Have you ever tried to walk with a broken or sprained ankle? Healthcare professionals recommend taking complete rest with a broken ankle. Walking with a broken ankle slows down the recovery process. So, here we will discuss whether you can walk with a broken ankle or not.
Moovekart has some fantastic collections of foot and care products ranging from crutches and wheelchairs to ankle support gear. Explore our website to find the best mobility aid products for surgery and physiotherapy needs.
Further, continue reading to learn more about whether you can bear weight on a broken ankle or not and how to treat it at home.
What is a Broken Ankle and What Are Its Symptoms?
A broken ankle, also known as a fractured ankle, occurs when one or more bones of the feet get injured. In this condition, you can't walk or move your foot.
Further, it becomes challenging to walk even with support.
American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons reveal that the potential signs of a fractured ankle include:
- Bruising
- Severe pain
- Stiffness
- Difficulty in walking
- Tenderness
How to Know If You Have a Fractured Ankle?
Having a fractured ankle or sprained ankle is a different condition and differs in diagnosis. Both have different signs and symptoms.
If you think that you have a fractured ankle than a sprained ankle, look for the signs discussed above.
Further, you will need to get checked by a professional. Get the X-ray and other recommended tests done to confirm broken ankle symptoms vs. sprain.
How Long Fractured Ankle Takes to Heal?
Now, how long does it take for a fractured ankle to heal completely? The healing time of a fractured foot depends on several factors, such as the severity of the fracture, the age of the patient, overall health, and the treatment options.
However, usually, it takes almost six to eight weeks to heal completely.
How to Treat a Fractured Ankle?
Treating the fractured ankle is necessary to get back to the daily routine. In cases of severity, it needs surgery. However, in some simple cases, the treatment is possible with rehabilitation therapy.
Here, we share a few of the fractured ankle treatment options that can be helpful for you to make an informed decision:
1: Surgery
Surgery is performed in severe fractures when the bones are misaligned. In addition, surgical intervention is necessary to deal with the fractures at various points.
Surgical treatment allows the professionals to use plates, screws, and other fixation devices to build the misaligned bones and stabilize them.
2: Immobilization
In some cases, immobilization performs better than all other available treatment options. For stable fractures, aid devices such as walking boots, splints, and a cast help in proper healing.
3: Physical therapy
Once the surgery is done and you want to heal the fracture fully, make sure to get physical therapy. It not only stores strength but also increases the flexibility of the ankle joint.
4: Mobility aid devices
Apart from physical therapy, the best way to get on walking is by using mobility devices that assist in walking with a fractured ankle. An elastic ankle support offers stability while ensuring durable compression for adequate support.
Additionally, you can look for other devices as well such as ankle support, high and low boots, ankle braces, and more.
3 Most Effective Tips for Fractured Ankle:
You can speed up the healing process at home by using lifestyle modifications, physical therapy, and aid devices. Further, here we share some practical tips and tricks to heal a fractured ankle quickly:
- Icing or applying the cold compress on the injury reduces the pain and swelling right away.
- Doing some easy movements and exercises for joints at home is quite effective.
- A mild and slow walk using the cast sprint or high walking boots helps in its healing.
Take away:
To sum up, walking on a broken ankle after four weeks is helpful when you have to go to work. However, the right choice of treatment option, use of mobility devices, and rehabilitation therapy faster the healing process.
FAQs
How can I tell if my ankle is broken or sprained?
If your ankle is fully numb and you feel a tingling sensation with tenderness around, it shows most likely a broken ankle. Meanwhile, pain in the foot and ankle shows as sprained.
Can you move your ankle if it's fractured?
A fractured ankle doesn't allow you to move it with ease. It causes immediate swelling and takes time to heal. However, a sprained ankle needs some medication and food exercises to recover.
Can you leave a broken ankle untreated?
Leaving a broken ankle is not possible as it results in serious issues leading to long-lasting damage to the hip and leg bones. So, a better choice is to treat as soon as possible.