How long will my ankle be swollen after a fracture?

You can expect swelling, discomfort or hypersensitivity for up to one year after fracture. This is normal and does not mean there is anything to worry about.

How long does swelling last after a fracture?

After you suffer an injury, swelling usually worsens over the first two to four days. It can then last for as long as three months as the body attempts to heal itself. If the swelling lasts longer than this, your physical therapist or doctor may need to take a closer look to determine the cause of the delayed healing.

How long does swelling last after fibula fracture?

The swelling is often worse at the end of the day and elevating it will help. Pain and swelling can be ongoing for 3-6 months.

Is swelling normal after fracture?

You get a healthy swelling around the break as a blood clot starts to form. Your immune system sends in cells that act like trash collectors -- they get rid of small bone pieces and kill any germs. Also, you grow blood vessels into the area to help the healing process. This step may last a week or two.

How long does swelling last after tibia fracture?

Most of the swellings subsided with time, but a small percentage of them persisted for a duration of 2 years or more after injury. The time for disappearance of the swelling in 50 per cent of the patients was 18.6 weeks.

Pain

Why is my foot still swollen after a fracture?

Persistent swelling after a fracture is common. It is called complex regional pain syndrome which is caused due to imbalance in blood circulation to the affected limb after prolonged immobilisation of the limb due to fracture. Continue physiotherapy. Keep the affected leg up most of the time.

How long should swelling last?

Phase 2: Inflammation (swelling)

Inflammation starts within the first hour or two after injury, peaks within 1-3 days but lasts at least a couple of weeks. This phase is when you will experience swelling and some heat around your injury. This is entirely normal and a natural part of your body's tissue healing process.

Why is my ankle still swollen after 4 weeks?

It's normal for a sprained ankle to swell, sometimes for four to six weeks, or longer. But swelling that persists for more than three months may be a sign of trouble.

Why is my healed broken ankle still swollen?

Swelling is a normal component of the healing process. However, excessive swelling can be harmful or indicative of overuse/irritation to the injured area. Typically, with swelling we recommend frequent icing. Ice for 15-20 minutes at a time multiple times a day (2-3 minimum).

How long before ankle swelling goes down?

The pain and swelling of an ankle sprain most often gets better within 48 hours. After that, you can begin to put weight back on your injured foot. Put only as much weight on your foot as is comfortable at first.

Is swelling good for healing?

Swelling isn't good for us all the time. It initially helps by recruiting healing factors that accelerate how quickly cells migrate to the site of injury - but swelling is also bad because it destructs and distends the tissues, and distorts the anatomy.

How long does it take to walk properly after a broken ankle?

If you don't need surgery, you might be able to walk on your own within six to eight weeks. If your fracture did require surgery, you may get a walking cast after two weeks; four to six weeks later, you may be able to apply some weight and be moved to a cast with a walker or crutches.

Why is my ankle still swollen after a year?

"An ankle sprain that lingers beyond 3 months is often an injury to a bone, tendon or ligament that is unlikely to heal without intervention," he says. "And the longer an ankle injury persists without proper treatment, the greater the likelihood that permanent disability will result."

How do I know my fracture is healing?

Most doctors check x-rays to see if bones are healing. The calcified blood clot around the fractured ends of the bones will show up on x-rays and is called “callus”. Callus is just new bone that has formed and grown across the fracture site. It's another sign that the broken bone is healed.

How do you reduce swelling from a broken ankle?

Why is my ankle stiff after fracture?

There are two reasons why stiffness seems to last a long time after casting a joint for a fracture. First there's the joint itself. After injury, the repair processes can be damaged and slow to return to normal. At the same time, animal studies have shown us that muscles shorten up when joints are immobilized.

Why is my ankle swollen months after injury?

Swelling in the foot and ankle due to a fracture and significant sprain is common, even several months later. Increases in activity and switching into a soft brace can lead to an increase in swelling and is normal.

Does a walking boot help with swelling?

Check your foot and toes often.

If your toes are red, swollen, numb, or tingly, loosen your straps or deflate the air chamber. Over time, the swelling from the injury or surgery will decrease.

What are the long term effects of a broken ankle?

Long term effects of ankle fractures have been reported to include physical, psychological, and social consequences [9]. It has been reported that physical impairments following ankle fractures may include pain, functional impairment and the development of post-trauma arthritis [16].

Will my ankle ever heal?

With the right treatment plan such as rest, ice, elevation, and compression, mild ankle sprains usually can heal on their own within two to twelve weeks. Of course, it all depends on the severity of your ankle injury and the level of pain and instability you are experiencing.

Can a sprained ankle be swollen for months?

One important thing to keep in mind is that ankle swelling can last 2-3 months after the injury, even if the pain has completely gone away. Compression socks can alleviate the swelling, but time is the best medicine. More severe ankle sprains may require additional treatment.

Can swelling be permanent?

Depending on the cause of your diagnosis, edema could be temporary or permanent. Swelling normally lasts for a few days. In the first two days, you will experience the most swelling, and it should start to reduce by the third day.

What helps swelling go down?

Applying an ice-pack or cold compress to an injury is the fastest way to deal with immediate swelling. It helps reduce swelling by restricting blood flow to the area and slowing down cellular metabolism. Cold therapy systems and ice baths are other methods you can use to apply cold to the area.

How long does soft tissue damage in ankle take to heal?

You have sustained a soft tissue injury (sprain) to your ankle. This can take approximately 6 weeks to heal, although pain and swelling can be ongoing for 3 to 6 months. You may walk on the foot as comfort allows although you may find it easier to walk with crutches in the early stages.