Foot and ankle injuries are often painful and likely to force you into changing your usual routine. You can deal with some of these problems yourself by undertaking a simple self-care routine – but it’s important to know when it’s time to make an appointment with a doctor.
When can you treat yourself at home?
Many minor foot and ankle injuries, such as discomfort caused simply by overdoing things, get better on their own with rest. You may feel stiff after you get up in the morning, but this is not usually a major problem. Combining rest with cold therapy is often highly effective.
- Don’t be tempted to undertake strenuous activities while your injury is healing, and avoid putting too much weight on your injured foot.
- Several times each day, place an ice pack on your foot or ankle for between 15 and 20 minutes. You may also take anti-inflammatory painkillers.
When should you schedule a doctor’s visit?
If you don’t know what caused the pain in your foot or ankle, or if it doesn’t go away in a short time, it’s best to get advice from a medical professional such as a podiatrist. You should also do this if the pain affects both feet, if it covers a wide area or if you have diabetes.
- You should ask a doctor to assess your feet and ankles if swelling hasn’t gotten better after three or four days, or pain hasn’t improved in a few weeks.
- Be cautious about pain on the underside of your feet. See a doctor if you have tingling, numbness, or a burning sensation here.
When should you see a doctor right away?
Although most foot and ankle injuries are not classed as medical emergencies, there are some signs of potentially serious problems that you should never ignore. These can usually be treated effectively, and complications avoided, if they’re caught at an early stage.
- If there are any signs of infection, especially if you have an oozing wound or a noticeable fever, you should get medical help at once.
- You also need to see a doctor immediately if the pain is or becomes so bad that you are unable to put weight on your injured foot at all.