“What should I do when I twist my ankle?”
I twisted my ankle while playing basketball with my friends, and now I'm in so much pain. I have it up right now, and I'm relaxing, but what else should I do to relieve the pain?
6 Answers
RICE
rest, ice, compression, elevation
rest, ice, compression, elevation
Great question, and a very common one.
Sounds as if you sprained your ankle.
About 10,000 ankle sprains happen in the US every day and are often under treated by primary care docs and other health care providers.
Simple treatments such as rest, elevation, ice and compression are good in the first 12-24 hours, but a few more modalities are needed after this.
Keep in mind a sprain of any joint in the human body by definition is an injury to the stabilizing ligaments of that joint. They are either stretched (Grade 1), partial torn (Grade 2) or completely torn or ruptured (Grade 3). Thus, depending on the severity an ankle sprain can sometimes indeed be as bad as a bone fracture.
With bad sprains (severe swelling, bruising, pain, limp while walking or inability to walk) an orthopedic walking boot (easily purchased online) is recommended for the first 10-14 days. This provides rigid immobilization and support to the ankle, facilitating decreased swelling and pain, and allowing the patient to walk. If the sprain is not as bad, or after the boot, a medical grade brace that can be worn with a shoe is recommended, such as an ASO brace (again available online). This provides support and compression but is less cumbersome than the boot. This is typically worn for about 6-8 weeks.
In addition, during the first 2-3 weeks of a sprain the body is generating an inflammatory reaction around the ankle joint in response to the injury. To address this one should consider the use of an over the counter anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen, motrin or aleve. Take an appropriate dose 2-3 times per day. Obviously consult with your primary care doc if there are any concerns about taking this if you have other medical conditions.
Lastly, the #1 reason to have long lasting issues after an ankle sprain is the lack of appropriate rehabilitation. Meaning, physical therapy is important. So, at a minimum one should work with a physical therapist for at least 2-3 visits to be taught an extensive home exercise program and be educated on the equipment needed to do this (theraband & BAPS board, both available online).
If after 10-12 weeks significant pain or instability (ankle rolling frequently even with brace) persist then seek evaluation with a foot and ankle trained orthopedic surgeon.
Sounds as if you sprained your ankle.
About 10,000 ankle sprains happen in the US every day and are often under treated by primary care docs and other health care providers.
Simple treatments such as rest, elevation, ice and compression are good in the first 12-24 hours, but a few more modalities are needed after this.
Keep in mind a sprain of any joint in the human body by definition is an injury to the stabilizing ligaments of that joint. They are either stretched (Grade 1), partial torn (Grade 2) or completely torn or ruptured (Grade 3). Thus, depending on the severity an ankle sprain can sometimes indeed be as bad as a bone fracture.
With bad sprains (severe swelling, bruising, pain, limp while walking or inability to walk) an orthopedic walking boot (easily purchased online) is recommended for the first 10-14 days. This provides rigid immobilization and support to the ankle, facilitating decreased swelling and pain, and allowing the patient to walk. If the sprain is not as bad, or after the boot, a medical grade brace that can be worn with a shoe is recommended, such as an ASO brace (again available online). This provides support and compression but is less cumbersome than the boot. This is typically worn for about 6-8 weeks.
In addition, during the first 2-3 weeks of a sprain the body is generating an inflammatory reaction around the ankle joint in response to the injury. To address this one should consider the use of an over the counter anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen, motrin or aleve. Take an appropriate dose 2-3 times per day. Obviously consult with your primary care doc if there are any concerns about taking this if you have other medical conditions.
Lastly, the #1 reason to have long lasting issues after an ankle sprain is the lack of appropriate rehabilitation. Meaning, physical therapy is important. So, at a minimum one should work with a physical therapist for at least 2-3 visits to be taught an extensive home exercise program and be educated on the equipment needed to do this (theraband & BAPS board, both available online).
If after 10-12 weeks significant pain or instability (ankle rolling frequently even with brace) persist then seek evaluation with a foot and ankle trained orthopedic surgeon.
Typically you want to follow the RICE formula of Rest, Ice, Compression (think ACE wrap) and elevation. I would also recommend X-rays of the ankle to make certain there is no fractures. Hope this helps!
You should try to treated just as you would any other musculoskeletal injury. Follow the acronym PRICE. This stands for protect by using crutches or brace, rest, ice, compression and elevation. It would also help to use an anti-inflammatory such as Advil or Aleve. If you are unable to place weight on the ankle that evaluation by a physician with x-ray is appropriate. I hope this helps you And good luck.
You should have your ankle evaluated by an orthopedic surgeon if you are having difficulty bearing weight, constant pain, or have a feeling of instability.
The most important aspect of the management of an acute ankle injury is an accurate diagnosis. Missed fractures can cause lifelong pain and/or instability. Minor (grade1) ankle sprains are usually self-limited, and are best managed with ice, elevation, and rest. More severe sprains may require immobilization in a boot, splint, or cast. Any significant ankle injury should be evaluated by a competent health care professional.
