Sprained Ankle Symptoms and Treatment

Ankle Sprain Symptoms

Ankle sprains are a common variety of ankle pain-causing injuries, which are especially prone to occur in individuals engaged in athletic activities (contact sports or running events) but can occur just as often to people who do not engage in these activities. An ankle sprain is an injury to the ankle which occurs when ligaments (tough, fibrous tissues which serve as connecting agents in the lower leg, foot, and ankle) are overly stretched, bruised, or partially or completely torn.

Following an injury, one will usually experience an immediate ankle pain reaction at the site where the tear occurred. Occasionally, the pain reaction will be delayed, due to nerve damage which may have previously occurred at that site. Normally, however, the ankle will immediately be ridden, bruise, or begin to swell. The ankle pain one experiences may be anywhere from mild to severe and can come and go at various times as swelling and bruising proceeds.

The level of ankle pain you experience will likely depend on just how much of a sprain or ligament tear your injury has produced. In very severe cases of an ankle sprain, one will often not be able to walk or put any sort of pressure on your affected foot, due to the instability your injured ankle is experiencing. You will likely notice a popping or snap sound when you move your ankle or try to walk about, and may feel a sort of sensation akin to tearing. The level of ankle pain, in this case, may be very severe, but most in cases will lessen. Most individuals will recover fairly quickly.

The degree of seriousness of the ankle sprain injury will, of course, vary with the general health and flexibility of the individual who has received the injury. Age and genetics will also play a determining factor. Younger individuals will be in possession of a more flexible system that will, overall, be more equipped to quickly repair itself. As one age, one’s system becomes accordingly less able to snap back from such injuries, and thus requires more time and rest to allow the injured area to repair itself. Ankle pain naturally increases according to the level of the severity of the injury, and older individuals may, unfortunately, experience a great deal more of it.

In general, ankle sprains are graded as mild, moderate, and severe. In cases of mild sprain, the ligament will be overly stretched, causing a mild case of overstrain. Moderate strains are characterized as being due to a strained and partially or severely torn ligament. A severe case of ligament sprain involves complete tearing, to the extent that your ligaments can no longer support or control your ankle joint. If the swelling, bruising, or ankle pain are only slight to moderate and you can still manage to put a bit of weight on your ankle, then the strain you have experienced is most likely merely a mild one, and you will probably not require immediate medical attention.

If, however, a popping sound was heard when you initially sprained your ankle, or if your ankle appears to be bent in an abnormal fashion, you should consult professional medical help immediately. If these two symptoms are present, and if the swelling around your injured ankle is severe and bruising or discoloration of the skin is likewise present, you should go to the hospital without delay. It is certain that you have sustained a severe ankle sprain, and that neglect of this injury, if allowed to occur, will have lasting consequences for years to come. Ankle pain, whether mild or severe, is not a symptom one should ignore.

Ankle Sprain Home Treatment

Ankle sprains may take several weeks to heal. This means that you don’t have to travel to the hospital to get the twist treated. Ankle sprain home treatment is another alternative to treatment from going to the hospital. A patient healing the ankle at home should be very cautious in the ways that they use for treatment. One should opt seeking medical care first before deciding to heal from home. The seriousness of the injury determines the time taken to heal the ankle. Home treatment mostly involves rehabilitation exercises mostly recommended by the doctor or the physician. Such exercises that make ankle sprain home treatment includes

Stretching exercises

This exercise should be done with no pain. The patients should, therefore, do so when no pain is experienced when stretching. This helps to avoid further injuries. Stretching helps to keep the flexibility of heel cord and ensures slow healing of the ankle.

A variety of motion exercises

The patient should start this form of exercise immediately after the injury. The patient should move the joint in a cycle as far as they can. This should be done in all the directions to enhance the relaxation of the muscles.

Strengthening exercises

An ankle should be in a position to have full support. Strengthening exercise helps to strengthen the muscles in order to help the patient support their muscles. They are done while standing and the patient should make sure that they do it when they experience less pain. This is to avoid swelling or inflammation of the ankle. Doing the exercise when there is severe pain may cause further injuries to the ankle or even other joints of the leg.

Control and balance exercise with a swollen ankle

The patient may not be in a position to handle the weight of the rest of the leg. This may be caused by lack of balance and control. Doing balance and control exercises help your body to act in response to various activities. This exercise also contributes a lot to prevent the occurrence of another injury. You should do this when you are completely able to stand with no pain experienced. If you would not have done this before you got the injury, you should then stop it. Normally there are people who don’t have control and balance. Doing this may lead to falling and may increase the pain or even cause other injuries.

Treatment through exercises to do at home should be determined by the doctor. This is because the doctor is in a better position to know what is best for you. Home exercises have proven to work for many people. Patients should also learn to follow instructions to make sure that they don’t get injured. For those who have severe sprains, the physician may offer the preference of walking using the crutches of protective braces. This is to offer the relevant support and also prevent further injuries. This also helps the severely injured to participate in useful exercises that contribute to their ankle healing.

See: Heating Pad For Sprained Ankle

Sprained Ankle Symptoms and Treatment, Last Update: 23/5/2017