While this article is not meant to replace good solid advice from your doctor for dealing with a major injury, there are a few steps you can take to alleviate pain and help the healing process involved with your sprained ankle.
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.
Should the injury show no improvement and is causing enough pain that it prevents you from walking then you may have to visit the doctor for x-rays. Over the counter pain killers are good only if the injury is causing minor discomfort, more pain is a sign that not all is well. Ibuprofen is the best product to take as it will alleviate some of the swelling and inflammation that may be causing the stiffness and it will help to dull 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. One of the ways to assist your body to have a quicker recovery is to give the injured ankle some added support. You can by supportive ankle braces over the counter at many pharmacies or sporting goods stores. These will have a tight fit over a persons foot as well as the ankle and provide a degree of support to supplement your normal strength of your ankle, which could be lowered due to 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.
You may treat the injury at home, however if you do not see improvement after a few days then you might have a much deeper problem. You might have torn a ligament or a tendon, or you might have a small fracture. All of these can do permanent damage if they are not properly diagnosed and treated. While it is fine to try to treat your injury and recover on your own, you do have to heed the warning signs should ice or ibuprofen not work.
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