Why does my ankle injury keep coming back?

If the two ends of the ligament are stretched too far apart, it’s called a sprain. If the ligament is repeatedly stressed as in “rolling the ankle” all the time, then the ligaments lose their toughness and become stretched out. When this happens, ankle sprains can become recurrent.

Can a sprained ankle come back?

Old Ankle Sprains Can Come Back to Haunt You Pain in your ankle or foot is not a normal part of the aging process, even if you’re just now trying to get back into shape. Persistent or recurrent swelling is a common symptom a previously-injured athlete may experience.

What are the signs and symptoms of an ankle sprain years later?

A second clinical problem seen long after the initial ankle sprain is chronic stiffness. Months, and even years after the injury, it is common to see a loss of ankle dorsiflexion. (Dorsiflexion is the direction that the ankle moves if you were to attempt to bring your toes closer to your face while standing or lying down).

How long does it take for a sprained ankle to heal?

. Even severe sprains should be healed and pain-free after 8 weeks, so if pain persists (with inflammation) there is likelihood of an undiagnosed fracture, cartilage tear, or ruptured tendon. Prolonged pain without inflammation occurs primarily with nerve injury.

How do you treat a sprained or rolled ankle?

In the immediate aftermath of rolling or spraining your ankle, applying ice will help to reduce swelling and bruising – if it is particularly painful, x-rays may be called for determine if there have been any foot fractures. For many people, a day or two of resting the ankle may well be all that is required to get them back to normal.

How does a sprained ankle affect balance and coordination?

To add fuel to the fire, the sprained ligaments lose the ability to efficiently communicate with your brain. The result is decreased coordination of the ankle. Watch someone who recently sprained his or her ankle attempt to balance on his or her leg: you will see a general lack of balance and coordination that is reflective of this phenomenon.