You missed a step and twisted your ankle. Maybe you stepped in a hole and injured your ankle. It’s easy for you or your child to sprain an ankle playing sports. How should ankle sprains be treated?
Is It a Sprain?
Symptoms of a sprained ankle are pretty clear. There will be:
- Swelling, bruising, and tenderness
- Pain while resting or trying to walk or put weight on it
- Redness and warmth
- Instability
If the pain is severe, you might want to visit an orthopedic specialist like foot and ankle surgeon Jonathan Hall, MD, FAAOS in Seattle sooner rather than later.
What to Do First for a Sprained Ankle
If you believe you have sprained your ankle, but the pain is not severe, start with RICE.
Rest is needed to prevent stressing or injuring your ankle further.
Ice is really important to reduce swelling, inflammation, and redness. Apply ice to the area as soon as possible after your injury.
Compression using an elastic bandage or wrap should come next to reduce swelling. Begin to wrap furthest from your heart. Avoid wrapping too tightly as it will cut off blood flow.
Elevation is equally important. Keep your ankle raised up as high as you comfortably can. Prop up your ankle so it is higher than your heart.
Next, begin taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications. Best choices are ibuprofen and naproxen. Check with your doctor if these are the best medications for you.
What To Do Next
If the swelling, pain, and other symptoms do not subside in about a week to ten days, it may be time to make an appointment for a clinical evaluation of your ankle.
Your doctor may decide to provide a brace to keep your ankle still. Crutches can help keep weight off of it. Your doctor might want to see you again in about 1 to 2 weeks to observe improvement or lack thereof.
It’s possible your sprain is more severe than you originally thought. You might need an X-ray or an MRI to be sure the injury is not a fracture or additional injuries to the soft tissues.
What to Expect During Sprained Ankle Recovery
It can take as long as 10 to 12 weeks or longer before a moderate sprain has healed enough to return to normal activities. Rarely is surgery needed for an ankle sprain.
Use caution. If you don’t allow the ligaments in your ankle to completely heal before engaging in sports or other activities, this can become a chronic problem. You will be more susceptible to future sprains.
Contact foot and ankle specialist Jonathan Hall, MD, FAAOS at 425-823-4000 to schedule an appointment if the pain and swelling of an injured ankle does not respond to at-home treatments. You can alternatively request an appointment through our secure online form.
