If you want to achieve overall foot health, you must be well informed. Unfortunately, many myths and misconceptions are associated with ankle and foot injuries that can cause incorrect diagnosis or lead to the wrong treatment method. By equipping yourself with the correct facts and seeking care from your reputable provider, Foot and Ankle Institute of Colorado, you can rest assured you will safeguard your health. If your lower extremities are affected, it can impact your mobility significantly. Therefore, the quicker you seek treatment, the better. However, with lots of misinformation circulating, you may not take the best course of action. That is why we are dispelling the standard foot and ankle injury myths. Take a look!
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Immersing an injured ankle or foot in hot or warm water helps.
It is never advisable to use hot water or heat to obtain pain relief from a fracture, sprain, or discoloration. The only thing the warmth does is elevate blood flow, resulting in more swelling, hence putting more pressure on the nerves and increasing the pain. The best action is to apply ice which shrinks the blood vessels and numbs the area reducing the pain and swelling significantly.
If I can move, nothing is broken.
One of the most widespread myths is that movement indicates nothing has been broken. But, unfortunately, it has led to many fractures failing to get the treatment they deserve and leads to further complications. The truth is movement is still possible with particular types of fractures. For instance, if you have breakage in the smaller outer bone of the lower leg, minor chip fractures, and fracture of the toe, you can still move, but that does not mean you are okay.
It is possible to treat a broken toe from home.
You might have heard from friends and family that a broken toe should not be a significant point of concern. They might tell that your specialist cannot do anything about the problem, but that cannot be any further from the truth. You are only putting your health in danger. If you have a toe proving to be troublesome to heal, it can cause significant problems with your mobility or wearing specific shoe types. If you have a broken toe or suspect you did, the best thing is to contact a specialist to determine the best treatment option for your situation.
Applying an elastic bandage to a severely sprained ankle works well enough.
If you sprain an ankle, it means that you have torn or severely overstretched ligaments, and you need to seek care as soon as possible. Unfortunately, there is nothing a bandage can do to fix such a scenario. Instead, a specialist should take an x-ray examination, ensure immobilization, and conduct physiotherapy to ensure efficient recovery and avoid complications down the line. Sometimes sprained ankles may require surgery for optimal recovery.
If you notice any pain in your toes, feet, ankles, or lower legs, do not neglect it hoping it will go away sooner than later. Instead, schedule an appointment with an expert to prevent a minor issue from becoming a worrying one after a long time. Your foot deserves quality care to safeguard your mobility.