[desirae]

I've injured my ankle, it's swollen, numb, tingly, and very painful. I didn't realize how painful it was till I got up and got some ice. I don't have insurance, so I can't go to the hospital unless it's very serious....or truly broken. What would a broken ankle look like? What would happen if I didn't get it fixed?

[PasDeDeux]

hairline fracture will only show on xray. A major break one cannot wiggle their toes. I bet it is a nasty sprain but ICE it and in a day or two if it is very bad you may need an xray
Disclaimer: I am not a doctor

Lets put it this way - if you can walk on it WITH OUT dissociating and or getting dizzy then it may be just a sprain .. course some sprains are also very painful.

another way to tell is that the foot turns a VERY blackinsh purple and the toes feel as if you have sat with your foot in the same position ling enough for it to go numb and then the pins and needles effect.

As for the break itself That depends on the type of break.. hairline fractures are basically like a crack in the bone. the two sides of the crack are still touching but on x ray you see a crack line. you cant feel any difference from outside by touching the spot.

a clean break is when both parts of the bone are separated but the edges are straight and will naturally fuse back together with out a lot of problems as long as the bones remain lined up and as close to each other as possible. when rubbing your fingers over the break you will feel the space between the bone. that is if you can get past the pain of touching the area. In order for me to rub my foot when I broke it I had to be semi dissociated (in my tunnel area) otherwise it hurt to even get close to it.

[Monty_girl]

I broke my ankle on the 4th of July, so still healing. My foot was VERY swelled. To the point I could hardly see my toes. The bruise ran along the bottom of my foot and up my leg. The bone I broke was the outside leg bone that goes into your ankle, the fibula. Without insurance what I would tell you to do is get a brace for your ankle like at Wal-Mart. I would say that the ones that lace up would be easier to put on. But put it up and ice it down for at least 48 hours. When you put it up make sure it's above your heart. So lay down and stick it on a big pile of pillows. But you need a brace or at least to wrap it. That helps with the swelling to go down. If it's just sprained the swelling should go down in a few days and you should be able to walk on it without much pain within a week. ( sprained my ankle last year and broke it this year ) If it's broke and the bones aren't displaced ( moved around ) the bone should heal OK, but will take a few months. Mine still swells and it's been close to 7 weeks now since I bone it. The only way to tell for sure if it's broke is an x-ray. I would say rest it and keep it up. Take some Ibuprofen for the swelling and pain. When I broke my ankle it knocked me down with pain. I got very sick from the pain that shot through me. I would say that if you didn't get it fixed, yeah arthritis well set in. Might break it worse if you try and do stuff with it to fast. Do you have a doctor you see? If you feel you have to go might set up a payment plan with them. When I went to the doc without insurance they had a different pay rate for ppl without insurance. Might try the health department and if they don't see ppl for regular visits, they might be able to tell you who to see. See how it is monday. If it's not better or the pain just gets to much, ya need to see a doctor.

Lisa

P.S. If ya lived close I have some crutches and an aircast

[Rhapsody]

Usually it will hurt beyond that of any old sprain and especially when any pressure is placed directly on it..... when I broke my foot (twice) I could not even mildly walk on it.... and like PD said hair line fracture only show up in x-rays, but can mimic a regular sprain.


LoVe,
Rhapsody - ((( hugs )))

[desirae]

I went to the Docs this morning. A clinic that goes based on your income. He took a look and said, no it's no broken, but very sprained. He gave me a brace, told me to put ice on it, and to lay off for awhile. I'm relieved it's not broken because I have classes coming up this week, and all of them are up stairs!.......I'll be fine now. It's painful, but with some Aleve I'll survive.

[Rhapsody]

Good to hear - - - -

[allthegirls6]

Im glad its not broken, but im shocked that in the 21st century a person cannot go to the hospital without insurance, what is the world coming to. Thank god for free health care in Scotland, we can turn up at ER and get seen without insurance and it costs nothing.

[wisewoman]

When my 18.5 year old daughter was about 6 months old I fell through the neighbor's porch. I was scared that I would break a leg or something but nothing happened, or so I thought. I walked around for three weeks with a weird feeling in my arm above the elbow like someone was sqeezing it constantly. It wasn't pain particularly, it was uncomfortable and un-nerving. Finally I went to the doc and had x-rays and it turned out I had broken the novicular bone in my wrist. The cast, nursing a six month old baby, and driving a standard were qite a challenge. Then, on top of it all I had NEVER had poison ivy or anything and I had it from head to foot. Probably the dogs carrying the oil on their fur. I ended up getting cellulitis. My daughter hit her head so many times on my cast that she stopped nursing on that side. So, not every broken bone is draumatic. Mine was a pain in the neck!

[BlueFaith]

((( Des )))
I'm glad your ankle isn't broken! Be sure to rest, though. Take care of you..

[January]

I fell off a box into a creek and broke both feet at the same time. I walked on both of them for over a week until my pdoc looked down and noticed how horrible they looked.

So, it is possible to walk and function with them broken. I've learned to never ignore things when I think they're just sprained. Many casts later, I hope my "accident" phase is over.

Des, I'm so glad it's not broken. Try to keep it elevated as much as possible but I know it's next to impossible with two babies.

Hugs,

Jan

[Bethsway]

the only real way to tell if it is broken is to get an x-ray...go to emergency room and do it...there are hospitals that have to take you even if you don't have insurance...and also...you can make payments on it if you have...otherwise you may wind up with arthiritis in the broken ankle and be hurting for the rest of your life...