Foot Fractures

One out of ten broken bones are reported to be in the feet. When an object crushes, bends, or stretches the bone beyond acceptable ranges, the bone will break.

Pain, swelling, bruising, and redness are all typical symptoms of broken foot. Severe pain—to the point of not being able to walk—usually depends on the location of the break in the foot. Toes are on the lower end of the pain scale, but heels are high, as are a few other particular bones. As the severity of the broken foot increases, symptoms like blueness, numbness, misshaping of the foot, cuts, or deformities will become apparent. These symptoms indicate the need to see a medical professional with access to an x-ray facility.

Prior to seeing a specialist, precautions should be taken to reduce pain and swelling. Elevate and stabilize the foot, and refrain from moving it. Immobilization of the foot is the next priority, so creating a homemade splint is acceptable. Keep in mind that while creating a splint, any increase in pain or cutting off blood circulation means that the splint should be removed immediately. Use ice to decrease swelling and relieve pain symptoms.

The patient should note that the treatment for a break can vary. It will depend on the severity of the fracture and the cause of the break. Crutches, splints, or casts are common treatments while surgery has been known to be used in more severe cases to repair the break in the bones.

Is this what I have?

This is just a one of the thousands of possible issues our feet can have. Unfortunately many of the symptoms are similar for many pathologies, pain being one the most common symptom of all. Therefore it is imperative to see a professional as soon as possible for an accurate diagnosis and the proper treatment.