Ankle sprains can happen at the most inopportune times, they happen when you twist or roll your ankle awkwardly, forcing the joint out of its natural position. They tend to be minor injuries but they should be treated with care, learn more about how to care for an ankle sprain by reaching out to your local podiatrist of Family Foot & Ankle Associates of Maryland in Laurel, Olney, Kensington, Maple Lawn, Silver Spring, and Camp Springs/Clinton, MD.
At-Home Care
Mild sprains can typically be cared for right at home, although it can take some time for the injury to heal completely. You can take ibuprofen or acetaminophen to manage the initial pain and can turn to the RICE method to further help with the symptoms.
RICE stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation, which are the individual strategies for treating many similar injuries. Rest is very important initially, you don't want to put any undue pressure on your ankle, so you need to give it time to heal.
You can also apply ice and employ compression along with elevation to deal with inflammation and swelling. You shouldn't apply ice directly onto the skin, instead, you can wrap a small towel around a bag with ice and apply it for a few minutes throughout the day.
But although the injury won't heal immediately, you should notice some improvement if you follow these steps. If your ankle continues to hurt, or if you experience extreme pain from the start, if it's oddly shaped or if there is severe swelling, then you should contact your doctor right away.
Podiatrist in Laurel, Olney, Kensington, Maple Lawn, Silver Spring, and Camp Springs/Clinton, MD
Even if your injury isn't severe it can still be a good idea to visit your podiatrist, it can be impossible to know just from how it feels if there is a fracture or another issue caused by the sprain. Your doctor can properly diagnose the extent of your injury with a physical examination and perhaps imaging tests. Sprains usually don't require more than crutches and physical therapy to improve and for you to regain motion and restrengthen your muscles.
To schedule a consultation with your podiatrist of Family Foot & Ankle Associates of Maryland you can dial (301) 924-5044 to reach the Olney, MD, office, (301) 868-7670 for Camp Springs/Clinton, MD, (301) 439-0300 for Silver Spring, MD, (301) 942-8110 for Kensington, MD, and (301) 317-6800 for Laurel and Maple Lawn, MD.