What should I do immediately after a sprained ankle?

Treatment

1. Rest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort.
2. Ice. Use an ice pack or ice slush bath immediately for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat every two to three hours while you’re awake.
3. Compression. To help stop swelling, compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops.
4. Elevation.

What happens if a sprained ankle goes untreated?

A sprained ankle can turn into a serious chronic instability if left untreated. When you leave torn ligaments to heal on their own, they can fuse together haphazardly and form weak, inflexible scar tissue. Your range of motion can suffer tremendously, resulting in difficulty walking for the long term.

Should I go to the doctor for a sprain?

Signs and Symptoms of a Sprain Ligaments can be either stretched or torn. There will also likely be bruising and swelling in the area. If your symptoms after a suspected sprain are severe (i.e. weakness, pain, swelling), you should seek medical care by an orthopedic physician.

Does a sprain hurt more than a fracture?

Sprains can be extremely painful, and are easy to confuse as a break. Many times, they are more painful than a fracture, which has been confirmed by science. However, the symptoms of a sprain are usually: Pain around the injury area.

When should you get an ankle injury checked?

Seek immediate medical attention if you:

1. Have severe pain or swelling.
2. Have an open wound or severe deformity.
3. Have signs of infection, such as redness, warmth and tenderness in the affected area or a fever greater than 100 F (37.8 C)
4. Cannot put weight on your foot.

When should you go to the doctor for an ankle sprain?

People with a more severe ankle sprain — characterized by extreme bruising or swelling and an inability to bear weight on the foot without significant pain, or when there doesn’t seem to be any improvement over the first several days after the injury — should seek medical attention, Drs.

What is a sprained ankle?

A sprained ankle is one of the most common ankle injuries doctors see among the young and old alike. A sprain occurs when the ligaments in the ankle are stretched or torn. Most commonly, the sprain is on the outside of the ankle, and the injury can be mild or severe.

How long does it take for an ankle sprain to heal?

Usually, those patients have some substantial pain relief within four to six hours after the injury, especially if they do elevate the foot, if you do the cooling of the injured ankle. If they still experience a very severe pain after six hours so they cannot walk on it at all, there is definitely an indication or the need to do the radiographs.

Should you exercise with a sprained ankle?

Too often, Dr. Williams notes, people shrug off their ankle sprain and resume normal activities without allowing the body to heal.