Treatment Rest Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort 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 Compression To help stop swelling, compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops Elevation
How long does a twisted ankle take to heal?
The amount of time it takes for an ankle sprain to heal depends on the severity of the injury In general, it will take a minimum of 3 to 4 weeks and up to 6 months for an ankle sprain to heal That’s why getting a proper diagnosis and treatment plan for an ankle sprain is critical
Is it OK to walk on a sprained ankle?
Do not walk on a sprained ankle The inflamed tissue needs time to heal, and walking on it too soon may cause more damage Ankle sprains are common musculoskeletal injuries that can occur from playing sports or from everyday activities
How do you tell if your ankle is sprained or twisted?
Symptoms Pain, especially when you bear weight on the affected foot Tenderness when you touch the ankle Swelling Bruising Restricted range of motion Instability in the ankle Popping sensation or sound at the time of injury
How do I know if my ankle sprain is serious?
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 SooHoo and Williams say
Should I wrap a sprained ankle?
Proper initial care of your sprained ankle is critical A compression wrap helps decrease swelling If swelling is kept to a minimum, it may help your ankle feel better Applying a compression wrap is easy and can be done at home
Will a sprained ankle heal on its own?
Sprains are common and usually heal on their own However, severe sprains that completely sever the ligament may require months of healing and possibly surgery Do not ignore the pain of an ankle sprain or assume that there is nothing a doctor can do
How can you tell if you tore a ligament in your ankle?
If you have torn your ankle ligament, symptoms include: Swelling around your ankle joint A feeling of instability Bruising – sometimes up your lower leg and into your foot Tenderness to touch Pain when putting weight on your ankle Popping sound at the time of injury
How should you sleep with a sprained ankle?
Healthguidanceorg recommends how to sleep with a sprained ankle is by elevating it slightly to drain fluids and prevent unnecessary swelling, so place a pillow or some blankets under the offending ankle while you sleep Also apply some ice before going to bed to reduce inflammation
What is the first aid needed of ankle sprain?
Rest the ankle (use crutches if needed) Ice the ankle for 20 to 30 minutes every 2 to 3 hours for the first 2 days Compress (wrap) the ankle lightly — not tightly — with an elastic bandage or ankle brace For the first 48 hours, elevate (raise) the ankle higher than your heart whenever you’re lying down
What happens when you roll your ankle?
Often times, ‘rolling your ankle’ occurs when the literal action of your ankle rolling forward happens before your leg can catch up As a result, your ankle twists the ligaments away from their normal position and causes an immediate sharp pain
Is heat or cold better for a sprained ankle?
Treatment for a Sprained Ankle So, typically, ice decreases blood flow to an area, which causes less swelling, whereas heat will bring blood flow to an area which can cause more swelling Usually, in the first two to three days after an injury, we would recommend ice only You put the ice on for about 10 to 15 minutes
Is it better to put ice or heat on a sprained ankle?
For most injuries, ice is recommended during the first 24 to 48 hours This helps reduce the pain and swelling that are part of the inflammatory stage of healing You can switch to heat when the ankle swelling goes away The area should not be red or hot to the touch
Is it good to put a sprained ankle in hot water?
Give your injured ankle a few days to recover after the initial injury When the swelling goes down, you may want to warm your ankle before rehabilitation by soaking it in warm water Warm tissues are more flexible, and less prone to injury
Are Compression Socks good for sprains?
Conclusions: Compression stockings failed to significantly modify the time to return to normal painless walking in ankle sprain A beneficial effect was observed only in a subgroup of patients, as compression stockings significantly decreased the time to return to sport activity
Should I ice my ankle overnight?
If icing your sprained ankle provides relief, do it Use an ice pack for 15 to 20 minutes every two to three hours for the first 72 hours This may not be appropriate for people with health conditions, such as diabetes, damage to the peripheral nervous system (peripheral neuropathy), or vascular disease
Can you sprain ankle while sleeping?
Any action that pulls the foot in an unnatural direction can cause a sprain Being involved in a car accident, getting your foot trapped under an object, or even rolling your foot in the covers as you sleep can cause the ligaments to stretch too far
What happens if you leave a sprained ankle 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
What helps a sprained ankle heal faster?
Treatment Rest Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort 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 Compression To help stop swelling, compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops Elevation
When should you get an ankle injury checked?
Seek immediate medical attention if you: Have severe pain or swelling Have an open wound or severe deformity Have signs of infection, such as redness, warmth and tenderness in the affected area or a fever greater than 100 F (378 C) Cannot put weight on your foot
How long should sprained ankle hurt?
Most ankle sprains heal with no problems You should feel much better after 2 weeks Up to a third of people still have some pain after a year Once the swelling has gone down and you can walk without pain, you can probably start exercises to build flexibility and strength