Ankle injuries
Sprained Ankle in Plainfield: Causes, Symptoms, Recovery, and PreventionA sprained ankle, depending on the severity, can be a very painful and uncomfortable injury. And if your work requires you to be on your feet all day it can even prevent you from doing your job. But even if that’s not the case, simple, everyday tasks can become much more difficult with a sprained ankle in Plainfield.
To help you treat or prevent a sprained ankle, and to help you decide if you need professional treatment, let’s outline everything you need to know about ankle sprains.
CausesAn ankle sprain can occur anytime that your ankle is twisted or impacted in a way that it’s not supposed to. What actually happens during an ankle sprain is that the ligaments—which are the bands that secure bones in place—become stretched further than their limits or, in more severe cases, torn.
SymptomsSymptoms from an ankle sprain are fairly predictable and limited to swelling, bruising, and pain. Depending on the severity of the injury, you may have trouble walking or standing. With less severe ankle sprains, you may be able to walk or stand but that doesn’t mean your ankle hasn’t been sprained. In fact, if you decide not to treat your sprained ankle in Plainfield and spend too much time walking or standing on it you’re more likely to worsen the injury or injure something else.
RecoveryFor the most part, you can expect for an ankle sprain to go away on its own. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do some self-treatment. If you decide not to see a doctor, you may take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like naproxen or ibuprofen. You may also want to follow “RICE.” The means Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. You can compress the ankle by wrapping it with an elastic bandage and elevate it by using a pillow or the arm of a couch to raise your ankle higher than the level of your heart.
PreventionSome ankle sprains are unavoidable, especially if you play sports or are very active. However, if you can avoid running or walking on surfaces that are uneven or fields that are poorly taken care of, you reduce your chances of spraining an ankle. You should also make sure that you purchase shoes that fit well and are designed for the activity you’re doing. For example, don’t wear sandals when playing basketball.
When Should You See a Professional About Ankle Pain?If you have ankle pain or suspect you have a sprained ankle, it’s important to know when to seek help from a professional Podiatrist in Joliet. If you experience these symptoms, schedule an office visit:
To help you treat or prevent a sprained ankle, and to help you decide if you need professional treatment, let’s outline everything you need to know about ankle sprains.
CausesAn ankle sprain can occur anytime that your ankle is twisted or impacted in a way that it’s not supposed to. What actually happens during an ankle sprain is that the ligaments—which are the bands that secure bones in place—become stretched further than their limits or, in more severe cases, torn.
SymptomsSymptoms from an ankle sprain are fairly predictable and limited to swelling, bruising, and pain. Depending on the severity of the injury, you may have trouble walking or standing. With less severe ankle sprains, you may be able to walk or stand but that doesn’t mean your ankle hasn’t been sprained. In fact, if you decide not to treat your sprained ankle in Plainfield and spend too much time walking or standing on it you’re more likely to worsen the injury or injure something else.
RecoveryFor the most part, you can expect for an ankle sprain to go away on its own. However, that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do some self-treatment. If you decide not to see a doctor, you may take a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) like naproxen or ibuprofen. You may also want to follow “RICE.” The means Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. You can compress the ankle by wrapping it with an elastic bandage and elevate it by using a pillow or the arm of a couch to raise your ankle higher than the level of your heart.
PreventionSome ankle sprains are unavoidable, especially if you play sports or are very active. However, if you can avoid running or walking on surfaces that are uneven or fields that are poorly taken care of, you reduce your chances of spraining an ankle. You should also make sure that you purchase shoes that fit well and are designed for the activity you’re doing. For example, don’t wear sandals when playing basketball.
When Should You See a Professional About Ankle Pain?If you have ankle pain or suspect you have a sprained ankle, it’s important to know when to seek help from a professional Podiatrist in Joliet. If you experience these symptoms, schedule an office visit:
- If you’ve treated your ankle pain at home for two to three days and the swelling persists
- If the ankle pain doesn’t improve after several weeks
- Severe swelling or pain
- Your ankle pain is accompanied by a deformity or an open wound
- Any sign of infection (warmth, redness, tenderness, running a fever over 100 degrees)
- Inability to put weight on the foot
