You've injured your ankle and can't put your weight on it. It hurts and is tender to the touch, bruised, and swollen. It could be a sprain, or it might be broken. The symptoms of an ankle sprain are a lot like a fracture, but you'll need to know which injury you have so you can heal the right way.
What do you do if you can't put weight on your ankle?
Crutches or a walking boot can help you get around without putting weight on your ankle. Ice: To reduce swelling, apply ice or a cold compress to the area for 15 to 20 minutes every few hours. Compression: Ask your provider about wrapping an elastic bandage around your ankle to reduce inflammation.
Can you break your 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.
Is my ankle sprained if I can't walk on it?
How do I know if I sprained my ankle? If you fell or twisted your ankle, and the injury causes you pain, swelling, bruising and you have trouble walking, you can assume that you have a sprained ankle. Visit your healthcare provider and they'll assess the injury, confirm the diagnosis and offer a treatment plan.
How do you know if your ankle is broken or sprained?
Sprains are painful, but fractures are often accompanied by numbness or tingling. Where are you experiencing pain? If your ankle hurts or is tender to the touch directly over the ankle bone, you probably have a fracture. By contrast, if the pain is in the soft part of the ankle, it's more likely a sprain.
34 related questions foundCan you wiggle 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.
What happens if you leave a broken ankle 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.
How do I know if I tore a ligament in my ankle?
If you have torn your ankle ligament, symptoms include:
- Swelling around your ankle joint.
- A feeling of instability.
- Bruising – sometimes up your lower leg and into your foot.
- Tenderness to touch.
- Pain when putting weight on your ankle.
- Popping sound at the time of injury.
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.
What does a torn ligament in foot feel like?
Symptoms of a Torn Ligament in the Foot
Swelling and bruising will occur at the site of injury. Pain and tenderness are concentrated on the top, bottom or the sides of your foot near the arch. Pain intensifies when walking or during other physical activity. Inability to bear weight on the injured foot.
Can you have a stress fracture in your ankle?
Stress fractures are common in foot and ankle bones because we continually place force on them by standing, walking, running and jumping. In a stress fracture, the bone breaks but usually does not shift position (become "displaced").
What does a sprained ankle feel and look like?
“Some sprains just feel twisted or tweaked, and while they are a little swollen and tender, you can still walk. But ankle sprains can also be fairly severe, with lots of swelling and bruising, along with severe pain when any weight is placed on them.” Too often, Dr.
Can't put weight on foot no injury?
Most likely, plantar fasciitis. This condition begins in the plantar fascia, a thick tissue band that runs along the bottom of the foot and connects your heel to your toes. This tissue band absorbs force impact and supports your weight whenever you stand, walk, run, or jump.
Why can't I put my weight on my leg?
These symptoms are most characteristic of an injury such as broken bone, muscle strain, or tendinitis. These injuries may also be associated with other symptoms including pain or bruising.
When should I stop icing my sprained ankle?
Remember, icing a sprained ankle, strain, or any injury for longer than 20 minutes at a time is not recommended. Some individuals may need just a single daily treatment while more severe sprains and strains may require multiple daily ice therapy applications.
What is a Grade 3 ankle sprain?
Grade 3: This is a full tear of the ankle ligament. You may have heard a popping sound when it happened. This level of sprain causes severe pain, swelling and bruising. Because the ligament is no longer able to do its job, your ankle will feel unstable and will be unable to support any of your weight.
What is a Grade 2 ankle sprain?
Grade 2: A more severe sprain, but incomplete tear with moderate pain, swelling and bruising. Although it feels somewhat stable, the damaged areas are tender to the touch and walking is painful.
How should you sleep with a sprained ankle?
Elevating a sprained ankle reduces the accumulation of fluid in the joint. This can ease swelling, which may also help reduce pain. Try sleeping with the foot and ankle propped up on pillows at a level higher than the heart. When sitting or resting, use pillows or a footrest to keep the foot and ankle elevated.
What does a torn tendon in ankle feel like?
When tendons become injured or torn, it can cause pain, swelling, weakness in the foot and ankle, and discomfort when standing, walking or playing sports.
Can you walk on a torn ligament?
In most cases, the injured person can still walk with the torn knee ligament. But the movement will be severely limited, not to mention painful. Surgery may be the best route to a pain-free life, with amazing success rates.
What does a peroneal tendon tear feel like?
Peroneal tendon injuries can be acute, meaning the injury occurred suddenly, or chronic, meaning that damage occurred over time. Symptoms of peroneal tendon injuries can include pain and swelling, weakness in the foot or ankle, warmth to the touch, and a popping sound at the time of injury.
What happens if you don't let a sprained ankle heal properly?
If an ankle sprain is left untreated, it may lead to a chronically unstable ankle joint and, from there, to degenerative and arthritic changes in the ankle, as well as chronic tendon inflammation. It may also feel as if the ankle is constantly trying to give out, which can, from there, cause a re-injury of the ankle.
Can twisting your ankle cause a fracture?
Fractures can occur due to rolling the ankle in or out, twisting the ankle side to side, extreme flexing or extending of the joint, or severe force applied to the joint by coming straight down on it as in jumping from a high level.
Can you walk on a hairline fracture?
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.
Do you need a cast for a fractured ankle?
A broken bone must be immobilized so that it can heal. In most cases, this requires a special boot or a cast.