Can you break an ankle and still walk on it?

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 I tell if I fractured my ankle?

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.

What does a fractured ankle feel like?

If you have a broken ankle, you may experience some of the following signs and symptoms: Immediate, throbbing pain. Swelling. Bruising.

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.

How do you know if your ankle is sprained or rolled?

Symptoms

1. Pain, especially when you bear weight on the affected foot.
2. Tenderness when you touch the ankle.
3. Swelling.
4. Bruising.
5. Restricted range of motion.
6. Instability in the ankle.
7. Popping sensation or sound at the time of injury.

How do you treat a broken ankle at home?

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.

What does a sprained ankle feel and look like?

With a mild sprain, the ankle may be tender, swollen, and stiff. But it usually feels stable, and you can walk with little pain. A more serious sprain might include bruising and tenderness around the ankle, and walking is painful.

How long do I need to elevate a broken ankle?

Keep your ankle elevated above heart level as much as possible for the first five days, then as needed when symptomatic for up to two weeks. This will prevent painful swelling and promote healing.

What happens to an untreated ankle fracture?

If left untreated, an ankle fracture can be dangerous to the stability of your ankle. The bones can move further out of position, and the pain can intensify and hinder your movement.

Should I go to ER for sprained ankle?

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.

How do I know if my ankle sprain is serious?

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.

Is it OK to walk on a sprained ankle?

Do not walk on a sprained ankle. The inflamed tissue needs time to heal, and walking on it too soon may cause more damage. Ankle sprains are common musculoskeletal injuries that can occur from playing sports or from everyday activities.

How do I know if my foot injury is serious?

Go to the emergency room if:

1. there’s an open wound on your foot.
2. pus is coming out of your foot.
3. you can’t walk or put weight on your foot.
4. you experience severe bleeding.
5. there are broken bones coming through your skin.
6. you feel lightheaded or dizzy.
7. you think your foot could be infected.

How can you tell how bad a sprain is?

Your doctor likely will put your sprain at one of three “grades” based on the amount of damage:

1. Grade 1: Your ankle will probably feel sore and may be slightly swollen. …
2. Grade 2: You have a partial tear in the ligament. …
3. Grade 3: This is a full tear of the ankle ligament.

How should you sleep with a sprained ankle?

Healthguidance.org recommends how to sleep with a sprained ankle is by elevating it slightly to drain fluids and prevent unnecessary swelling, so place a pillow or some blankets under the offending ankle while you sleep. Also apply some ice before going to bed to reduce inflammation.

Can you walk on a hairline fracture?

Although one can walk on a foot with a stress fracture, these tiny hairline breaks should not be ignored as they can return unless properly treated.

Can you wiggle your toes with a broken foot?

Although it may be possible to move and walk on your broken toe, you should avoid doing so as this can lead to even greater damage and prolonged healing time.

When should you go to the ER 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)

How do you tell if a bone is broken or just bruised?

you may hear or feel a snap or a grinding noise as the injury happens. there may be swelling, bruising or tenderness around the injured area. you may feel pain when you put weight on the injury, touch it, press it, or move it.
…
The 3 most common signs of a broken bone (also known as a fracture) are:

1. pain.
2. swelling.
3. deformity.

Do Broken ankles always swell?

Swelling is another sign of injury. If the swelling comes on gradually and is mild, the injury is likely a sprain or less severe. More immediate and significant swelling indicates a bony injury and possible fracture. When severe fractures occur, blistering of the skin is not uncommon.

How do I know if my foot is broken or just bruised?

In general, a broken foot tends to be more painful than a sprained foot, and the pain lasts longer. Bruising, swelling, and tenderness are also more severe if your foot is broken. Another way to tell the difference between a broken foot and sprained foot is the sound the body makes when the injury occurs.