Treatment
- Rest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort.
- Ice. Use an ice pack or ice slush bath immediately for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat every two to three hours while you're awake.
- Compression. To help stop swelling, compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops.
- Elevation.
The difference between a sprain and a strain is that a sprain injures the bands of tissue that connect two bones together, while a strain involves an injury to a muscle or to the band of tissue that attaches a muscle to a bone.
| Grades of ankle sprain severity |
|---|
| Severity | Damage to ligaments | Recovery time |
|---|
| Grade 1 | Minimal stretching, no tearing | 1–3 weeks |
| Grade 2 | Partial tear | 3–6 weeks |
| Grade 3 | Full tear or rupture | Several months |
In general, almost all Grade I strains heal within a few weeks, whereas Grade II strains may take two to three months or longer. After surgery to repair a Grade III strain, most people regain normal muscle function after several months of rehabilitation.
Most ankle sprains are mild and only need ice and elevation. Mild sprains typically begin to feel better in a few days to a week and heal by six weeks. More severe ankle sprains could take more than a few weeks or months to fully recover. Severe sprains may cause excruciating pain, crutches may be needed.
Some of the fibres of the ligament will then tear. A damaged ankle ligament causes inflammation, swelling, and bleeding (which shows as bruising) around the affected joint.
Typically, finger sprains heal well in patients who follow their rehabilitation program. Ligaments require from 2 to 10 weeks to heal. Your recovery will depend on your age, overall health, and the extent of your injury.
People with a more severe ankle sprain — characterized by extreme bruising or swelling and an inability to bear weight on the foot without significant pain, or when there doesn't seem to be any improvement over the first several days after the injury — should seek medical attention, Drs. SooHoo and Williams say.
The time it takes to recover from a torn ligament depends on the degree of injury. For minor tears with microscopic damage, it may take up to 6 weeks for a full recovery as long as you don't do anything to perpetuate the injury (i.e., like exercising before your doctor clears you to do so).
Walking bare foot or in flip flops can make your sprain worse. If you feel any sharp pain, stop the activity.
After the initial inflammation phase is over (usually 48 to 72 hours), moist heat may be used to treat an ankle sprain. However, heat should not be used when swelling is present. Compression and elevation should continue as long as swelling is present.
A sprain is classified as a stretched or torn ligament or tendon, while a fracture is a broken bone. If you're experiencing pain around the soft tissue but not over your bone, it's likely that you have a sprain and not a break. Typically you can move the affected limb with a sprain as well.
A grade 1 sprain causes little damage to the ligaments, and although the ankle will be tender for a few days, you can walk on it after a short period of rest.
Avoid putting any weight on the ankle, as this increases the risk of broken bones and other injuries. Sit in a comfortable position, with the ankle elevated to reduce swelling. Nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, or NSAIDs, such as ibuprofen, can also help alleviate swelling and pain.
X-rays are only required if there is bony pain in the malleolar or midfoot area, and any one of the following: Bone tenderness along the distal 6cm of the posterior edge of the tibia or tip of the medial malleolus. Bone tenderness along the distal 6cm of the posterior edge of the fibula or tip of the lateral malleolus.
Symptoms
- Severe pain, which may worsen with movement.
- Swelling.
- Tenderness.
- Bruising.
- Obvious deformity or shortening of the affected leg.
- Inability to walk.
Strain vs Sprain, which is worse? One is not technically worse than the other. Strains affect the tendons (an easy way to remember this is sTrains = tendons or muscles), and sprains affect the ligaments. Both tendons and ligaments are connective tissues, and both are measured by severity.
Bruising and swelling are common signs of a sprained ankle. If there is severe tearing of the ligaments, you might also hear or feel a "pop" when the sprain occurs. Symptoms of a severe sprain are similar to those of a broken bone and require prompt medical evaluation.
What are the different types of musculoskeletal pain?
- Bone pain: This is usually deep, penetrating, or dull.
- Muscle pain: This is often less intense than bone pain, but it can still be debilitating.
- Tendon and ligament pain: Pains in the tendons or ligaments are often caused by injuries, including sprains.
