How can you tell a torn ligament from a bruised ankle?

Question

I went to the doctor and got an xray and nothing showed up broken so he told me it was a torn ligament. I can walk on it but only straight it hurts to move it at angles. How did he opt that this was not just a bruise...he felt around to see the tender spots but does that really help him determine it?

Answer 1

You'd have a great deal more pain and swelling......but go to a doctor and have them check it out, no harm done.

Answer 2

You might show signs of it being torn due to blood spots visible under your skin... that happened to me.

Answer 3

by the doctor, not yahoo.

STOP POSTING MEDICAL QUESTIONS!

if one doctor doesn't help, get a 2nd opinion.

Answer 4

Ask A dr

Answer 5

I personally don't know, but he's a doctor, I'm pretty d**n sure he knows a lot better than you

Answer 6

If you had torn a ligament, you wouldn't be able to move your ankle at all. It would also be the size of a large softball.

Depending on how you injured it, it could be a slight sprain and/or bruise. If you can rotate it and move it at any angle, you didn't break anything and it's probably not a fully torn ligament.