How do I know if my foot is sprained or fractured?
Another way to tell the difference between a broken foot and sprained foot is the sound the body makes when the injury occurs. If you have a sprain, you’re more likely to hear a popping sound. If you have a fracture, then you’re more likely to hear a cracking sound.
How do I know if my foot injury is serious?
You should make a doctor’s appointment after a foot injury if:
- you feel pain in your foot for most of the day and it’s been a few weeks since your injury.
- you have swelling that isn’t getting better two to five days after your injury.
- you feel tingling, numbness, or burning pain—especially in the bottom of your foot.
What does a foot fracture feel like?
Pain that diminishes during rest. Pain that occurs and intensifies during normal, daily activities. Swelling on the top of the foot or on the outside of the ankle. Tenderness to touch at the site of the fracture.
Can you walk with a stress fracture in the foot?
The worst choices for resumed activity while you recover from a foot or ankle stress fracture are running or even walking on hard surfaces. You can easily reopen your fracture and have to begin the recovery process again. During recovery, wear comfortable, supportive shoes without a raised heel.
When should you go to the doctor for a foot injury?
Seek immediate medical attention if you:
Have severe pain or swelling. Have an open wound or a wound that is oozing pus. Have signs of infection, such as redness, warmth and tenderness in the affected area or you have a fever over 100 F (37.8 C) Are unable to walk or put weight on your foot.
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.
What happens if a fracture is left 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.
Will a broken foot heal on its own?
Most of the bones in the foot will eventually heal with rest, but some fractures may need surgery to repair. Often, it is the mechanism of injury associated with the intensity of pain that makes the patient seek care. It is appropriate to seek medical care if the patient cannot walk normally without a limp.
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.
Can you fracture your foot and not know it?
Because hairline and stress fractures are small, your doctor might not be able to tell that you have a foot or ankle fracture just by looking at the part of your foot that is injured.
How long does a fracture take to heal in the foot?
You may need a splint, a cast, or an orthopedic shoe. Certain kinds of injuries may need surgery at some time. Whatever your treatment, you can ease symptoms and help your foot heal with care at home. You may need 6 to 8 weeks or more to fully heal.
How long will I be off work with a broken foot?
What Is the Healing Time for a Broken Foot? The outlook for a foot fracture depends on what bone(s) of the foot were fractured, and the severity of the injury. For most simple fractures, the healing process takes about six to eight weeks without surgery. Severe fractures may require surgery and more recovery time.
Do you have to wear a boot for a stress fracture?
A low risk stress fracture will typically heal on its own just fine, and may not even require any time spent in a boot or on crutches.
How do you know if you have a stress fracture in your foot?
Some stress fractures won’t show up on an X-ray, so MRIs are typically done to definitively diagnose a stress fracture because they can detect both stress reactions and stress fractures. (An X-ray can only detect severe or already-healing stress fractures.)
What is the fastest way to heal a stress fracture?
How to Heal Quickly from a Stress Fracture?
- Apply ice and take pain medications to control symptoms.
- Use a cast or splint to protect the stress fracture site.
- Start partial weight bearing only when pain free.
- Increase your activity to avoid recurrence of fracture.