3 Reasons to Treat Ankle Twisting Injuries Immediately
At Pasco Hernando Foot & Ankle, one unfortunate scenario we experience is seeing patients who delay seeking treatment for an ankle-twisting injury and the consequences that occur as a result. Although it’s tempting when an injury occurs to take a “wait and see” approach, when it comes to your ankles, here are three reasons to get a prompt evaluation.
Ankle injury symptoms can be misleading. Ankle sprains occur with varying degrees of severity. You’ll likely experience some amount of pain and swelling after an ankle twisting injury, but that will not tell the whole story. Although a sprain is basically an overstretching of the ankle ligaments, sometimes it is accompanied by a secondary injury. This may be a fracture, joint damage, dislocation, torn ligaments, or bruised cartilage. Our podiatrist, Dr. Lawrence J. Kales, will want to examine your ankle and will order x-rays or other imaging studies and any tests necessary to diagnose the full extent of your injury.
Best results come from immediate treatment. Studies show that the sooner ankle sprain rehabilitation begins, the faster and better the injury will heal. Getting your injury evaluated promptly will enable the podiatrist to prescribe the correct treatment. While you wait for your appointment, it’s best to follow the RICE regimen: rest, ice, compression, and elevation of the injured ankle.
Untreated sprains may not heal well on their own. Without treatment, an ankle sprain may eventually heal on its own, but as many as 80% of untreated sprains will result in prolonged and recurring symptoms. Chronic ankle pain and instability (weak ankles) will increase the likelihood of repeated ankle sprains in the future. This creates a debilitating cycle of more injuries, which lead to greater weakness and damage to the ankle. The sites of these injuries may also cause arthritic changes to the joints of the ankle.
Ankle sprains are a common injury. If you sustain one this season, don’t wait. Contact our Hudson office by calling 727-868-2128 or 352-683-5799 as soon as possible after the injury occurs to ensure the best outcome and the quickest return to your active life!