Anyone can suffer an ankle sprain, a common injury known for causing extreme pain. But most people don’t realize that without immediate treatment from ankle specialist Navrit Randhawa, DPM, and his colleagues at Carteret Foot & Ankle Center, an ankle sprain can permanently weaken the injured ligament and cause chronic ankle instability that limits their activities. Everyone should seek immediate care, even if it seems their sprain is mild. Call the office in Carteret, New Jersey, or book an appointment online today.
Ankle sprains occur when you overstretch or tear the ligaments in the ankle joint. Sprains most often occur when twisting your ankle, a common accident that can happen whether you’re pivoting during sports, accidentally stepping in a hole while walking or slipping and falling.
Walking or running on an uneven or hilly surface increases your risk of an ankle sprain. You’re also more likely to suffer a sprain if you have flat feet or high arches.
Ankle sprains typically cause:
You probably won’t be able to put your weight on the ankle. If your sprain is severe, you’ll have a hard time walking.
There are three important reasons to see your Carteret Foot & Ankle Center provider right after spraining your ankle:
If you keep using your ankle without giving the ligament time to heal, it won’t regain its original strength. Instead, the damaged ligament keeps weakening. Then it can’t support the joint, and you become susceptible to recurrent sprains that easily occur with little movement. This condition is called chronic instability.
After examining your ankle, your provider performs X-rays or ultrasound imaging in the office, ensuring you didn’t break a bone and determining the severity of the sprain.
It’s essential to avoid using the ligament while it heals, so they typically immobilize the joint. That usually means wearing a removable walking boot or cast for several weeks.
Your Carteret Foot & Ankle Center provider also reduces pain and inflammation with treatments such as:
After the swelling goes down, you begin physical therapy to restore ankle strength and movement.
If you have a complete ligament tear, your provider may recommend surgery to reconstruct the ligament. This is the best way to restore normal strength and ensure you can safely return to athletics and daily activities.
Don’t wait to get help for a sprained ankle. Call Carteret Foot & Ankle Center or book an appointment online today.