OUCH! You dropped something heavy, twisted awkwardly, or took a hard fall, and now your foot is in serious pain. You wonder: Is it fractured?

We can help you figure that out! Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland put together a checklist to help you assess the immediate signs and respond appropriately, too.

The Symptom Checklist

Does your injured foot show these signs?

• The Sound: Did you hear or feel a distinct “pop” or “crack” at the exact moment of injury?
• Pain Level: Is the pain severe, sharp, and immediate, rather than a dull ache that built up?
• Weight-Bearing: Can you put any weight on it at all? Does even trying cause intense, sharp pain?
• Appearance (Deformity): Take a careful look (compare it to your uninjured foot). Does any part of your foot or a toe look crooked, bent, misshapen, or obviously out of place?
• Swelling/Bruising: Is there rapid and significant swelling developing? Did bruising appear almost immediately or very quickly after the injury?
• Pinpoint Tenderness: If you gently press along the bones of your foot, is there one specific spot on the bone that causes intense, sharp pain?

If you checked several of these boxes, especially the inability to bear weight or visible deformity, you need to treat it as a potential fracture!

DO’s & DON’Ts

What you do after an injury matters quite a bit.

DO…

• STOP MOVING: Immediately cease whatever activity caused the injury. Don’t push through the pain.
• REST: Keep all weight off the injured foot.
• ICE: Apply an ice pack for 15-20 minutes as soon as possible. Repeat every few hours for the first day or two.
• COMPRESS: Wrap the foot snugly (not tightly enough to cut off circulation) with an elastic bandage to control swelling.
• ELEVATE: Prop your foot up on pillows so it’s higher than your heart.

DON’T…

• “Walk it Off”: Trying to bear weight on a potential fracture can worsen the injury and displace bone fragments.
• Try to “Fix” a Deformity: Never attempt to straighten a visibly deformed foot or toe yourself!
• Apply Heat: Heat increases inflammation and swelling in an acute injury. Use ice only for the first 48-72 hours.
• Delay Getting Help: Waiting days to get diagnosed can lead to complications and improper healing.

Why Guessing is Risky & What’s Next

While this checklist helps identify potential fractures, only diagnostic imaging, like an X-ray, can confirm if a bone is broken! And we’ve got one right in our office. Call Foot & Ankle Associates of Cleveland in Solon, Ohio, at (440) 903-1041 or contact us online to schedule a consultation. Dr. Craig B. Frey, Dr. Megan L. Oltmann, Dr. Jim Swienconek, Dr. Rachel Robinson, and Dr. Courtney Yoder treat patients in Portage, Geauga, Cuyahoga, and Summit Counties, proudly serving Solon, Aurora, Bedford, Chagrin Falls, Hudson, Macedonia, and Twinsburg, too.