Question
Hello, and thank you for your service to this website.  Yesterday I went to kick a soccer ball off of my porch to my niece and nephew in the yard.  I had a total Charlie Brown moment, I missed the ball completely and ended up kicking with full force the porch railing!  There is some swelling on the top of my foot (closer to my ankle than toes)but very little bruising.  I don't bruise very easily.  I can walk on the foot some, but I have been walking on the outer edge of my foot.  I can only take a few steps with regular gait then have to change positions.  Moving my foot from side to side is painful, but I can move it up and down with some pain, but not much.  I got very little sleep last night due to the throbbing and foot is very warm to the touch.  Is it possible I could have fractured my foot?  Or does it sound more like a soft tissue injury?  

Answer
Ouch!

Hi Misty,

With a high force injury to the foot, it is very possible to have a fracture and still move your foot. Foot pain and throbbing can occur with soft tissue and/or bone injury.

I would certainly have an x-ray ASAP because if you do have a fracture that is dislocated, surgery may need to be done sooner rather than later.  Also, if the fracture is not dislocated you will need to be immobilized in some type of splint.

Even if you have soft tissue damage you may require a splint, compression and ice.  Possibly an anti-inflammatory and some physical therapy.

For now ice and stay off the foot and see a Podiatrist for an x-ray.

By the way I can just picture Charlie Brown with the soccer ball!

Good luck and Happy Holidays.

Sincerely,

Marc Katz, DPM
Advanced Podiatry
Tampa, FL
http://www.TampaCryosurgery.com
http://www.theTampaPodiatrist.com