How to Heal a Sprained Ankle

Ankle sprains are common among athletes, but they also occur when ordinary people trip. Sprained ankles usually heal by themselves, but recovery times vary, depending on the circumstances.

“The recovery ranges from one week to about six months, depending on the severity of the injury,” says Larry Bloomstein, M.D., an orthopedic surgeon affiliated with Bayshore Medical Center and Riverview Medical Center. “On average, it takes one to two months to recover.”

You may be able to manage a sprained ankle by yourself at home. If you don’t start seeing improvement, see your doctor.

“Many people give it one to two weeks before coming in, hoping that it’s going to get better on its own,” Dr. Bloomstein says. “If someone’s unable to bear weight, I’d recommend that they come in.”

What a Sprained Ankle Feels Like

The most common symptoms of a sprained ankle are:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Tenderness
• Bruising
• Restricted range of motion
• Ankle instability
• Difficulty bearing weight on the foot
• A popping noise, in some cases, which may be a ligament tearing

There are three grades of ankle sprains, from mild to severe:

• Grade 1, when the ligament overstretches or tears slightly. It’s considered a mild sprain, resulting in some pain and swelling.
• Grade 2, when the ligament tears more significantly but not completely. This is a moderate sprain, causing more significant pain and swelling.
• Grade 3, when the ligament tears completely, is the most severe sprain. This type of sprain makes it difficult to bear weight on the affected foot.
  
  

How to Treat a Sprained Ankle

Try these methods for relief:

• RICE. As soon as possible, follow the “RICE” method. Doctors recommend Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation to soothe pain and manage swelling.
  
  “Resting is going to stop any further damage, and ice is helpful in decreasing pain,” Dr. Bloomstein says. “Elevation allows the extra fluid to dissipate, and compression squeezes the fluid away, with an ace bandage or compression sock.”
  
  Apply ice 20 minutes on, 20 minutes off. Removing the ice periodically helps protect your skin from frostbite.
  
  

• Heat. After the swelling goes down – perhaps after a week – consider applying heat.
  
  “Heat helps make the muscles warm up, makes them more elastic,” Dr. Bloomstein says. 
  
  

• Pain medication. Take an anti-inflammatory like ibuprofen and/or a painkiller like acetaminophen.
  
  “The non-steroidals won’t do anything to improve the swelling of an ankle injury,” Dr. Bloomstein says. “But the non-steroidals are very effective for pain, and they can be combined with acetaminophen.”
  
  

• Evaluation. If your pain and swelling don’t improve, a doctor should investigate.
  
  “We may want to do an X-ray to differentiate between a sprain and a fracture,” Dr. Bloomstein says.
  
  

• Immobilization. If you can’t bear weight on your ankle, crutches, a boot or ankle brace may help. Boots and braces immobilize the ankle, while crutches keep the weight off.
  
  

• Physical therapy. Doctors often refer patients with grade 2 or 3 sprains for physical therapy. It should accelerate the time to recovery.
  
  “The goals of therapy are mostly to restore the function,” Dr. Bloomstein says. “We want to improve strength, if the muscles have gotten weak, and balance.”
  
  

• Surgery. It’s rarely necessary, but sometimes surgery is used to repair a torn ligament.
  
  “Ninety-five percent of them will heal without surgery, even if it’s a full disruption of the ligament,” Dr. Bloomstein says. “Surgery is usually for chronic instability of the ankle after recovery.”
  
  

Next Steps & Resources:

• Meet our source: Larry Bloomstein, M.D.
• To make an appointment with Dr. Bloomstein or a doctor near you, call 800-822-8905 or visit our website. 
• Learn more about orthopedic care at Hackensack Meridian Health

The material provided through HealthU is intended to be used as general information only and should not replace the advice of your physician. Always consult your physician for individual care.