Sprains
Source American Academy of Family Physicians
March 02, 2005
A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament. Ligaments connect one bone to another bone at a joint and help keep the bones from moving out of place. The most common site of sprains is the ankle.
Signs of an ankle sprain are swelling, pain, bruising and trouble moving the ankle after the injury. Your doctor will usually be able to tell if you have a sprain by asking you some questions about how the injury occurred and by examining your ankle.
Many doctors suggest using the RICE approach – Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation – for treating ankle sprains.
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RICE approach to treating ankle sprains Rest – You may need to rest your ankle, either completely or partly, depending on how serious your sprain is. Use crutches for as long as it hurts you to stand on your foot. Ice – Using ice packs, ice slush baths or ice massages can decrease the swelling, pain, bruising, and muscle spasms. Keep using ice for up to three days after the injury. Don’t use heat for at least three days. Compression – Wrapping your ankle may be the best way to avoid swelling and bruising. You’ll probably need to keep your ankle wrapped for the first day or two after the injury and perhaps for up to a week or more. Elevation – Raising your ankle to or above the level of your heart will help prevent the swelling from getting worse and will help reduce bruising. Try to keep your ankle elevated for about two to three hours a day if possible. |
Putting ice on your ankle can be very helpful, but you also need to be careful. The cold can damage nerves if the ice is left in place too long. Ice can be left on your ankle for up to 20 minutes at a time. When your skin feels numb, it’s time to remove the ice. Use ice treatments every two to four hours for the first three days after your injury.
If you feel like you need some medicine to ease the pain, try acetaminophen (Datril, Excedrin, Panadol, Tylenol).
It may take weeks or even months for the ligaments to heal completely. When your doctor feels you’re ready to exercise again, you can help prevent further sprains and setbacks by wearing a semi-rigid ankle brace. Once your sprain has completely healed, a program of ankle exercises will also help prevent injury by making muscles that move the ankle stronger, providing extra protection to the ligaments. Ask your doctor to recommend an exercise program.
