You did it again – stumbled on the steps of the escalator at the mall. Teenagers snickered. Pain and humiliation fought for your attention. Humiliation won. Now, the morning after your mishap, the humiliation has faded, but the pain in your ankle has not. You park yourself on the sofa, weighing whether to hobble to work or stay home and catch the early morning movie. Essentially a hinge, the ankle is the meeting place of three bones and a system of ligaments, tendons, and muscles. We put so much wear and tear on our ankles that they are prone to injury, especially sprains and strains. A sprain involves damage to the ligaments, while a strain pertains to the muscle and tendons.
And if you think a sprained ankle is most likely to be a runner’s problem, guess again. Sedentary folks who slip, stumble, or otherwise take a misstep may be more likely to sprain an ankle than athletic types. Prompt treatment will speed healing and reduce the risk of further injury. Twenty percent of sprains lead to chronic ankle pain. Lots of people say that it is just a sprain, and don’t get treatment. Then the ligaments heal poorly, or scar tissue forms between the bones at the joint.
A sore ankle is impossible to ignore. Here are some ways that can provide you for fast-relief.
Serve up some RICE. We are not advancing that you appeal to Uncle Ben. RICE stands for rest, ice, compression, and elevation. Just follow this simple instruction. Rest your ankle for the first day or two. Ice your ankle, three to four times daily, but no longer than 20 minutes a time. And always have a towel between the ice or ice pack and your skin so that you do not get frostbite. Compress the injury by wrapping it with an elastic bandage. Elevate your ankle above the level of your heart. RICE will limit bleeding in the joint and swelling in the tissues, thereby easing the pain.
Soothe with heat. After two to three days, apply warm compresses. Try out this unusual remedy. Boil fresh grated gingerroot, then let it cool a little. Make it compress by soaking a washcloth in the warm brew. Place the compress over the injured ankle. Ginger draws out toxins and hastens healing.
Take some tablets of relief. If your ankle really hurts, consider easing the pain with an over-the-counter non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) such as ibuprofen. Follow the directions on the product label. But do not ignore lingering pain or try to cover it up with over-the-counter painkillers. You need to be aware of pain to keep from reinjuring vulnerable muscles or tendons.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
Pain inside ankles back and forth the ankles
By: Tammy | 02-09-2008
pain inside ankle, very tender to touch and sometimes shooting pains up the calf and the weird thing is it goes back and forth to the ankles Have done pain patches, ice My ft are in braces no rubbing or chafing as I am CP
Ab surgery and muscle tone
By: rkittyr | 16-08-2008
I have to have colon surgery in the next few weeks. I've had a few other abdominal surgeries and my stomach muscles are very lax and I have some loose skin. When I have the surgery, would it possible for the surgeon to tighten things up a bit in my abdominal area?
When are muscles in season?
By: cocoahas | 19-07-2008
when are muscles in season?
Helllo all, I have a largre project and a large ...
By: God's child | 14-07-2008
Helllo all, I have a largre project and a large problem. 50 under-ground cast-iron joints packed tight and poured twice, two dif. plumbers 95% joint failure each time. I have been told everything from poor packing to defective lead? Please I need help fast I am running out of time and money.
GOD'S child
Hello all, I have a large project and a large ...
By: God's child | 14-07-2008
Hello all, I have a large project and a large problem. 50 under-ground cast-iron joints, packed tight and poured twice two dif. plumbers 95% joint failure. I have been told everything from poor packing to defective lead? I need help fast, running out of time and money.
God's child
Hylauronic Acid and Hip joints in humans
By: alaskanfilly | 08-07-2008
My sister, age 50, has a bad hip. Xray shoes arthritic changes and a tear in the cartilage...cortisone helps, but long-term is very bad. Any evidence that Hylauronic injections in the hip joint will A) help repair the cartilage and B) reduce the inflammation and pain?
Q&A Powered by:
Latest Diseases and Conditions Articles
Panic Attack Tips - 7 Tips to Help Stop Your Panic Attacks Today
By: Peter Johnson | 13/10/2008
It's very easy to explain all the different ways you can overcome panic attacks. It is a different thing to actually overcome them yourself. This article will give 10 basic tips which should help you make you panic attack treatment more effective and more likely to be long lasting.
Pigmentation of the Skin
By: jeniferhobson | 13/10/2008
Some people are genetically predisposed to flawlessly beautiful skins, unfortunately, the rest of us are not so fortunate. Whether it is acne, oily skin, or overwhelming dryness, the majority of people wrestle with some type of skin problem.
Hemorrhoids Treatment
By: jeniferhobson | 13/10/2008
Being a very common condition, hemorrhoids are well researched. Research shows that the best cure for hemorrhoids is prevention. Healthy food diet is the best way to ward hemorrhoids treatment seems not being able to solve the problem completely. Hemorrhoids, treated in the conservative way tend to recur again.
Bleeding Gums Treatment
By: jeniferhobson | 13/10/2008
Do you know where you can find more than five hundred different kinds of bacteria, about a hundred varieties of fungi, and a messy mix of viruses and single-cell microorganisms? You don't need to look too far, because all of these are in your mouth.
Eye Care Home Remedies
By: jeniferhobson | 13/10/2008
The human being is holy with five sensory organs and eyes are one among them. The eyes move a number of times a day to bring the objects in focus. Due to its sharp focus one is capable to see the far-away objects and the minute ones similar to needles.
Immune System – Role of Vitamin C
By: jeniferhobson | 13/10/2008
Having a cold might not to be too toilsome, but the advices can be troublesome and people will simply ask you to follow this and that.
Nonetheless, thinking deeply on the topic possibly will give a better answer to consume vitamin C pills. As well as if you are tending to ask someone for advice, the whole day they will stuff you with remedies.
Arthritis Treatment
By: jeniferhobson | 13/10/2008
For centuries, the history of acupuncture treatment for arthritis has been with us. It provides many pain sufferers with an added or alternative form of relief of their pain. Even though it cannot purposefully succeed on its own, nevertheless it is tested and proven to give great relief to those who need it.
A Combination of Alcohol and Depression Can be Lethal
By: Wangeci Kinyanjui | 13/10/2008
Legal problems are also most likely to catch up with you once you start taking alcohol while under depression. The reason for saying this is that, since alcohol makes one have an impulsive behavior, it is very easy for a depressed person to behave or drive recklessly something that may lead him to land on the wrong side of the law.
Health 
