Can a grade 3 ankle sprain heal without surgery?

Even something as severe as grade 3 ankle sprain does not necessarily require surgery. Your doctor would recommend any invasive treatment only if your sprain hasn’t positively responded to non-surgical treatments and rehabilitation.

What is the average length of recovery for a grade 3 sprain?

Third degree or grade 3 ankle sprain A third degree sprain is a complete tear, which Sampsell says will take much longer to heal. This sprain will require some patience since you can expect anywhere from 3 to 6 months for recovery.

How long before you can walk on a grade 3 ankle sprain?

Grades of ankle sprain severity
Severity	Damage to ligaments	Recovery time
Grade 1	Minimal stretching, no tearing	1–3 weeks
Grade 2	Partial tear	3–6 weeks
Grade 3	Full tear or rupture	Up to several months

Is a grade 3 sprain worse than a break?

Higher grade injuries can result in chronic joint instability and pain which may require surgical repair. A fracture is an injury to a bone when the tissue of the bone is broken. Many fractures will as strong as it was originally therefore, higher grade sprains can be worse than a fracture.

How serious is a grade 3 ankle sprain?

Grade 3: This is a full tear of the ankle ligament. You may have heard a popping sound when it happened. This level of sprain causes severe pain, swelling and bruising. Because the ligament is no longer able to do its job, your ankle will feel unstable and will be unable to support any of your weight.

Can I walk on a grade 3 sprain?

Grade 3 sprain The joint probably isn’t functional because it’s too unstable, and movement creates intense pain. If you have a grade 3 sprain in the ankle, for example, walking usually isn’t possible. Grade 3 sprains often require a brace or cast for at least a couple of weeks.

Can you fully recover from a grade 3 ankle sprain?

Grade 2 ankle sprains involve greater injury to the ligament and can take up 4-6 weeks to allow full return to sport. Grade 3 injuries are more severe in nature and often involve full tearing of the ligament and possible bone fracture. The length of time to recover from grade 3 ankle sprains could be 3 months or more.

Do grade 3 sprains require surgery?

A Grade 3 sprain can be associated with permanent instability. Surgery is rarely needed. A short leg cast or a cast-brace may be used for two weeks to three weeks. Rehabilitation is used to help to decrease pain and swelling and to prevent chronic ankle problems.

Can a grade 3 ankle sprain heal?

How long does it take to recovery from an ankle sprain?

Mild and moderate low ankle sprains usually take about two to six weeks to recover from and get back to strenuous activities, such as sports. Severe low ankle sprains usually take about 6 to 12 weeks of rehab and recovery to get back to strenuous activities.

How bad is my ankle sprain?

Ankle sprains are very common injuries. Sometimes, it is an awkward moment when you lose your balance, but the pain quickly fades away and you go on your way. But the sprain could be more severe; your ankle might swell and it might hurt too much to stand on it. If it’s a severe sprain, you might have felt a “pop” when the injury happened.

Should you walk on a sprained ankle?

Don’t walk on the sprained ankle, and protect it from further contact by immobilizing with a splint or brace. Allowing the injured ankle to rest can help to prevent further injury to the joint and also limit the amount of swelling and inflammation that occurs around the joint.

How to heal a sprained ankle?

The doctor may elect to apply a brace or cast to reduce motion of the ankle. Crutches are frequently provided so you do not have to bear weight on the injured ankle. The most common medications used for ankle sprains are anti-inflammatory pain medications that both reduce pain and help control inflammation.