When to Seek Medical Care

When you have injured an ankle, there several things you can look for to determine whether or not you need to see your doctor or go to an emergency department. The following situations warrant seeing your doctor as soon as possible:

• You cannot bear weight on the ankle.
  
  
• Your pain remains intolerable despite using over-the-counter pain medications.
  
  
• Home care fails to reduce your pain.
  
  
• Your foot or ankle continues to be numb or partially numb.
  
  
• If you are unable to see your doctor and have any of the signs or symptoms of an ankle fracture, you should go to an emergency department as soon as possible.

• Gross deformity of the ankle bones
  
  
• Bones visible outside your skin
  
  
• Intolerable pain despite over-the-counter pain medications
  
  
• Inability to move your toes
  
  
• Inability to move your ankle at all
  
  
• Total numbness of the foot
  
  
• Cold or blue foot