How can you tell if an ankle is sprained or broken?
December 17, 2018 • • ankle care
Ever hurt your ankle after stumbling down a flight of stairs or tripping over your kids’ bicycle? If so, you’ve probably been left wondering how badly your ankle is injured. Is it an ankle sprain? A broken foot? Do you need to see a doctor? In either case, you’re likely going to have a very sore ankle. Oftentimes, the pain level is similar for a sprain or a break. So how can you tell how badly you’ve been injured? We’re here to help take some of the mystery out of your ankle injury.
What is a sprain?
A sprain occurs when a ligament is overstretched or torn. Ligaments connect two bones of a joint. The ankle joint is quite susceptible to sprains and after the ankle is sprained once, it’s more likely to be sprained again. There are varying degrees of sprains, from mild to severe. With any degree, you’re likely to experience:- •Pain,
- •Inflammation and swelling,
- •Bruising.
- •You can bear weight immediately after the injury and hours later,
- •You hae little or no swelling,
- •There is no pain when the bones around the ankle are pressed,
- •You feel stiffness in the ankle.
What is an ankle break?
Breaks are just that: a break in one or more of the bones of your ankle. Breaks need to be treated by a medical professional as soon as possible. Ankle breaks cause symptoms like:- •Immediate severe pain,
- •Swelling,
- •Tenderness when touched,
- •Possible deformity or dislocation,
- •Severe bruising.
- •You cannot bear weight on it at all following the injury.
- •You experience severe pain,
- •Your ankle feels unstable,
- •The pain does not subside within a day or two with rest, compression and elevation.
