My foot is in total pain, how do you know if its broken or fractured?

Question

I kicked a full size football and my foot went into total pain. I don't know how, for the life of god, how do I know if it's broken or fractured? I drink milk so I know my bones aren't brittle.

Answer 1

Can you move all the parts of your foot? If there's a broken or fractured bone, movement is usually extremely difficult or impossible without severe pain.  Can you weight bear on it? If something is broken or fractured, you probably won't be able to weight bear on it without excruciating pain. Is it swelling? If you can't move all parts of your foot, or if you can't bear weight on it without extreme pain, or if it's swelling up, then get it x-rayed as soon as possible (if something is broken or fractured and you wait, it will swell horribly and then the swelling can make it hard to cast or treat).

If you can move all of it, and you can weight bear on it, and it isn't swelling already, then treat it like this until tomorrow: Take Advil if you are able to. Also, use RICE method, that is for Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. As to Rest, I know, you still have to use it a little to do things like get to the bathroom, but try to stay off of it as much as possible. When icing it, just put ice packs on it for a few minutes then let it have a few minutes with no ice (you don't want to freeze your foot or anything, lol). Compression means wrap it in an ace bandage, gauze, anything to give it some support. Don't wrap tight enough to reduce blood flow, just enough to support the muscles a little. Elevate it by keeping it propped up like on a coffee table or pillows.  Then when tomorrow morning comes, if it's improved (it may not be all better that quick, but if it's improved), keep up the RICE treatment through tomorrow. If it's the same or worse tomorrow, or any future day, get it X-rayed.

Drinking milk doesn't mean you can't break bones.

Source: A mother who has seen her share of her own teenager's sports injuries.

Answer 2

Only an X-Ray can answer your question.

Answer 3

When I broke my foot and I attempted to walk the pain would diminish as I used it, however if I stopped the same pain return when I attempted to use it over again.  If the pain only diminishes with movement odds are it is at least fractured if the pain makes you want to pass out odds are its broken, if someone you know applies pressure to the spot it will also tell you.  Obviously X-rays and or sonograms will be definitive.

Answer 4

You can ask the question and get a better professional opinion at http://talk.foot-care.org rather here.

They have a free forum whereby people like you need some professional opinions can use it for no fee.

Try it. And good luck.

Answer 5

Go to an urgent care clinic.

Answer 6

When I've broken my foot, I have been able to walk on it somewhat, and even move most my toes.  So those things aren't always clues.   However, it's the pain that drives me to get it checked out.  If you're in pain go to a doctor or an urgent care place.   X-rays are a good starting place, although when I broke my fifth metatarsal on my left foot for the second time, it didn't show up on the ER xray (and I heard later from other people that ER was notorious for missing things like that).  The orthopedist they referred me to redid his own x-rays, which were much clearer, and there it was, right through the entire bone.    

Answer 7

Get it checked by an emergency clinic, sometimes they're open 24/7. Otherwise just go to a hospital or something. I 'broke' my tibia when i was about 9 or 10.. it healed up, then i started getting pain, and they found it wasn't just like something that could heal, it had a fracture, so then i had to have surgery, and go through it all over again. not fun. Can you walk on it? Is it swollen? A little more info would be better..  

Answer 8

LOL thats wat i want to know..