Can you distinguish the difference between a broken foot, sprain, and covid toe based on extent of trauma, how fast pain subsides, and X-ray?
Is It Just a Sprain?
With 26 bones, 33 joints, 107 ligaments, and 19 muscles, your foot has many stress points for fracture. Beneath you, they support your weight and propel movement. Twist it, smack it into a hard object, or drop something heavy on it and you can feel incapacitated.
Mild sprains, usually affecting the ankle, may begin to feel better in a few days to a week and heal in six weeks. A broken foot can heal in four to six weeks. Healing is delayed among patients with weakened bones from osteoporosis. When damage affects nerves, the uncomfortable sensation can last much longer.
With either a sprain or fracture you can lose the ability to bear weight on your foot. It is usually not possible to tell if a foot is broken or sprained without an X-ray unless it heals quickly. Rest, ice, and elevation are standard home care.
When to See a Doctor
- The pain is severe, even after resting and icing the affected area.
- It is hard to walk or you can’t walk at all without experiencing significant pain.
- You suspect an open fracture of the toe.
- There is bleeding.
- Toe is cold, numb, blue, gray, or there is a tingling sensation.
- Toe appears deformed or is pointing in the wrong direction.
- After 5–7 days, your foot or ankle has not improved.
Doctors don’t heal broken bones; your body does. The primary role of physicians is to minimize pain and provide proper alignment or support during natural mending.
Podiatrists or orthopedic surgeons can treat foot injuries. Either of these doctors may buddy-tape a broken toe. This is when two toes are taped together with cotton between them. It should remain dry. So the dressing needs to change after showering. Crutches can eliminate pressure on the healing foot.
Covid Toes
The 2-day bruising after breaking a foot might resemble an anomaly nicknamed “Covid Toes” or pseudo-frostbite. The internet is burgeoning with patient photos of reddish or purplish swelling on the joints of the toes. This can be either an early symptom of COVID-19 or a sign that the virus is subsiding. There may be an associated itch or feeling of tightness, or the patient may be otherwise asymptomatic. The symptoms usually resolve on their own.
ClinicalPosters sells a variety of posters and models detailing the foot anatomy and injuries. Get yours by shopping within the podiatry section.
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To support the writing of useful articles about podiatry, ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may sponsor specific articles or remit a small donation.
ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online to offset expense of the writing useful articles about podiatry. Slide extra posters into DeuPair Frames without removing from the wall.
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To support the writing of useful articles about podiatry, ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may sponsor specific articles or remit a small donation.
ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online to offset expense of the writing useful articles about podiatry. Slide extra posters into DeuPair Frames without removing from the wall.
ClinicalPosters sells human anatomy charts, scientific posters, and other products online. You may remit a small donation.
You can support the writing of useful articles about podiatry by sponsoring specific articles or remitting a small donation. Visible content is optimized for device size.
