How do I know if my foot injury is serious?

How do you tell if your foot is fractured or sprained?

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.

What does a fractured foot feel like?

Immediate, throbbing pain. Pain that increases with activity and decreases with rest. Swelling. Bruising.

Should I go to the hospital for a foot injury?

Go to an urgent care or ER for foot pain if:

You have severe pain and swelling. You are unable to walk or put weight on your foot. Have an open wound (Emergency room only) Have signs of infection such as redness, warmth or tenderness (Emergency room only)

Can you walk on a fractured foot?

Typically you can walk on a broken foot, however, doing so will aggravate the situation. It's best to give your foot a rest, and keep weight off it, so that bones can take the time they need to heal. It is always best to get an injury like a fracture checked out to ensure proper treatment.

Signs your foot or ankle injury is serious

Can you wiggle your toes with a broken foot?

Can you move a broken toe? “If you can still move it then it's not broken.” – False. This is another harmful old wives' tale. 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 I go to the doctor about my foot?

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.

What does a sprained foot feel like?

Pain and tenderness near the arch of the foot. This can be felt on the bottom, top, or sides of the foot. Bruising and swelling of the foot. Pain when walking or during activity.

How is foot injury diagnosed?

What are some common foot injuries?

Can you walk on a hairline fracture?

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.

How do I know if I tore a ligament in my foot?

Can you walk with a stress fracture in the foot?

It is important to rest your foot. Elevate your foot to decrease swelling and pain. Do not do the activity or exercise that caused your fracture. If walking is painful, your doctor may advise you to use crutches to help support your body weight when you walk.

Should I go to the doctor for a sprained foot?

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. your pain worsens over time. you have swelling that isn't getting better two to five days after your injury.

When should I be concerned about foot pain?

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 walk on a sprained foot?

“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.”

Can walking on a sprained foot make it worse?

Yes. That's the very short answer. According to the National Association of Athletic Trainers, ankle injuries, including sprains, are very often undertreated. Ignoring treatment, including excessive movement of the ankle through unnecessary walking, leads to a greater risk of worsening the injury.

Does a sprained foot hurt to touch?

Main symptoms

Most people with foot sprains will experience pain in the foot as well as tenderness when pushing on the foot. The location of the pain and tenderness may vary depending on the specific ligament that is injured.

When should you not ignore foot pain?

If you are suffering from foot pain, don't ignore it. Foot pain can be a sign of a more serious issue, like a fracture or diabetes. The good news is, your foot doctor has the skills and knowledge to treat your foot pain and help you feel better.

What happens if you ignore foot pain?

Why you shouldn't ignore foot pain. Persistent foot pain can be a sign of an underlying condition, such as peripheral artery disease. PAD causes reduced blood flow to the legs and feet. It can lead to foot pain and wounds that heal poorly.

Can you break the middle of your foot?

A metatarsal fracture occurs when one of the long bones of the midfoot is cracked or broken. This may be due to sudden injury (an acute fracture), or due to repeated stress (stress fracture).

How do I know if I have a fractured metatarsal?

Do I have to wear a boot for a stress fracture?

The boot you have been given is for your comfort only and is not needed to aid fracture healing but will help to settle your symptoms and should be worn for walking for 6 weeks.

Can you walk with a torn ligament in your foot?

The quick answer is yes, typically you can walk with a torn ligament or tendon in the foot. Walking may be painful but you can typically still walk.

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.