How long does a broken ankle injury take to heal?
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It takes at least 6 weeks for the broken bones to heal. It may take longer for the involved ligaments and tendons to heal. As mentioned above, your doctor will most likely monitor the bone healing with repeated x-rays. This is typically done more often during the first 6 weeks if surgery is not chosen.
Can you still walk on a broken ankle?
Broken ankle — can you still walk? Typically, a minor ankle fracture won’t prevent you from walking. You might even be able to walk right after the injury. If you have a serious break, you’ll need to avoid walking for a few months.
Can you treat a broken ankle at home?
Ankle Fracture Treatment Self-Care at Home Stay off the injured ankle so you do not injure it further. Keep the ankle elevated to help decrease swelling and pain. Apply cold packs to the injured area to decrease swelling and pain. Do not apply ice directly.
How painful is a broken ankle?
If you fractured your ankle, you will likely experience immediate, sharp pain and possible swelling. Additional symptoms include: Pain that spreads throughout the foot and up your leg, toward your knee. Intensifying pain if you try to bear weight on your foot.
Can you walk on a broken ankle after 4 weeks?
If you don’t need surgery, you might be able to walk on your own within six to eight weeks. If your fracture did require surgery, you may get a walking cast after two weeks; four to six weeks later, you may be able to apply some weight and be moved to a cast with a walker or crutches.
Is a broken ankle serious?
Ankle Fractures (Broken Ankle) Broken ankles are painful and temporarily disabling. If a fractured ankle is not properly treated, it can lead to significant, long-term complications and debility.
Can you wiggle your toes if your ankle is broken?
Most believe that if they can wiggle their toes or move the ankle around that an ankle fracture has not occurred. The reason this is not true is because the nerves and muscles that allow the movement of the ankle have not been affected by the fracture.
What’s the worst ankle break?
A trimalleolar ankle fracture is when your ankle breaks in three separate places. Only 7% of all ankle breaks are trimalleolar ankle fractures. They are rare, and they are among the worst kinds of ankle fractures.
How long can you not weight with a broken ankle?
Your provider will tell you when it is OK to place any weight on your injured ankle. Most of the time, this will be at least 6 to 10 weeks. Putting weight on your ankle too soon may mean the bones do not heal properly.
How do I know if my broken ankle is healing?
When you touch the fractured area, the pain will lessen as the fracture gets more solid. So, one way to tell if the broken bone is healed is for the doctor to examine you – if the bone doesn’t hurt when he touches it, and it’s been about six weeks since you broke it, the bone is most likely healed.
How do you sleep with a broken ankle?
Try sleeping on your back first while propped up on a few pillows. If that doesn’t work, slowly adjust yourself to a side position if possible. Sleep in the middle of the bed to prevent any chance of falling off in the middle of the night.
What broken ankle feels like?
If you have a broken ankle, you may experience some of the following signs and symptoms: Immediate, throbbing pain. Swelling. Bruising.
What therapy will you need for a broken ankle?
– If the ankle is broken, the doctor will likely put a cast on it. – Your doctor may prescribe painkillers for the days after your injury. In some cases, they may recommend taking over-the-counter painkillers instead. – Even if you go to your primary care physician or the emergency room, you may be referred to a foot specialist for treatment.
How long will it take for a broken ankle heal?
On average, a broken ankle takes about 6 weeks for the broken ankles to heal and become the way they were before the injury. However, this is just a rough estimate. The actual duration would be based on the time taken by injured ligaments and bones to mend and heal again.
What is the healing process for a broken ankle?
Abstract. Septic nonunion of the pilon region with ankle joint infection is challenging for orthopedic surgeons to treat and is associated with a high risk of limb loss.
What is the recovery time for a broken ankle?
Recovery time for a broken ankle is between six and 10 weeks. Whether you have surgery or not, you’ll probably need to wear a cast, splint or walking boot for about the first six weeks. Once your doctor has given you the go-ahead, you can start putting some pressure on your foot and slowly build up to walking again over a few weeks.