Medication
May 01, 2019 · The goal is to reduce swelling in the ankle and decrease pain. You’ll want to apply ice to the area when the injury first occurs to try and decrease the pain. You can also take some Ibuprofen to help with the pain. 3. Purchase a Shower Chair You’ll want to shower, or you can try and take a bath with your ankle in a cast.
Procedures
Oct 15, 2016 · Physical therapy can also be useful to reduce swelling and inflammation, and get full range of mobility back to the ankle. 2. Surgical Treatment If your ankle isn’t stable or the fracture isn’t in place, it is most likely to be treated with surgery. During this procedure, bone fragments need to be repositioned to their normal alignment.
Therapy
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.
Self-care
Nutrition
When to start physio after a broken ankle?
How do you heal a broken ankle?
How long does it take for a fractured ankle to heal?
Do I need physical therapy after an ankle fracture?
How long does it take to walk after a broken ankle?
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.Feb 4, 2022
How long do you have to do physical therapy for a broken ankle?
Your physical therapist will help you sit up on the bedside, and then stand up. You will not be allowed to put any weight on the involved ankle for about 6 to 10 weeks. Your physical therapist will teach you how to walk with the use of an assistive device, such as crutches or a walker.Feb 4, 2015
What is the best rehab for a broken ankle?
Some simple exercises to do to improve your ankle ROM may include moving your ankle by pointing your toes up and down as far as possible, and moving your foot in and out, motions called inversion and eversion. Hold each position for a few seconds, and perform 10 to 15 repetitions.Sep 6, 2021
Do you need rehab for a broken ankle?
Even if your ankle fracture has healed, you still need physical therapy to ensure your ankle and lower leg are in pristine condition. When a fracture occurs, the area is generally immobilized, so the body can heal the fracture.Oct 4, 2019
Will my ankle ever be the same after a break?
If it's a low-to-medium grade ligament injury or a stable bone fracture, then it's highly likely that the ankle will be similar to before. With more severe ligaments and unstable fractures, there is always some difference in flexibility and appearance.Apr 6, 2020
What are the long term effects of a broken ankle?
Long term effects of ankle fractures have been reported to include physical, psychological, and social consequences [9]. It has been reported that physical impairments following ankle fractures may include pain, functional impairment and the development of post-trauma arthritis [16].Nov 21, 2012
When should I start physio after ankle fracture?
The next step of physiotherapy happens once the ankle has been set and is somewhat healed, normally six to ten weeks after the injury. Then the patient will begin to attend appointments with a physiotherapist to begin the rehabilitation process.Sep 22, 2016
How do you start weight bearing after a broken ankle?
Try to walk as normally as possible fully weight bearing through the leg as this will help with your recovery. You may not be able to put much weight through your leg at first but try to aim to do this by two weeks after your operation.
What is the best way to treat a broken ankle?
A CT scan may help your doctor determine the best treatment for your broken ankle. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). MRI uses radio waves and a strong magnetic field to create very detailed images of the ligaments that help hold your ankle together. This imaging helps to show ligaments and bones and can identify fractures not seen on X-rays.
Where to get treatment for broken ankle?
You will likely initially seek treatment for a broken ankle in an emergency room or urgent care clinic. If the pieces of broken bone aren't lined up properly for healing, you may be referred to a doctor specializing in orthopedic surgery.
How to reduce swelling in ankle?
Apply ice for 15 to 20 minutes at a time, every three to four hours to bring down the swelling. Keep your ankle elevated. Don't put any weight on your injured ankle. Lightly wrap the injury in a soft bandage that provides slight compression. By Mayo Clinic Staff.
What to do if you have a displaced fracture?
Reduction . If you have a displaced fracture, meaning the two ends of the fracture are not aligned well, your doctor may need to manipulate the pieces back into their proper positions. This process is called reduction. Depending on the amount of pain and swelling you have, you may need a muscle relaxant, a sedative or a local anesthetic to numb the area before this procedure.
What to do after bone healing?
After your bone has healed, you'll probably need to loosen up stiff muscles and ligaments in your ankles and feet. A physical therapist can teach you exercises to improve your flexibility, balance and strength.
What to do if you break a bone?
A broken bone must be immobilized so that it can heal. In most cases, this requires a special boot or a cast. Surgery. In some cases, an orthopedic surgeon may need to use pins, plates or screws to maintain proper position of your bones during healing.
What is the best way to diagnose fractures?
Bone scan. A bone scan can help your doctor diagnose fractures that don't show up on X-rays. A technician will inject a small amount of radioactive material into a vein. The radioactive material is attracted to your bones, especially the parts of your bones that have been damaged.
How long does it take for a broken ankle to heal?
A broken or fractured ankle is painful and will reduce your mobility. When surgery is not recommended, it will take at least 6 weeks for the bone to heal. This recovery time will vary greatly, depending on the extent of the break.
How to recover from ankle surgery?
A few tips that will help you recover faster are: 1. Use a Knee Scooter.
Why do you need a knee scooter?
Stable and easier to get around in, a knee scooter eliminates the risk that you’ll slip and potentially fall. When you use crutches, there are times when you’ll instinctively put your foot down. If you bear weight on your ankle, it may slow down your recovery time. Click here to see knee scooters we recommend. 2.
How to stop ankle pain from swelling?
You’ll want to keep your foot elevated as much as possible. The goal is to reduce swelling in the ankle and decrease pain. You’ll want to apply ice to the area when the injury first occurs to try and decrease the pain. You can also take some Ibuprofen to help with the pain. 3.
What is Allie's job?
Allie has worked in care facilities for the last 15 years providing mobility and health care to seniors of all skill levels. She is passionate about senior advocacy and is and loves to spend her free time in the outdoors.
How to heal a broken bone?
Start Taking Supplements. If you’re lacking in the calcium department, you’ll have a harder time healing. Calcium is a supplement that’s recommended for anyone with a broken bone so long as the person doesn’t consume excess amounts of the mineral. Fish oils have also been shown to speed up the healing process.
Is vitamin D good for calcium?
Finally, a good source of Vitamin D is recommended. You see, calcium requires Vitamin D to metabolize properly. Supplement your Vitamin D or take this time as the perfect excuse to sit out in the sun (briefly) and soak up Vitamin D naturally. 5. Listen to the Advice of Your Doctor.
What is a broken ankle?
Broken ankles are commonly referred to as ankle fractures, which means one of more of the bones making up the ankle joint are broken. Fractured ankles range from simple breaks in a single bone, which might not prevent you from being able to walk, to multiple fractures, which can force the ankle out of place and might require you to prevent placing ...
How do you know if you broke your ankle?
The only true way to know if you have broken your ankle is to get an X-ray. One of the ankle bones fractured (Fibula fracture)
What are the bones that make up the ankle joint?
Three different bones compose the ankle joint: the shin bone (tibia), the smaller bone within the lower leg (fibula) and the small bone nestled between the heel bone and the fibula and the tibia (talus). Doctors will often classify the fracture based upon the area where the break occurred.
How long does it take for a fractured leg to heal?
Some doctors will advise you to place weight onto the leg immediately, while others will advise that you wait for six weeks. It all depends upon the severity of your injury.
What causes ankle fractures?
First of all, an ankle fracture is sometimes caused when the ankle joint itself is twisted too far out of its normal range of motion. This can not only happen when engaging in physical activity such as sports but can also happen if you are walking up a flight of steps and just barely miss one of them. In other words, even the smallest of wrong movements can result in an ankle fracture. The most common scenarios in which an ankle fracture occur are listed in the section below:
What happens if you break your ankle?
The more broken bones you have, the more unstable the ankle will become. Ligaments might be damaged as well. Ligaments work to hold the joints and ankle bones in their proper position. People of all ages can be affected by a broken ankle.
Can you have surgery on a broken ankle?
1. Nonsurgical Treatment. If your ankle is stable, you might not need surgery on it. Ankles are classified as stable when the broken bone is barely out of place or not out of place at all. Stress x-rays might be done to determine if the ankle is stable. Treatment required might be based upon where the broken bone lies.
How to recover from a broken ankle?
Broken Ankle Recovery Tips. During your recovery, remember to rest and elevate your ankle whenever possible. Gently move your toes and bend your knee regularly to prevent your muscles from getting stiff. As tempting as it is, try not to put anything down your cast to scratch an itch.
How long does it take for a broken ankle to heal?
It can take a few more weeks before you’re walking around normally again. It generally takes 6-10 weeks for a broken ankle to heal. Conditions like diabetes and nicotine use can slow the healing time significantly, potentially even doubling the amount of time it takes to heal from a broken ankle.
What is a broken ankle?
A broken ankle, also known as an ankle fracture, is one of the most common lower leg injuries. It can be very painful and needs to be seen by a medical professional as soon as possible because it may need treatment to heal properly. Walking on a broken ankle can make the injury worse so if in doubt, get it checked out.
What is the most common fracture of the ankle?
Any one of these bones can break. However, the most common ankle fracture is known as lateral malleolus, which occurs in the fibula, just above the ankle joint. This accounts for around 55% of all ankle fractures (2). Any one of these bones can break.
How to tell if your ankle is broken?
The most common symptom of a broken ankle is pain, which is usually immediate and intense. The pain may radiate up and down your leg and even down into your foot. Other symptoms of an ankle fracture or break are: Swelling at the ankle joint. Bruising, redness, or discoloration of any part of your lower leg.
Which bone is the thickest?
The tibia and fibula are the two long bones that run from your knee down to your ankle. The tibia, also known as the shinbone, is the weight-bearing bone and is the thicker and larger of the two. The fibula, or calf-bone, runs parallel and helps to stabilize the tibia.
Can you use crutches after ankle surgery?
Traditional crutches are easy to get hold of and relatively inexpensive. Many people use crutches after ankle surgery or while recovering from an ankle fracture. However, they are tiring to use and can cause pain in other parts of your body, particularly your arms and hands.
