Broken Bone in Foot Causes Symptoms Diagnosis and Treatments

Broken Bone in Foot Overview

Suffering a broken bone can be a painful experience, especially when the break sustained is in your foot. If you had an accident where you sustained a broken bone in foot injury and are not happy with an NHS diagnosis and/or treatment, you could qualify for free private medical care in your area.

You spend a lot of time on your feet and if any of the twenty six bones that make up your feet are negatively impacted, it can disrupt your life and prevent you from carrying out normal every day tasks and chores. A broken bone in a foot can be an extremely painful experience that keeps you off your feet during the healing process. If you suffered this type of injury and would like to find out more about the common causes of a broken bone in foot, how the injury is typically diagnosed as well as the treatment options available and whether you would be entitled to receive free medical care in your area, please click on the Select a Section below.

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What is the Definition of a Broken Bone in Foot?

Broken bone in foot

Broken bone in foot

A broken bone in a foot, as previously mentioned can be a painful injury that keeps you off your feet during the healing process. There are twenty six bones that make up your foot and thirty three joints. On top of this there are many muscles, ligaments and tendons all of which can be negatively impacted should you suffer a Broken bone in a foot. However, a sprained foot can be just as painful which is why it is important to have this type of foot injury diagnosed early so a treatment plan can be set in place sooner rather than later.

There are various types of fractures you can suffer in the bones of your foot and this includes the following:

  • A fracture to the top of your foot should a heavy object be dropped on it
  • A stress fracture in one or more of the bones found in your foot could be the result of repetitive stress and movements. These are small cracks that many dancers, runners and gymnasts develop over time
  • A fracture to your heel can occur though a fall

If you sustained a broken bone in a foot an are not happy with your NHS diagnosis and treatment, you may be entitled to receive free medical care in your area. To find out more, please get in touch with one of our health experts today.

What Are the Most Common Causes of a Broken Bone in Foot?

You can sustain a broken bone in a foot in a multitude of ways whether you were involved in a road traffic accident or some other incident that left you with a serious foot injury. With this said, the most common causes of this type of injury are detailed below:

  • Falling from a height onto a hard surface feet first
  • A heavy object or item falls on your foot
  • Your foot is trodden on by a heavy animal with an example being when a horse stands on your foot
  • Repetitive stress and/or movements – ballet dancers suffer stress fractures in the bones of their feet due to the repetitive movements they do

If you were involved in an incident or accident that left you with a serious foot injury and you find it hard to place any weight on an affected foot, you should seek medical attention as soon as possible to prevent further damage being done to any injured bones found in your foot.

Can I Still Walk with a Broken Bone in Foot Injury?

Although painful, you may still be able to walk even if your sustained a broken bone in a foot because it depends on which of the bones have been negatively impacted. If you broken the top of your foot or suffered a fractured heel, however, walking would be too painful. Any sort of foot injury should be investigated without delay to prevent further damage being done which could make treating your injury a lot more challenging.

What are the Symptoms of a Broken Bone in Foot?

All fractures can be extremely painful and this is especially true when the break occurs in a weight bearing foot. The most common symptoms associated with broken bones in a foot include the following:

  • Pain whether slight or more severe
  • Walking and weight bearing on an affected foot may be too painful
  • You may walk with a limp
  • Your injured foot would swell up
  • There may be a lot of bruising
  • Your foot would be very tender

When it comes to toddlers and small children who sustain this type of foot injury, the symptoms may not be so obvious with many youngsters ignoring the pain they are experiencing even when they are examined by a doctor. With this said, a toddler or young child may not want to bear any weight on an injured foot.

How is a Broken Bone in Foot Diagnosed?

A doctor would need to know how you sustained your injury whether you were involved in a road traffic accident, had a heavy object fall onto your foot or whether you sustained a suspected broken bone in a foot because of some other incident. The doctor would also ask whether you suffer from any health issues that result in you suffering from weaker bones. To confirm an initial diagnosis, a doctor would then carry out the following tests:

  • A series of x-rays to identify which of the bones found in your foot have been negatively impacted
  • A CT scan to establish the extent of soft tissue damage

With this said, in certain cases no imaging tests are needed although if your foot was crushed in an accident, a doctor may also recommend a MRI scan which provides a more detailed image of the injuries you sustained to a foot.

How is a Broken Bone in Foot Treated?

The sort of treatment you would receive for a broken bone in a foot would depend on the complexity and severity of your injury and which of the twenty six bones have been negatively impacted. A minor or cracked bone may not need much in the way of treatment other than pain relief medication and rest. You may need to use crutches and wear flat shoes during a broken bone in a foot healing process. If you sustained a more serious fracture to a bone found in your foot, you may need to wear a splint or cast.

Very severe fractures to any bones found in your foot may require surgery with an end goal being to ensure that damaged bones are put back in the correct place and kept there during the healing process. If any bones have been crushed, plates, screws, pins and/or rods made out of titanium are used to ensure the damaged bones remain in the correct place.

How Should I Take Care of a Broken Bone in Foot at Home?

It is important that you take things easy when you sustain a broken bone in a foot. You should also follow a doctor’s advice on how much pain relief medication you take and always follow the recommended dose. Other things you can do to ease any pain and discomfort you experience are detailed below:

  • Avoid putting any weight on an affected foot
  • Avoid standing on your injured foot
  • Place ice packs on your foot for 20 minutes every couple of hours or so – never apply ice directly onto your skin though
  • Wearing comfortable, flat shoes would make any pain and discomfort less acute

If you experience any of the following symptoms, you should seek medical attention straight away:

  • You experience persistent pain and discomfort that will not go away
  • The pain is acute
  • Your symptoms worsen
  • You run a high temperature
  • You feel hot and shivery
  • The glands in your groin are tender and painful which could be a sign that you have developed an infection

You must keep all follow-up appointments following a treatment you received for a broken bone in a foot because it allows doctors to monitor your recovery. It also means that should any infection or complication be evident a doctor would be able to treat you sooner rather than later.

If you are unhappy with a diagnosis and the treatment of a broken bone in a foot, you may find that you would be entitled to receive free private medical care in your area. You may also be eligible for free private physiotherapy aftercare and medical supplies all of which could help get you back on your feet sooner rather than later. Call our team of health experts today to find out more.

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Could I Qualify for Any Other Effective Free Treatment for a Broken Bone in Foot?

Treatment for broken bone in foot

Treatment for broken bone in foot

If you were involved in some sort of accident or incident that left you with a serious injury to a foot and you are not happy with the NHS treatment or the diagnosis you receive, you may find that you would be entitled to free medical care in a private health facility that is local to where you live. You may also qualify for free medical supplies that could help speed up your recovery. This includes the following:

  • Ice pack
  • Medical Compresses
  • Foot support boot

You may also be eligible for treatment provided by a foot specialist. There are a number of therapies that could be available to you in your area and this includes the following:

  • Private treatment from a well-trained physiotherapist who would set up specific broken bone in foot exercises that could help get you back on your feet sooner, safely

To find out more about treatments, therapies and medical supplies you may be entitled to receive free of charge, please call our team of health experts today.

How Long Does a Broken Bone in Foot Take to Heal?

A broken bone in a foot recovery time depends on the complexity and severity of your injury and whether you had to undergo surgery to put things right. Other factors that would affect how fast your foot injury heals include the following:

  • Your age
  • Which bones in your foot have been negatively impacted
  • The accuracy of an initial diagnosis
  • How well you respond to a treatment
  • How well your surgery was carried out
  • Whether you developed an infection
  • Whether there were any complications
  • How soon you started your rehabilitation
  • Whether a physio programme was effective

It can take anything from a few weeks to a few months to fully recovery from a broken bone in a foot injury. With this said, receiving a tailored physiotherapy programme could speed up your recovery because the exercises you do would be specific to your injuries.

To find out whether there is any free private medical care and physiotherapy aftercare in your area, please speak to one of our health experts today who would tell you within minutes whether you qualify to receive them.

Can I Recover Safer and Possibly Faster From a Broken Bone in Foot?

Physiotherapy and rehabilitation are an important part of a broken bone in foot recovery and although the physio you would receive through the NHS is good, it is not as effective as a tailored physio programme provided by a physiotherapist in the private sector who would set up a specific exercises for you to do as soon as you are able which could help speed up your recovery and it would do so safely. Any fractures to the bones in your feet can prove challenging to treat and manage. Things can easily go wrong which is why the right kind of physio is so important.

To find out whether you would qualify for free private physiotherapy in your area, please do not hesitate in contacting our team of health experts today. We would tell you in minutes what therapies are available and whether you qualify to receive them free of charge.

I Think My Doctor Missed Something When Treating a Broken Bone in Foot, What Should I Do?

If you are unhappy about an NHS diagnosis and/or treatment you are receiving, you should carry out as much research as you can on this type of foot injury. This can help you determine whether your condition was correctly diagnosed and treated or whether something was missed. The links at the bottom of the page provide essential reading on this type of injury, the diagnosis, treatment and outcomes.

Could I Qualify for Free Orthopaedic Assessment for a Broken Bone in Foot Report?

If you have suffered a broken bone in a foot whether you were involved in a road traffic accident or some other incident that left you with a suspected serious foot injury, you would be initially treated by paramedics but once in hospital, your injury would be examined by a team of doctors in Accident and Emergency. A series of x-rays and other imaging tests would be carried out to determine which bones have been negatively impacted and to establish the extent of the damage. A doctor would base their treatment on the results of these tests which would be put in a broken bone report.

You are entitled to ask for a copy of this report and if you are unhappy with a diagnosis or treatment you receive, you may find that you would qualify for a free orthopaedic assessment of the report. This could highlight any errors that were made or it could confirm the initial NHS diagnosis. To find out more, please contact one of our health experts today who would tell you straight away if you would be entitled to this free assessment.

Call Today And Out If You Qualify For Free Private Treatment

A lot of people throughout the UK who suffer some sort of injury are not aware they may be entitled to receive free treatment in a private medical facility in their area. If you are unhappy with your broken bone in foot NHS diagnosis or the treatment you receive, you could find that you not only qualify for a free orthopaedic assessment of your broken bone report, but free private medical care and physiotherapy aftercare too.

To find out what sort of treatments and therapies that are available in your area and whether you would be eligible to receive them, please call one of our health experts today. Our phone lines are open 7 days a week from 9 am till 11 pm and our friendly team are waiting to take your call on 020 3870 4868.

Links to Websites Offering Essential Advice

If you suffered a broken bone in a foot and are having trouble coping with the pain and discomfort you are experiencing, the link below takes you to an NHS website that provides essential reading on foot pain:

More about foot pain following a fracture

To find out more about the importance of rehab and physio having suffered a fracture to a foot, the following link takes you to an NHS website that provides essential reading on the topic:

How rehab and physiotherapy can speed up your broken foot recovery time

If you would like to find out more about how a foot boot or support can help speed up your recovery following an accident that left you with a serious foot injury, the link below provides valuable information on the subject:

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