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Dear Ask The Doctor: Last night was sitting on foot it fell asleep and then i got up twisted and heard a pop then fell , imeditally brusied and got baseball swelling an foot , iced and elevated do i need to see doctor?
Dear Becy: From all the ankle injuries, the sprains are the most common. Ankle sprains are classified in 3 grades as follows: Grade I: mild degree of swelling and stretch has occurred to the ligaments. Weight bearing is possible. Grade II: moderate swelling and an incomplete tearing of ligaments, also mild instability may be present and also pain with weight bearing. Grade III: severe swelling and pain, complete rupture of at least 1 ligament, there is remarkable instability. First thing to do: apply ice and lift the affected limb for the first 24 hours, (you did well) to control the pain and swelling. Physical therapy is recommended for sprains grade II and III. For less severe injuries, grade I, the strategy would be: immediate, protected ambulation, and physical therapy should emphasize exercises to get back the normal range of motion and strengthening of the ankle muscles and ligaments.
Treatment during this acute phase is aimed to minimize swelling and pain, allowing you to begin walking. The acute phase of treatment should last for 1-3 days after the injury. A combination of protection, relative rest, ice, compression, elevation, and support is used. Also the anti inflammatory drugs (“Motrin”, “Aleve”) help in reducing swelling and pain. If you observe no improvement with these measures then you should get a doctor’s evaluation. |
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