Spraining an ankle is one of the most common ways to find your way into a podiatrist’s office. While many people may be fortunate enough to walk away with only minor pain and a temporary limp that subsides after a few days of rest and recuperation, other folks suffer sprains that can be much more problematic. The excessive force that is usually absorbed by your ankle bones and other major components is instead released into the more delicate ligaments and tendons, resulting in bruising, swelling, bleeding, and extreme pain all around the ankle joint.
How to treat an ankle sprain
Even what may appear to be a severe ankle sprain, in the beginning, will often respond very well to the RICE method—Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. It’s always best to rest a sprained ankle but if you need to get mobile immediately, a walking boot and custom orthotic inserts can provide the necessary stabilization and immobilization for the required period of time. Take the boot off and raise your leg for as many hours as possible while healing occurs during rest periods. Don’t walk on a severely sprained ankle without support. It may take weeks or months of careful strengthening before you can go back to normal activities.
Preventing sprained ankles
Always make sure you are using the appropriate and most supportive shoes for the activity you are performing. This is essential to preventing foot and ankle injuries. Keep in mind that a poorly treated ankle sprain is one of the best ways to have it happen all over again and even worse. So be sure to give your ankle time for the appropriate healing and rehabilitation exercises to take effect.
Slowly strengthening your ankle joints and ligaments is mandatory or you are just asking for a new and likely worse sprain to occur. If you have a severely strained or sprained ankle, consult with our board-certified podiatrists at Foot and Ankle Center of Fort Lee, LLC. The center offers convenient locations in Fort Lee NJ, Ringwood NJ, Flushing Queens NY, Woodhaven NY, Brooklyn NY, and Forest Hills NY. Contact us at (201) 363-9844 and schedule an appointment today!
