Ankle sprains are one of the most common injuries when it comes to foot and ankle related issues. Almost everyone has experienced what it is like to feel that pain of an injured ankle. But when does it go from temporary pain to a full blown ankle sprain? This type of ankle sprain injury usually happens with an acute injury of twisting your ankle. However, you can also get a sprain from repetitive stress on the ligaments of your ankle.
COMMON SIGNS
The most obvious sign that you will notice first is pain around your ankle, this one is pretty easy to detect. Pain will vary around the ankle depending on the mechanism and severity of your injury. In terms of ankle sprains, it is easiest to classify them into three types.
A type I (the least severe) is an attenuation or stretching of the ligament. A type II is a partial tear in the fibers of the ligament. Finally a type III injury would be a fully torn ligament. A second sign that you will have an ankle sprain is swelling to your ankle. Again this will vary depending on the severity of the sprain. Swelling can occur after the injury or the following days. Finally, the third sign that you may have an ankle sprain is the inability to put weight on your affected limb. A sprained ankle might cause you to limp, or if more severe, not being able to place your foot on the ground.
In summary we went over three possible signs that you might have an ankle sprain. It is important that you come in to see one of the doctors here at Family Foot and Ankle if you experience any of these symptoms. Ignoring the problem can cause worsening injury, delayed healing or missed diagnosis (fractures of the foot and ankle). Treatment for an ankle sprain can include offloading the affected limb, oral medication, compressive dressings and physical therapy to name a few. Surgical management is also an option if conservative treatment fails or the injury is severe. Look forward to seeing you.
