Whether you’ve sprained your ankle playing football or stumbling in a pair of new high heels, Dr. Floyd Pacheco, Jr. of Sandia Foot and Ankle in Albuquerque, New Mexico, can help. Call or book an appointment online for a complete evaluation and course of treatment for your ankle injury.
Your ankle usually starts to swell immediately and may also bruise. It is tender to touch and hurts when moved. If your sprain is more severe, you may hear or feel a tear, pop or snap. Your pain is probably severe at first. You most likely are unable to walk or even put weight on your foot.
Dr. Pacheco examines your ankle and asks questions about how your injury occurred. He notes the amount of swelling and bruising and moves the ankle around to evaluate the pain in order to make a diagnosis. He also checks your lower leg and your knee to see if you hurt anywhere else. He also may order an ankle X-ray to rule out any broken bones.
The RICE approach is commonly used to treat a sprained ankle. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation.
Dr. Pacheco may prescribe prescription medications, or you can take over-the-counter pain relievers such as ibuprofen or naproxen to reduce the pain and swelling.
Common risk factors for sprained ankles include participation in sports, walking or running on uneven surfaces, previous ankle injuries, weakness and poor strength, shoes that are ill-fitting or wrong for the activity.
Failure to properly treat a sprained ankle may result in chronic ankle pain, chronic joint instability, and arthritis in the ankle joint.
*Individual results may vary
