How long should ankle be swollen after injury?
Table of Contents
How long should ankle be swollen after injury?
The amount of pain and swelling you experience will depend on the amount of stretching and tearing of the ligament. Instability occurs when there has been complete tearing of the ligament or a complete dislocation of the ankle joint. Swelling and pain typically last 2-3 days.
How do I reduce swelling in my ankle after an injury?
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.
How do I know if my ankle sprain is serious?
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.
Can you walk on a fractured ankle?
Many people assume that if you can put weight on the ankle then it isn’t broken, however, it is possible to walk on a broken ankle, particularly with a less severe fracture. If you’re concerned your ankle may be broken, we recommend contacting your doctor, who can conduct an examination or order and xray if necessary.
Should a sprained ankle still be swollen after 2 weeks?
Typically, swelling will reside naturally within two weeks of the injury, even with more severe ankle sprains. If severe swelling occurs after this, you may want to consult your doctor for an ankle injury.
How long should swelling last after an injury?
Phase 2: Inflammation (swelling) Inflammation starts within the first hour or two after injury, peaks within 1-3 days but lasts at least a couple of weeks. This phase is when you will experience swelling and some heat around your injury. This is entirely normal and a natural part of your body’s tissue healing process.
How do you tell if you tore a ligament in your ankle?
If you have torn your ankle ligament, symptoms include:
- Swelling around your ankle joint.
- A feeling of instability.
- Bruising – sometimes up your lower leg and into your foot.
- Tenderness to touch.
- Pain when putting weight on your ankle.
- Popping sound at the time of injury.
Why won’t my ankle swelling go down?
Lingering inflammation, scar tissue, or a partly torn ligament can occur in the hollow place in the side of the anklebone called the sinus tarsi (sinus in Latin means hollow or sunken and the tarsus is the ankle). This is the most common cause of the sprained ankle that won’t heal.
How do I know if I tore ligaments in my ankle?
How can I tell if my ankle is broken or fractured?
6 signs of an ankle fracture
- Pain at the fracture site, which may extend from the foot to the knee.
- Significant swelling, either localized or along the length of the leg.
- Bruising that appears soon after the injury.
- Inability to walk, usually a sign of a severe break (it’s possible to walk with less severe breaks)
How do you tell if your ankle is fractured?
If you have a broken ankle, you may experience some of the following signs and symptoms:
- Immediate, throbbing pain.
- Swelling.
- Bruising.
- Tenderness.
- Deformity.
- Difficulty or pain with walking or bearing weight.
Can you break your ankle and still be able to walk on it?
Broken ankle — can you still walk? Typically, a minor ankle fracture won’t prevent you from walking. You might even be able to walk right after the injury. If you have a serious break, you’ll need to avoid walking for a few months.
Why is my ankle still swollen after 2 weeks?
If severe swelling occurs after this, you may want to consult your doctor for an ankle injury. If your ankle continues to be swollen for a long time, you may be suffering from a chronic ankle sprain—which can happen with some injuries.
Why is my sprained ankle still swollen after 2 weeks?
One important thing to keep in mind is that ankle swelling can last 2-3 months after the injury, even if the pain has completely gone away. Compression socks can alleviate the swelling, but time is the best medicine. More severe ankle sprains may require additional treatment.