Introduction
Injuries to the foot or ankle joint can cause many problems. Anyone who has twisted their foot usually wonders whether it could be a fracture. Most foot fractures are metatarsal fractures, since most of the pressure is exerted on the metatarsus.
A metatarsal fracture is a fracture of the metatarsal or toe bones of the foot, which can have various causes. This is usually manifested by pain when the foot is under stress or already at rest. Depending on how badly the foot is broken and the bones of the foot are removed from their original shape, the pain caused by the fracture varies in severity.
In most cases, a strong swelling or bruise is formed at the appropriate place. In addition, pain can occur when the affected bones are strained or when the broken foot is kept still. If the fracture is severely misaligned, it can happen that it is no longer possible to roll the broken foot.
Depending on whether the fracture is open or closed, bleeding skin wounds may be visible and, in the case of severe malpositioning, parts of the bone may be visible. Abnormal mobility may also be possible. A broken foot can cause very severe pain.
However, the actual intensity of the pain depends largely on the bone that is broken. A broken toe can be broken during and shortly after the injury and then, however, no longer cause problems. In most cases, you can put full weight on the foot without feeling pain.
However, if another part of the foot is affected, the intensity of the pain can be much higher and make it impossible for it to occur. If surgery is necessary for bone healing or if there is an open fracture with injury to the surrounding soft tissues, the pain can be much stronger and cause problems for longer. For pain therapy, the attending physician prescribes the necessary painkillers and prescribes physiotherapy to ensure an optimal course of treatment. Some ankle fractures can also cause pain in the lower leg, since the rear bone of the lower leg can also be broken due to the large amount of force involved in the injury. Due to the need for immobilization in the foot, special attention must be paid to pain in the calf, as this can result in deep vein thrombosis of the leg, which is often favored by bed rest.
