Did I Sprain My Ankle?

Ankle and foot sprains are some of the most common podiatric injuries, usually caused by a fall or a sudden twist that forces the ligaments out of their normal position. Whether you play sports or simply lose your footing or twist your ankle walking down the street, sprains can happen at any time and range in severity from mild to severe.

Typically, most sprains can be divided into three categories:

• Grade 1: Occurs when the ligament stretches, causing mild pain and swelling in the affected area
• Grade 2: Is when the ligament partially tears. In addition to pain and swelling that you find in Grade 1, you may find it difficult to put any pressure or weight on your ankle or foot.
• Grade 3: Are the most severe sprains and occur when the ligament tears completely. If you have this type of sprain, your foot or ankle will feel very unstable, you’ll experience severe pain, in addition to swelling and bruising from Grades 1 and 2.

Sprain Treatment

The treatment and recovery period for a sprain will depend on the degree of the sprain and whether there is additional damage to the soft tissue in and around the injury. In many cases, the RICE method is both a conservative yet effective treatment used to treat ankle sprains. While you should still seek a consultation with a board-certified podiatrist to make sure that it is not something more serious than a sprain, common treatment options for managing your symptoms before your appointment include:

• R (REST): As you may have already guessed, one of the best things you can do for an injured ankle is to stay off it as much as possible. It is important that you avoid or limit physical activities until you have fully healed. In some instances, Dr. Hochman may recommend using crutches to lessen the pain while moving.
• I (ICE): Beginning immediately and at least three days after the injury, apply an ice pack to the injured area for about 10-20 minutes every few hours to help reduce swelling.
• C (COMPRESSION): To further help with swelling, compression bandages around the injured area are recommended for the first two days after the injury. If you need to bear weight on the injured foot or ankle, a more protective brace should be worn.
• E (ELEVATION): While resting as much as you can will certainly go a long way to promoting faster healing, you’ll also want to consider elevating your ankle above your heart for a couple hours a day.

If after one to two weeks you don’t see improvement with the RICE method, or if you believe that you may have a more moderate to severe sprain, you should make an appointment with a podiatrist who will conduct an exam and use X-rays or an MRI to further pinpoint the exact issue. If the sprain does not heal with conservative treatment, your podiatrist may recommend treatment with medication, physical therapy or supportive devices such as walking boots and crutches to relieve pressure and allowing the sprain to heal. In very rare cases, such as if your joints have become unstable, surgery may be necessary to repair the damage.

Failing to treat ankle sprain symptoms in a timely manner or completely can lead to chronic pain or joint instability.

Don’t let a sprained ankle keep you off your feet a second longer than necessary. Schedule an appointment with Dr. Richard Hochman today by calling (305) 442-1780 today to discuss your specific treatment options.