Ankle Sprain, High Ankle sprain & Ankle fracture

When you sprain your ankle, you injure the ligaments that connect and support your ankle bones. This happens when you twist, roll, or fall on your ankle in a way that stretches or tears the ligaments. Sprained ankles are common injuries that can affect anyone, but they are more frequent in athletes and people who do physical activities.

Sprained ankles and broken ankles (or ankle fractures) are different types of injuries. A broken ankle means that one or more of your ankle bones are cracked or broken. Both sprains and fractures can cause pain, swelling, bruising and tenderness in your ankle, and they can happen from similar causes, such as twisting your ankle or falling. However, sprains usually heal faster than fractures, which can take up to six weeks to heal.

There are three grades of sprained ankles, depending on how severe the ligament damage is:

Grade 1 (Mild). The ligament is slightly stretched or has a tiny tear. Your ankle is mildly swollen and sore to touch.

Grade 2 (Moderate). The ligament has a partial tear. Your ankle is swollen over the injured area, and it is painful to move.

Grade 3 (Severe). The ligament is completely torn. Your ankle is very swollen, very painful and hard to walk on.

The signs of a sprained ankle are:

• ·        Pain, especially when you put weight on your ankle.

• ·        Soreness to touch.

• ·        Swelling.

• ·        Bruising.

• ·        Trouble walking.

What are the Causes of ankle sprain?

Ankle sprains happen when you roll or twist your ankle. Some of the common causes of ankle sprains are:

• Tripping or falling on uneven surfaces.

• Jumping and landing wrong on your ankle.

• Losing your balance.

• Playing sports that involve rolling or twisting your foot (basketball, football, soccer, tennis).

Diagnosis and Tests 

Pain physician will examine the foot and ankle to see how well patient can move them and determine which ligament is injured. An X-ray or Ultrasound will assist in the diagnosis.

How is ankle sprain treated?

If you have an ankle sprain, most doctors advise you to follow the PRICE protocol for the first two days after the injury. PRICE is an acronym for protection, rest, ice, compression, and elevation.

• Protection: To avoid further damage, use a splint or brace on your injured ankle or walk with crutches.

• Rest: Stay away from activities that can worsen your sprain (such as running, jumping, or exercising).

• Ice: Put ice or a cold pack wrapped in a towel on your ankle for 20 minutes at a time to lower the swelling.

• Compression: Wrap your ankle lightly with an elastic bandage to reduce the swelling.

• Elevation: Keep your ankle above your heart level when you lie down by using pillows.

How long does a sprained ankle take to heal?

How long it takes to recover from an ankle sprain depends on how bad the injury is. A mild sprain may heal in as little as two weeks, while a serious sprain may take up to three months to heal.

How to prevent ankle sprain?

You can avoid ankle sprains by doing these things:

• Exercise often to keep your muscles strong.

• Do warm-ups and stretches before you exercise or do physical activities.

• Be careful of the surfaces you walk or run on, especially if they are not flat.

• Take a break or stop when you get tired during exercise or activities.

What's a high ankle sprain and how does it differ from ankle sprain?

The difference between a high ankle sprain and an ankle sprain depends on the location and ligaments that were injured.

A high ankle sprain is a type of injury that affects the ligaments that connect the two bones of lower leg, the tibia and the fibula. These ligaments are called the syndesmosis, and they help stabilize the ankle joint. A high ankle sprain occurs when these ligaments are stretched or torn, usually by twisting or rotating the foot upward and inward or outward.

In a high ankle sprain, pain occurs above the ankle, especially when moving your foot or walking on your toes.

Dr. Chinmoy Roy is a well-known pain expert and author of multiple medical books who is available at Rajarhat Pain Clinic, Newtown, Kolkata. He is an expert of using radiofrequency, CRYO, chemical neurolytics and other modalities related to the pain procedures.