The Ladera Ranch Diablos varsity football season is in full swing, and the team has a number of wins under its belt and is ranking well. Now we just hope that no one gets seriously hurt. Unfortunately, a football injury—from a concussion to a foot fracture—is a common part of the game. You don’t have to be an athlete to experience a metatarsal fracture in your foot, though. Simply stepping off a curb wrong or dropping something heavy on your foot can do the trick very nicely, thank you.

How do you tell if your foot is broken? An open fracture, where the bone is displaced so far it breaks through the skin, would be pretty obvious. With an overuse injury like a stress fracture, however, you might not be so sure. Here are some common symptoms of a broken metatarsal:

  • Pain, especially toward the middle of your foot
  • Limping
  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • Distortion of foot shape

With a stress fracture, the pain may go away when you are resting, and even a complete break may not hurt until you try to put weight on it. When your toddler has a broken bone, you may not realize something is wrong until you notice they don’t want to stand or walk. If you have such pain that you can’t walk without a limp, you should come in to our office and let us check your feet. Other symptoms to watch for are numb or tingly toes or a foot that feels cool and looks pale, as these could indicate possible nerve or blood vessel damage.

Sure, these symptoms may be from a sprain or ligament damage, not a fracture, but such conditions require the correct treatment to heal properly, too, so don’t hesitate to give us a call and put your feet on the path to recovery. A break in the fifth metatarsal can be especially serious and may require surgery, so you don’t want to take any chances on long term problems by ignoring foot pain. You can reach Southern California Foot & Ankle Specialists by phone at (949) 364-9255 (WALK) or through the contact page on our website to set up your appointment. While you are limiting your own activities during recovery, you hobble into the stands and cheer on the Diablos!