The feet contain 26 bones, and many of these are prone to injury. You could break a toe by hitting something, your heel by jumping from a certain height and landing on your feet, or you could also break some other bone during a foot sprain or twist. Although children suffer from lower extremity fractures more often than adults, their feet are more flexible and can heal more quickly.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Recognizing the Symptoms of a Foot Fracture
Step 1. Pay attention if you feel too much pain when walking
The main symptom of a broken foot is unbearable pain when you try to put weight on it or when you walk.
If you have a broken toe, you may still be able to walk and you shouldn't be in too much pain, but if the injury is in the foot itself, the pain is really bad when you walk. Boots often hide the pain caused by a fracture, as they offer some degree of support; the best way to diagnose a possible injury is to remove them
Step 2. Remove shoes and socks
In this way, you can understand if the foot is fractured, as you can compare it with the other.
If you are unable to remove your shoes and socks, even with the help of an assistant, you must go to the nearest emergency room or call 112; in this case, it is likely that the foot is indeed fractured and immediate care is needed. Remove your footwear and socks before the swelling can further damage your foot
Step 3. Compare the feet to each other and look for bruises, swelling and lesions
Check to see if your affected foot and / or toes are swollen; you can compare the painful one with the healthy one and see if it looks very red and inflamed or if it has a dark purple or green bruise. You may also notice an open wound.
Step 4. Check if it's broken or just sprained
You can try to recognize the difference. Sprains involve a tear or stretching of a ligament, the fibrous tissue that connects two bones to each other; the fracture is instead a real partial or complete break of a bone.
See if any bones protrude from the skin, if any area of the foot appears deformed or has taken on an unusual shape. If there is any bone sticking out or the foot is unnaturally shaped, it is likely broken
Step 5. Go to the nearest emergency room
If the injured foot appears to be broken, you should go to the first hospital; if you are alone and no one can assist you, call 112, as with a broken foot you do not have to drive to reach it. Any fracture can cause shock and would be too dangerous for you to drive.
If there is someone who can accompany you to the emergency room, you should try to stabilize your foot in order to keep it still and safe while you are in the car, so as not to risk moving it. Use a pillow and slide it under your foot; secure it with tape or tie it to your foot to keep it straight. If possible, keep your foot elevated during the trip; preferably sit in the back seat to keep it elevated on your way to the hospital
Part 2 of 3: Undergo Medical Treatment for the Foot
Step 1. Let the doctor examine the foot
During the examination he will probably press on different areas of the extremity to see if there are any fractures; if you experience pain during the procedure, your foot is likely to be broken.
In this case, you may experience pain when the doctor presses at the base of the little finger and at the level of the midfoot. you may not even be able to take more than four steps without experiencing significant suffering
Step 2. Undergo the X-ray
If a fracture is suspected, your doctor will prescribe this diagnostic test.
However, even through X-rays it is sometimes difficult to determine if the foot is really broken, as edema may hide thinner bones. With the x-ray it is possible to establish which bone is broken and how to proceed with the treatment
Step 3. Ask your doctor about the different options for treating your foot
These depend on which bone actually broke.
If your heel has broken, surgery may be needed, as well as if the talus, the bone that connects the foot to the leg, has broken. However, if you have only fractured your little finger or some other finger, no procedure is required in the operating room
Part 3 of 3: Taking Care of Your Foot at Home
Step 1. Avoid putting weight on your foot if possible
Once the fractured extremity has been treated by your doctor, you need to make sure you don't put any strain on it. Use crutches to move and make sure you support your body weight with your arms, hands, shoulders, and crutches themselves rather than your foot.
If a broken finger is broken, you can bandage the injured finger with adjacent healthy fingers to prevent it from moving. avoid transferring your body weight to it and wait 6-8 weeks for it to heal completely
Step 2. Lift the affected foot and apply ice to reduce swelling
Put it on a pillow when you are in bed or on a high chair when you are sitting, so that it remains at a higher level than the rest of the body; this measure helps to reduce edema.
Ice helps reduce swelling, especially if you only applied a bandage and a cast was not used. Keep the cold compress on the site for 10 minutes at a time and reapply for 10-12 hours after injury
Step 3. Take pain relievers as directed by your doctor
They may prescribe medications or recommend other over-the-counter medications to take to control your suffering. Make sure you follow the directions on the package or those of your doctor regarding dosage.
Step 4. Make a doctor's appointment for a follow-up visit
Most fractures heal in about 6-8 weeks; you should see your doctor again once you are able to walk and put weight on your foot. They may advise you to use stiff, flat-soled footwear to help your foot heal properly.
