Sprained my ankle yesterday

[Woosta]

First time I've actually really injured my ankle in like 3-4 years. Anyone have any useful tips?

This happened in a basketball game, there aren't any scars/coloring but it does hurt a bit, kinda hard to walk. Someone told me to follow the R.I.C.E and after I walked it home I put on some ice on it. Just had a 10 hour sleep and I put my leg on a stack of pillows so it was elevated.

I'll be working from home today, don't feel like potentially injuring the ankle even more.

 

[guyver01]

Originally posted by: Woosta
Someone told me to follow the R.I.C.E and after I walked it home I put on some ice on it. Just had a 10 hour sleep and I put my leg on a stack of pillows so it was elevated.

After a day or two of R.I.C.E., many sprains, strains or other injuries will begin to heal. But if your pain or swelling does not decrease after 48 hours, make an appointment to see your primary care physician or go to the emergency room, depending upon the severity of your symptoms.

 

[LilPima]

No useful tips here, but I hope it feels better soon!

 

[guyver01]

Since someone might not know what R.I.C.E. is ..

Rest
Ice
Compression (ace bandage)
Elevation

 

[SunSamurai]

Walk it off.

 

[luv2liv]

i jumped 8ft down a cave on Memorial Day. thought the leg broke instantly, but x-ray proved otherwise. its been almost 2 months now but im still limping around man.
off to see a foot doctor this friday. maybe its tendon injury. partial tear or rupture of a tendon. an mri or ct of the ankle from the ortho will confirm whats up.

 

[Safeway]

Originally posted by: luv2liv
i jumped 8ft down a cave on Memorial Day. thought the leg broke instantly, but x-ray proved otherwise. its been almost 2 months now but im still limping around man.
off to see a foot doctor this friday. maybe its tendon injury. partial tear or rupture of a tendon. an mri or ct of the ankle from the ortho will confirm whats up.

That's serious business. You might be making it worse by continuing to walk on it.

 

[Gibsons]

Originally posted by: guyver01
Since someone might not know what R.I.C.E. is ..

Rest
Ice
Compression (ace bandage)
Elevation

The only thing to add to that is, possibly, some nsaids - aspirin, ibuprofen, etc.

 

[BoomerD]

I prefer an "air cast" to the elastic (ACE) bandages for sprained ankles. MUCH better support.

 

[Miramonti]

Never heard of "RICE", but see its exactly what I was going to suggest.

However I'd continue ice frequently until swelling is gone, not just two days. Also, I'd use ace bandages when walking around as well, because swelling will happen when upright. Make sure they are not too tight...you only need a little pressure, and not squeezing.

I don't recommend BoomerD's suggestion of an aircast because it can be painful over a newly sprained and swollen (malformed) ankle, and limits re-strengthening (thus healing) when the lateral mobility is restricted. It is supportive, but you want to use it and put weight on it asap (as soon as the swelling/pain is manageable). Immobilization until healed for an ankle sprain is generally the worst thing you can do.

/edit: I also recommend light ankle stretching once the pain/swelling is manageable, and increase the stretching over time so that when it's healed, you have your range of motion back. It also helps improve circulation, thus healing too.

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: jjsole
Never heard of "RICE", but see its exactly what I was going to suggest.

However I'd continue ice frequently until swelling is gone, not just two days. Also, I'd use ace bandages when walking around as well, because swelling will happen when upright. Make sure they are not too tight...you only need a little pressure, and not squeezing.

I don't recommend BoomerD's suggestion of an aircast because it can be painful over a newly sprained and swollen (malformed) ankle, and limits re-strengthening (thus healing) when the lateral mobility is restricted. It is supportive, but you want to use it and put weight on it asap (as soon as the swelling/pain is manageable). Immobilization until healed for an ankle sprain is generally the worst thing you can do.

/edit: I also recommend light ankle stretching once the pain/swelling is manageable, and increase the stretching over time so that when it's healed, you have your range of motion back. It also helps improve circulation, thus healing too.

Different strokes for different folks. My primary care physician stopped recommending ace bandages and ONLY air casts nearly 20 years ago for MOST ankle sprains.

 

[Cal166]

You should be fine, it takes about 2-3 weeks before you will feel better. I seen many sprained their ankles playing bball and they just let it heal, I on the other hand had one of the worst, landed on someone's foot and it popped out. Went to the emergency room and the doctor popped it back in and had a cast on it for 3 weeks before they took it off.

 

[Baked]

Ankle breaking crossover? You must be slow.

 

[SonnyDaze]

Originally posted by: guyver01
Since someone might not know what R.I.C.E. is ..

Rest
Ice
Compression (ace bandage)
Elevation

One of my sons sprained an ankle playing soccer one time and my wife asks if we should take him to the ER. I said no, just apply RICE to it. She looks at me serious and says "cooked or uncooked?" :laugh:

 

[eits]

rice it and don't walk on it for a couple days. to rehab it, start off by elevating your foot about 4 inches off the floor and tapping your toes. then, spell out the alphabet in the air with your foot without moving your leg. you want to put heat on it after a couple days. then, put a boot or heavy shoe on and spell the alphabet with your foot again when you're comfortable with a little added weight. make sure you stretch your ankle out by passively moving your foot around by hand (in other words, cross your legs with your bad ankle on your opposite knee, grab hold of your foot, and move it in every range of motion you can to it's limit).

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: luv2liv
i jumped 8ft down a cave on Memorial Day. thought the leg broke instantly, but x-ray proved otherwise. its been almost 2 months now but im still limping around man.
off to see a foot doctor this friday. maybe its tendon injury. partial tear or rupture of a tendon. an mri or ct of the ankle from the ortho will confirm whats up.

you're potentially screwed.

 

[Miramonti]

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: jjsole
Never heard of "RICE", but see its exactly what I was going to suggest.

However I'd continue ice frequently until swelling is gone, not just two days. Also, I'd use ace bandages when walking around as well, because swelling will happen when upright. Make sure they are not too tight...you only need a little pressure, and not squeezing.

I don't recommend BoomerD's suggestion of an aircast because it can be painful over a newly sprained and swollen (malformed) ankle, and limits re-strengthening (thus healing) when the lateral mobility is restricted. It is supportive, but you want to use it and put weight on it asap (as soon as the swelling/pain is manageable). Immobilization until healed for an ankle sprain is generally the worst thing you can do.

/edit: I also recommend light ankle stretching once the pain/swelling is manageable, and increase the stretching over time so that when it's healed, you have your range of motion back. It also helps improve circulation, thus healing too.

Different strokes for different folks. My primary care physician stopped recommending ace bandages and ONLY air casts nearly 20 years ago for MOST ankle sprains.

That's what I've usually gotten from a doctor/hospital as well. As tender and weak as the ankles are to begin with, air casts offer support and protection. Too much movement too early can bring swelling not to mention pain, and they minimize that. Even with air casts I've found a wrap is very helpful too (doesn't fit well in a shoe, but neither do aircasts and bulging ankles either, lol.)

But mainly my point is regarding rehab, the general consensus over the years has evolved to recommend rehab and mobility asap. Whether or not an aircast is needed should really be up to the patients judgment afaic, unless a specialist has seen an mri and specifically suggests more immobility for a while. (and along with that, aircasts aren't very helpful for high ankle sprains)

eits has some excellent suggestions to start with. Resistance bands are also helpful to use.

 

[rasczak]

Originally posted by: SonnyDaze

Originally posted by: guyver01
Since someone might not know what R.I.C.E. is ..

Rest
Ice
Compression (ace bandage)
Elevation

One of my sons sprained an ankle playing soccer one time and my wife asks if we should take him to the ER. I said no, just apply RICE to it. She looks at me serious and says "cooked or uncooked?" :laugh:

:laugh:

 

[BoomerD]

Originally posted by: jjsole

That's what I've usually gotten from a doctor/hospital as well. As tender and weak as the ankles are to begin with, air casts offer support and protection. Too much movement too early can bring swelling not to mention pain, and they minimize that. Even with air casts I've found a wrap is very helpful too (doesn't fit well in a shoe, but neither do aircasts and bulging ankles either, lol.)

But mainly my point is regarding rehab, the general consensus over the years has evolved to recommend rehab and mobility asap. Whether or not an aircast is needed should really be up to the patients judgment afaic, unless a specialist has seen an mri and specifically suggests more immobility for a while. (and along with that, aircasts aren't very helpful for high ankle sprains)

eits has some excellent suggestions to start with. Resistance bands are also helpful to use.

Obviously, as with any injury, there's gonna be a period of "rehabilitation" that requires proper care and exercises...no getting around that.

For me, I always needed to be able to stick the foot into a workboot and get back to work as soon as possible. The air cast provided that option for me. No, it's not gonna fit into a tight boot, but then again, I usually was willing to go buy a pair of oversized boots if that's what it took to get back to work. (remember, construction generally has NO sick days, no vacation, no holiday pay...if you don't work, you don't get paid...so I was on the job every day that I could possibly be.)

 

[eits]

Originally posted by: jjsole

Originally posted by: BoomerD

Originally posted by: jjsole
Never heard of "RICE", but see its exactly what I was going to suggest.

However I'd continue ice frequently until swelling is gone, not just two days. Also, I'd use ace bandages when walking around as well, because swelling will happen when upright. Make sure they are not too tight...you only need a little pressure, and not squeezing.

I don't recommend BoomerD's suggestion of an aircast because it can be painful over a newly sprained and swollen (malformed) ankle, and limits re-strengthening (thus healing) when the lateral mobility is restricted. It is supportive, but you want to use it and put weight on it asap (as soon as the swelling/pain is manageable). Immobilization until healed for an ankle sprain is generally the worst thing you can do.

/edit: I also recommend light ankle stretching once the pain/swelling is manageable, and increase the stretching over time so that when it's healed, you have your range of motion back. It also helps improve circulation, thus healing too.

Different strokes for different folks. My primary care physician stopped recommending ace bandages and ONLY air casts nearly 20 years ago for MOST ankle sprains.

That's what I've usually gotten from a doctor/hospital as well. As tender and weak as the ankles are to begin with, air casts offer support and protection. Too much movement too early can bring swelling not to mention pain, and they minimize that. Even with air casts I've found a wrap is very helpful too (doesn't fit well in a shoe, but neither do aircasts and bulging ankles either, lol.)

But mainly my point is regarding rehab, the general consensus over the years has evolved to recommend rehab and mobility asap. Whether or not an aircast is needed should really be up to the patients judgment afaic, unless a specialist has seen an mri and specifically suggests more immobility for a while. (and along with that, aircasts aren't very helpful for high ankle sprains)

eits has some excellent suggestions to start with. Resistance bands are also helpful to use.

resistence bands come later in the rehab.

 

[eits]

how's the ankle? what've you done so far?