High Ankle Sprain – When Should I Go For Medical Help?

There would hardly be any person in the world who has never sprained an ankle. All it takes is a simple lousy step that twists your leg on a bad terrain or sometimes even on good ones. However, you can get rid of the pain if the symptoms are mild with less swelling and tenderness by applying an ice pack, compression bandage, rest, or taking painkillers pills. Some other signs of an Alamo Heights high ankle sprain include instability, limited range of motion, and popping sound. Your first action step should be to put slight pressure on your foot and try the RICE technique – Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.

Common Healing process

You might be thinking about the period of healing. It could take only two weeks to heal if it’s minor but if it is a severe injury, it can take a longer time, between six and twelve weeks. As most of the sprains are minors, chances are you could start walking after two weeks with a bit of discomfort. You should see a doctor if it is not healing even after two weeks.

When To Seek Immediate Medical Attention?

You should not wait any longer if you have an open wound or ankle deformity symptoms. You should also seek immediate help if the pain or swelling worsens and there are signs of infection such as tenderness, warmth, and redness, or you have a fever greater than 100 F (37.8).

Seek Medical Help if your swelling is persistent and is not getting healed after three to five days. You should see a medical doctor if the excruciating pain doesn’t improve after several weeks. But before this, you can always apply the RICE method first to see if it works for you in the first place.

Conclusion

In the end, the treatment of the sprained ankle depends on a number of factors like the severity of the bruise and the doctor’s opinion. Trying out the RICE technique before asking for professional medical help might sound like a good idea. But it won’t harm you either if you seek the professional’s opinion. However, It’s always better to schedule an appointment with the doctor immediately than to wait for the injury to worsen. So, if you believe that you have sprained your ankle or your ligaments, you should meet a foot and ankle specialist.