Can you walk with a broken fibula?

thomez · 09-20-2006, 01:34 AM

I'm worried about my ankle injury that I previously posted the picture of. I have a lump on my leg just above the ankle which I am hoping is not a sign or a broken fibula but I'm a little worried. I have been walking on it fine, albiet with pain. It has been 2 weeks and it still hurts to put on my right shoe.

If you can't walk on a broken fibula then I'm not worried and I'll just let it heal up. If you can, then I should probably try to get an Xray, tho I don't have health insurance and really don't want to spend the money on it.

motivez · 09-20-2006, 01:41 AM

No idea about fibula, but you can walk with a broken ankle.

thomez · 09-20-2006, 01:44 AM

I was just linked to what I feared... tibia is only weightbearing bone... and you can walk with broken fibula...

kinggovernor · 09-20-2006, 02:14 AM

yes you can depending on the fracture

ballz2wallz · 09-20-2006, 10:51 AM

Is the bump due to swelling or the bone? If it's the bone making the bump, that likely means you have a compound fracture, in which case you wouldn't be walking, nor would you have waited this long. My guess is it's not broken, but instead bruised or something and has local swelling to create the bump. Or even a bone spur...

7960 · 09-20-2006, 11:21 AM

in your future

thomez · 09-20-2006, 11:43 AM

Originally Posted by ballz2wallz

Is the bump due to swelling or the bone? If it's the bone making the bump, that likely means you have a compound fracture, in which case you wouldn't be walking, nor would you have waited this long. My guess is it's not broken, but instead bruised or something and has local swelling to create the bump. Or even a bone spur...

most of the swelling has been in my ankle, which is still slightly swollen

the bump is about 2 inches above the ball of my ankle on the inside - it is tender and about a half dollar size, which is also still bruised and itchy - I guess it wouldn't be fibula in that location, right?

what would a bone spur be like? that could be it, this could be a little piece of tibia broken off or something

as you can tell I have never broken a bone in my life and have no idea what it is like...

ballz2wallz · 09-20-2006, 11:47 AM

Originally Posted by thomez

most of the swelling has been in my ankle, which is still slightly swollen

the bump is about 2 inches above the ball of my ankle on the inside - it is tender and about a half dollar size, which is also still bruised and itchy - I guess it wouldn't be fibula in that location, right?

what would a bone spur be like? that could be it, this could be a little piece of tibia broken off or something

as you can tell I have never broken a bone in my life and have no idea what it is like...

What exactly did you do? It almost sounds like you tore a tendon or something and it's coiled up in your leg. But if that were the case I doubt you'd be able to walk. I doubt it's a broken bone. Spurs are usually smaller. Go to the doctor if it persists.

thomez · 09-20-2006, 11:52 AM

I violently kicked my cousin in the tibia with the bottom of my leg and my ankle whilst playing soccer

ankle is still swollen and that one piece above it, over 2 weeks later

edit: I haven't went to the doc because I have no health insurance, and policies in place to save me from a bad Xray have rendered such services unaffordable

7960 · 09-20-2006, 11:54 AM

Originally Posted by thomez

I violently kicked my cousin in the tibia with the bottom of my leg and my ankle whilst playing soccer

ankle is still swollen and that one piece above it, over 2 weeks later

it's not broken

did you ice it afterwards?

thomez · 09-20-2006, 11:59 AM

Originally Posted by 7960

it's not broken

did you ice it afterwards?

of course not, it didn't swell and start looking awful for 2 or 3 days after, though it did hurt the whole time

I've just been ignoring it as much as possible and when I can I wear sandals so shoes don't make it hurt worse

Ardentfrost · 09-20-2006, 12:00 PM

How long before you can get health insurance?

beez · 09-20-2006, 12:13 PM

Can you go to a free clinic and get it looked at?

thomez · 09-20-2006, 12:25 PM

Originally Posted by Ardentfrost

How long before you can get health insurance?

I'll have to hunt down a private policy if I get any at all, so it depends on how affordable it is. I probably won't get any at all til after grad school when I get a "real" job.

thomez · 09-20-2006, 12:27 PM

Originally Posted by beez

Can you go to a free clinic and get it looked at?

I dunno, never thought of that. I'd feel bad doing so since it is my own fault and I'm not in real poverty or anything.

Publius · 09-20-2006, 12:35 PM

this thread makes my leg hurt.

sympathy pain ftmfl

ballz2wallz · 09-20-2006, 01:29 PM

It's not broken. You have a contusion and maybe a sprain.

thomez · 09-20-2006, 02:42 PM

I'll just ignore it then, thanks guys :hug:

IminWonderland · 09-20-2006, 02:46 PM

Does your college have a health center? I know mine does, and they have Drs for really cheap if you don't have insurance....

beez · 09-20-2006, 04:21 PM

Originally Posted by thomez

I dunno, never thought of that. I'd feel bad doing so since it is my own fault and I'm not in real poverty or anything.

You're paying for these services if they get any sort of government support. Seeing as you can't afford any other sort of health care there's no shame in going and getting it checked out.