What causes a broken foot?
Your feet have to support your entire body weight. Plus, with each step you take, the pressure on the small bones in your feet increases drastically — even more so if you jump or run. You can break any of the bones in your feet due to:
- Overuse
- Slips and falls
- Car accidents
- Landing incorrectly
- Stubbing your toe
- Dropping a heavy object on your foot
While anyone of any age can have a broken foot, your chances increase if your bones are brittle due to osteoporosis.
What are the symptoms of a broken foot?
Bone fractures can lead to a wide variety of pain and signs and symptoms that can range from mild to severe. You might even mistake a broken foot for a severe sprain or strain, since these injuries can cause agonizing pain, too. A foot fracture can lead to:
- Bruising
- Swelling
- Tenderness
- Inflammation
- Bumps or deformities
- Difficulty bearing weight on the affected foot
It’s important to schedule an evaluation at Desert Foot and Ankle as soon as your injury occurs. If your broken bone isn’t reset correctly, it may not properly heal, which can lead to ongoing pain and future issues.
How is a broken foot treated?
The expert podiatry team at Desert Foot and Ankle use in-office digital X-ray technology to confirm a fracture, its severity, and to rule out other related injuries. If you have a broken foot, you might need:
- Casting, bracing or splinting
- Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs)
- Physical therapy after your bone heals
For more complex foot fractures, your podiatrist at Desert Foot and Ankle might recommend surgery. Using minimally invasive techniques, your highly skilled podiatrist can manipulate broken bones to realign them, place screws or plates to support proper bone position, or remove damaged bone fragments. Your broken foot surgery is tailored to you.
With a team of board-certified podiatrists available at Desert Foot and Ankle, you can feel confident that you can return to your regular activities after your broken foot heals.
Schedule your broken foot evaluation at Desert Foot and Ankle today. Click on the online scheduler or call either office directly.
