Reasons Why My Ankle Can’t Bear Weight
Ankle breaks and sprains are highly common among people who participate in regular exercise activities or specific sports. However, ankle injuries ultimately have the potential to affect people of all activity levels and ages. If you experience an ankle sprain, break, or another type of injury, it’s important to learn how you can identify what specific type of ankle injury you are suffering from to experience the greatest possible treatment and pain relief results. When you suffer from one of these particular injuries, it’s easy to ask specific questions about your particular condition, especially if it worsens to any degree. In this article, we’ll discuss the answers to a couple of these questions, including “Can you walk on a broken ankle?”, “What if you can’t put weight on an ankle?”, and “What if your broken ankle pain is getting worse?” Knowing the answers to “Why can’t my ankle bear weight?” and other common questions can make a significant positive impact on your wellness.
Can You Walk on a Broken Ankle?
When you experience a broken ankle at some point, it’s natural to want as little inconvenience and interference as possible. However, it’s essential to know the answer to the question, “Can you walk on a broken ankle?” before you attempt this or other common physical activities with one of these particular ankle injuries. Unfortunately, there is no such thing as a minor ankle fracture. When you sustain an injury in an ankle, any damage can limit your capacity to drive, walk, run, and more. If you suffer from a hairline ankle fracture or another type of specific ankle fracture, it’s vital that you consult with an area podiatrist to properly diagnose your specific condition and help you engage in an attuned treatment plan.
A broken ankle isn’t a type of medical condition that will resolve itself on its own. If you leave these injuries untreated, it can develop into a more significant break, cause you chronic pain or cartilage damage, develop into an arthritis condition, or cause you permanent disability that limits your mobility. With a hairline fracture or another, it’s important not to put additional strain or stress on the ankle. Our team at the Foot and Ankle Specialists of Illinois can provide you with a physical examination and impactful treatment plan for your efforts so you can more quickly return to physical activities. While it can be tempting to resume daily activities, including regular exercise or other pursuits, reflective care is essential.
What if You Can’t Put Weight on an Ankle?
Another common question involves what to do if you can’t put weight on the ankle. If you have a broken ankle, it can be hard to place weight on the area. Other injuries, such as thigh, knee, leg, and hip injuries can similarly make degrees of weight-bearing difficult or even ultimately impossible in the time after you initially sustain the injury, as well as during your recovery time. For foot and ankle injuries, difficulty or inability to bear weight is an indicator of a worsening condition. Even if you suffer a mild ankle sprain, it can be uncomfortable or difficult to bear weight on the area.
If you’re unable to bear weight, and it’s preventing you from taking physical steps, consulting with your podiatrist can help. Considering getting an X-ray may also be advisable. Your podiatrist can provide clarity on this and other recovery details for your ankle injury after a thorough evaluation. If you are experiencing a flare-up of a long-standing ankle injury or a new pain, and you take attuned care of your injury to avoid injury irritation or exacerbation, your condition can begin to settle in around six weeks, depending on the severity. Ankle injuries can cause a range of symptoms. However, some of the top to observe for a worsening condition are swelling, stiffness, and increased pain.
What if Your Broken Ankle Pain Is Getting Worse?
In addition to taking care not to walk on or otherwise put weight on your broken or otherwise injured ankle as much as possible during your recovery, it’s also important to continually observe your specific condition for signs it may be worsening. Other symptoms to observe to have greater clarity on if your broken ankle pain is getting worse include increased throbbing, bruising, tenderness, deformity, or difficulty bearing weight or walking than you were previously experiencing. If you perceive a deformity or the swelling or overall pain isn’t improving with self-care, or if the swelling or overall pain begins to worsen, it’s time for a podiatrist. A podiatrist can make a significant difference in clarifying details of your condition and helping you achieve a successful recovery. In addition, they can also make a significant difference in decreasing the severity of your symptoms and length of recovery.
Impactful Treatment for Ankle Injuries
If you’re wondering, “Why can’t my ankle bear weight?” or these other questions related to breaks and more, the Foot and Ankle Specialists of Illinois are here for you. An injured ankle may be unable to bear weight owing to the nature of the injury. With an expert evaluation and an attuned treatment plan, you can resume a high quality of life.
