Ankle injuries are very common for young and old alike. Many people remain active and involved in sports long after high school and college. However, as we get older our muscles, tendons, and ligaments don’t always respond as they did when we were younger, increasing our susceptibility to ankle sprains and other injuries.
Because your ankle is such a flexible joint, it is also one of the less stable joints, making ankle injuries a fairly common problem. A sprain can occur from a sports injury or a minor fall, or even just tripping on something without falling. Sprains usually heal on their own, but sometimes they need care from an orthopedic doctor when the injury is more severe, or to help better stabilize the joint.
Here’s a list of symptoms that could signal a more serious injury after an ankle sprain:
- Extreme pain that isn’t relived with over-the-counter pain medicine
- Redness or heat from the area or an open wound
- Severe discoloration or deformity
- Swelling that is not reduced with ice and continues for more than a few days
- Unable to walk or stand
Ankle Anatomy
The ankle joint is made up of three bones – the tibia, fibula and the talas (ankle bone) – along with many muscles, tendons and ligaments that work together to support the joint. The type of ankle injury is often determined by which tendons, bones or ligaments are involved.
Tendons attach muscles to the bones. If the injury involves the tendons and/or muscles, it is usually called a strain. If the injury involves the ligaments, which connect from bone to bone and help hold the joint together, this is called a sprain.
What to Do After An Ankle Sprain / Strain
Immediately after any injury that is causing you discomfort, a good first aid treatment is to use the RICE method – Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevate. This method works good for mild strains and sprains for a few days. But if you are experiencing continuing or worsening symptoms or complications, an orthopedist in Panama City may be the next step.
Ankle Sprain Treatment
At Florida Sportsmedicine and Orthopaedics, Dr. James Talkington is highly qualified to properly diagnose and treat your ankle injury. This may include wearing a brace or boot for support, physical therapy, or surgery in rare cases. If the injury is left to heal on its own, your ankle may not heal properly and become weak and susceptible to additional injuries.
We offer state-of-the-art orthopedic services, including musculoskeletal ultrasound for viewing muscle, tendon, and ligament injuries in real time, along with X-ray and MRI. Our goal is to help improve our patient’s condition, so they can return to their active lifestyles as quickly as possible.
