Are you experiencing symptoms of an ankle sprain?

You were out on the field. You caught the football and were about to score when out of nowhere someone tackles you to the ground. Perhaps your foot went one way but your ankle went another and you found yourself dealing with sudden ankle pain. Perhaps you even had trouble putting weight on the injured ankle. If so, you might be dealing with a sprained ankle. From the office of our Wesley Chapel, FL, podiatrists Drs. George and Kathy Tjamaloukas, find out how a sprained ankle is treated.

First and foremost is it important that you seek proper medical attention. While it might be a minor sprain or just a strain it could also be something worse than a sprained ankle, in which case certain measures will need to be taken right away.

If a sprained ankle isn’t treated this can lead to more sprains in the future and chronic ankle instability. To prevent this, it’s important that our Wesley Chapel foot doctor evaluates your ankle as soon as possible.

How to Care for a Sprained Ankle

The most important thing you can do is rest and to stay off the ankle as much as possible. By resting the foot you are allowing it time to heal properly without exacerbating it. If you have a minor sprain you may be able to manage your symptoms with the simple RICE method: rest, ice, compression and elevation.

If the sprain is serious enough, we may recommend wearing a boot or using crutches to take some weight off the injured ankle. Sometimes a brace can reduce swelling and improve stability while the sprain heals.

If you are noticing swelling or discomfort there are several ways to tackle the problem. You can choose to take an over-the-counter nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medication like ibuprofen, which can temporarily alleviate your symptoms when they flare-up. You should also ice the injury 2-3 times a day for up to 15 minutes at a time (do not apply ice for longer than 20 minutes). Wearing compression socks can also reduce swelling and provide support to the ankle.

With the proper care, you should notice a reduction in swelling within a few days. In some cases, our podiatrists may recommend physical therapy or rehab to retrain and strengthen the muscles, ligaments and tendons in the ankle. We will also give you a time frame in which you can begin to incorporate your daily athletic routine back into your schedule.

Are you or a loved one experiencing symptoms of a sprained ankle? If so, it’s important that you schedule an appointment with one of our foot and ankle specialists in Wesley Chapel, FL. Call Comprehensive Foot and Ankle Center today.