should i get this checked out? How do I know if my foot injury is serious? The swelling went down fairly quickly after the op and i got a cast after a week. Other risk factors include poor footwear, altered foot alignment, or vitamin D deficiency. site (top of google search) and actually find all the answers I needed When could you start walking with knee scooter or crutches. Even after the skin warms, it may stay purple. I am also concerned because it's obvious, because I'm yellowish-brown complexion. Does anyone know if it is likely to improve over the coming weeks? Test result. my toes will even go white. Is there anyone else out there whose foot, and sometimes calf, still turned colors four or five months post surgery but got better?? Use of the forums is subject to our Terms of Use My husband had surgery for a pilon fracture of his right ankle and a compound fracture of his tibia and break of his fibula 4 weeks ago. This condition is called the blue toe syndrome, sometimes also called occlusive vasculopathy or trash foot. I had surgery April 19, still red, purple, swollen. Because of supply chain shortages as well as staffing shortages particularly during the pandemic, many institutions extended the time between dressing changes for chronic wounds. Thank you so much for sharing your story and letting others like myself find comfort in knowing its just not me thats going through this. Regardless of the cause, fractures are painful and can limit your mobility. Right around 3 weeks post-op I started sitting in a chair with the foot down, and those issues seemed to start going away. recently the palms of my hands turned purple too. I used theraband to stretch my calf as instructed by my surgeon to prevent extreme muscle wasting. A violent red, sometimes purple. I am on week twelve post op and am using a airpump cam boot and dressing the remaining pressure sores which are responding to my home treatment. Just having foot turn purple does not mean you have it, but Poor circulation is not a good sign this far after surgery. This can cause bleeding shows up as a bruise. Additionally, because you havent moved your foot as you do before surgery, the veins on your foot experience difficulty returning blood to your heart. Just Submit your question and rest assured that you will consult a Doctor easily. If you have high cholesterol or diabetes, you should schedule regular physical examinations. However, this condition does not necessarily need to be treated with X-rays. This discoloration can also occur after major foot surgery. Raynauds disease is similar to acrocyanosis in some ways. Why Does My Foot Turn In After Hip Replacement but the non injured foot feels perfectly normal. Healthline Media does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. I was transported from one hospital to another one (and like yourself it was a county hospital ) to have emergency surgery. I try to do some exercises with the rest of my body, sitting or lying on the floor with my leg elevated on a few pillows. After two days I would say that I have noticed a huge improvement in the discomfort I have been experiencing. Even though i'm losing weight my legs swell badly and my feet turn purple. So, please take it slowly and avoid high-impact activities. 7 weeks off work now with no pay. I did lots of physio which was essential as non weight bearing your muscles atrophy and t really helps to build up the muscles again. It has been 4 1/2 months since my ORIF surgery. (1996). But on top of that my toes (even when elevated) will sudden feel like they just came out of a deep freezer and they get very cold to the touch. Because of this, you should seek medical attention right away. Location: New York State. Healthline only shows you brands and products that we stand behind. In severe cases, purple or blue feet can be a sign of a serious medical condition. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/frostbite/symptoms-causes/syc-20372656. I hope that this helps and that you turn the corner in your recovery soon. Why My Foot Turns Purple When Not Elevated After Injury I'm 7 weeks in, but there is still swelling. Hi Carol my name is Jennifer and on April 9th I had a wreck totalling my truck and broke my ankle in 2 places as well as dislocating it. The treatments for these conditions usually involve medications or procedures to maintain healthy circulation. Please pursue this until you get good answers. While this is relatively common and usually temporary, it can also be a sign of an underlying health problem. I too have been experiencing major discoloration when my foot is positioned any way other than being elevated. Thank you Andrew and all of you writing here. Why does my 10 month hands and feet turn purple and cold? It is important to keep the foot elevated and in a protective position to decrease pain and prevent infection. Anyone has/had contracting kind of pain? My surgeon said that this was all normal, and he agreed that starting to sit in the chair with the foot down and get the foot to start getting acclimated to the circulation pressure again couldn't hurt. This makes it difficult to differentiate a bruised foot from a fracture. Youll also experience weaker muscles. Patient is a UK registered trade mark. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. Also, Raynauds affects the smaller blood vessels in your fingers and toes, while acrocyanosis affects the larger arteries of your feet and hands. Happy to get some positive feedback from here! If you buy through links on this page, we may earn a small commission Heres our process. I am 4 months post op from a bunionectomy and I still have a purple foot when I sit or stand. I am 4.5 weeks post ORIF and I had the same issue of the foot swelling, turning an angry purple color, and being painful whenever I would get up on crutches, and the pain/purple/swelling immediately went away when elevated. Does your calf ever turn colors too? Often, minor injuries can become more serious if left untreated. All rights reserved. I was golfing 5x week before my break so I know what you mean about inactivity. Causes include frostbite and. all my drs know. Blood flow to the feet is vital for the body to heal, so its important to keep your ankle elevated to avoid any swelling. It is important to follow your doctors instructions as walking on a broken ankle too early will prevent the bones from healing. For potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service. Keep in mind that you are the patient, the doctor and nurse are not suffering with a purple foot, you are. Reading on other sites are horror stories and glad I didn't look before surgery at pictures of extremely upsetting photos. The condition also usually affects women more often than men. Most Common Cause of Foot Ischemia Peripheral artery disease (PAD) refers to narrowing of arteries that carry oxygenated blood to various parts of the body. I've tried keeping my foot down toward to floor for longer periods of time and it just makes the swelling and discoloration worsen the longer it is down and actually has started taking long to regain color. Thanks again!