What Do I Do to Treat a Sprained Ankle? (2024)

FAQs

What Do I Do to Treat a Sprained Ankle? ›

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.

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.

Use a cold pack, a bath of ice and water, or a compression sleeve filled with cold water to keep swelling down after an injury. Ice the area as soon as you can after the injury. Ice the area for 15 to 20 minutes, 4 to 8 times a day, for the first 48 hours or until swelling goes down.

In fact, walking on the sprained ankle can actually improve recovery and stimulate stronger healing of the injured ligaments and tendons. One important thing to keep in mind is that ankle swelling can last 2-3 months after the injury, even if the pain has completely gone away.

While there might be treatments that could help, no one should ever attempt massage modalities for an ankle sprain, or any type of injury for that matter. That should only be done by a qualified professional who meets the state's defined scope and standards of practice for therapy.

For the first 72 hours after an injury you should avoid the following. Heat: such as hot baths, saunas and heat packs. Alcohol: drinking alcohol increased bleeding and swelling and decreases healing. Running: or any form of exercise that could cause more damage.

If your ankle is directed at an odd angle, it is likely a broken ankle. Sprains tend to keep the ankle straight. If you feel numbness in addition to the pain, it is more likely a fractured ankle. If the pain is substantially worsening over time, it is more likely a break.

How Many Days Should You Ice an Injury? Ice should be applied to reduce swelling during the first two to three days following an acute injury. Heat can then be used to promote blood flow and aid the body's natural healing process. Applying heat too soon could exacerbate edema by boosting blood flow to the wound.

What are four signs an ankle sprain is bad? ›

Your doctor may be able to tell the severity of your ankle sprain based on the amount of swelling, pain, bruising, and stability. If you have difficulty bearing weight, or tenderness in the bones of the foot and ankle, you may need additional tests to rule out a fracture.

How Long Should You Wrap a Sprained Ankle? In general, you should wrap your injured ankle for several days or up to a week after injury, to help manage swelling. Remove the wrap at night and sleep with your ankle elevated on a pillow to help reduce swelling.

How long does a sprained ankle take to heal? The recovery time for a sprained ankle varies depending on the severity of your injury. It may take anywhere from two weeks to heal a minor sprain and anywhere from six to 12 weeks to heal a severe sprain.

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.

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.