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What You Need to Know About Ankle Sprains

Whether you roll your ankle during a workout or step wrong on uneven ground, accidents happen all the time. When you overstretch one of the ligaments in your ankle, it results in a sprain. Sprained ankles are one of the most common injuries you can face in your lifetime and podiatry offices are no stranger to them.

Most people stick to at-home treatments for their injuries, which can work in some mild cases. However, there are plenty of complications that can arise if your sprained ankle is more severe and you don’t seek treatment. Without proper rest and recovery, you can expect it to create long-term issues as you age. Not only are you more susceptible to further injury and repeated sprained ankles, but you’ll likely have a limited range of motion and ongoing pain.

Do You Have a Sprain?

For a diagnosis, it’s best to seek out the help of a professional. Contact your podiatrist if your ankle doesn’t feel better after 2-3 days of rest – they can help heal your injury. But if you want to have a better understanding of what you could be dealing with, look for these signs and symptoms:

  • Swelling
  • Bruising
  • Tenderness
  • Joint instability
  • Pain
  • Loss of range of motion
  • Trouble putting weight on your ankle.

Moving Forward

So, you’ve been diagnosed with an ankle sprain (or suspect you will be). What’s next? You’ll likely be visiting your podiatrist daily for up to a few months, depending on the severity of your injury. They’ll give you an x-ray to rule out further damage and injury to your foot, bones, and tendons.

Your foot doctor will then determine a specific treatment plan depending on your injury. This usually involves applying the RICE regime (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), using bandages or splints, and certain foot and ankle exercises after you’ve healed. For more severe cases, surgery or visiting a physical therapist may be recommended.

Think you may have an ankle sprain? Call our office today and ask about it. Dr. Ryan L. D’Amico, Dr. Donal M. Erickson, Dr. Keith Sherman, Dr. Anne-Louise Smith, Dr. Justin Muser, and the rest of the staff at Syracuse Podiatry in East Syracuse, New York, can help treat and care for your feet. Call us at 315-446-3668 or make an appointment online to get help today.

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