What’s the difference between a sprain and a break? The most common area to be sprained is the ankle. A sprain occurs when the ligaments that support the bones of the ankle are torn or stretched. If you have sprained your ankle, you may notice a throbbing pain, swelling, or bruising. The difference between a sprain and a break is that breaks are diagnosed when the bone has actually fractured or broken. There are 28 bones in each foot. That’s a lot of areas that could fracture or break. When you twist your ankle or foot in an odd or awkward position, this is what leads to sprains or breaks.
Bones can fracture in a single location or even in multiple locations. If a bone has multiple fractures, you might have to keep weight off that area for several months to allow the area to heal. It is common to have ligament damage when there are multiple fractures present. If an area is fractured, it might look a little deformed. Other symptoms to look out for are the inability to bear weight on the area, bruising, severe pain, or swelling.
There are several treatment options for sprains and fractures. Treatments can be anywhere from a brace or a cast to surgery. It’s important to make an appointment with a podiatrist anytime you think you might have a sprain or a fracture. There are common misconceptions when it comes to treating your own sprain or break and these often lead to more severe problems. Make an appointment to see us before any area gets worse.
At Howard County Foot and Ankle, we treat everything from warts and ingrown toenails to flatfeet and heel pain. Many people come to us for diabetic foot care or simply because they have foot pain or ankle pain and don’t know the cause of it. We handle emergencies such as fractures and infections as well. Dr. Bui performs a wide variety of surgeries and specializes in reconstructive surgery of the foot and ankle. You won’t find a better foot doctor than our highly skilled and highly qualified, Dr. Christina Bui! Call or email us to ask any questions you might have. We would love to be your go-to Podiatrist!
