Measures to Relieve Ankle Swelling

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Health & Wellness

Of the ordinary physical maladies, there is none more common or which creates so much suspicion in a patient's mind as a sprained ankle. And whether it is after the finish line of a particularly tough workout, when you miss your step off that curb or for no reason that's apparent at all, that snuggly puffy tightness that develops around the joint of your ankle can make sitting somewhat uneasy and quite frightening. Sometimes it's a relatively minor problem that remedies itself, and sometimes it's the red flag of something more serious. It is essential to do your best to determine the cause of the problem as well as how to prevent it from occurring again.

Uncover Why

First and foremost, try to uncover why. They are usually the result of an acute injury, such as a sprain or strain. A sprain happens when the ligaments connecting bones get stretched or torn — something that can happen if you roll your ankle. This almost always cause a lot of swelling, hurt like hell and create bruising. A fracture, on the other hand (whether of the ankle or foot), will also be highly swollen to an extreme right away and often with a good amount of pain; the person may be unable to bear weight due to intolerable discomfort and likely with a visible deformity. If you think your wrist is broken, or in a severe sprain, a trip to the doctor is not optional. A doctor can do exams, such as an X-ray, to look for a break and advise on the best way to treat it, which may include immobilization in a brace or cast.

RICE

For mild to moderate sprains and other causes of inflammation, the next step is one of the oldest and most reliable: RICE, which stands for Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. Rest is paramount. Stop doing anything that hurts and try not to put pressure on the affected ankle. Ice on the swollen area for 15-20 minutes, every two to three hours can do miracles. It compresses blood vessels and limits blood flow to the affected area, which prevents swelling and acts as a local anesthetic. The ice pack should always be wrapped in a light cloth so as to avoid the chance of getting ice burn on the skin. Compression with an elastic bandage can support the joint and help keep fluid from accumulating. You should tighten the bandage enough for support, but not so tight as to cause tingling in your hand or increased pain. And last but definitely not least, elevate your ankle on pillows for it to be above the level of your heart.

See a Doctor

But not all ankle swelling is due to an injury. It may also be a sign of an illness. But medically speaking, this puffiness is called edema — and it typically results from systemic problems like poor circulation due to venous insufficiency or heart, kidney or liver disease. If you are ill and your ankles are swollen, it usually presents itself with other symptoms, like shortness of breath or fatigue. If you're one of those folks and there's no obvious injury associated with your swelling, and it's either severe, painful, or fails to resolve at home, don't ignore it — see a doctor who can help sort out whether any of the causes above are in play.

Therapies

The return route itself is not just a fight against an impulse response, but rather long and thoughtful. Pain, swelling can be relieved with the use of over-the-counter anti-inflammatory drugs like ibuprofen. Once the degree of acute inflammation and pain has subsided, gentle joint mobilizations and rehab exercises may also be employed to regain tone strength flexibility and function.

To conclude, your body is probably your best guide. If you've got an injury, no forcing yourself through it is going to help you get well faster. Having a swollen ankle sucks, but if you take the time to treat one and also figure out why it happened in the first place, you'll be on your way as quickly and easily as possible.

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