Many joint and bone injuries commonly affect the ankle. The ankle is among the most significant joints in the body. It helps support your body when you stand, walk, or bear weight. When you incur an ankle injury, such as a fracture, the quality of your everyday life is diminished.
However, with the proper management, you can regain your life in no time. Keeping your injured foot elevated, applying a pack of ice, restricting movement, and taking pain medications can significantly improve symptoms of a broken ankle. A doctor may suggest a cast or splint, depending on the type of fracture you incur. Surgery may also be essential based on the severity of the fracture.
6 Tips for Dealing With a Broken Ankle
There are several actions you can implement to manage your broken ankle. Some measures used to deal with a broken ankle include:
Rest
Restricting the motion of the affected leg is the most crucial aspect of healing. Movement puts a lot of strain on the ankle, worsening symptoms of the broken ankle. Rest will reduce symptoms of the injured ankle, such as swelling and pain.
Medications
Pain relievers and anti-inflammatory drugs are also essential in dealing with a broken ankle. Depending on the degree of the fracture, the pain can be unbearable, forcing you to run for over-the-counter medications or prescription pain medications. Anti-inflammatory drugs help reduce swelling of the broken ankle and redness around the joint.
Physiotherapy
Rest may be essential, but too much rest is bad for the leg. Your muscles decrease in size when the affected leg becomes dormant for too long. This is why you should do strengthening and stretching exercises every once in a while. You can turn to your doctor for types of physical exercises to adopt that will be gentle on your ankle.
Diet Modifications
A proper diet largely determines how quickly your broken ankle will heal. A balanced diet with essential nutrients and vitamins like vitamin C will help repair tissues in the injured ankle.
Cold Compresses
Cold compression on the broken ankle will help soothe the area. The compression can be made using a towel and a bag of ice. Place it on the broken ankle for several minutes more than once every day. You will observe a significant improvement in the level of pain and swelling after a few days of compression.
Elevating the Leg
Occasionally raise the affected leg to a level above the heart. This improves blood flow to the broken ankle, which improves nutrient and oxygen supply to the injured area. Oxygen and nutrients are two elements essential in the growth of new tissues.
With the appropriate management, the broken ankle will completely heal after six to 12 weeks. If your broken ankle requires surgery, it can heal in 12 weeks. The healing span can be as short as six weeks without surgery. As you continue with treatment, you will frequently visit the doctor, who will conduct X-rays of the ankle to check on the healing progress.
Causes and Symptoms of a Broken Ankle
A broken ankle has a plethora of causes that everyone should be aware of; playing contact sports, heavy impact on the ankle, falls or trips, car crashes, and missteps are some of the common causes. These factors generally cause a broken ankle by straining the ankle or applying force strong enough to break one or more bones within the joint.
Depending on the events following the broken ankle, such as a car crash, you can file a personal injury lawsuit. You can click here to learn more about the process of collecting damages.
Symptoms of a broken ankle include swelling, redness, pain, tenderness, dislocation, limited movement, and bleeding if the bone protrudes the skin. You will also experience challenges in bearing weights.