I really hurt my foot skating, I can move everything, but did I break it?

Question

So I was just skating w/ my frends and I rolled over my foot. Its the outside of my foot that hurts, on the side and bottom, I can move everything but it hurts.... Doctors opinion?????

Answer 1

Hi Jacob S.  I am not a Doctor but I have injured my ankles more times than I can count.  My injuries have mostly been the "roll over" kind that you experienced.  I have injured my ankle so bad I would have sworn it was broken, but every time (and I'm talking around 8-9 times), it always turned out to be a severe sprain, though I do have a hairline fracture in my right ankle, something doctors can't do anything about.  Little known fact: sprains can often be far worse than a broken ankle.  When it's broken, doctors can "set it" then cast you, and in time the bones will heal back together.  But with a bad sprain, every muscle and ligament and tendon gets ripped.  I could always move my ankle a little bit but it hurt like h**l.  One bad sprain I spent 2 months in a cast, then another 2 months on crutches.  Is there alot of discoloration in your injured ankle?  ie. Is your ankle black/blue with some shades of green?  Probably a sprain.  The only way to know for sure is to get an x-ray.  You might want to consider a cast if it's really bad- at least crutches for 2 weeks.  Just walking will not cure those damaged ligaments etc... EMS or Electrical Muscle Stimulation will help (seek physiotherapy or, in my case I bought my own machine online $500).  You may be able to "walk" but if your sprain is bad enough, there will be no "lift" in that part of your ankle and the rest of your leg (plus your other leg) will compensate for this.  Please BELIEVE ME, you do not want that, especially over the long course.  My body has been completely messed up since the last severe sprain I didn't take care of.  It's pulled my spine out of alignment, my hips, damaged my knees, and that leg still carries no "real weight" it's more like a wooden leg I balance on and when I try to "use" my ankle it hurts terribly, feels like I sprained it the day before (and this injury occurred 5 years ago).  So Jacob S, TAKE CARE OF YOUR FOOT.  Crutches are inconvenient but will be well worth it.  Then, actively work those damaged muscles etc.. rock back then lift using damaged ankle and the other for support.  Then graduate to doing these lifts on the edge of stairs.  Have a friend put their hands on top of your foot, and work the muscles by pulling your damaged ankle towards you; then side to side.  And keep it up.  If you don't always a somebody to help you with this, you can buy elastic bands of different strengths: tie it so something and work just as if youhad a friend helping: this will ensure all torn ligaments/tendons etc get rehabbed.  If you go to the gym, instead of using the leg press to press your legs, just push with your ankles: front, then point inwards, then outwards.  Rehabilitation is alot of work but please listen to someone who knows how badly you can get messed up later on if you don't attend to the problem.  One last thing: R.I.C.E = Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation.  Do this as often as you can as soon as you can (Ice-10-20min 3-5times/day; Elevate as often as possible).  Don't start the rehab exercises for about 2 weeks, just use RICE and crutches.

That's my advice Jacob based on experience.  Apart from seeing a doctor, I pray you use it.

Best Wishes,

Mustang

Answer 2

I am not a doctor, but you should put some ice on it for swelling and if it still hurts really bad, I would see a doctor. You could take Advil for the pain and it helps the swelling too. I am not sure how old you are but tell your parents if you are still living at home, and if you are an adult, go see a doc if it still bothers you in a couple of days.

It sounds like you bruised it to me.