Ankle Sprains: Recognizing and Treating This Painful Problem

Your ankles are complex structures made of bones, cartilage, ligaments, muscles and tendons. When they’re strong and healthy, ankles keep you moving forward, backward and side to side.

One misstep, though, and you could wind up sidelined with an ankle sprain.

“Sprains are caused by stretched or torn ligaments,” explains Dr. David Castor, family medicine specialist at Beaufort Memorial Express Care & Occupational Health – Bluffton. “Depending on its severity, a sprained ankle can heal in as little as two weeks, but more serious injuries can take up to three months.”

The Origin of an Ankle Sprain

Ankle sprains are one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries. In fact, research published by the Journal of Athletic Training states that approximately 2 million ankle sprains occur in the U.S. every year.

An ankle sprain happens when you stretch the ankle joint’s ligaments too far, and the ligaments tear. There are many reasons this may happen, including:

• Exercising or walking on an uneven surface
• Participating in sports that require jumping or quick direction changes, such as basketball or soccer
• Tripping or falling down

Read More: A Primer on Preventing Bone and Joint Problems

Symptoms of a Sprained Ankle

While the severity of sprained ankles varies, symptoms are usually hard to ignore. One of the most common symptoms is pain. The injured ankle may hurt whether you’re exercising or at rest, and it may worsen when the affected ankle is touched.

“Swelling, bruising and joint or muscle pain are the most common symptoms of a sprained ankle,” Dr. Castor says.

Additional symptoms include:

• Inability to bear weight on the affected ankle
• A popping sound when the ligament tears
• Reduced range of motion in the injured ankle

Diagnosing and Grading Your Ankle Sprain

To diagnose a sprained ankle, your primary care provider or an orthopedic specialist will ask about your injury and symptoms and examine the injured ankle. During the exam, your provider will move the affected foot and ankle in different directions. This helps identify injured ligaments and determine the extent your injury affects the ankle’s stability and range of motion.

A physical exam is often enough to diagnose an ankle sprain. In some cases, an X-ray or other imaging study is necessary. These tests help rule out broken bones or other injuries. Along with a diagnosis, your sprain receives one of three grades.

“Grade 1 is the mildest form of injury,” Dr. Castor says. With this injury, “the ligaments are only stretched, and there’s less swelling around the ankle.”

Grade 2 sprains indicate partial tearing of the ligament and relatively mild symptoms. With a grade 3 sprain, your tendon tears fully. You may experience severe pain when putting weight on your ankle. Additionally, your ankle may feel weak and wobbly (ankle instability), and you may have severe swelling, bruising and tenderness.

Read More: Chronic Pain? It Could Be a Repetitive Stress Injury

Treating Sprained Ankles at Home

Although ankle sprains are painful and frustrating, most can be treated nonsurgically.

“Treatment for ankle sprains occurs in three stages,” Dr. Castor says. “Reducing pain and swelling comes first, then restoring range of motion and finally returning to day-to-day activities.”

To move toward healing, RICE (rest, ice, compression and elevation) therapy helps reduce swelling, pain and other symptoms. It’s a good idea to start as soon as possible.

• Rest — Get off your feet and avoid putting weight on your injured ankle.
• Ice — Apply ice three or four times a day for up to 30 minutes at a time.
• Compression — Wrap the injured ankle tightly to support it and prevent it from moving.
• Elevation — Keep your injured ankle raised above heart level for 48 hours after injury.

You can also take nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), such as naproxen or ibuprofen, to manage pain and swelling. For minor sprains, RICE and NSAIDs may be all the treatment necessary.

“After approximately two days, the initial pain and swelling will begin to decrease,” Dr. Castor says. “By then, you can start putting weight on your foot.”

Caring for Severe Sprains

When symptoms continue despite home treatment, you may require additional care. Seek medical attention if you experience the following:

• Ankle weakness or a feeling that your ankle will give out when you walk on it
• Continued problems a week after your injury
• Difficulty or inability to walk on the affected ankle due to pain
• Discoloration or numbness in the ankle
• Pins-and-needles sensation in the affected ankle

These symptoms indicate a severe sprain. They may benefit from one of the following:

• Physical therapy — A trained physical therapist guides you through special exercises designed to restore function and strength and prevent future ankle sprains.
• Surgery — Though rare, surgery can repair torn ligaments in the ankle. It’s an option if you experience chronic ankle instability, additional injuries along with a sprained ankle or instability caused by a high ankle sprain.

“I recommend visiting a Beaufort Memorial Express Care & Occupational Health clinic for all sprains,” Dr. Castor says. “Same-day, walk-in appointments allow you to receive quick, efficient treatment, which can help expedite your recovery and reduce the risk of long-term problems.”

Read More: Stress Fracture: When It’s More Than Muscle Soreness

A Guide to Ankle Sprains

Sprained ankles are the most common musculoskeletal problem in the United States. Recognizing the problem and seeking care helps you move toward healing.

1. Walking, tripping and certain sports activities can cause an ankle sprain, leading to pain, stiffness and other unwanted symptoms.
2. Diagnosing an ankle sprain involves a physical examination. Sometimes, imaging studies are necessary to rule out other conditions.
3. Home treatment can bring healing to many sprained ankles. When necessary, your care team may recommend physical therapy or surgery as part of your treatment.

Request an appointment with one of our orthopedic sports medicine specialists.