What's a good way to check if my ankle is broken or sprained?

Go to a podiatrist: A podiatrist can take x-rays if indicated and treat you with a variety of modalities based on the findings of the history of the injury and physical exam. Sometimes there can be damage to areas away from the ankle that a podiatrist will know to look.

Ankle pain: For a sprain, swelling and pain are the first signs. It is more common to sprain the outside part of the ankle rather than inside, back, or front. Swelling generally occurs around the area of sprain and bruising may be present too. If a tendon is torn or broken, less likely to be able to walk without severe pain. See a physician for full evaluation to get the best diagnosis. Hope this helped.