Thousands of Americans suffer ankle sprains daily, which accounts for numerous visits to the emergency room. The prevalence of these injuries could be attributed to their ease of occurrence. For instance, taking a step incorrectly might cause one of the ligaments holding your ankle joint to overstretch. Besides, after suffering one Cypress ankle sprain, the likelihood of further ankle injuries increases. Here are some common warning signs to watch out for if you suspect you have a sprained ankle.
1. Pain
Pain is typically the most obvious indicator if there is an issue with your body. A sprained ankle typically causes tenderness or discomfort in the affected region of the ankle. Once you sprain the deltoid ligament, for instance, you frequently have pains on the inside of the ankle. Additionally, it is typical to suffer pain upon touching the injured area or attempting to bear weight on the affected foot.
Often, tenderness or discomfort caused by an ankle sprain develops spontaneously and is quite intense. This discomfort generally exacerbates whenever you exert weight on the affected foot. The magnitude of discomfort could also differ based on the degree of tissue damage.
2. Swelling
A sprained ankle develops once the injury affects the ligaments that support the ankle joint. In case of multiple sprains, this tissue injury causes ankle swelling and bruising almost instantly.
Akin to the discomfort associated with a sprain, you may typically anticipate discoloration or swelling at the site of the tissue injury. It is also reasonable that the severity of an injury increases as inflation and discomfort intensifies.
3. Constrained Motion Range
There are numerous ways to suffer an ankle sprain, but the most common is an excessive inversion of the foot. This abnormal motion tears or stretches the ligaments located on the outside of the ankle.
If you seriously sprain an ankle, the ligaments could become so damaged that you cannot turn, flex, or bend your foot. The degree of such injuries could also make any weight-bearing activities, such as standing or walking, hard or impossible.
4. Persistent Instability
Sadly, ankle sprains that involve extensive ligament injury could result in persistent complications. Once this develops, you typically experience ankle instability or wobbliness. This prevalent condition occurs because the ankle ligaments offer stability and avoid excessive joint mobility. If the ligaments are strained, badly damaged, or ripped, they can no longer offer adequate joint stability.
5. Unusual Pop
Did you feel or hear an unusual pop as your ankle sprained? If so, you likely suffered a torn ligament or sprained ankle. With serious sprains, it is also normal to experience sudden, intense pain that makes you immediately stop any other activity.
What Treatment Options Are Available For Sprained Ankles?
Regrettably, ankle sprains heighten the likelihood of re-injury later, particularly if the tendon is severely damaged. Even if the damage looks mild, seeking professional care is advisable to identify the optimal recovery and re-injury prevention strategy.
After your specialist determines the degree of your sprain, they should develop a customized care plan for you. Your treatment options might include immobilization, rest, cold therapy, compression, or regenerative therapies like stem cell and Platelet-rich plasma therapy. For serious ankle sprains, surgery may be necessary to reconstruct the torn ligaments.
Ankle sprains are an everyday occurrence, and while most resolve by themselves, others might need specialist care. If you experience any of these warning signs, consult your doctor on the solutions that can offer you the best relief.
