Article: If you think you may have broken your heel, call your doctor right away or go to an urgent care clinic. Look for symptoms such as: Pain in and around the heel, which may get worse when you move your foot or try to walk Bruising and swelling of the heel Difficulty walking or putting weight on your injured foot Go to the emergency room if you notice severe symptoms, such as an obvious deformity of your foot or an open wound at the injury site. The right treatment will depend on the nature of your injury. Allow the doctor to examine your heel, and provide as many details as you can about how the injury happened. Let them know if you have any other medical conditions (such as diabetes) that might affect the healing process. In addition to a physical exam, they will probably order imaging tests, such as: X-rays, which can confirm or rule out a broken heel and show whether the bones in your foot have been displaced by the injury. A CT scan, from which your doctor can get a better idea of the type and severity of your fracture(s). They may order a CT scan if the X-ray confirms that you have a fracture in your heel. If the fracture is not too severe and the bones in and around your heel are not displaced, your doctor may recommend immobilizing your foot for several weeks while it heals. They will put a splint, cast, or brace on your foot to keep the bones in place and prevent further damage. Follow your doctor's instructions for caring for your splint or cast, and follow up as recommended to make sure your foot is healing properly. Your doctor will probably recommend the RICE treatment (rest, ice, compression, and elevation) to help your foot heal and reduce inflammation. This treatment involves keeping weight off the injured foot, applying ice packs, and using a bandage to gently compress the area. You'll also need to keep your foot elevated as much as possible. You will likely need to wear your splint or cast for at least 6 to 8 weeks. Don't put any weight on your injured foot until your doctor says it is safe to do so. Your doctor may also give you additional home care instructions, such as keeping your foot elevated above your heart level and using ice packs on the injury to reduce swelling. Some heel fractures are good candidates for a procedure called "closed reduction," in which the doctor manipulates your foot to move displaced bone fragments into the correct position. You would be placed under anesthesia during this procedure. You may need surgery if your heel has multiple fractures, the pieces of bone have moved out of place, or there is damage to the muscle and other soft tissue in your heel. If your doctor recommends surgery, ask them about the risks and benefits of the procedure and discuss what the recovery process will be like. If the tissues around the bone are injured and inflamed, your doctor may recommend waiting a few days for the swelling to go down before performing surgery. In other cases (e.g., if there is an open wound at the site of the break), it's important to operate right away. The surgery may involve putting screws or plates in your heel to keep the bone fragments in place. You will need to wear a cast for several weeks after the surgery and may have to wear a special boot for a while after the cast is removed. Whatever treatment approach you and your doctor decide on, it's important to care for your foot properly afterwards so that you heal as well as possible. Make regular follow-up appointments with your doctor and call their office right away if you have any concerns or questions. You may need to: Use crutches, a walker, or another assistive device to keep weight off your injured foot while it's healing. Take over-the-counter or prescribed pain medications to manage pain and inflammation, especially after surgery. Always take these medications according to your doctor's instructions. Take antibiotics to treat or prevent an infection.

What is a summary?
See your doctor if you have symptoms of a broken heel. Consent to exams and tests to determine how severe the fracture is. Talk to your doctor about nonsurgical treatment options. Discuss surgery for a more severe fracture. Follow your doctor's home care instructions carefully.