Don’t Let an Ankle Sprain Sideline You: A Guide to Proper Healing

Around two million ankle sprains land Americans in medical centers each year. This painful injury can happen from something as little as one misstep, causing excruciating symptoms.

Thankfully, the right treatment plan can ease your ankle pain and restore your mobility – if, that is, you follow your doctor’s recovery guidance closely.

At Babak Kosari, DPM, in Northridge and Santa Clarita, California, board-certified foot and ankle surgeon Babak Kosari, DPM, FACFAS, treats ankle sprains to reduce your pain and get you back to the activities you enjoy. Here’s how to ensure proper healing.

Sprained ankle basics

Most ankle sprains happen when you roll or twist your ankle inward during athletic activity or while walking or running on an uneven surface. The awkward motion causes the strong tissue bands that connect your ankle bones, known as ligaments, to stretch or tear.

Common ankle sprain symptoms include:

• Ankle pain and swelling
• Intense bruising 
• Ankle instability
• Difficulty bearing weight
• Popping sounds at the time of injury

Symptoms range from mild for grade-one sprains to severe for grade-three sprains. While pain from a mild ankle sprain injury may feel more like tenderness, a severe sprain can make using the ankle impossible.

Our team can diagnose your sprain based on an exam and testing your range of motion, as well as any needed imaging tests. An X-ray can also confirm or rule out other causes, such as a bone fracture.

Sprained ankle treatment

Prompt ankle sprain treatment is the best way to ensure proper healing. Depending on the specifics of your injury, your treatment plan may primarily involve conservative home care, such as rest, ice packs, and elevation. A compression bandage can help, too, by minimizing swelling.

Other sprained ankle treatments include over-the-counter pain medication, crutches or a walking boot, and physical therapy (PT). Severe ankle sprains may require surgery.

Enhancing your ankle sprain recovery

To make the most of your injury recovery, follow your provided care plan. In particular, do not skim on rest. If you don’t rest your ankle sufficiently, you run the risk of more ligament damage, impaired healing, delayed recovery, and long-term complications like chronic instability.

Even mild ankle sprain injuries typically need a good 72 hours of rest, without any sustained weight-bearing activity. Elevating the joint during that time is also important. Severe sprains may require several months of ankle rest.

Ankle sprain care in Northridge and Santa Clarita, California

To learn more about ankle sprain recovery or get started with expert support, call 818-831-1000 to reach your nearest Babak Kosari, DPM, office in Northridge or Santa Clarita, California, today. You can also use our online scheduler to book an appointment anytime.