What Should I Do If My Foot Gets Swollen After Being Hit by a Heavy Object?
The swelling caused by the injury of the foot being hit by a heavy object is mainly due to the rupture of capillaries at the injured site, which does not allow blood to flow out, affecting the patient's normal walking. If it is only minor swelling, observation and appropriate ice or heat therapy can be applied. Firstly, move each toe to see if flexion and extension are normal. If not, it is necessary to go to the hospital for radiography to check for tendon injury or fractures. Medication or suturing should be performed accordingly, and proper care should be taken.
1. Cold compress: If there is no wound on the injured area of the foot, the patient can apply cold compress immediately to reduce swelling and pain.
2. Radiography: It is recommended to take an X-ray examination at the hospital. If there is no fracture, cold compress can be changed to heat therapy after 72 hours to promote blood circulation and reduce swelling.
3. Medication: If the patient has soft tissue injury, some topical bruise and trauma drugs can be used for treatment.
4. Suturing: If there is an external wound on the injured foot, emergency debridement and suturing should be performed, as well as exploration of blood vessels and nerves.
After the foot is injured by a heavy object, there will be a process of edema and hematoma, and then the tissue will gradually repair. If the swelling is large, it will take a longer time for the hematoma to be absorbed, and pain will be present for the first 3-5 days after the injury. After that, the patient's foot will enter the repair stage, which usually takes about 10 days. Therefore, the patient's foot can usually recover normal activities after 10-15 days. If the patient has fractures or soft tissue injuries, the recovery time will take about 3 months.