How long does it take to recover from a broken foot?

When you break your foot, you want to know how quickly it will heal. Although there are general guidelines for foot fracture healing, a lot depends on your specific injury and recovery plan.

Average Healing Time for a Broken Foot

In general, the healing time for a broken foot ranges from 6 to 12 weeks.

How quickly a foot fracture heals depends on the fracture type, your age and your overall health. For example, a complex fracture with a displaced bone or broken skin could take longer to heal than a simple fracture with no displacement or open wound.

In addition, younger people, especially children, heal faster than older adults. Underlying medical conditions such as diabetes slow healing time as does smoking.

How to Speed Up the Healing of a Fractured Foot

Although you’re probably eager to walk again, following your healthcare provider’s advice on what you can — and can’t — do on your injured foot is the best way to ensure a full and speedy recovery.  You should discuss:

Weightbearing — Depending on the severity of your injury, you might not be able to bear weight on it for a specified period of time.  This includes both walking and standing.

Assistive devices — Using an assistive device — such as crutches or a wheelchair, cane, rolling walker or knee walker — not only helps you heal, but also enables you to return to modified activity faster.

Nutrition — Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet can help you heal from any injury. Ensuring adequate intake of protein, calcium and antioxidants are particularly important with fractures. Your healthcare provider can also advise whether supplements such as calcium or vitamin D would be beneficial for you.

For more information about healing your broken foot, schedule an appointment Southwest Foot & Ankle Center at 972-318-2738 in Lewisville, 972-805-9985 in Plano or 972-318-2655 for an appointment in Irving.