How do I know if I broken my ankle/foot?

Just fly over to the UK and you can have some x-rays for free on our NHS! :o)

To be honest, the only way you're going to know for certain if its broken is if you have the x-rays. If you can walk on it and have a normal range of movement, then, by not having an x-ray, you could be ok. If however there's a break and it isn't correctly treated, this could have implications for the surrounding vasculature (blood flow around the area) and, if the break goes through a joint (i.e. an intra-articular fracture) then this could have arthritic complications in later life.

In conclusion, if you truly think that you have broken your ankle, pay for the x-rays. Or fly to the UK and walk into the first A&E eqiupped hospital you can find.

Good luck with the recovery :o)

You need medical training and an x-ray machine to completely diagnose a broken ankle.

It could be a sprain, could be a break.

Here is how as a first-aider I differentiate between a break and a sprain, both have very common symptoms and are often misdiagnosed by untrained people:

How did they obtain the injury? .......

Did it make a noise? If yes, a cracking noise normally indicates a break, a tearing or a popping normally indicates a sprain.

What does the joint look like? Crooked and lumpy as well as swollen normally indicates a break, just swollen normally indicates a sprain.

Is there any numbness in the area? Numbness normally indicates a break, feeling normally indicates a sprain.

How bad is the pain? Severe pain normally indicates a break, less extreme pain, normally described as discomfort normally indicates a sprain.

Can they move the joint? No normally indicates a break, yes but painfully normally indicates a sprain.

Can they apply weight to the joint? No normally indicates a break, yes but painfully normally indicates a sprain.

Whilst the rule is generally if you can walk on it, it's not broken, it's not always true, sometimes the break is so small and compressed that people will walk around on them (myself included) just thinking it's a sprained ankle.

As a first-aider, I've had people refuse treatment for a broken ankle thinking they've just got a sprain until I've sat them down and pointed out all the reasons I think it's a break, even then they will fight with me and the paramedics over it. Many people have walked around for days on broken ankles thinking it was just a sprain and they would survive.

BUT everyone breaks or sprains their ankle differently and the only true way to get a correct diagnosis is to see a doctor and get an X-Ray.

The best way to be certain is to see a doctor. Waiting too long can result in more pain and discomfort. For example, if the bone is broken and you wait too long, the doctor may have to re-break it to set it correctly.

DON'T limp, I know it hurts to walk properly, but limping can cause a more painful secondary injury, which also makes treating the primary injury more awkward, walk as normally as possible, I know it's not completely possible and I know it hurts but in the long run it's better for your ankle.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DH_rOC5gx0 will explain the R.I.C.E. method that firefighters use, it's one of the simplest ways to do it and works well until you can get yourself to a doctor.

Again we can't help completely because we can't see you or your ankle, we can't move it and feel the problem, you need to see a doctor.

Go to your doctor.

You aren't wasting their time if it's just a sprain, misdiagnosis is common in ankle injuries and causes many people to limp around on broken ankles for days. YOU NEED TO SEE A DOCTOR.

(This is my response to every question I answer about sprained/broken ankles, it is medically correct so my thumbs-down fairy knows right now, I recycle answers if the question is identical)

Alternate hot and cold compresses to reduce the swelling. If you feel a throbbing pain lay down and keep you foot elevated above your heart. You could have a sprain which can take a long time to heal, even longer than a break sometimes. If the pain and swelling isn't better in a day or two get it checked out by a doctor.

A year ago my wife broke her ankle in two places. She walked [hobbled] for a day before I forced her to go in and have it checked. After that she admitted it hurt so bad that she almost passed out a few times. Have it x-rayed even if you think it not broke. The bad side of it is it will bother you for a long, long time if it is broke. Don't mess around.

Well to be honest just because it is swollen doesn't mean it is broke. Now it can be a heir line fracture with a class 3 sprain. In 2 weeks with a splint it can heal. But normally if it is broke you can tell and normally u can put weight on it. So I am guessing a heir line fracture. But I am not a doctor so I will say if it still hurts like a ***** after a week or week in a half go to the doc.

The only way to know for sure is to get an X-ray done. You likely twisted or sprained it, or even fractured something. I'd personally get it checked out, but that's up to you.

Because you can walk on it, it probably is not broken. However you may have a severe sprain and/or muscle pull! Best to see your MD as soon as possible!

i'd think that if it were broken you would feel a piece of bone sticking out