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Foot and Ankle Injury

Is this your symptom?

Injuries to the foot or ankle
Injuries to a bone, muscle, joint, or ligament
Excluded: muscle pain caused by too much exercise or work (overuse). Covered in Foot and Ankle Pain care guide.

Types of Foot and Ankle Injuries

Fractures. Fractures are broken bones. They can be caused by a direct blow, twisting injuries or falls/jumps from a height and landing on the feet. If a bone is broken, it will be hard to put full weight on the foot or ankle. There will be pain and swelling. A broken ankle is one of the most common broken bones in adults. It can be hard to tell an ankle break from a bad sprain. Falls from a height can also cause breaks in the long bones in the foot.
Dislocations. This happens when a bone is pulled out of its joint socket. Dislocation of the ankle often happens with fractures of the joint. It may need surgical repair.
Sprains. Sprains are stretches and tears of ligaments. These often occur in sports injuries when ligaments in the foot are stretched and pull away from the bone they are attached to or even snap. The Achilles tendon, a large tendon at the back of the ankle and heel, can be sprained or ruptured (snapped).
Strains. Strains are stretches and tears of muscles. These can range from minor to severe tears, causing a lot of pain, swelling and bruising.
Muscle Overuse. Muscle pain can occur without an injury. There is no fall or direct blow. Muscle overuse is from hard work or sports.
Muscle Bruise from a direct blow.
Bone Bruise from a direct blow.
Skin Injury. Examples are a cut, scrape or bruise. Puncture injuries happen often in the feet, such as stepping on a nail or broken glass when not wearing shoes.

Pain Scale

Mild: you feel some pain, but it does not keep you from most normal activities. Work, chores and sleep are not changed.
Moderate: the pain keeps you from doing some normal activities. It may wake you up from sleep.
Severe: the pain is very bad. It keeps you from doing all normal activities.

When to Call for Foot and Ankle Injury

When to Call for Foot and Ankle Injury
Call 911 Now Foot or ankle has been crushed or has many broken bones Major bleeding that can't be stopped Bone or object is sticking through the skin You think you have a life-threatening emergency Call Doctor or Seek Care Now Severe swelling Severe pain Sudden increase in pain and/or swelling a few days after the injury Wound looks infected and you have diabetes Skin is cut and No past tetanus shots You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent	Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours Very large bruise or swelling Can't move the ankle, foot or toes normally Increasing redness, pain or swelling around a wound Pain not starting to get better after 3 days You have a wound that is dirty or hard to clean and it is MORE than 5 years since your last tetanus shot You have a clean minor wound and have NOT had a tetanus shot within the past 10 years You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent Contact Doctor During Office Hours Pain lasts more than 2 weeks Wound is not getting better after 7 days Injury limits work or sports You have other questions or concerns	Self Care at Home Sore muscle or bruise from direct blow Minor ankle or foot injury

Call 911 Now

Foot or ankle has been crushed or has many broken bones
Major bleeding that can't be stopped
Bone or object is sticking through the skin
You think you have a life-threatening emergency

Call Doctor or Seek Care Now

Severe swelling
Severe pain
Sudden increase in pain and/or swelling a few days after the injury
Wound looks infected and you have diabetes
Skin is cut and No past tetanus shots
You think you need to be seen, and the problem is urgent

Contact Doctor Within 24 Hours

Very large bruise or swelling
Can't move the ankle, foot or toes normally
Increasing redness, pain or swelling around a wound
Pain not starting to get better after 3 days
You have a wound that is dirty or hard to clean and it is MORE than 5 years since your last tetanus shot
You have a clean minor wound and have NOT had a tetanus shot within the past 10 years
You think you need to be seen, but the problem is not urgent

Contact Doctor During Office Hours

Pain lasts more than 2 weeks
Wound is not getting better after 7 days
Injury limits work or sports
You have other questions or concerns

Self Care at Home

Sore muscle or bruise from direct blow
Minor ankle or foot injury

Care Advice

What You Should Know About Minor Foot and Ankle Injuries:
- During activities, muscles and bones get bruised.
- You can also sprain your ligaments while walking over uneven ground. This can happen when your shoes don’t support the foot and ankle properly, such as high heels, open-toed shoes or sandals and flip flops.
- Muscles get stretched.
- Here is some care advice that should help.
Pain Medicine:
- To help with the pain, take an acetaminophen product (such as Tylenol).
- Another choice is an ibuprofen product (such as Advil). Ibuprofen works well for this type of pain.
- Use as needed, but do not take more than the maximum recommended dose as listed on the package.
- If you are not sure what to take, ask a pharmacist.
Small Cut or Scrape Treatment:
- Use direct pressure to stop any bleeding. Do this for 10 minutes or until bleeding stops.
- Wash the wound with soap and water for 5 minutes. Try to rinse the cut under running water if you can, or in the shower.
- Gently scrub out any dirt with a washcloth.
- Use an antibiotic ointment (such as Polysporin). No prescription is needed. Then, cover it with a bandage. Change daily.
Cold Pack for Pain:
- For pain or swelling, use a cold pack. You can also use ice wrapped in a wet cloth.
- Put it on the painful area for 20 minutes.
- Repeat 4 times on the first day, then as needed.
- Reason: helps the pain and helps stop any bleeding.
- Caution: avoid frostbite by wrapping the ice or cold pack. Don’t put the ice or cold pack directly on the skin.
Remove Tight Clothing:
- Remove any jewelry (ankle bracelets, toe rings) or tight clothing. They could become too tight if swelling occurs.
Use Heat After 48 Hours:
- If pain lasts more than 2 days, put heat on the area.
- Use a heat pack, heating pad or warm wet washcloth.
- Do this for 10 minutes, then as needed.
- Reason: increase blood flow and improve healing.
- Caution: avoid burns by wrapping the heat pack. Don’t put it directly on the skin.
Rest the Foot or Ankle:
- Rest the injured foot or ankle as much as possible for 48 hours. Keep the toes and other joints moving gently, if you can.
- Keep the leg raised on a pillow above the level of your heart to help limit swelling.
What to Expect:
- Pain and swelling most often peak on day 2 or 3.
- Swelling should be gone by 7 days.
- Pain may take 2 weeks to fully go away.
- You may find it hard to wear your usual shoes due to pain and swelling. Avoid footwear that is too tight or does not provide good support.
Call Your Doctor If:
- Pain becomes severe
- Pain is not better after 3 days
- Sudden increase in pain and/or swelling a few days after the injury
- Pain lasts more than 2 weeks
- You think you need to be seen
- Your symptoms get worse

And remember, contact your doctor if you develop any of the 'Call Your Doctor' symptoms.

Disclaimer: this health information is for educational purposes only. You, the reader, assume full responsibility for how you choose to use it.

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