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Broken Foot
WHAT YOU SHOULD
KNOW
A break in one or more bones of the foot, including the
injury known as a subtalar (sub-TAY-lar) fracture, can be very
painful. Healing time ranges from several weeks to a couple of
months. An x-ray will show when the fracture has healed and you
can resume normal activity.
Causes
This type of fracture is usually
caused by a fall or an object that lands on the
foot.
Signs/Symptoms
You are likely to suffer pain,
swelling, bruising and weakness of the foot. It may tingle or
feel numb. If the bones are broken badly, they may look
misshapen. You may be unable to walk.
Care
Your doctor will probably take an
x-ray of the foot. You may need to wear a cast or splint on the
foot, depending on how bad the break is, and will have to use
crutches for a while. If you scraped or tore your skin and
haven't had a tetanus shot in 5 to 10 years, you may need a
booster.
WHAT YOU SHOULD DO
If you are not given a cast or splint:
-
Use crutches and avoid putting any weight on the
injured foot until your doctor gives the okay. Then slowly
increase the amount of time that you use the foot, stopping
as soon as it begins to feel painful.
-
After the first 1 to 2 days, you may apply heat to
the injury to help relieve pain. Use a warm heating pad,
whirlpool bath, or warm, moist towels for 15 to 20 minutes
every hour for 48 hours.
If you are given a cast or splint:
-
Use crutches until your doctor says they are no longer
needed.
-
To reduce swelling, keep your foot on pillows while
lying down and on a chair or footstool when sitting. Keep
the foot above the level of your heart, if
possible.
-
Apply ice to the injury for 15 to 20 minutes each hour
for the first 1 to 2 days. Put the ice in a plastic bag and
place a thin towel between the bag of ice and your
cast.
-
If you are given a plaster or fiberglass
cast:
-
Do not try to scratch the skin under the cast by
pushing a sharp or pointed object between the cast and
your leg.
-
Check the skin around the cast every day. You may
put lotion on any red or sore areas.
-
If you have a fiberglass cast and it gets a little
wet, it can be dried with a hair
dryer.
-
If you are given a plaster splint:
-
Wear the splint until your doctor says you may
remove it.
-
You may loosen the ace wrap around the splint if
your toes become numb or start
tingling.
-
Do not put pressure or lean on any part of your cast
or splint. It may break.
-
Keep the cast or splint dry. It can be covered with a
plastic bag during bathing. Do not lower it into
water.
You may use acetaminophen or
ibuprofen to relieve pain and swelling. Take all medicines as
directed by your doctor. If you feel the medicine is not
helping, call your doctor, but do not stop taking it on your
own. If you have been given a tetanus shot, your arm may
be red, swollen, and painful at the site of the injection. This
is a normal reaction to the medicine in the shot.
Call Your Doctor
If...
-
The cast gets damaged or
breaks.
-
The pain gets worse or you
have more swelling than before the cast was put
on.
-
The skin or toenails below
the injury turn blue or grey, or feel cold or
numb.
-
The cast develops a bad
odor.
-
There are new stains coming
from under the cast.
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