Ankle Pain
Alternate Names : Pain - Ankle
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Ankle Pain: Home Care & Treatment
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If you feel pain in your ankle, rest it for several days. Try NOT to move the affected area.
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If your ankle is unstable, support it, especially during weight-bearing activity (like standing or walking). ACE bandages work well. If this does not provide enough support, you may need to be fit for a brace by a health care professional. Crutches or a cane can help take the weight off a sore or unsteady ankle.
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For swelling, keep your foot elevated above the level of the heart, including while you are sleeping. Ice the area right away. Continue to apply ice for 10 to 15 minutes every hour for the first day and then every 3 to 4 hours for 2 more days.
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Try acetaminophen or ibuprofen for pain and swelling.
Even after the pain subsides, you will need to keep pressure off of it for up to 10 days for a mild sprain and up to 5 weeks for a more severe sprain.
Once you have healed adequately, you can start exercises to strengthen your ankle and avoid injury in the future. Do not begin these exercises until a health care professional tells you it is safe to start. One exercise, for example, involves balancing on your healing foot and hopping.
For arthritis of the ankle, take medication exactly as prescribed. When the pain and swelling begin to decrease, gently begin to exercise the joint again. Swimming is good, followed by stretching. Walking can be added later. Exercises can be done several times a day; but DO NOT overdo it. Pain is a message from your body to stop.
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