Heel Bone (Calcaneus) Fracture

Most of us take our feet for granted. You don't think about them until you're injured. Then it's all you can think about.

You have a break in your heel bone (calcaneus). This may be due to excessive force or other trauma, such falling from a high height or being in a car crash. Also, certain sports can put stress on the heel bone. A heel fracture can be painful and debilitating. It can affect your ability to walk and carry out daily activities.

Symptoms include:

• Intense pain.
• Swelling and bruising around the heel.
• Trouble walking or bearing weight on the affected foot.
• Inability to bend or move the foot normally.
• Tenderness.

Treatment may include:

• Wearing a cast or brace.
• Keeping weight off the affected foot.
• Using ice and elevation.
• Having surgery to reconstruct the heel and fix it in place with screws, plates, or wires.
• Taking pain medicines.
• Doing rehabilitation, such as physical therapy.

Heel fractures require a long time to heal. It can take several weeks to several months, depending on the severity of the fracture and how it's treated. You may need crutches, a cane, or walker when you begin walking. Physical therapy may help restore strength, flexibility, and mobility. If not diagnosed and treated properly, a serious fracture could cause long-term pain, arthritis, and loss of motion.

• Your foot will be placed in a cast, boot, or splint to prevent movement of the foot and protect it. Unless you were told otherwise, use crutches or a walker. Don't put weight on the injured foot until your doctor says it's okay. Crutches and walkers can be rented at many pharmacies and surgical or orthopedic supply stores.
• Keep your foot raised to reduce pain and swelling. When sleeping, place a pillow under the injured foot. When sitting, support the injured foot so it is raised. This is very important during the first 48 hours.
• Put ice or a cold pack on the area for 10 to 20 minutes at a time. Try to do this every 1 to 2 hours for the next 3 days (when you are awake). Put a thin cloth between the ice and your skin. As the ice melts, be careful that the boot doesn't get wet.
• Keep the cast completely dry at all times. Bathe with your cast out of the water, protected with a waterproof shield or two large plastic bags. Place one bag outside of the other. Tape each bag with duct tape at the top end or use rubber bands. Water can still leak in. So it's best to keep the cast away from water. If a cast gets wet, dry it with a hair dryer on a cool setting.
• You may use over-the-counter pain medicine to control pain, unless another pain medicine was prescribed. Talk with your doctor before using these medicines if you have chronic liver or kidney disease, ever had a stomach ulcer or gastrointestinal bleeding, or take a blood thinner.

• Wear the right footwear for specific activities.
• Wear appropriate safety gear during sports and physical activities.
• Be cautious while walking on uneven surfaces, and avoid potential hazards.

Keep your appointments with your doctor. Regular visits allow your doctor to check your progress and to be sure you're healing as expected.

Contact your doctor right away if:

• The cast becomes wet or soft.
• There's increased tightness, sore areas, or pain.
• Your toes become swollen, cold, bluish, numb, or tingly.
• The cast becomes loose.
• The cast has a bad smell.
• The cast develops cracks or breaks.
• Your pain doesn't get better, or it gets worse.
• You have a fever of 100.4°F (38°C) or higher.

Call 911 if you have:

• Trouble breathing.
• Confusion.
• Trouble waking up, or you are very drowsy.
• Fainting or loss of consciousness.
• Fast heart rate.
• Seizure.
• Stiff neck.