Massachusetts Foot and Ankle Injury Lawyer

Feet and ankles have many different bones, joints, muscles, tendons, and ligaments. Because of this, even breaking a small bone or twisting your ankle the wrong way can lead to months of treatment and recovery. Below are some common foot and ankle injuries:

• Ankle sprains. Ankle sprains are extremely common, affecting 1 in 10,000 people every day. When an ankle sprain occurs, the treating doctor will categorize it as either a stretch, partial tear, complete tear, or high ankle injury. All of these terms refer to one or more ligaments on the outside of the ankle being stretched or torn, which is the true definition of an ankle sprain.
• Stress fractures. This type of injury occurs when one or more of the small bones at the top of the foot is broken. Stress fractures are commonly due to overuse, particularly when the bones have felt a repetitive force over a long period of time.
• Traumatic fractures. These injuries are more serious than stress fractures and can occur anywhere in the foot. They occur suddenly, often as a result of falling, when something heavy is dropped on a worker’s foot, or when a foot is run over by equipment or vehicles.
• Tendonitis. Tendons are cord-like bands that connect muscles to the bones. When these become strained or overworked, they can become inflamed, which is typically the first sign there is a problem. Tendonitis is often mistaken for a sprained ankle, and typically occurs when a person has pushed himself beyond his capabilities. Something like working a double shift or working too long without resting can cause tendonitis.
• Crush injuries. These injuries can affect any of the soft tissue, muscle, and bones in the feet or ankles, and they are difficult to treat. Crush injuries tend to affect material handlers, forklift operators, and other on-the-job vehicle operators.
• Calcaneus fractures. The calcaneus is the bone that forms the heel of the foot. Calcaneus fractures are most often caused by a fall from a height, such as a ladder or scaffolding. These fractures can also result in secondary spinal injuries, as the impact wave travels up the body from the foot.

Feet and ankle injuries may seem minor, but sometimes it can take anywhere from six to nine months to recover from one, and if the injury is left untreated or undiagnosed, recovery could take longer. When surgery is needed to implant screws, healing can take even longer and another surgery may be needed to remove the hardware in four to six months.

During this time, a worker may not be able to work or perform daily activities such as walking, leaving him or her immobile. That places a great financial drain on the injured individual. Workers’ compensation can provide benefits to help those hurt on the job, while a personal injury claim can seek compensation if another individual caused the injury.