Sprained left ankle?

Question

Hi I sprained my ankle today at Football practice.. Im not sure if it's a grade 1 or grade 2 sprain. It really hurts when I put some pressure on it. Its swollen on the outside part of the left ankle.Also, everytime I walk, my archilles tendon hurts aswell.

What kind of sprain is this? How long would it take to recover because I got a game this coming sunday.? and what to do to make sure it heals quick?

Answer 1

A serious sprain can take a long time to heal. It can leave the ankle weak. If there are signs of serious injury, you should have the doctor help you.

See the doctor if:

-there's deformity or severe swelling

-the ankle can't be walked on after an hour of rest

-you can't move the joint fully

-there's continued severe pain

-there's numbness or weakness below the injured area.

The treatment of a sprain is "RICE:" Rest, Ice, Compress, and Elevate. Immediately elevate the injured part and apply an ice bag. Once the area is thoroughly cooled, apply an elastic wrap to compress the injury.

For the first 48 hours, repeat ice and elevation 1/4 of the time (for example, 30 minutes of ice every two hours). As the pain subsides, return to activities. The rule is: "If it hurts, don't do it." You can usually stop using the elastic wrap after 2 to 3 days. If the ankle seems weak, wobbly, or painful in routine use, go to the doctor.

Answer 2

The initial treatment for all sprains is RICE: Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation.  The better you comply, the quicker you will recover!

Rest

Rest the injured ankle, avoiding any activity that causes further pain. Meanwhile, you can maintain conditioning with activities that won't stress the joint, such as riding a stationary bicycle, using a rowing machine or swimming with leg floats.

Ice

Apply ice as soon as possible. Ice decreases pain immediately by numbing the skin and reduces swelling by constricting blood vessels. Much of the pain from an injury is caused by swelling from torn blood vessels. Controlling the swelling helps you make a speedier recovery.

It's best to use crushed ice in a watertight bag covered with a thin cloth so it's not too cold against the skin. Apply it for 15 minutes directly over the area of swelling. Longer applications may cause a rebound dilation of the blood vessels and may actually increase swelling.

Apply the ice every four to eight hours as long as the swelling continues (even as long as a week). You can use chemical ice packs, but many experts warn that because they do not melt the same way as ice, they can overcool the ankle and cause a chemical freeze to the skin.

Compression

Compress the swollen area with an elastic bandage. Begin the wrap at the toes and continue it up about four inches above the ankle. If you begin the wrap above the toes, all the swelling is likely to accumulate in the toes.

Don't wrap it so tightly that it causes more pain or cuts off the circulation to your toes. While the elastic wrap can reduce further swelling, it usually doesn't provide enough support to prevent reinjury.

Elevation

Elevate the injured ankle as much as possible, particularly while applying ice; this allows gravity to drain some of the swelling. Place the ankle higher than the knee, the knee higher than the hip and the hip higher than the heart. Use books, a suitcase or a box under the mattress at night; this works better than a pillow.

There is an excellent article with specific treatments at:

http://www.sportsdoctor.com/articles/twi... <>http://www.sportsdoctor.com/articles/twi...

HTH!

Answer 3

The treatment for a sprain is Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation, and hope your trainer treated you properly.

Whatever, the grade I would think your Doctor would advise you not to play this weekend. Remember, the symptoms of a sprain are very similar to that of a fracture, it's in your long term health interest to have it x-rayed.