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Suggest Treatment For Ankle Sprain
Question: I fell last Friday and as I did so my right ankle folded inwards and I heard a very loud snap. I did manage to get up after a few mins but i have had constant pain since including when resting. I have another, unrelated, medical problem just now which has been very sore so could have been masking this pain as it is getting better and my ankle seems to be getting worse. Scared to go to A&E incase it is broken as I cant afford to be off work for 6 weeks but I am concerned. The pain is lateral and from my heel to the middle of my foot. Could it be broken or will it just be a sprain? Please help. Thanks :-)
Brief Answer:
Sprain ankle is the most probable reason of your symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
The most common injury of the ankle is sprain indeed. Fracture is usually less possible. If you have hit the ankle to something stable (like a ground) fracture should be ruled out. If the injury was caused by ankle folding, sprain is your most probable issue.
There are few grades of sprain ( from 1 to 3 where 3 is the most advanced sprain). Depending of the grade the healing time can take from a week to even 6 weeks. During that time the limb should not be overloaded. It should be also elevated when lying down (put a pillow under it).
Typical symptoms of sprain are swelling and pain. The swelling is more intense few days after the injury and gets gradually less visible. And so is the pain.
From your description your ankle is getting worse instead of getting better. The reason of that situation can be intense usage of the injured limb (if you didtn take some days of and do work as before the injury, the healing process wont be effective). Please try to rest and see if this will help.
If you have been resting and the ankle is not getting better, it might be broken.
This should be checked by an orthopedist. An x-ray should be done.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
I
Sprain ankle is the most probable reason of your symptoms.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
The most common injury of the ankle is sprain indeed. Fracture is usually less possible. If you have hit the ankle to something stable (like a ground) fracture should be ruled out. If the injury was caused by ankle folding, sprain is your most probable issue.
There are few grades of sprain ( from 1 to 3 where 3 is the most advanced sprain). Depending of the grade the healing time can take from a week to even 6 weeks. During that time the limb should not be overloaded. It should be also elevated when lying down (put a pillow under it).
Typical symptoms of sprain are swelling and pain. The swelling is more intense few days after the injury and gets gradually less visible. And so is the pain.
From your description your ankle is getting worse instead of getting better. The reason of that situation can be intense usage of the injured limb (if you didtn take some days of and do work as before the injury, the healing process wont be effective). Please try to rest and see if this will help.
If you have been resting and the ankle is not getting better, it might be broken.
This should be checked by an orthopedist. An x-ray should be done.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
I
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Vinay Bhardwaj
Answered by
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