Telling whether you may have an ankle sprain or a fracture can be harder than you might think, especially without X-rays. A moderate to severe sprain and a fracture have many common symptoms. They’re both sudden, painful injuries. You may or may not hear a popping sound when either occurs. Both cause swelling, bruising, tenderness, and weakness. You may or may not be able to walk around with either injury.
The problem is most likely a sprain if following RICE—rest, ice, compress, and elevate—for a few hours or even days helps alleviate the intensity of the symptoms. Putting weight on the foot after a period of rest, or pressing on high-risk areas like the lower tips, tops, and sides of the inner and outer ankle bones, should hurt less with time and home care. If there is persistent pain in these high-risk areas, even after a period of home care, it’s more likely a fracture. The Carolina Podiatry Group team can take an X-ray to confirm this. Let our staff help care for your injury. Use the web contact form or call to reach us: (803) 285-1411 for the Lancaster office or (803) 548-FEET for Indian Land.