Foot and Ankle Injury at Work

Ligaments are a type of connective tissue that connects the bones together to form a joint. Their primary function is to stabilize the joint and facilitate smooth joint movements. Even though ligaments are tough and sturdy, abrupt and strong external forces can easily damage them, causing stretching or tearing of the ligaments. If there’s only ligament stretching but no tearing, you can put some weight on the ankle. The ligaments remain intact, so your ankle is still pretty stable. However, if there is stretching and tearing of one or more ligaments, putting weight on the ankle becomes excruciatingly painful. Not only will it prevent you from walking on your injured foot, you may even need to wear a plaster cast or a splint, depending on the severity of the injury. There are numerous ways you can injure your foot and ankle at work. You can slip on a wet floor and twist your foot when you fall. You can fall from a faulty ladder, land on your foot, and break it. You can step on sharp objects someone forgot to put away or you didn’t see because the management failed to put up a warning sign. Even repetitive movements of the foot can cause bone and soft tissue injuries. Standing and walking for long hours at work puts some stress on your foot and ankle. These can aggravate and worsen pre-existing conditions like arthritis and peripheral neuropathy due to diabetes. If this is the case, you should see a workers’ compensation expert immediately.

In addition to pain and tenderness, you will also notice swelling and bruising in your injured ankle. If there’s ankle instability and you can’t bear to put even just a little weight on your foot, you probably have a torn ligament. Some people report feeling and hearing a pop when they sprain their ankle. This sound could mean severe ligament tearing or ankle joint dislocation. Should this happen to you at work due to an accident or the negligence of the company, you need to report it to your employer as soon as possible. You also need to see a doctor and have your foot and ankle injury examined.

Minor foot and ankle injuries like sprains typically go away after resting it. Over-the-counter painkillers can help control pain and inflammation. However, if over-the-counter medications can’t control your symptoms and it has been more than five days, it’s time to see a doctor. It may be more than a simple stretched ligament and will need proper medical care. You should also go to the doctor immediately if the pain is excruciating, you can’t put weight on it, if there’s an open wound, bone fracture, or if you think the injury might be infected. Severe foot injuries can significantly impact your life and prevent you from going to work. Left untreated, it can cause complications.

You can treat mild ankle sprains at home with rest, ice, compression, and elevation. These can help reduce pain as well as inflammation. You can also take some over-the-counter pain medications to help with the symptoms. However, if you suspect that you might have torn an ankle ligament, you need to see a doctor. Depending on the severity of your foot and ankle injury, the doctor may prescribe surgery to correct the problem. Torn ankle ligaments typically take six weeks to heal, after which you will need to exercise the injured foot to improve muscle strength and regain range of motion.