Ankle Sprains: When To Go To A Doctor

What is an Ankle Sprain? 

When the foot is twisted or turned in an unnatural manner, it can result in a sprain to any of the ligaments around the ankle area (ankle ligament injury). These bands of strong tissue wrap around bones and help stabilize joints through their connections with them. Since these get stretched too far, they will tear and a sprain will result.

The ankle sprain is thus classified into three grades based upon the degree of damage caused to the ligament:

• First degree: There is slight stretching of the ligaments with small amounts of swelling and tenderness present.
  
  
• Second degree: Partial tearing of the ligament with moderate sprained ankle swelling and bruising. Weight bearing possible yet painful.
  
  
• Third degree: the ligament is fully torn and tends to cause significant pain, swelling, and chronic ankle instability.

If you are unsure about the severity of your ankle sprain, Physiowell can offer a professional assessment and tailored treatment plan based on your needs. Book your appointment anytime!

Common Ankle Sprain Symptoms

A person could either have a dull mild ache or an inability to walk at all, depending on the severity of the walking issue

• The pain's intensity fluctuates and usually exacerbates when attempting to put weight on the impacted foot.
  
  
• Swelling usually appears a few hours after the injury and can come with bruising.
  
  
• When blood vessels rupture, the skin around the ankle can turn blue or purple due to bruising. Depending on how serious it is, trouble with walking may be mild discomfort or complete inability.
  
  

If certain symptoms appear, even a mild ankle sprain may need medical attention. Consult a physician if you experience any of the following:

• If you are standing or walking and you get excruciating pain, that can indicate a serious sprain or even a fracture that might not tolerate your weight.
  
  
• If swelling continues for more than 48 hours, it may suggest a severe injury.
  
  
• If you experience feelings of instability or wobbliness in your ankle, this could indicate a complete tear of the ligament.
• Prompt evaluation is necessary if you are encountering numbness or tingling, as it might be a sign of nerve involvement.

Undergoing these symptoms and need specialized care? Book an appointment with our experts at Physiowell today.

While proper care can often suffice for managing ankle sprains at home, there are cases where medical attention becomes mandatory. Therefore, it is recommended to consult a doctor if:

• The swelling or bruising you experience worsens over time.
• You can sense instability or observe a misshapen ankle.
• Symptoms of numbness, pins and needles or cold feet could suggest injury to a nerve or blood vessel.
• It is thought that repeated ankle sprains may lead to chronic ankle instability.
  
  

When seeking medical attention for a sprained ankle diagnosis, the initial diagnostic procedure usually entails a physical assessment. The doctor will evaluate your mobility and check for any soreness or instability in your foot. In more severe cases, additional tests may be necessary to determine accurate diagnosis and treatment options:

• Exclusion of fractures is achieved by the utilization of X-rays.
• Magnetic Resonance Imaging or ankle sprain MRI for short, generates detailed images of soft tissues and helps in precise evaluation of ligament damage.
• In some cases, a CT scan may be used to produce an all-encompassing image depicting bone structure as well as ligament interconnections.

Ankle Sprain Treatment Options

Wondering how to treat a sprained ankle? Some ankle sprains don’t always heal properly and also have the risk of recurring.

Below are some recommendations:

The POLICE method for ankle sprain is a primary treatment option for mild to moderate sprains:

• Protect: Avoid putting weight on the injured ankle by using crutches or a brace if necessary to prevent further injury.
• Optimal Loading: Begin gentle movements and gradual weight-bearing as soon as tolerated to promote healing, avoiding complete rest.
• Ice: Apply ice to the injured area for 15-20 minutes every few hours for the first 48 hours to reduce pain and swelling.
• Compression: Use an elastic bandage to wrap the ankle, providing support and reducing swelling.
• Elevation: Keep the ankle elevated above heart level as much as possible, especially in the first 48 hours, to minimize swelling.

If the injury fails to improve with initial care, or in case of more severe sprains, medical treatments may become unavoidable:

• One of the viable treatments in this direction is physical therapy, which includes different exercises to strengthen ankles and provide them with stability and flexibility.
• Proprioceptive exercises are great as well. It’s your body’s ability to sense movement, action and location of limb or self.
• Immobilization of an ankle injury often has to be done in a cast or brace, which forms an important part of its recovery process.
• Surgery might be necessary to fix a torn ligament as a severe ankle sprain treatment. This is particularly true for Grade 3 sprains or in situations where chronic ankle instability occurs. Immobilization and surgery will require physical therapy to recover as well.

Ankle sprain recovery time differs based on the severity of each case:

• Properly managed, grade 1 injuries can take anywhere from one to three weeks to recover.
• It may require 3-6 weeks for Grade 2 recovery to be complete.
• Grade 3 ankle sprain recovery usually needs 8-12 weeks or longer, particularly when a surgery is necessary.