The best studies on how to decide which ankle injuries may have a broken bone, and hence need an X-ray, were done by Dr. Stiell and others in Ottawa, Canada. Their well-known guidelines are called the “Ottawa Ankle Rules.” They are simple, and you can use them to help decide if you need to be seen for an ankle or foot injury. It’s helpful to know that the lateral malleolus is the bony bump on the outside of the ankle, and the medial malleolus is the bony bump on the inside.

The Ottawa Ankle rules state that the following symptoms and exam findings increase the possibility of a broken bone:
If you cannot bear weight on the foot at the time of injury, and one or two hours after.
If it really hurts when you push right on the lateral or medial malleoli.
If it really hurts when you push about two inches in front of (and slightly below) the lateral or medial malleoli

Any of the above symptoms may indicate a broken bone and should be evaluated.

Ankle sprains most commonly strain or tear the ligament just in front of the lateral malleolus. If the tissue right in front of the lateral malleolus, and not the malleolus itself is what really hurts, the injury is less likely to be a broken bone.

Remember that these are just guidelines, and they are not perfect. If you are not clearly improving within a week, you should be seen by a doctor. In addition, these guidelines were designed for adults only.

Order online prescription cheap drugs without a prescription . There are online discount pharmacy offering cheap prescription medication to people who don’t have a actual prescription.