How long does swelling last after a broken ankle?

The ankle may look less swollen after rest and more swollen later in the day or after walking. The exact course depends on the fracture, soft-tissue injury, treatment, circulation and how much weight the ankle is carrying.

A fracture injures bone and nearby tissues, triggering inflammation and fluid build-up. Limited ankle movement can also slow the normal return of fluid from the foot. Healing swelling should show an overall downward trend even if it fluctuates from one day to another.

A sudden increase deserves attention, especially when it follows a new twist, a fall, increased weight-bearing or a cast that has become tight. Swelling alone does not show whether the bone has healed; examination and follow-up imaging guide that decision.

Follow the weight-bearing instructions given by your fracture team. When resting, raise the ankle so the foot is supported above heart level if this is comfortable. Move the toes regularly, and perform ankle exercises only if the clinician has said they are suitable for your stage of healing.

Keep a cast or boot fitted as instructed and do not push objects underneath it. Compare the swelling at similar times of day and note whether pain, skin colour or sensation changes alongside it. This pattern is more useful than a single measurement.

Contact your fracture service promptly if swelling is worsening rather than settling, the cast feels increasingly tight, pain is escalating despite the advised medicine, or the skin around the cast becomes sore, wet or foul-smelling.

Seek urgent assessment for toes that become blue, pale, cold, numb or difficult to move. New calf pain, chest pain, sudden breathlessness, fever with spreading redness, or severe pain out of proportion to the injury also needs urgent care.

Ask whether your swelling pattern fits the fracture and treatment, when you may increase weight-bearing, which movements are appropriate now, and whether the cast or boot needs adjustment. Also clarify what change should trigger an earlier review instead of waiting for the scheduled appointment.