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Had Sprain In Ankle. Having Pain And Swelling. Home Remedies. Should I Go To Doctor?

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Posted on Tue, 16 Jul 2013
Question: Description: I sprained my ankle badly 14 hours ago (the outside). Put ice, put bandage around it and pain subsided very little swelling.
Wake up in the morning and the foot is stiff, i can feel it is more fragile than yesterday and foot is able to move less and it also hurts. I put ice on it, it does not hurt that much now but looks like the only way to not have pain is to not move the foot at all. It can only rest in a certain position on a pillow and not move. Any movement even walking with crutches causes pain. not severe pain but a fair amount.
question: Should I go to the doctor or can it heal with home remedies? If home remedy is ok when exactly do I start warming my ankle up with hot water and do some excercise? Is it normal that I am not able to move my body/leg without hurting it 14 hours after?
thank you
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (34 minutes later)
Hi and welcome to XXXXXXX Thank you for your query.

This is usual symptomatology of intensive ankle spraining. The only reason why should you visit the doctor is if there is some doubt about bone fracture and need for surgery and immobilisation. I there wasnt trauma or hit which could cause fracture then you can treat this at home by rest, leg elevation, ice compresses, antiinflammatory painkillers. You should not move foot or stand on it till pain subside. There is probably intraarticular swelling, capsular and ligamentar straining and this is a reason for ankle stiffness. Several days are necessary till swelling pulls back and your ankle movements will improve gradually in next 3-5 days.
So try to rest strictly for 24-36 hours after injury and then stretch or stand on feet till limit of pain.After this time also you can warm up your ankle as you said.

If you have numbness,paleness, loss of pulsations or cold feet you should go to hospital as soon as you can but this rarely occurs.
Wish you good health. Regards


Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (1 hour later)
Ok. Thank you. Until my pain subsides to keep my ankle immobilised I would like to get something that will prevent my foot/ankle from moving left/right and down/up. Can you recommend something I can buy locally. If locally is not possible -then online. May be a brace or something like this.
Because I live alone I still need to move - I have crutches.
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (33 minutes later)
Hi.
yes.there are many kind ankle braces .
every better pharmacy should have it. I think that people are satisfied with aequi ankle braces or similar ones. And this isn't to expensive. There is no need for rigid immobilization since there is no leg fracture.
Walk with crutches as much as you want.just don't stand with injured leg more than 10kg on ground.
such injuries usually recover very quickly.
regards
Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
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Follow up: Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (21 hours later)
Thank you!
doctor
Answered by Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich (4 hours later)
Hi.
You are welcome. Wish you all best.
regards
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
doctor
Answered by
Dr.
Dr. Dr. Ivan Romich

General Surgeon

Practicing since :2008

Answered : 13886 Questions

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Had Sprain In Ankle. Having Pain And Swelling. Home Remedies. Should I Go To Doctor?

Hi and welcome to XXXXXXX Thank you for your query.

This is usual symptomatology of intensive ankle spraining. The only reason why should you visit the doctor is if there is some doubt about bone fracture and need for surgery and immobilisation. I there wasnt trauma or hit which could cause fracture then you can treat this at home by rest, leg elevation, ice compresses, antiinflammatory painkillers. You should not move foot or stand on it till pain subside. There is probably intraarticular swelling, capsular and ligamentar straining and this is a reason for ankle stiffness. Several days are necessary till swelling pulls back and your ankle movements will improve gradually in next 3-5 days.
So try to rest strictly for 24-36 hours after injury and then stretch or stand on feet till limit of pain.After this time also you can warm up your ankle as you said.

If you have numbness,paleness, loss of pulsations or cold feet you should go to hospital as soon as you can but this rarely occurs.
Wish you good health. Regards