It is easy to twist your ankle when you’re running or bringing in groceries. Unfortunately, it can be difficult to determine whether you have a sprain or a break. However, you’ll need to find out immediately so you can properly treat the problem. Is my ankle sprained or broken? Our quiz is designed to help answer that question.
It was created with the help of medical professionals who understand the symptoms associated with each problem. Once you’ve answered and submitted the questions, you’ll be able to diagnose the problem.
Sprain Vs. Break
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Truthfully, it can be difficult to tell the difference between a sprain and a break because they’re so much alike. Plus, they’re often caused by the same accidents. Even if you have intense pain, it could be a sprain. Surprisingly, it is common for sprains to hurt worse than breaks.
Both will cause the ankle to become sore to the touch. You’ll also notice swelling immediately after the injury. Sprains tend to be less serious, even though they sometimes take longer to fully heal.
Sprain
Sprains are usually more common than breaks. They occur when you’ve accidentally stretched or torn the ligaments around your joint. The damage done will depend on the severity of the sprain. If you have a sprained ankle, you will need to rest and keep ice on it. It is also a good idea to elevate the joint and wrap it with an elastic band.
If you’re experiencing intense pain, you may numb it using ibuprofen or naproxen. If you’re dealing with a serious sprain, you may need physical therapy. In some cases, you can recover from a sprained ankle in a few days. On the other hand, it could take several weeks to return to normal activities.
Break
A break or fracture is worse than a sprain, although both can be equally painful. As the name suggests, one of the bones is fractured or broken. It may not be a full break, though. It could be a hairline fracture meaning the bone has a tiny crack. When you have a complete fracture, the two bones are split completely. You should also check if you have a stress fracture.
Breaks are going to require more in-depth treatment. For instance, a doctor may need to realign your bones. You may have difficulty moving around because the joint will need to be immobilized. Instead of using over-the-counter pain relievers, you may need prescription drugs to deal with the pain.
In some cases, surgery is required.
What Causes Sprains And Breaks?
Is my ankle sprained or broken? Take the quiz to diagnose the problem. One thing to remember is that breaks and sprains can happen for the same reasons. If you’ve jumped from a tall surface, you may land on your ankle and hurt it. You can have a sprain or break due to the fall. You can also break your ankle or sprain it by twisting.
These injuries are common among people who play sports such as football or wrestling. You may need to visit a medical professional for proper diagnosis. They can also help you create a treatment plan.
Which One Do You Have?
Have you hurt your ankle? Is my ankle sprained or broken? The quiz on this page is a good starting point. It’ll help you figure out how severe the injury is. Remember that broken bones require specialized medical treatment. Therefore, you will likely need to visit a licensed medical professional.
Even if you have a sprain, you may still want to see a doctor because it could be a severe injury. Either way, our quiz is a good starting point because it can help diagnose the issue. Complete the quiz before getting follow-up treatment. But remember, if you have any symptoms, only your doctor can diagnose them.
Questions Preview
- Intense and unbearable.
- Sharp and worsening with movement.
- Dull and constant.
- Mild and intermittent.
- Yes, severely and immediately after the injury.
- Yes, it gradually swelled up.
- A little bit, but not very noticeable.
- Not swollen at all.
- No, it's too painful.
- Yes, but it's uncomfortable.
- Only with some difficulty.
- Yes, with no problem.
- Yes, it was quite loud.
- I think so, but I'm not sure.
- No, but it hurt a lot.
- No, there was no sound.
- I fell awkwardly on my ankle.
- I twisted it during physical activity.
- I'm not sure, it just started hurting.
- I bumped it on something.
- No, it's too painful to move.
- Only a little and with discomfort.
- Yes, but with some pain.
- Yes, I can move it freely.
- It's discolored (blue, purple, or black).
- It's red and inflamed.
- It's normal looking with slight swelling.
- It looks the same as always.
- Yes, it's noticeably warmer.
- It's slightly warmer than usual.
- It's the same as the rest of my body.
- No, it feels cooler than normal.
- Just a few hours.
- One day.
- A few days.
- Over a week.
- 8 to 10.
- 5 to 7.
- 2 to 4.
- 0 to 1.
- Yes, it's quite strong.
- Only a little bit.
- Only when I touch it.
- No, I don't feel any numbness or tingling.
- It's constant and intense.
- It's constant but manageable.
- It comes and goes.
- It's mostly gone.
- I've tried treatments, but they haven't helped at all.
- I've tried treatments, they've helped a little.
- I've tried treatments, they've helped a lot.
- I haven't tried any treatments.
- Yes, it looks visibly wrong.
- I think it might be, but I'm not sure.
- No, but it's swollen.
- No, it looks normal.
- Yes, several times.
- Yes, once or twice.
- Not that I remember.
- No, this is my first ankle injury.