Twisting your ankle – also called a sprained ankle – is something that can affect you at any stage in your life. It occurs when the ligaments in the ankle joint come under extreme stress and tear or break. Fortunately, the body can heal from such injuries, but it can take a long time – sometimes months.
The symptoms of a sprained ankle are quite unpleasant. During and immediately after the injury, you’ll feel an intense burning pain in the affected region. You’ll also notice a lot of tenderness around the ankle with some accompanying swelling if the injury is serious. You may find it hard to walk and there will be a restricted range of motion. You won’t be able to move in the same way you normally can. Popping and other noises are common at the time of injury as the ligaments move out of their regular position in the ankle joint.
In many cases, you don’t need to go and see a doctor immediately. However, you should if you suspect a sprain. A twisted ankle is an unpleasant experience, but it doesn’t prevent you from walking. A proper sprain, however, will cause intense pain if you attempt to walk on it.
Who Is At Risk Of A Twisted Ankle?
Many different types of people are at risk of a twisted ankle. People who play sports, for instance, are at the highest risk. Anything that requires jumping, rolling or changing direction puts them at a higher risk.
You are also at risk if you walk on an uneven surface – a leading cause of council claims. When your foot hits the floor at the wrong angle, it can bend dangerously in the wrong direction.
Bad shoe choice can also put you at higher risk. If your shoes don’t fit you properly, they will move around as you walk. Heeled shoes also make the ankles more vulnerable to injury.
The complications of a twisted ankle aren’t pleasant. You could develop chronic ankle pain afterwards, paired with ankle joint instability. You may also experience increased arthritis in the ankle joint.
What To Do After A Sprained Ankle
If you twist your ankle but can walk within 24 hours without pain, a sprain is unlikely. However, if you have damaged the ligament, you will need to follow a specific action plan to promote recovery.
Rest
The first thing to do is rest the ankle. If you continue using it in its weakened state, you may damage it. Resting allows healing factors to rush to the site and begin the process of repair.
Use Ice
The next step is to apply ice. Ice works to reduce inflammation and can help reduce recovery time in most people. Cold actually encourages cells to go into maintenance and repair mode. Ideally, you should apply cold compresses for 20 minutes at a time, every two to three hours for maximum effect.
Elevate Your Leg
If you notice that you have a lot of swelling, you might want to try elevating your leg above your heart. Gravity helps to drain the joint of inflammatory liquids, speeding the healing process.
(The reason your body swells up is to provide cushioning and additional protection for the injury. However, sometimes the swelling can also impede the restorative process).
Take Medications
In some cases, your doctor will prescribe medications if you have a particularly severe injury. For instance, you might receive naproxen sodium.
However, you should be able to manage the pain using over-the-counter options. Pain relievers such as ibuprofen are extremely effective because they deal with pain and counteract inflammation at the same time.
Use A Device
Because of the complexity of the ankle joint, rehability is often challenging. It can take many weeks to walk confidently again, and months after that before you’re running. One issue is the way the repair process works. Often the body will attempt to shorten the ligament, restricting your range of movement.
To prevent this, doctors will often prescribe machines that stimulate the surrounding muscles, making the ankle joint twitch. The purpose of this is to restore the normal range of motion to the ankle.
You may also receive a walking boot. These are for very severe sprains where immobilisation of the joint is essential.
Ask About Surgery
In some cases, the injury you receive will be so severe that the ankle joint refuses to heal. You may find that you can walk on it stably for a while, before it collapses.
When this happens, you may need surgery followed by rehabilitative exercises and physical therapy. Typically surgeons will reconstruct the damaged ligament with sections of tendon or ligament from surrounding tissues.
Get Financial Help
In many cases, twisting your ankle isn’t your fault. Instead, it happened because of somebody else’s negligence. If that’s the case, you may be able to apply for compensation. The money you receive pays for the distress of the injury and any additional rehabilitative requirements that you have. Remember, a twisted ankle is something that can affect your ability to work, so it is a serious condition for many people.
Get Therapy
After a couple of days to a fortnight, the swelling will subside sufficiently to restore movement to the ankle joint. However, you may still find it painful to move if the healing process isn’t complete.
Many patients with serious ankle injuries use physical therapy to restore movement. A therapist can explain a suitable progression of movements for you to try, slowly building more strength and capacity into the ankle joint itself.
Conclusion
When you go to the doctor about your twisted ankle, it is best to go prepared with answers to questions they might ask. You’ll need to be able to explain how the injury happened, the direction your foot twisted and whether you can bear weight on it. You’ll also want to run through any treatments you’re currently using on it, if any.
Once you provide them with the necessary information, they’ll be able to offer a suitable course of treatment for you.
