How do I know if my ankle sprain is serious?

People with a more severe ankle sprain — characterized by extreme bruising or swelling and an inability to bear weight on the foot without significant pain, or when there doesn't seem to be any improvement over the first several days after the injury — should seek medical attention, Drs. SooHoo and Williams say.

How can you tell how severe an ankle sprain is?

What are the types of ankle sprains?

1. Grade 1 (Mild). The ligament fibers stretched slightly or there is a very small tear. Your ankle will have minor swelling and tenderness to the touch.
2. Grade 2 (Moderate). The ligament is torn, but it isn't a complete tear. ...
3. Grade 3 (Severe). The ligament is torn completely.

What happens to an untreated sprained ankle?

If an ankle sprain is left untreated, it may lead to a chronically unstable ankle joint and, from there, to degenerative and arthritic changes in the ankle, as well as chronic tendon inflammation. It may also feel as if the ankle is constantly trying to give out, which can, from there, cause a re-injury of the ankle.

Can you walk on a Grade 3 ankle sprain?

Grade 3 sprain

You experience severe swelling and bruising. The joint probably isn't functional because it's too unstable, and movement creates intense pain. If you have a grade 3 sprain in the ankle, for example, walking usually isn't possible.

Can you walk on a Grade 2 ankle sprain?

The ankle feels stable and it is usually possible to walk with minimal pain. Grade 2: A more severe sprain, but incomplete tear with moderate pain, swelling and bruising. Although it feels somewhat stable, the damaged areas are tender to the touch and walking is painful.

How do I know if I tore my ankle ligament?

If you have torn your ankle ligament, symptoms include:

1. Swelling around your ankle joint.
2. A feeling of instability.
3. Bruising – sometimes up your lower leg and into your foot.
4. Tenderness to touch.
5. Pain when putting weight on your ankle.
6. Popping sound at the time of injury.

When should I get my ankle checked out?

Seek immediate medical attention if you:

• Have severe pain or swelling.
• Have an open wound or severe deformity.
• Have signs of infection, such as redness, warmth and tenderness in the affected area or a fever greater than 100 F (37.8 C)
• Cannot put weight on your foot.

Should I go to ER for sprained ankle?

Go to urgent care if your pain level and swelling is significant and you have difficulty walking, to the point that you need assistance, due to the pain. Go to the emergency room if your foot is bruised, deformed, or you are unable to walk at all. You may have a fracture, broken bone or serious ligament damage.

What broken ankle feels like?

If you have a broken ankle, you may experience some of the following signs and symptoms: Immediate, throbbing pain. Swelling. Bruising.

How do I know if my foot injury is serious?

Go to the emergency room if:

1. there's an open wound on your foot.
2. pus is coming out of your foot.
3. you can't walk or put weight on your foot.
4. you experience severe bleeding.
5. there are broken bones coming through your skin.
6. you feel lightheaded or dizzy.
7. you think your foot could be infected.

Will xray show torn ligament in ankle?

X-rays do NOT show tendons, ligaments, nerves, cartilage or blood vessels.

Can a sprained ankle be permanent?

"An ankle sprain that lingers beyond 3 months is often an injury to a bone, tendon or ligament that is unlikely to heal without intervention," he says. "And the longer an ankle injury persists without proper treatment, the greater the likelihood that permanent disability will result."

What is the difference between a sprained ankle and a twisted ankle?

A sprained ankle is similar to a twisted ankle but to a greater degree. When you sprain your ankle, it means you have stretched, and possibly even torn, the ligaments of your ankle. If your ankle is swollen, bruised and painful after you twist it, then you have most likely sprained it.

What is a Grade 3 ankle sprain?

Grade 3: This is a full tear of the ankle ligament. You may have heard a popping sound when it happened. This level of sprain causes severe pain, swelling and bruising. Because the ligament is no longer able to do its job, your ankle will feel unstable and will be unable to support any of your weight.

Can a sprained ankle get worse?

A sprained ankle can turn into a serious chronic instability if left untreated. When you leave torn ligaments to heal on their own, they can fuse together haphazardly and form weak, inflexible scar tissue. Your range of motion can suffer tremendously, resulting in difficulty walking for the long term.

Do Grade 3 ankle sprains need surgery?

A Grade 3 sprain can be associated with permanent instability. Surgery is rarely needed. A short leg cast or a cast-brace may be used for two weeks to three weeks. Rehabilitation is used to help to decrease pain and swelling and to prevent chronic ankle problems.

How do you know if its a sprain or a break?

A sprain may occur silently, or in severe cases there may be a popping sound. With a fracture, you might hear a crack. Is your ankle misshapen? While swelling is a symptom of both injuries, if your ankle looks clearly “off,” it's most likely because a bone is broken.

Did I break my foot or sprain it?

Another way to tell the difference between a broken foot and sprained foot is the sound the body makes when the injury occurs. If you have a sprain, you're more likely to hear a popping sound. If you have a fracture, then you're more likely to hear a cracking sound.

Can a broken ankle go unnoticed?

Anatomy of the ankle A broken ankle can range from a hairline fracture in one bone which may go virtually unnoticed, to multiple fractures which make the ankle very unstable. In addition to the broken bones, soft tissue is usually damaged as well, most commonly the ligaments which hold the ankle bones in position.

How should you sleep with a sprained ankle?

Elevating a sprained ankle reduces the accumulation of fluid in the joint. This can ease swelling, which may also help reduce pain. Try sleeping with the foot and ankle propped up on pillows at a level higher than the heart. When sitting or resting, use pillows or a footrest to keep the foot and ankle elevated.

How long should you stay off a sprained ankle?

If you have severe pain and swelling, rest your ankle as much as possible for the first 24–48 hours.

Does a sprained ankle turn red?

Redness: A sprained ankle can cause warmth and redness around the affected area. If your ankle is warm, red, and swollen, it is inflamed. Warmth and redness is caused by increased blood flow to the area.

When should you get an xray for sprained ankle?

It's time to get an X-ray if your child has any of the following symptoms: Tenderness over the bony prominence on either side of the ankle, particularly if it's in the back. Inability to bear any weight for four steps (limping counts as weight-bearing).

Should a sprained ankle still be swollen after a week?

This level of sprain shouldn't result in any instability or muscle weakness but can cause minor swelling. Grade 1 sprained ankle recovery time is anywhere from 2 weeks to a month, normally closer to the two-week mark with proper treatment.

Why is my sprained ankle still swollen?

It's normal for a sprained ankle to swell, sometimes for four to six weeks, or longer. But swelling that persists for more than three months may be a sign of trouble.