what is proper treatment for a 3rd degree ankle sprain

What is the normal recovery time for a sprained ankle?

What’s the best way to treat an ankle sprain?

1. RICE The first step after an injury is to: rest reduce the swelling prevent further injury The American Academy of Orthopaeidic Surgeons (AAOS) recommends: R: rest the ankle ...
2. Recovery In the first 2 weeks following an injury, Sandow says that there can be a quick decrease of pain and an improvement in your ankle’s movement and ...
3. Rehabilitation

How long does it take for a sprained ankle to heal?

There is no specific time frame that sprained ankle recover. While we do know that the ligaments themselves will take at least six weeks to heal, your muscle strength, the range of motion, proprioception, and return to function can vary considerably. Here are some general guidelines.

What are the best exercises for ankle sprain?

Strengthening exercises

• Start by sitting with your foot flat on the floor and pushing it outward against an immovable object such as the wall or heavy furniture. ...
• While still sitting, put your feet together flat on the floor. Press your injured foot inward against your other foot. ...
• Next, place the heel of your other foot on top of the injured one. ...

What is the difference between an ACL sprain and tear?

• Grade 1: The ligament is slightly stretched but the knee is stable.
• Grade 2: The ligament has become loose or is partially torn.
• Grade 3: There is a complete rupture of the ligament.

How long does it take for a grade 3 sprained ankle to heal?

Third degree or grade 3 ankle sprain A third degree sprain is a complete tear, which Sampsell says will take much longer to heal. This sprain will require some patience since you can expect anywhere from 3 to 6 months for recovery.

What is the treatment for a 3rd degree lateral ankle sprain?

Third-degree ankle sprains with serious damage often need surgery for optimum outcomes. Pieces of torn ligament must be removed and the ligament reconstructed. The torn ligament is repaired with stitches or sutures.

What do you do for a third degree sprain?

Treating Your Sprain All sprains benefit from RICE treatment – Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation. A serious sprain should be seen by a physician to ensure a full recovery and return to activity.

Can a grade 3 ankle sprain heal on its own?

Nearly all isolated low ankle sprains can be treated without surgery. Even a complete ligament tear (Grade 3) will heal without surgical repair if it is immobilized and rehabilitated appropriately.

Can you walk with 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.

How do you know if you have 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.

Do Grade 3 sprains require surgery?

Would You Need a Surgery? Even something as severe as grade 3 ankle sprain does not necessarily require surgery. Your doctor would recommend any invasive treatment only if your sprain hasn't positively responded to non-surgical treatments and rehabilitation.

How long should you stay off a sprained ankle?

Grade 1 sprained ankle recovery time is anywhere from 2 weeks to a month, normally closer to the two-week mark with proper treatment. A grade 1 sprained ankle can be treated almost entirely at home. The pain is fairly minor, if difficult to deal with.

How long should I wear an ankle brace after a sprain?

Physicians often recommend that you wear a brace during activities for up to 12 months after an ankle sprain.

How do you wrap a grade 3 ankle sprain?

Start by wrapping the tape twice around the ball of your foot below the toes. Work your way up by wrapping the bandage several times around your foot and ankle in a figure-eight pattern. Keep the bandage taut. Finish by wrapping the bandage twice around your lower leg, a couple of inches above your ankle.

Is a grade 3 sprain worse than a break?

A broken ankle is a more severe injury than a sprained ankle. With a clean break that doesn't need surgery, recovery can take around 6 to 8 weeks. If you need surgery, recovery will take longer. With a minor ankle sprain, it may take around 2 weeks to heal.

Should you wrap a sprained ankle overnight?

Most experts recommend that you only wrap your ankle during the day for support and protection, while you continue to ice, elevate and rest the injury. While some people feel a sense of comfort from a compression wrap at night—unless it provides pain relief, you shouldn't have your ankle wrapped while you sleep.

What is the best medicine for a sprained ankle?

In most cases, over-the-counter pain relievers — such as ibuprofen (Advil, Motrin IB, others) or naproxen sodium (Aleve, others) or acetaminophen (Tylenol, others) — are enough to manage the pain of a sprained ankle.

What to do if you sprained your ankle while exercising?

If you sprained your ankle while exercising or participating in a sport, talk to your doctor about when you can resume your activity. Your doctor or physical therapist may want you to perform particular activity and movement tests to determine how well your ankle functions for the sports you play.

How to stop swelling in ankle?

To help stop swelling, compress the ankle with an elastic bandage until the swelling stops. Don't hinder circulation by wrapping too tightly. Begin wrapping at the end farthest from your heart. Elevation. To reduce swelling, elevate your ankle above the level of your heart, especially at night.

What to do if you have a sprain in your back?

Schedule an appointment or get emergency medical care for suspected sprains that don't respond to self-care strategies or that cause continued pain or instability. If your sprain is severe, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in sports medicine or orthopedic surgery.

How to heal a sprained ankle?

approach for the first two or three days: Rest. Avoid activities that cause pain, swelling or discomfort. Ice. Use an ice pack or ice slush bath immediately for 15 to 20 minutes and repeat every two to three hours while you're awake.

How to restore ankle range of motion?

Therapy. Once the swelling and pain is lessened enough to resume movement, your doctor will ask you to begin a series of exercises to restore your ankle's range of motion, strength, flexibility and stability. Your doctor or a physical therapist will explain the appropriate method and progression of exercises.

What is the best test to rule out a broken ankle?

If the injury is severe, your doctor may recommend one or more of the following imaging scans to rule out a broken bone or to evaluate in more detail the extent of ligament damage: X-ray. During an X-ray, a small amount of radiation passes through your body to produce images of the bones of the ankle. This test is good for ruling out bone fractures.

What Are The Symptoms Of A Grade 3 Ankle Sprain?

If you have a Grade 3 ankle sprain, the following symptoms may be observed:

How Long Does It Take For A Grade 3 Ankle Sprain To Heal?

A Grade 3 or severe ankle sprain will usually heal within three to six months, but this depends on the individual’s overall health and adherence to a rehabilitation program.

What Are Some Home Remedies For A Grade 3 Ankle Sprain?

If you suspect that you have a Grade 3 ankle sprain, it is best to go to the nearest hospital or clinic immediately. A severe ankle sprain requires proper care and immediate attention.

Can You Walk With A Grade 3 Ankle Sprain?

In a Grade 3 ankle sprain, there is a complete tear of the ligaments. The ligaments are responsible for supporting and keeping your ankle stable. Without the stability they provide, the ankle will not be able to hold the weight of the body when standing and walking .

Do Grade 3 Sprains Require Surgery?

Even for severe ankle sprains, surgery is rarely prescribed. Surgery is only required for those who have persistent ankle instability and persistent pain after several months of non-surgical treatment and rehabilitation. This is usually done to repair the ligaments that have failed to heal after non-invasive treatment methods have been considered.

How long does it take to recover from a grade 3 ankle sprain?

It depends on how your injured area, and body, is responding to the treatment. However, you can expect it to take about 12 weeks before you can slowly get back to your normal routine.

What to do when ankle is in recovery?

Your physical therapy in the second and third phases of recovery will include doing basic strength, balance, and endurance exercises whose intensity will progressively increase as your ankle heals.

What is the grade of ankle sprain?

Grade 3 Ankle Sprain: Everything You Need To Know. If you’ve hurt your ankle, after a thorough physical examination and some tests, your doctor would classify that injury into one of the three grades based on its severity: Grade 1, Grade 2, and Grade 3. Grade 3 ankle sprain is the most severe one. In this, your ligament has torn completely.

What tests are done for a sprain?

The tests can include x-rays, MRI scan, and ultrasound.

What to do in the second phase of recovery?

In the second phase of recovery, once you have made some progress, you will have to focus on restoring flexibility and strength of your ankle. In the next phase, you will gradually get back to your regular activities – first the activities that do not put stress on your ankles and then anything strenuous.

Is grade 3 ankle sprain common?

While grade 3 ankle sprain is not “very common” as opposed to lesser severe grade 1 and grade 2, it can happen in certain cases. Maybe you were running or jumping on an uneven surface; maybe you tripped on something.

Which type of person is more likely to sustain a sprain?

People who are into physically intensive sports, as well as those who live a sedentary lifestyle and have poorly conditioned bones, joints, and muscles – they are more likely to sustain severe sprains.

Anatomy of an ankle sprain

The most common type of ankle sprain is an inversion injury, or lateral ankle sprain. The foot rolls inward, damaging the ligaments of the outer ankle — the anterior talofibular ligament, the calcaneofibular ligament, and the posterior talofibular ligament. (Ligaments are bands of fibrous tissue that connect bone to bone; see illustration.)

When to see your doctor

Unless your symptoms are mild or improving soon after the injury, contact your clinician. He or she may want to see you immediately if your pain and swelling are severe, or if the ankle feels numb or won't bear weight.

How to strengthen your ankle after a sprain

To recover from an ankle sprain fully, you'll need to restore the normal range of motion to your ankle joint and strengthen its ligaments and supporting muscles.

How to treat a 3rd degree ankle sprain?

If possible, apply ice to the inju red area or cold water. Reducing the temperature around the ankle will also help to reduce additional swelling and may provide temporary comfort from pain. While treating a 3rd-degree ankle sprain, be sure to also seek medical attention if hiking, camping, or while out in the woods.

What to do with a sprained ankle?

With your basic know-how on sprained ankle treatment, you are now better prepared to handle injuries you or a party may incur at home and outdoors. Your knowledge could also help you avoid the mishap, after all, being more conscious of the possibilities of an injury.

What happens if you sprain your ankle?

During a 2nd-degree ankle sprain, increased stretching and possible tearing occur on the ligaments surrounding the ankle joint. Increased pain will also occur as well as swelling around the entire ankle. To properly treat a 2nd-degree ankle sprain while outdoors, ...

What is the most common ankle injury?

A first-degree ankle sprain is a minor ankle sprain and is considered the most common of all ankle injuries. Even if just a small twist of the ankle occurs, it is still important to properly address the injury. A first-degree ankle sprain also consists of mild tenderness and pain along the joint and ligaments surrounding the ankle.

What is compressing ankle?

Compress includes wrapping a sprained ankle or even a makeshift sling for an injured arm. The last step in the R.I.C.E formula is to elevate which especially applies to ankle sprains. Elevating an injury is very important as elevating greatly reduces further injury.

What is the most severe ankle sprain?

Third Degree Ankle Sprains. A 3rd-degree ankle sprain is the most severe of all ankle sprains. It usually consists of major tearing and stretching along the ankle joint ligaments. You need to seek immediate medical help if a 3rd-degree an kle sprain occurs. However, if a medical facility is not within immediate reach, a few steps must be followed.

How to treat a swollen ankle?

Immediately wrap and elevate the injured ankle. This will ensure no additional edema flows into the injured area and help reduce additional swelling. Elevating the injured ankle will ensure no additional weight is applied to the ankle. If possible, apply ice to the injured area or cold water.

What to do with a sprained ankle?

With your basic know-how on sprained ankle treatment, you are now better prepared to handle injuries you or a party may incur at home and outdoors. Your knowledge could also help you avoid the mishap, after all, being more conscious of the possibilities of an injury.

How long should I rest my ankle for a second degree sprain?

To properly treat a 2nd-degree ankle sprain while outdoors, be sure to allow a period of rest for up to at least 24 hours. During this rest period, no weight should be applied to the injured ankle. Constant elevation must also occur.

What is a 2nd degree ankle sprain?

A 2nd-degree ankle sprain is still only a moderate ankle sprain. It commonly occurs when a 1st-degree ankle sprain is left without treatment. During a 2nd-degree ankle sprain, increased stretching and possible tearing occur on the ligaments surrounding the ankle joint. Increased pain will also occur as well as swelling around the entire ankle.

What is the most common ankle injury?

A first-degree ankle sprain is a minor ankle sprain and is considered the most common of all ankle injuries. Even if just a small twist of the ankle occurs, it is still important to properly address the injury. A first-degree ankle sprain also consists of mild tenderness and pain along the joint and ligaments surrounding the ankle.

What is the formula for ankle sprains?

Another great tip for most injuries including ankle sprains is the R.I.C.E formula. The R.I.C.E formula stands for R est, I ce, C ompress, and E levate the injured area.

How long should I rest my ankle after a sprain?

In order to properly treat a 1st-degree ankle sprain while outdoors, take two to three hours rest from the activity at play and elevate the ankle while lying down. Allowing the time to rest will greatly improve ankle recovery as long as there’s no weight applied.

How to treat a swollen ankle?

Immediately wrap and elevate the injured ankle. This will ensure no additional edema flows into the injured area and help reduce additional swelling. Elevating the injured ankle will ensure no additional weight is applied to the ankle. If possible, apply ice to the injured area or cold water.

Overview

A sprained ankle is a common injury when the tissue that connects your ankle bones and supports your ankle (ligaments) is torn or stretched beyond its limits, often after a fall, ankle roll or twist.

Diagnosis and Tests

Your healthcare provider will diagnose your sprained ankle after a physical examination of your foot and ankle to identify your range of motion and determine which ligaments are affected. The physical exam is typically followed by an imaging test, like an X-ray.

Management and Treatment

For the majority of ankle sprains, healthcare providers recommend using the PRICE method for the first 24-48 hours after injury. PRICE stands for protection, rest, ice, compression and elevation.

Living With

After treating your sprain with the PRICE method, you'll need to build back flexibility and strength in your ankle. Perform exercises recommended by your healthcare provider or physical therapist to improve your range of motion.

Frequently Asked Questions

The difference between a high ankle sprain and an ankle sprain depends on the location and ligaments that were injured. Ankle sprains are grouped into two location-based categories:

How to heal a sprained ankle?

To help your sprained ankle heal, you’ll need to ease the pain and bring down the swelling. Make an appointment right away for any ankle sprain, mild or severe. Your doctor will examine you and let you know if something more serious is wrong with your ankle.

What to do if your ankle is swollen and painful?

If your ankle is painful and swollen, remove ankle bracelets or toe rings right away. Then try the “RICE” method to ease your symptoms. RICE stands for “rest, ice, compress, and elevate.” Here’s how it works:

How to tell if you have a dislocated ankle?

Go to the emergency room if you have any of the following symptoms: Severe pain, bruising, or severe swelling. Bleeding, numbness, or change in color of the affected area. Your ankle looks deformed or seems dislocated. You can't put any weight on it.