Sprained Ankle Care?

[ILLEffect]

Okay, so I'm certain I didn't break my ankle (I fell in the hallway last night and "rolled" my ankle - no popping, snapping or pain beyond a strained/pulled feeling) - happened at 3am and it is mildly bruised and has just a little bit of swelling. I'm not going to run to the ER for a sprained ankle (it's not an emergency anyways), I see my Dr on Thursday anyways so if it gets worse, I'll bring it up then with him.

But here's the thing, it's been SO long since I've sprained anything that I can't remember how to take care of one! I googled it and get conflicting messages - some say to walk on it, some say stay off it. Some say wrap it, some say leave it.

So anyone? Know of the basics of taking care of a sprained ankle?

[ferri]

i did the exact same thing several years ago only i did hear a nasty sound. i pulled the tendons in my ankle. stay off it until a Dr. can look at it. wrap it if you are going to be walking. i am still supposed to wear a brace when i do a lot of walking. oops.

[eyepop]

stay off it until a Dr. can look at it. wrap it if you are going to be walking.

[gardengirl]

RICE

Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation

[ILLEffect]

RICE

Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation

THANK YOU! I knew I knew that but for the life of me couldn't remember it!!! I was thinking of all the combinations (CAKE, PEAS, etc) but could NOT think of RICE! Thank you so much!

[CoffeeCanuck]

Ok, so I just have to ask. Why not just google your issue? There are tons of good medical sites with relevant medical information available.


http://www.ehow.com/video_2047_treat-sp ... ankle.html
http://orthopedics.about.com/cs/sprains ... dankle.htm
http://chetday.com/sprainedankle.htm
http://www.footphysicians.com/footankle ... sprain.htm


~D

[Yellow Sprinkles]

"RICE" is to reduce swelling, thus reducing pain. If it doesn't hurt too much and is not swollen, then you could probably walk on it. If it hurts like a b*tch, and is really swollen then I would definitely ice it for 10 min's at a time, prop it up when sitting, and wrap it when going out or if you have to do some household chores.

[dandynick5]

Don't forget the medicinal beverages! Hope it gets better soon! If the pain persists, definitely get in and see a doc. They'll repeat the RICE advice and show you how to wrap it properly.

[ILLEffect]

Ok, so I just have to ask. Why not just google your issue?

I had Googled "sprained ankle", but there was SO much information to weed through and I wasn't completely sure what information was correct or not to take care of a sprained ankle! Also, like it said in the OP, I was getting conflicting information as well.

[BoB76]

Shots of Rye will help you to forget the pain too!!

[Catz]

Shots of Rye will help you to forget the pain too!!

Do you drink munch, Bob?

[AlanH]

Shots of Rye will help you to forget the pain too!!

Do you drink munch, Bob?

Is munch a new mix, like a jager bomb?

Rye would certainly work, then again, stabbing a fork into your eye would make you forget that the ankle hurts as well. R.I.C.E. was about the best solution.

[BoB76]

Shots of Rye will help you to forget the pain too!!

Do you drink munch, Bob?

No I don't drink munch. Actually I have never heard of it before. Is it good?

[Hugh Jass]

The absolute best way to Ice an ankle is to find a tub that your foot will fit completely into all the way to the base of your calf. Fill that container half full of Ice and the rest with cold water. Submerge your foot. The important part is to keep your foot submerged. It hurts like hell at first as your foot starts to tingle and you desperately want to get your foot out of the cold. That pain lasts about 3 or 4 minutes and then it goes numb. Give it 5 or 10 minutes after it has gone numb and then take your ankle out.

[ILLEffect]

Thanks for all the advice everyone! My ankle seems to be feeling much better. It's only been a few days, but anytime I have it "down" (I've been keeping it propped up - E for "Elevation"), it throbs. The swelling has gone down considerably and my OT took a peek at it and he didn't think that I needed to get medical attention for it (it hasn't gotten worse and I don't have any symptoms of a break/fracture). But the throbbing is really annoying!