We help injured workers across St. Louis understand their options and protect their benefits.
If your job keeps you on your feet—warehouse work, nursing, retail, construction, food service—an ankle or foot injury can turn a normal shift into a grind. Sometimes the injury is obvious. Other times, it builds over time. Either way, once you can’t stand all day anymore, the real stress often starts: missed wages, pressure to “work through it,” delayed treatment, and questions about what workers’ comp in Missouri will actually cover.
FREE CONSULTATION
Common work-related ankle and foot injuries
Ankle and foot injuries occur in many ways at work, including slips, trips, falls, dropped materials, uneven flooring, repetitive walking, and prolonged standing on hard concrete.
Some of the most common injuries we see in Missouri workers’ comp cases include:
- Ankle sprains and ligament tears (including high ankle sprains)
- Fractures (ankle, heel, metatarsals, toes)
- Achilles tendon injuries (tendonitis or rupture)
- Plantar fasciitis and heel pain
- Stress fractures from overuse
- Tendon injuries (peroneal tendonitis, posterior tibial tendon dysfunction)
- Crush injuries and soft tissue damage
- Nerve issues (numbness, tingling, burning pain)
Even “minor” injuries can become major when your job requires standing, climbing ladders, or moving quickly.
The moment you realize: “I can’t stand all shift anymore”
That moment matters because it often leads to the problems insurance companies and employers argue about later:
- Work restrictions (no prolonged standing, limited walking, no climbing)
- Reduced hours or missed shifts
- Light duty that still hurts
- A supervisor acting like you’re exaggerating
- Delays in getting an MRI, a specialist, or physical therapy
- Confusion about what to do next
If you’re feeling pressure to push through pain, it’s smart to slow down and document what’s happening—because the choices you make early can affect your benefits later.
“Light-duty” problems: when the job offer doesn’t match your restrictions
A big issue with ankle/foot injuries is that “light duty” can be light on paper but brutal in real life. Examples we hear all the time:
- “They say I can sit, but there’s nowhere to sit.”
- “They moved me to a ‘lighter’ station, but I’m still walking nonstop.”
- “My supervisor keeps sending me to do tasks outside my restrictions.”
- “Standing still hurts worse than walking—but they don’t get it.”
If light duty violates your restrictions or increases your pain, it can put your recovery and your benefits at risk. The key is to report the issue clearly, follow medical instructions, and get restrictions in writing.
(If you’re searching for help on this issue, see our guidance on “work restrictions in Missouri workers’ comp” and what to do when “light duty is causing pain.”)
Red flags that mean you should get legal help now
The Law Office of James M. Hoffmann strongly suggests calling a St. Louis workers’ compensation lawyer if:
- Your claim is denied, or the employer says it wasn’t work-related
- You can’t get an MRI, a specialist, or recommended treatment
- Your TTD checks are late or stopped
- You’re being pushed into light duty that violates restrictions
- You’re being threatened with discipline for missing work due to the injury
- You’re told you’re at MMI, but you’re still in significant pain
- The insurer schedules an IME, and you’re unsure what to expect