Identifying And Caring For A Sprained Ankle

Chances are that at least once in your life, you have sprained your ankle. You would be surprised at how common this type of injury is and most of the time a sprained ankle will occur, when you lose your balance. However, all you have to do is simply step on an uneven surface and you could easily sprain your ankle.

Often times in a severe sprain, you may even hear a pop when the injury occurs. While a sprained ankle does not sound like too serious, if not cared for properly the sprain can lead to long-term medical issues. Below you will learn more information about sprained ankles and how to care for them.

What Is a Sprained Ankle?

When one or more ligaments on the outer side of your ankle are stretched or torn, you have a sprained ankle. This injury is usually due from the fact that you either rolled you ankle inward or outward. Inward sprains are the most common type and cause pain on the outer side of the ankle. If you every roll your ankle and experience pain on the inner side of your ankle, you should seek medical attention, because this could be more serious than a simple sprain.

When it comes to identifying a sprained ankle, it can be difficult to do without an x-ray. This is due to the fact that a sprained ankle and a fractured ankle share very common symptoms. If you cannot put weight on the foot after the injury or there is a tremendous amount of swelling, then it is a good idea to visit an emergency care facility. 

Treating a Sprained Ankle

There are three different grades of severity for a sprained ankle. While a grade I and II can be treated very effectively at home, the grade III sprain may require medical attention.

• Rest- Keep as much weight off the ankle as possible. If possible use crutches. An ankle brace can also come in handy in this type of situation.
• Ice- Icing will control the swelling. However, you do not want to put ice directly on the skin. Place a cloth in between the ice bag and your skin to prevent any irritation.
• Compression- This can also help reduce edema and pain.
• Elevate- Make sure you stay relaxed and keep the ankle elevated about the heart or waist.

If you stick to the above information swelling should go down in a few days. As for a grade II sprain you are going to stick to the same regiment, but it may take a little more time for the ankle to completely heal.

If you suffer a grade III sprain, then this means that you are at risk of permanent injury. You also may have to undergo surgery to correct the issues the injury brought up or you may just simply be stuck in a cast or boot for a few weeks. It really just depends on the severity of the injury.

Jammed Finger

Many individuals that fall and sprain their ankle will sometimes experience other injuries, as well. A jammed finger is one of those injuries that can occur, when you have a fall or get injured, while playing sports. If you happen to experience this type of finger, you will need to learn the appropriate technique on how to unjam a finger.