Ankle Pain & Sprains

Causes of Ankle Sprain

An ankle sprain is a common injury that occurs when you suddenly fall or twist the joint, or when you land your foot in an awkward position after a jump. It most commonly occurs during sports activities, or when you jump or run on a surface that is irregular.

Symptoms of Ankle Sprain

Ankle sprains can cause pain, swelling, tenderness, bruising, stiffness, and inability to walk or bear weight on the ankle. Apart from pain, an ankle sprain can cause swelling, tenderness, bruising and stiffness of the joint.

Prevention of Ankle Sprain

An ankle sprain can be prevented by following simple practices:

• Warm up before any exercise and physical activity.
• Walk or run carefully on uneven ground.
• Wear the right kind of shoes.
• Listen to your body and slow down when you feel pain or get tired.

Diagnosis of Ankle Sprain

The diagnosis of an ankle sprain is usually made by evaluating the history of injury and physical examination of the ankle. X-ray of your ankle may be needed to confirm if a fracture is present.

Grades

Your doctor grades your sprain depending on the extent of damage to the ligaments.

• Grade 1 sprain (mild)
• Minimal stretch with microscopic ligament tear
• Mild swelling and tenderness around the ankle
  
  
• Grade 2 sprain (moderate)
• Partial ligament tear
• Moderate swelling and tenderness around the ankle
• Abnormal looseness of the joint when manipulated during diagnosis
  
  
• Grade 3 sprain (severe)
• Complete ligament tear
• Significant tenderness and swelling around the ankle
• Instability when manipulated during diagnosis

Treatment of Ankle Sprain

Conservative Treatment

The most common treatment recommended for ankle sprains is rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE).

• Rest: You should not move or use the injured part to help to reduce pain and prevent further damage. Crutches may be ordered that help while walking. 
• Ice: An ice-pack should be applied over the injured area up to 3 days after the injury. You can use a cold pack or crushed ice wrapped in a towel. Never place ice directly over the skin. Ice packs help reduce swelling and relieve pain. 
• Compression: Compression of the injured area helps to reduce swelling and bruising. This is usually accomplished by using an elastic wrap for a few days or weeks after the injury. 
• Elevation: Place the injured ankle above your heart level to reduce swelling. Elevation of an injured leg can be done for about 2 to 3 hours a day. 

The doctor may also use

• a brace or splint to reduce motion of the ankle.
• Anti-inflammatory pain medications may be prescribed to help reduce the pain and control inflammation.

During your recovery, rehabilitation exercises are recommended to strengthen and improve range of motion in your foot. You may need to use a brace or wrap to support and protect your ankle during sports activities.

Avoid pivoting and twisting movements for 2 to 3 weeks. To prevent further sprains or re-injury you may need to wear a semi-rigid ankle brace during exercise, special wraps and high-top lace shoes. 

Ankle Sprain Surgery

There are two surgical techniques to treat ankle sprains:

• Ankle Arthroscopy: This is a minimally invasive surgery where a small camera, called an arthroscope, is used to view the ankle joint and guide miniature instruments to remove fragments of torn ligament, bone or cartilage from within the joint.
  
• Ankle Reconstruction: The torn ligament can be surgically repaired with sutures or replaced with a graft, which can be another ligament and/or tendon retrieved from the foot or and around the ankle.

Post-Operation

During your recovery, rehabilitation exercises are recommended to strengthen and improve range of motion in your foot. You may need to use a brace or wrap to support and protect your ankle during sports activities.

Outcome

With proper treatment, ankle sprains have successful outcomes. An important deciding factor is rehabilitation. Consistent rehabilitation will help you get back to your normal life soon and prevent repeated sprains and instability.

Downtime

Avoid pivoting and twisting movements for 2 to 3 weeks.

Prognosis

To prevent further sprains or re-injury, you may need to wear a semi-rigid ankle brace during exercise, special wraps and high-top lace shoes.

Costs

Any costs involved will be discussed with you prior to your surgery.

If Ankle Sprain is Left Untreated

If your ankle sprain is not treated, it can cause joint weakness and often re-injury. The unstable ankle can lead to a particularly harmful fall.