Tripping over something or stepping wrong off a curb can lead to various injuries, including a foot fracture. From the toes to the heel, any of the 26 bones in your foot can be broken.
Any foot fracture causes discomfort and, in more severe cases, difficulty walking or performing everyday activities. The better you care for yourself during recovery, the quicker you can get back to the things you love.
At the Spine and Orthopedic Center of New Mexico, Dr. Omar Osmani and Dr. David Ball provide orthopedic and podiatry services at the Roswell, New Mexico office.
If you suspect a foot fracture or injury, visit our convenient urgent care facility for same-day X-rays and treatments.
A foot fracture typically happens suddenly, except in the case of stress fractures, which occur after overuse of certain parts of the foot. However, any broken bone usually exhibits symptoms, especially pain with walking or activities.
Persistent pain in the foot or trouble walking could indicate a serious issue like a fracture. Other symptoms that point to a broken bone include:
When you suspect a foot fracture, the first step is to follow the RICE protocol: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Next, go to our urgent care facility for an X-ray. It’s the only definitive way to determine which bones are broken and how severely.
Dr. Ball carefully evaluates the injured foot and determines the next steps in treatment. How he treats the fracture depends on various factors, including how severe it is and which bones are involved.
A broken foot takes time to heal, so we limit your activities for about six weeks. During recovery, you may be in a splint, cast, or boot to stabilize the bones.
We often recommend limited weight bearing on the foot to keep pressure off the healing bones. Putting too much pressure on the broken bones delays healing and may cause more severe injuries.
Crutches may be necessary to help you get around without putting weight on the healing fracture. We often have you continue to rest the foot, ice it on and off to reduce swelling and pain, and elevate it while you're sitting to decrease inflammation.
You may require pain medications for the first few days, but anti-inflammatories also help decrease pain and inflammation. Severe fractures may be painful for a week or so until the body begins healing.
Physical therapy is critical to recovery after a foot fracture, especially after it heals. A physical therapist targets the specific muscles, ligaments, and tendons that need strengthening to help the foot regain function after the injury.
You may need to participate in physical therapy for several weeks or months to regain full function in the affected foot. The length of time you need therapy depends on how active you are and the severity of the foot fracture.
Healing time for a foot fracture varies, depending on the break’s location, the injury’s severity, and how well the recovery process goes. In many cases, a small bone in the foot can heal within four to six weeks.
However, bumps in the road or a more severe fracture can delay healing for up to three months. Dr. Ball gives you an estimated healing time after he sees the X-rays and examines the fracture.
You can speed up recovery by following all of our instructions. For example, staying off the fracture for the first few days to weeks allows the bone to heal properly. Eating a healthy diet, avoiding smoking and alcohol, and participating in physical therapy also help.
Once your foot heals, you should be able to return to your normal activities. However, take precautions to prevent further injury to the area. For example, switch out your athletic shoes frequently and rest your feet between activities and training.
Call our Roswell, New Mexico office today to schedule an appointment for a foot fracture, or stop into our urgent care center. You may also request an appointment with Dr. Osmani on our website.
