Why does my sprained ankle still hurt months later?

“An ankle sprain that lingers beyond 3 months is often an injury to a bone, tendon or ligament that is unlikely to heal without intervention,” he says. “And the longer an ankle injury persists without proper treatment, the greater the likelihood that permanent disability will result.”

Why does my ankle hurt years after sprain?

A sprain that happened years ago can leave residual weakness that isn’t noticed in normal daily activity, but subjecting the ankle to rigorous physical activity can further damage improperly-healed ligaments, and cause persistent pain and swelling.

Why does my ankle still hurt months after I sprained it?

A sprained ankle usually takes between two and six weeks to heal, so it’s not necessarily worrying if you’re still suffering pain after a month. It may just be that you have a rather more severe sprain that will take a little longer to get better. However, it may also be a sign of more severe ligament or tendon damage.

How soon to go back after a sprained ankle?

Two weeks to six months. However, recovery time for a sprained ankle will vary from case to case, requiring different care and recovery approaches. This recovery time can change a lot based on: As an example, recovery time for a grade one sprain is two weeks to a month.

How long does a sprained ankle take to fully heal?

It can take from 5 days to 12 weeks for a sprained ankle to heal. There are three grades of ankle sprain, ranging from the least severe to a sprain resulting in permanent ankle instability.

What to do immediately after a sprained ankle?

Immediately after injuring an ankle, begin RICE, described in the report as “universally accepted as best practice by athletic trainers and other health care professionals.” That means get off the injured foot; prop it up, if possible, higher than the heart; wrap it in a compression bandage; and apply cold.