How Do You Know If You Broke Your Foot Arch?

by | Last updated on January 24, 2024

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  1. Immediate, throbbing pain.
  2. Pain that increases with activity and decreases with rest.
  3. Swelling.
  4. Bruising.
  5. Tenderness.
  6. Deformity.
  7. Difficulty in walking or bearing weight.

What does a foot fracture feel like?


Pain that occurs and intensifies during normal

, daily activities. Swelling on the top of the foot or on the outside of the ankle. Tenderness to touch at the site of the fracture. Possible bruising.

Can you break something in your foot and still walk?

Many people continue to walk on their injured foot despite

having a fracture

. This can cause further damage to the foot or toe. The patient may have been walking around on a broken bone for weeks. Sometimes, stress fractures don’t show up on X-rays for up to 2 weeks after the injury.

Can you break your foot in the arch?

Injury to the bones of the foot can be caused by a single blow or twist to the arch or also by repetitive trauma, which can result in a

stress fracture

. A sprain of the arch occurs when the ligaments which hold the bones together are overstretched and the fibers tear.

How do I know if my foot injury is serious?

  1. there’s an open wound on your foot.
  2. pus is coming out of your foot.
  3. you can’t walk or put weight on your foot.
  4. you experience severe bleeding.
  5. there are broken bones coming through your skin.
  6. you feel lightheaded or dizzy.
  7. you think your foot could be infected.

Do you need a cast for a broken foot?

To heal, a broken bone must be immobilized so that its ends can knit back together. In most cases, this requires

a cast

. Minor foot fractures may only need a removable brace, boot or shoe with a stiff sole. A fractured toe is usually taped to a neighboring toe, with a piece of gauze between them.

What is the easiest bone to break in your foot?


The fifth metatarsal bone

is the most common metatarsal bone to be fractured in sudden (acute) injury to the foot. It may be broken at various points along its length, depending on the mechanism of injury. The other metatarsal bones can also be broken.

What happens if a fracture is left untreated?

When a bone fracture is untreated, it can

result in either a nonunion or a delayed union

. In the former case, the bone doesn’t heal at all, which means that it will remain broken. As a result, swelling, tenderness, and pain will continue to worsen over time.

Can a broken foot heal on its own?


Although minor fractures can heal on their own

, more serious fractures will require surgery. If you’ve experienced a fracture in your foot and/or ankle, you’ll need to be treated by an orthopaedic surgeon who has knowledge of the intricate workings of the bones, tendons, ligaments and muscles of the foot and ankle.

When should you go to the ER for a foot injury?

You

have severe pain and swelling

.

You are unable to walk or put weight on your foot

.

Have an open wound

(Emergency room only) Have signs of infection such as redness, warmth or tenderness (Emergency room only)

When should you go to the hospital for a foot injury?

Have

severe pain or swelling

. Have an open wound or a wound that is oozing pus. Have signs of infection, such as redness, warmth and tenderness in the affected area or you have a fever over 100 F (37.8 C)

How do I know if I sprained my foot?

  1. Pain and tenderness near the arch of the foot. This can be felt on the bottom, top, or sides of the foot.
  2. Bruising and swelling of the foot.
  3. Pain when walking or during activity.
  4. Not being able to put weight on your foot. This most often occurs with more severe injuries.

Can you wiggle your toes with a broken foot?

Compound fractures are severe and require immediate medical attention. Loss of Mobility – If

you can’t say where any of them are broken

, wiggle your fingers or toes. If doing so happens to be difficult or painful, you may have a break above that point.

Will walking on a fractured foot make it worse?

This

fracture gets worse with time if

you keep walking on it, so non-weight bearing is very important. People with this fracture are more likely to develop problems healing that require an operation.

What happens if you walk on a broken foot too soon?

Until you see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment plan, you should not walk on a suspected broken foot, because walking on a broken foot too soon

could cause more damage to the foot

.

What’s the worst bone to break?

  • 1) Femur. The femur is the longest and strongest bone in the body. …
  • 2) Tailbone. You could probably imagine that this injury is highly painful. …
  • 3) Ribs. Breaking your ribs can be terribly distressing and quite painful. …
  • 4) Clavicle.
James Park
Author
James Park
Dr. James Park is a medical doctor and health expert with a focus on disease prevention and wellness. He has written several publications on nutrition and fitness, and has been featured in various health magazines. Dr. Park's evidence-based approach to health will help you make informed decisions about your well-being.