Image via WikipediaKeeping in mind that the best advice for a major injury is always given by your doctor, there are several steps that you can take in order to ease the pain and aid in the healing process of a mild ankle sprain.
This type of injury typically happens when the ankle is rolled in one direction or the other and the ligaments and tendons which give it support and hold it upright are stretched too far. The result is a painful injury that can lead to swelling and immobility. As with any injury, you should immediately ice the ankle. The ice constricts the blood vessels in the affected area, thus restricting blood flow. This restriction in blood flow help to control the swelling. The ice also helps to numb the pain. You should continue to ice the injury for 20 minutes several times a day.
Sometimes these injuries occur when you are out shopping. How often have you gone over on your ankle when stepping off a curb? A good idea is to buy a small packet of frozen garden peas, or sweetcorn to apply to the injured area and go and sit on a bench for several minutes.
If the injury is causing enough pain that it prevents you from walking, then you should see a doctor for some x-rays. The injury could be more significant than you thought. If the injury is just causing you minor discomfort then you may find further relief with an over the counter pain killer. One that is an ibuprofen product will help reduce some of the inflammation that may be causing the stiffness, and the ibuprofen will also help to numb the discomfort.
As your ligaments and tendons work to repair and strengthen themselves, you may want to take it easy for a while. Since they have been stretched past their normal capacity, they will be weaker and the probability that you could injure yourself again is higher during the time when your body is rebuilding its strength.
You can help your body recover by giving the injured ankle some additional support. You can by supportive ankle braces over the counter at many pharmacies or sporting goods stores. These fit tightly over the foot and ankle and offer some support to supplement the natural strength of your ankle, which may be diminished because of the injury. While it is ok to use these supports during the recovery phase, you may want to consult a doctor about prolonged use, as your body can grow to depend on the brace for support and never truly regain its own strength.
If you do try to treat the injury at home and you are still not seeing any improvement after a few days, you should see a doctor. If you have torn a ligament or tendon and don’t get it taken care of promptly and properly, you can do permanent damage to your future mobility and stability. Sometimes small fractures can also occur which obviously need to be treated by a doctor. It’s ok to take a little time to asses the severity of the injury, but if it doesn’t get better with ice and ibuprofen, it’s time to go see a doctor.
Tags: ligaments and tendons, ankle braces, ankle sprain, inflammation, sprained ankle
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