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Sprained Ankle or Broken?

LarDoucheLar
LarDoucheLar Posts: 171 Member
edited January 25 in Fitness and Exercise
Anyone know how to tell if you've sprained or done something worse to an ankle? My son's pram front wheel rammed into my ankle and just about had me keel over outside after standing straight back up i tried to walk and burst into to tears with the sheer pain of it and i could barely lean on it. It swelled up by the time i got home and has gone purple down below and around my ankle going onto my foot it's not too bad though. When i flex my foot up and down it hurts and feels like stiff. The actual ankle bone itself hurts to touch.. i can walk on it but it's painful when i lean on the front/ball of my foot the heel is fine. and trying to rotate my ankle is impossible and feels like i can barely move it.. Any idea?

I put ice on it yesterday.

Replies

  • Ralphone
    Ralphone Posts: 1,865 Member
    go get a x ray to be sure
  • iWillGetCrowSomeday
    iWillGetCrowSomeday Posts: 311 Member
    By going to the doctor :wink:
  • phoo513
    phoo513 Posts: 231 Member
    Please, go and see a Dr. Even if it is "just a sprain", it is serious. Take care, be well.
  • lambchristie
    lambchristie Posts: 552 Member
    Go to the doctor for the x-ray before you do serious damage to your ankle.

    Typically a break will be followed with bruising.
    A sprain would be swollen and tender; and yes difficult to walk.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    go get a x ray to be sure
    This.
  • Pixi_Rex
    Pixi_Rex Posts: 1,676 Member
    Um... Go to a doctor and get it looked at?

    I wouldnt be trusting the interent or the random people on diagnosing something like that.
  • icimani
    icimani Posts: 1,454 Member
    "They" used to say that if it was broken you wouldn't be able to walk on it. But after a motorcycle accident I was up and walking around with very little pain and x-rays showed a break that required a pin. The broken ankle neevr burised, but I've had many sprained ankles that got swollen and bruised. You just can never tell - get an x-ray just to be on the safe side. And keep putting ice on it until a Dr tells you differently.
  • LarDoucheLar
    LarDoucheLar Posts: 171 Member
    Um... Go to a doctor and get it looked at?

    I wouldnt be trusting the interent or the random people on diagnosing something like that.

    I'm not asking anyone to diagnose it, i was just asking if there was any way to tell the difference.
  • LarDoucheLar
    LarDoucheLar Posts: 171 Member
    Thankyou everyone i'll be sure to go see my doctor and keep putting ice on it. :)
  • darwinwoodka
    darwinwoodka Posts: 322 Member
    You could certainly still be walking on a mild fracture. X rays are important. But yeah, RICE til then.
  • Catlady87
    Catlady87 Posts: 302 Member
    Whether it's a sprain or a break I would definitely go to the Drs. The fast swelling, bruising and extreme pain means you've done some damage to your body and needs to be checked out professionally. Even if it is "only" a sprain it's a bad one, and by not getting proper treatment and looking after it you could do severe damage in the future.
    Better to be safe than sorry!
    Let us know how you get on xx
  • bellesouth18
    bellesouth18 Posts: 1,071 Member
    Could be something other than a break or a sprain as well. Get an xray.
  • jsiricos
    jsiricos Posts: 340 Member
    Before and after the Dr (I walked on a broken ankle too, then when I had a bad sprain, I thought it was broken) RICE, Rest, Ice Compression (Ace bandage) Elevation (above your heart)
  • Pixi_Rex
    Pixi_Rex Posts: 1,676 Member
    Um... Go to a doctor and get it looked at?

    I wouldnt be trusting the interent or the random people on diagnosing something like that.

    I'm not asking anyone to diagnose it, i was just asking if there was any way to tell the difference.

    Again, the internet and random people are not going to be able to tell you. Its always best to seek medical attention if for things like that.

    You can always google the symptoms or go to webMD but any credible source will tell you "Seek medical attention" I wouldn't have even wasted time waiting for responses on a forum. But thats just me.
  • LarDoucheLar
    LarDoucheLar Posts: 171 Member
    Um... Go to a doctor and get it looked at?

    I wouldnt be trusting the interent or the random people on diagnosing something like that.

    I'm not asking anyone to diagnose it, i was just asking if there was any way to tell the difference.

    Again, the internet and random people are not going to be able to tell you. Its always best to seek medical attention if for things like that.

    You can always google the symptoms or go to webMD but any credible source will tell you "Seek medical attention" I wouldn't have even wasted time waiting for responses on a forum. But thats just me.
    I just thought it's something someone would know about on here as a lot of people do damage while exercising and there was bound to be someone on here who has damaged their ankle.
    and posting on here did get me some great advice for example 'RICE' i've never heard of that up until now.

    Each to their own though :) thanks for your advice.
  • rml_16
    rml_16 Posts: 16,414 Member
    Um... Go to a doctor and get it looked at?

    I wouldnt be trusting the interent or the random people on diagnosing something like that.

    I'm not asking anyone to diagnose it, i was just asking if there was any way to tell the difference.
    Yes, with an X-ray. My daughter had a very serious sprain a couple years ago and even after looking at it, the doc couldn't tell if it was broken without the X-ray.
  • wilsoje74
    wilsoje74 Posts: 1,720 Member
    It is important to go in right away, if its broken you need to take care of it before it heals incorrectly.
  • mlb929
    mlb929 Posts: 1,974 Member
    Go to the doctor for the x-ray before you do serious damage to your ankle.

    Typically a break will be followed with bruising.
    A sprain would be swollen and tender; and yes difficult to walk.

    This information is not accurate. I've torn ligaments in my ankles many many times, they swell, turn horrible colors of bruising, etc with nothing ever broken. I've sprained ankles with no bruising. If your son crashed something into you, it's not likely a sprain, those are typically from rolling your ankle or pulling muscles. If it was crashed into your bones part of your ankle or your foot, it could be a bone chip, fracture, or simply external bruising. If it were me, l would wrap it, ice it, elevate and give it a few days to see how it feels. I'm not one to rush to the dr. I worked for a podiatrist for several years and feet and ankles can get banged up without a lot of damage, but there are also a lot of bones in the foot. You will know in a few days if you really need medical attention.
  • kbmnurse
    kbmnurse Posts: 2,484 Member
    Go to a Doc in the box.
  • emacb123
    emacb123 Posts: 254 Member
    Holy run-on sentences!

    Best to go to a doctor to be sure.

    Even on this forum people cannot agree ... because they are not doctors.
  • Mercedespony
    Mercedespony Posts: 162 Member
    I've done both, numerous times - of course, always to the same ankle.

    I think if it was a sprain/torn muscle, you'd see and feel the swelling/bruise right up the muscle in your calf.

    Sounds to me like you've had a fracture. X-ray would be my next step.
This discussion has been closed.

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