We are sorry to hear you had an injury. This advice is designed to help you get better as quickly as possible. During your recovery we may contact you to improve the service for future patients.
Please contact us if:
- You are worried about anything in this plan or have any questions
- You do NOT wish to be contacted about your injury
- If you are having pain or swelling in a different part of your body
- If you still have significant pain and/or swelling 6 weeks after your injury
Helpline - Telephone 0161 206 4892
You can leave a message anytime. We will aim to return your call within 24 hours (except weekends).
What have I done?
You have a foot/ankle avulsion injury, which means a small piece of bone has been pulled off by a ligament or tendon in your foot/ankle.
These are stable injuries and are treated like sprains.
The foot/ankle will be painful, bruised, swollen and take 6-8 weeks to recover.
Your foot/ankle may be very painful, stiff and/or swollen. Therefore, you should follow the procedure known as “PRICED”.
P = Protect: Use any walking aids provided – this will offload the foot/ankle. When using one walking aid (e.g. a single walking stick or crutch), use it in the hand opposite the painful side
R = Rest: Partial rest is often recommended, but you should move the ankle as pain allows. This will aid your recovery
I = Ice: A bag of ice/frozen peas/ice pack wrapped in a towel can be applied for 15 minutes, every 2 hours, to reduce pain and swelling*
C = Compression: Any orthopaedic shoe/boot provided will help with this. You may choose to wear a support under your boot or instead of as it heals
E = Elevation: Elevating the foot above the heart level will help reduce any swelling
D = Drugs: Sensible use of simple painkillers e.g. paracetamol, will reduce pain and allow you to start moving. Check it is safe for you to take any anti-inflammatories **
* Warning: Check the area after 5 minutes for ice burn. Do not use if you cannot feel the sensation of hot/cold.
** Warning: Follow patient information advice leaflet found in all medicines.
You may be given an orthopaedic shoe or boot for protection, but it is important to take this off to regularly stretch your ankle.
Regular movements within comfortable limits will prevent your ankle from becoming stiff, this will aid recovery.
Avoid “HARM”
H = Heat: Hot baths, saunas and heat packs will increase bleeding/swelling
A = Alcohol/Smoking: Reduces healing and increases bleeding/ swelling
R = Running: Or any form of exercise which may increase further injury
M = Massage: May increase bleeding and swelling
After the first 2 days: get the ankle moving. Exercise really helps your ankle recover.
Your goals initially are to:
- Start walking and increase time on your feet as pain allows.
You may have been given a boot and/or crutches. Put weight on the injured foot/ankle as pain allows. Slowly stop using these aids as soon as you feel you can manage without, this may take 1 to 4 weeks. - Regain movement, build up strength and balance.
Exercises
- These exercises will be most effective if completed ‘little and often’
- You can do these exercises every 2 hours
- Remember to start exercising slowly and build up gradually
- Patients tell us that initially their pain can increase, but this will settle within a few days of starting the exercises
- Consider appropriate footwear - Supportive shoes or lace up boots that go above the ankle are best. A brace or ankle support can be used for the first 2 weeks
All exercises should be started after 2 days as soon as you can tolerate performing them
Returning to physical activity: work, hobbies and sport
- Returning to sport and work will depend on the demands of your job and chosen hobbies
- Recovery is faster if you stay at or get back to work as early as you can tolerate
If you are on your feet all day, you may need to gradually return to work, do lighter duties to start off with or have regular breaks to elevate the foot/ankle - Once you have regained movement, strength and balance, you can slowly start to increase your activity back to your previous level
Driving
It is important that you contact your insurance company to tell them about your injury. You may be able to drive when you feel safe to perform an emergency stop and fully operate your vehicle. You must not drive while wearing any orthopaedic boot or shoe.
Alcohol
Try to minimise the amount of alcohol you drink whilst your ankle/foot is recovering. Excess alcohol can reduce the ability for injuries to heal and it can cause you to have further injury.
Important information about smoking
FACT - Broken bones take longer to heal in people who smoke. In extreme cases, it can stop healing altogether.
GOOD NEWS - Stopping now will make the difference and give you the best results.
HELP - Go to: www.smokefree.nhs.uk
https://www.salford.gov.uk/health-and-social-care/health-services/quit-smoking/ or have a chat with your GP.
Physiotherapy
If you live in Salford, you can refer yourself online to our physiotherapy department using this website www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/go2physio
If you do not live in Salford or have no internet access, then ask your GP to refer you.
What should you watch out for?
Call our fracture clinic hotline on 0161 206 4892 if:
- You get bruising on the sole of your foot
- Your pain is getting worse not better after 2 weeks
- You get numbness or pins and needles in the injured foot/ ankle that has not improved after 2 weeks
- You are still unable to walk without the orthopaedic boot/shoe (if given) after 4 weeks
See your GP or a physiotherapist if:
- You continue to injure or go over on your ankle repeatedly or don’t trust it
- You are not back to normal after 8 weeks
Remember
- Foot/ankle avulsion injuries can be very painful
- Most of these injuries will recover within 8 weeks
- Early exercises will aid your recovery and reduce the risk of re- injury
- Consider referring yourself to the go2physio service by visiting: www.northerncarealliance.nhs.uk/go2physio
Date of Review: February 2025
Date of Next Review: February 2027
Ref No: PI_M_1367 (Salford)