When should I get sprained ankle treatment?

Are you wondering if you have a sprained ankle and need treatment? It’s essential to recognize the signs. In the event that you have sprained your ankle, look out for pain, swelling, stiffness, bruising, redness, tenderness and an inability to bear weight on the affected ankle. These may all be indicators that you have sustained a sprain, thus warranting a doctor’s visit for a concrete diagnosis. 

To diagnose your condition, your doctor will perform a physical exam of your ankle to check your range of motion as well as diagnostic tests such as an MRI or X-ray. Once the condition is confirmed, a sprained ankle treatment plan will be recommended. Based on the severity of your condition, doctors often recommend a nonsurgical plan to ease your pain or discomfort, such as the conservative treatments mentioned below. 

Types of sprained ankle treatments

If you are suffering from a sprained ankle, the following at-home treatments may be able to help you on the road to recovery:

• Rest — When sustaining a sprained ankle, it’s important to take the pressure off your foot by finding a place to rest your ankle.

• Ice — To minimize pain and swelling as well as expedite the healing process, apply a bag of ice wrapped in a towel to the source of your sprain.

• Compression — Wrap your ankle in an elastic bandage (make sure that it is not too tight) in order to keep the ankle still and alleviate the swelling.

• Elevation — Lie down with pillows under your foot and your ankle raised at the level of your heart to decrease pain and swelling caused by a sprained ankle.

• Heel lift — An orthopedic heel lift or shoe insert reduces the need for ankle dorsiflexion during activities like walking down the stairs or squatting in order to stabilize the ankle.

• NSAIDs — Pain medications such as nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs can help to control the pain and swelling associated with a sprained ankle.

Visit SSOR for sprained ankle treatments today

If your pain and discomfort don’t improve from the sprained ankle treatments mentioned above, physical therapy such as gait training, muscle strengthening and range of motion exercises may be recommended. At SSOR, our physical therapy experts can help you get back on your feet. 

Contact us today to learn more about our sprained ankle treatments or to schedule an initial appointment with our dedicated staff.