Ankle Sprain vs. Fracture: 3 Must-Know Warning Signs
Would you know whether you have a sprained ankle or an ankle fracture if you have a fall or other accident? Check out three warning signs that you could have a fracture rather than a sprain.
3 Grades of Ankle Sprains and How to Treat Them
An ankle sprain can really change your plans for the week. It may be difficult or impossible to walk depending on the severity of the sprain.
If you have an ankle sprain, you’ve hurt a ligament. Your ankle ligaments are connectors; they’re strong bands of tissue that join your foot bones to your leg bones.
It’s easy to sprain an ankle. If your foot is on an uneven surface or you miss a step, your ankle ligaments can turn into an unnatural position and stretch beyond their limits.
Our board-certified orthopedic surgeons at Delta Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine treat many foot and ankle injuries. Ankle sprains are classified into three grades. Learning about the grades of an ankle sprain helps you know when to seek medical help so you don’t worsen the damage to your soft tissue.
Grade 1 ankle sprain
A Grade 1 ankle sprain is mild. Your ankle is a bit swollen and tender because you’ve torn some fibers in a ligament. You can usually treat Grade 1 ankle sprains at home using the RICE method: rest, ice, compression with an elastic bandage, and elevation.
You need to take a break from some activities you normally enjoy, such as gardening or getting on the links or the court.
Grade 2 ankle sprain
If you have a Grade 2 ankle sprain, you have a more serious tear in some of the fibers in one or more ankle ligaments. You have tenderness and swelling in the ankle, and you likely have limited range of motion. Your ankle may feel unstable, and you have pain when you try to walk.
You use the RICE method at home for this type of sprain as well, but you also need medical treatment.
Grade 3 ankle sprain
A Grade 3 ankle sprain means you have a complete tear in one or more ankle ligaments. When your doctor manipulates your ankle joint, it’s not stable. You have significant swelling, and your ankle is very tender. Your ankle hurts so much that you can’t bear weight on it.
Medical treatment for ankle sprains
Pain relievers are helpful during the initial few days after the sprain. Depending on the severity of the sprain, we provide a removable device such as an air splint or walking boot to immobilize your ankle. When we inflate an air splint, it grows firm enough to hold your ankle in one position and supports it while it’s healing.
For a Grade 3 sprain, we may place you in a short cast for a couple of weeks. While your ankle is immobilized, you need to use crutches to get around. Your doctor tells you when it’s safe to place weight on the ankle again.
If your pain is severe, we can administer an ultrasound-guided steroid injection to calm inflammation and ease your discomfort.
If you can’t take a steroid injection, we may recommend a regenerative medicine treatment such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) to hasten your healing. PRP rushes masses of nutrients to the site of your injury to speed your recovery.
Physical therapy helps you regain range of motion, rebuild strength in your ankle ligaments, and strengthen your balance. Physical therapy for a Grade 3 sprain is longer than for a Grade 2 sprain, and may last up to 12 weeks.
If your ankle damage is severe and you still have ankle instability after conservative treatment, your doctor may recommend arthroscopic surgery or ankle reconstruction.
Call Delta Orthopaedics & Sports Medicine or book an appointment through our online portal today for all of your orthopedic needs. We have convenient offices in West Memphis, Arkansas, and Collierville, Tennessee.
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