ankle, it means you have stretched, and possibly even torn, the ligaments of your ankle. If your ankle is swollen, bruised and painful after you twist it, then you have most likely sprained it.
Can you wiggle your toes with a fractured 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 walk with a hairline fracture of the ankle?
Many people continue their regular day-to-day schedules with a stress fracture because the pain isn’t unbearable like it is with other fractures. For instance, a hairline fracture in your foot may cause difficulty walking, but not so much so that it alerts you to see Dr. Scheffel.
Will your ankle bruise if broken?
Both sprains and fractures can cause pain, swelling, and bruising. In addition, it may be difficult to put weight on your injured foot with both ankle sprains and ankle fractures.
What does an ankle hairline fracture feel like?
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.
What is the recovery time for a broken ankle?
– Apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, every three to four hours to bring down the swelling. – Keep your ankle elevated. – Don’t put any weight on your injured ankle. – Lightly wrap the injury in a soft bandage that provides slight compression.
How to tell if your ankle is broken?
Was there a noise when it happened? A sprain may occur silently,or in severe cases there may be a popping sound.
What are the symptoms of a broken ankle?
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. If you have an ankle injury with swelling, pain when putting weight on it
How to start walking on a sprained ankle?
Icing the ankle to control swelling,and if needed,taking anti-inflammatory medications that Dr.