How is a sprained ankle treated?
For the majority of ankle sprains, healthcare providers recommend using the PRICE method for the first 24-48 hours after injury. PRICE stands for protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation.
- Protection. Use crutches or apply a splint or brace to limit use of your injured ankle.
- Rest. Limit physical activities that may cause stress to the sprain (no running, jumping, exercising).
- Ice. Apply ice or a cold pack in a towel to your ankle in 20-minute increments to reduce swelling.
- Compression. Gently wrap your ankle in an elastic bandage to help decrease swelling.
- Elevation. Raise your ankle on pillows while you’re sitting or lying down so that it's higher than your heart.
If your sprain is very painful and swollen or you're having trouble walking and putting pressure on your ankle, visit your healthcare provider for treatment.
What medications are used for a sprained ankle?
Anti-inflammatory drugs, like ibuprofen, may help alleviate pain and swelling from the sprain.
How long will my sprained ankle be swollen?
Swelling normally doesn't appear immediately. It could take several hours to develop. If you develop swelling, it could last up to 48 hours for a mild to moderate sprain. Swelling on severe sprains may last longer until your torn ligament heals.
Can I walk on a sprained ankle?
Your healthcare provider may recommend the use of crutches, a boot or a brace/splint to keep weight off of your ankle and give your ankle support and stability (protection). Putting too much pressure on a sprained ankle could worsen the sprain, cause more discomfort and prolong healing time.
Do I need physical therapy after an ankle sprain?
Your healthcare provider may recommend physical therapy to help you regain strength and mobility. Physical therapy is common for athletes, so you can return to your sport once the injury heals. There’s evidence to support physical therapy as important to proper healing.
Do I need surgery to treat my sprained ankle?
Surgery is rare to treat an acute ankle sprain. If you have long-term problems with your ankle like instability — rolling your ankle repeatedly — then your healthcare provider may recommend surgery.
Do ankle sprains heal on their own?
Most sprains heal on their own, but rebuilding strength in your ankle can help prevent future injuries. If you don't allow your ankle ligaments time to heal, you may have long-lasting instability (chronic ankle sprains) or repeat ankle sprains. If your symptoms continue for more than four to six weeks after injury and you still feel weakness when walking on your foot, you may have a chronic ankle sprain.
FAQs
Most of the time, a mild sprain will heal in 7 to 10 days. It may take several weeks for pain to go away after a bad sprain.
How do I know if I tore a ligament in my ankle? ›
What Are the Symptoms of a Torn Ligament in an Ankle? You can feel sudden pain, and a tearing, snapping or popping sensation – which might be so bad you can't put weight on your foot – and swelling around your ankle joint. In some cases, there may bruising that extends down your foot and up your calf.
Should you wrap a sprained ankle overnight? ›
If the bandage starts to feel tight, or if the area below it feels numb or tingly, or is cool, loosen it. Keep the bandage snug during the day, but loosen it before you go to bed. Remember, just because your ankle is wrapped doesn't mean you should use it. You need to rest it and give it time to heal.
Does walking on a sprained ankle help heal it? ›
An important part of recovery is early weight bearing following the sprain. In fact, walking on the sprained ankle can actually improve recovery and stimulate stronger healing of the injured ligaments and tendons.
How do you know if you have a sprained ankle or a fracture? ›
But if you have numbness or tingling, your ankle is most likely broken. Where is the pain? If your ankle hurts or is tender to the touch directly over your ankle bone, you probably have a fracture. If the pain is in the soft part of your ankle, it's more likely a sprain.
How to speed up ankle sprain recovery? ›
The first goal is to decrease pain and swelling and protect the ligaments from further injury. This usually means adopting the classic RICE regimen — rest, ice, compression, and elevation. If you have severe pain and swelling, rest your ankle as much as possible for the first 24 to 48 hours.
Can I walk on a sprained ankle if it hurts? ›
Getting Active. The pain and swelling of an ankle sprain most often gets better within 48 hours. After that, you can begin to put weight back on your injured foot. Put only as much weight on your foot as is comfortable at first.
What can be mistaken for a sprained ankle? ›
If you've experienced an ankle injury, it's imperative to seek professional diagnosis as soon as possible. A broken ankle can often be mistaken for a sprain, even with an X-ray, due to the complex structure of tissue, muscle, and ligaments concealing the bone.
Does heating pad help sprained ankle? ›
After an acute injury, ice should be used to minimize swelling for the first two to three days. After this period, heat can be used to increase blood flow and assist the natural healing process. Applying heat too early may cause additional swelling by increasing blood flow to the injury.
Should I go to the ER for a sprained ankle? ›
If there is obvious boney deformity, severe immediate swelling, inability to walk, and severe boney tenderness, seek immediate medical attention. The majority of ankle sprains respond well to conservative care.
Can You Walk with a Torn Ligament in Your Ankle? Yes, you can usually walk with a torn ligament thanks to the other ligaments and supporting structures, but you may feel a lot of pain and a sensation of weakness and instability as you walk. Will a full tear, you can walk with an Aircast boot.
What is the difference between a rolled ankle and a sprained ankle? ›
While both a sprained ankle and a rolled ankle involve ligament damage, the main difference lies in the specific ligaments affected. A sprained ankle encompasses any damage to the ligaments in the ankle joint, while a rolled ankle specifically refers to damage to the ligaments on the lateral side of the ankle.
How to heal a sprained ankle fast? ›
Typically, the RICE approach—rest, ice, compression, and elevation—is advised in the first 24 hours following an injury to reduce swelling and protect the ligaments from further damage. Ice, elevation, and compression will help reduce swelling. Rest can ensure no further damage happens to the ankle.
How do I know if my ankle sprain is grade 1 or 2? ›
Grade 1 Sprain: Slight stretching and some damage to the fibers (fibrils) of the ligament. Grade 2 Sprain: Partial tearing of the ligament. If the ankle joint is examined and moved in certain ways, abnormal looseness (laxity) of the ankle joint occurs.
What not to do with a sprained ankle? ›
Avoid any activity that causes pain in the ankle. Rest your ankle, and minimize walking for the rest of the day. Apply ice to the sore part of your ankle, typically for 15 minutes on and then 15 minutes off, as much as possible for the rest of the day.
What will a doctor do for a sprained ankle? ›
Depending upon the grade of injury, your doctor may recommend a cast boot, air splint, and/or crutches. Even a complete ligament tear can heal without surgical repair if it is immobilized appropriately. Your doctor may tell you to incorporate motion early in the healing process to prevent stiffness.
