Ankle injuries of any kind can be extremely painful, and often come with a lot of swelling and/or bruising. So what are the signs that the ankle might be fractured and not just a sprain? A fracture is any chip, crack or break in the ankle bone. An ankle sprain will lack the break or chip to the bone and will be characterized by injury to the tendons or ligaments.
The following symptoms may indicate an ankle fracture that should be examined by a medical professional with a referral for possible treatment:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Deformities of the bones around the ankle
- Paleness of skin around the foot
- Numbness
- Inability to move your toes
A traditional ankle fracture is the result of one specific injury, but if the ankle injury is a result of prolonged or repeated force , it may be a stress fracture. Both types are fractures, but the main difference is how the injury occurs.
Oftentimes, there are misconceptions about fractures that hinder people from seeking treatment right away. These misconceptions include:
- 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.
- A serious misconception is thinking that if you can walk on your ankle, it must not be broken. Many can walk on a fractured ankle early on until the pain becomes too unbearable.
- Many think that if the ankle is not characterized by obsessive swelling that there is no possibility that a fracture has occurred. This is especially true if the fracture is a stress fracture. Oftentimes, swelling for a stress fracture will be no larger than the size of a silver dollar.
Most fractures are the result of rolling the ankle in or out, twisting the ankle side to side, flexing or overextending the joint, or applying severe force to the ankle bone by landing on it with excessive force.
Contact Casteel Foot & Ankle
If you have suffered an ankle injury, be sure to look for a board-certified podiatry specialist who is also familiar and experienced with foot surgery. At Casteel Foot and Ankle Center in Rowlett, Dr. Catherine Casteel and her skilled team have the experience and knowledge to evaluate and treat your ankle injury.
Dr. Casteel utilizes the latest in state-of-the-art technology and is quickly growing to become one of the top foot and ankle surgeons in the area. To schedule an appointment for evaluation, call 972-412-4449 in Rowlett or Royse City or send us a message online.