Can you walk sprained ankle

Mild sprains may involve overstretching and irritating the ligaments, while severe sprains can cause the ligaments to tear completely.

Ankle sprains are common injuries, particularly among people who play sports. They can be very painful, and severe sprains can require months of recovery. However, a person can do several things at home to help speed their healing and reduce the risk of reinjury.

Below, find out what to do after spraining an ankle. We describe first aid and longer-term methods of supporting recovery. Avoid putting any weight on the ankle, as this increases the risk of broken bones and other injuries. Sit in a comfortable position, with the ankle elevated to reduce swelling. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs , such as ibuprofen , can also help alleviate swelling and pain. If crutches are available, some people find that they can help with balance and mobility while allowing the ankle to rest.

It is difficult to diagnose an ankle sprain based on symptoms alone. For this reason, a person should see a doctor. Most family physicians and doctors at urgent care clinics can quickly diagnose a sprained ankle.

If the injury is very serious, they may refer the person to an orthopedist or foot and ankle surgeon. The following methods of home care may support faster recovery while helping to protect against further injuries. The acronym RICE stands for: rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Doctors often recommend these tactics to reduce swelling and inflammation in the days after an injury. Resting the ankle is key for healing, and wearing a brace can help stabilize the injured area.

Attempting to return to sports or other activities too quickly increases the risk of another injury. The American Academy of Family Physicians suggest applying an ice pack to the sprain for 10—20 minutes at a time. Wrap the pack in a towel before laying it against the skin. They found that, while doctors commonly recommend applying ice, there is limited evidence to support its effectiveness. Try wrapping a bandage around the injured ankle.

The bandage should be snug, but not so tight that it digs into the skin, hurts, or causes numbness. Elevating a sprained ankle reduces the accumulation of fluid in the joint. This can ease swelling, which may also help reduce pain. Try sleeping with the foot and ankle propped up on pillows at a level higher than the heart.

When sitting or resting, use pillows or a footrest to keep the foot and ankle elevated. Heat increases blood flow to an injury, which can speed healing. Some people also find that it helps relax tight muscles, easing pain and tension.

However, do not use heat while the ankle is still swollen, as this can increase inflammation and slow healing. Once the swelling goes down, try applying a heat pack for 15—20 minutes at a time. Some people find relief from alternating heat and ice packs. Only try this after the swelling is gone — not immediately after the injury.

Elevation — Elevate your ankle to the height of your hip when in a seated position. Tip: Avoid hot showers, heat rubs, or hot packs, as this may increase swelling and prolong your recovery time. Generally, within 72 hours, you can begin stretching and range-of-motion exercises. You should continue these exercises until your ankle has recovered to the point of pre-injury conditions. Tip: A series of reflexology massages may significantly accelerate your recovery from a sprained ankle.

Note: Remaining immobile for extended periods without initiating some sort of exercise or rehabilitation regimen can lead to further complications or delays in your recovery. Two weeks to six months. However, recovery time for a sprained ankle will vary from case to case, requiring different care and recovery approaches. This recovery time can change a lot based on:.

As an example, recovery time for a grade one sprain is two weeks to a month. A grade two sprain can take from six to eight weeks. Finally, a grade three sprain may take anywhere from three to six months for recovery. If these symptoms arise, seek medical attention to diagnose and treat these conditions.

Read more about relieving plantar fasciitis at yourfootpalace. The injury known as a sprained ankle occurs when you twist, roll, or turn your ankle in an extended or abnormal way. This action stretches or tears the bands of tissue or ligaments that work to hold your ankle bones in place. Usually, the more pain and swelling you have, the more severe your ankle sprain is and the longer it will take to heal.

Your doctor will ask you how the injury occurred and if you have hurt your ankle before. He or she will check your foot and ankle, your lower leg, and even your knee to see if you are hurt anywhere else. In some cases, the doctor may order X-rays to be sure there is not a broken bone in the ankle or the foot. If you are not taking any prescription pain relievers, you may want to take an over-the-counter pain reliever such as ibuprofen or naproxen to reduce pain and swelling.

Proper treatment and rehabilitation rehab exercises are very important for ankle sprains. If an ankle sprain does not heal right, the joint may become unstable and may develop chronic pain. This can make your ankle weak and more likely to be reinjured. Before you return to sports and other activities that put stress on your ankle, it's a good idea to wait until you can hop on your ankle with no pain.

Taping your ankle or wearing a brace during exercise can help protect your ankle. Wearing hiking boots or other high-top, lace-up shoes for support may also help.

But use caution. Don't force your foot into a boot if you feel a lot of pain or discomfort. If your ankle is still unstable after rehab, or if the ligament damage is severe, your doctor may recommend surgery to repair the torn ligaments. Rehab exercises can begin soon after the injury.

You can try to walk or put weight on your foot. You may need to use crutches until you can walk without pain. Depending on your pain, you can also begin range-of-motion exercises while you have ice on your ankle.

These exercises are easy to do—you just trace the alphabet with your toe. This helps the ankle move in all directions.

Ask your doctor about other rehab. Stretching, strength training, and balance exercises may help the ankle heal totally and may prevent further injury. Ankle sprains occur when ligaments that connect the bones in the foot, ankle, and lower leg stretch or tear.

There are different types of ankle sprains. An inversion injury, the most common cause of ankle sprains, occurs when the ankle rolls outward and the foot turns inward. It results in stretching and tearing of the ligaments on the outside of the ankle. In an eversion injury, the ankle rolls inward and the foot turns outward, damaging the ligaments at the inside of the ankle.

In a "high" ankle sprain, a less common type of injury, ligaments that join the two lower leg bones together above the ankle, called the syndesmosis, are injured. This usually happens if the foot is forced up, or if the leg is forcefully twisted while the foot is planted.

This injury can occur either by itself or with an inversion or eversion sprain. If the ligaments of the syndesmosis are injured, the sprain is more severe and takes longer to heal. Damage to the ligament varies from simply stretched or slightly torn to completely torn. Your doctor will grade your sprain accordingly. People usually feel immediate pain at the site of an ankle sprain. Often the ankle starts to swell immediately and may develop bruising.

The affected area is usually tender to touch and may feel "wobbly" or unstable. The severity of your symptoms usually depends on how much tearing has occurred. In more severe sprains, you are often not able to walk or even put weight on your foot, and your ankle may feel unstable. You usually have extreme pain at first, but some people start to feel better fairly soon. If a sprain does not heal correctly, your ankle joint may be more likely to be injured again or the pain may not go away.

This often occurs with even a slight trauma, such as stepping off a curb or walking on uneven pavement. Some people complain of persistent pain and swelling. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor if you are not getting better after 1 week.

If your pain is mild and you are able to put some weight on your foot, you may follow the recommendations in the Treatment Overview and Home Treatment sections of this topic. Early treatment followed by rehabilitation exercises help your ankle heal properly. If treatment recommendations are not followed, your ankle may stay weak and unstable.

Your doctor will ask you when and how the ankle sprain occurred and ask about any prior injuries. Next, your doctor will examine your foot, ankle, and lower leg and even your knee to see if any other injury occurred. He or she may ask you to move your foot up and down and to take a few steps if possible. Your doctor will then carefully try moving your foot and ankle to see if the ligaments are intact and what movements cause pain. If your sprain is mild, an X-ray may not be taken.

If your sprain is more severe, you may need X-rays to evaluate the ankle. X-rays can help your doctor find out whether you have any ligament tears, broken bones, or bones that have moved out of their normal positions. X-rays are often taken for children because of potential injury to the bone's growth plate and possible disruption of normal growth. Doctors may take X-rays of both ankles so they can compare the injured ankle with the one that is healthy.

Be safe with medicines. Read and follow all instructions on the label. It may help to wear hiking boots or other high-top, lace-up shoes for support. Your doctor may suggest that you keep some or all of your weight off your ankle as it heals.

If this happens, learn to use your crutches or walker properly and safely. Almost all ankle sprains heal on their own with proper home treatment and rehabilitation rehab exercises. Surgery to repair torn ligaments is usually only considered when there is a severe ligament tear or tears or if the ankle remains unstable after rehab. Surgery is also a consideration if you have broken a bone. Ankle sprains take an average of 6 weeks to heal but can take can up to 4 months, depending on the severity.