When should I see a doctor about a sprained ankle?
You don’t need to, for most sprained ankles.
What is a sprained ankle?
A sprained ankle is an injury that occurs when you roll, twist or turn your ankle in an awkward way. This can stretch or tear the tough bands of tissue (ligaments) that help hold your ankle bones together.
The purple area is bruising caused by bleeding into the skin
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms vary, depending on the severity of the injury, and may include:
- Pain
- Swelling
- Bruising
- Limited ability to move the affected joint.
Treatment
Mild sprains can be successfully treated at home. For the first couple of days, follow the 4 steps known as RICE therapy to help bring down swelling and support the injury:
- Rest – stop any exercise or activities and try not to put any weight on the injury
- Ice – apply an ice pack (or a bag of frozen vegetables wrapped in a tea towel) to the injury for up to 20 minutes every 2 to 3 hours
- Compression – wrap a bandage around the injury to support it (see below)
- Elevate – keep it raised on a pillow as much as possible.
How to bandage a sprain. Elasticated ones can be used too
When should I see a doctor about a sprained ankle?
Even though mild sprains can be treated at home, the injuries that cause sprains can also cause serious injuries, such as fractures. You should see a doctor if you cannot move or bear weight on the affected joint.
Severe sprains sometimes require surgery to repair torn ligaments and/or fix any associated fractures.
Summary
We have described when should I see a doctor about a sprained ankle. We hope you understand it better now.
Last Reviewed on 12 March 2024