| How to take care of an ankle sprain. Is it really | | | | every 3-4 hours. Do NOT ice a ankle sprain for |
| serious? | | | | more than 20 minutes at a time!! You will not be |
| How is an ankle sprain diagnosed? First your | | | | helping heal the ankle sprain any faster, and you |
| doctor will get a complete history of the injury in | | | | can cause damage to the tissues! Compression: |
| detail. For example he will ask you when and how | | | | Use compression when elevating the ankle sprain |
| the ankle sprain occurred and ask about any prior | | | | in early treatment. Using an Ace bandage, wrap |
| injuries. Next, your doctor will examine your foot, | | | | the ankle from the toes all the way up to the top |
| ankle, and lower leg and even your knee to see if | | | | of the calf muscle, overlapping the elastic wrap by |
| additional injury occurred. He or she may ask you | | | | one-half of the width of the wrap. The wrap |
| to move your foot up and down and to take a | | | | should be snug, but not cutting off circulation to |
| few steps if possible. Your doctor will then | | | | the foot and ankle. So, if your foot becomes cold, |
| carefully try moving your foot and ankle to see if | | | | blue, or falls asleep, re-wrap! Elevation: Keep your |
| the ligaments are intact. You will need X-rays to | | | | ankle sprain higher than your heart as often as |
| evaluate the ankle. X-rays can help find out | | | | possible |
| whether you have any ligament tears, broken | | | | More severe ankle sprain injuries, including |
| bones, or bones that have moved out of their | | | | complete tears of the ligaments and fractures of |
| normal positions. X-rays should always be taken | | | | the bone may need different treatments and |
| for children because of potential injury to the | | | | rehabilitation than a simple ankle sprain. Things |
| bone's growth plate and possible disruption of | | | | such as balance exercises, range of motion |
| normal growth. Sometimes X-rays of both ankles | | | | exercises and ultrasound and electrical stimulation |
| are necessary in order to compare the injured | | | | may also be used. Medication Nonsteroidal |
| ankle with the one that is healthy. | | | | anti-inflammatory drugs (such as Motrin) may be |
| How is an ankle Sprain treated? | | | | used to control pain and inflammation |
| Most ankle sprains need only a period of | | | | When is Surgery Needed? In more severe cases |
| protection to heal. The healing process takes | | | | or injuries that fail to respond to nonsurgical |
| about four weeks to six weeks. | | | | treatment, surgery may be required to |
| Early Treatments: | | | | adequately treat an ankle sprain. Surgery often |
| Rest: first 24-48 hours after the injury is | | | | involves repairing the damaged ligament or |
| considered a critical treatment period and activities | | | | ligaments. The foot and ankle surgeon will select |
| need to be curtailed. You may need to use | | | | the surgical procedure best suited for your case |
| crutches if walking causes pain. Also use of a | | | | based on the type and severity of your injury as |
| device to immobilize or splint the ankle (such as a | | | | well as your activity level. |
| ankle brace or walking boot) may be necessary. | | | | If an ankle sprain is not recognized, and is not |
| ICE: For the first 48 hours post-injury, ice pack | | | | treated with the necessary attention and care, |
| and elevate the ankle sprain 20 minutes at a time | | | | chronic problems of pain and instability may result. |