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How to Treat Swollen Ankles

February 18, 2024 by admin Category: How To

You are viewing the article How to Treat Swollen Ankles  at Tnhelearning.edu.vn you can quickly access the necessary information in the table of contents of the article below.

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This article was co-written by Troy A. Miles, MD. Dr. Miles is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in Adult Reconstruction in California. He received his MD from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2010, after which he attended the residency program at Oregon Health & Science University and a PhD student at UC Davis.

There are 12 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

This article has been viewed 27,964 times.

Swollen ankles are often caused by damage to the ankle, which can be painful and difficult if you do physical work. You need to see a doctor promptly when injured. Your doctor can assess your injury and recommend the right treatment for you. However, doctors often recommend a few conventional treatments for people with ongoing ankle injuries. You can learn the methods below to treat swollen ankles.

Table of Contents

  • Steps
    • Enhance quick recovery
    • Use pain relievers
    • Limit activities that cause swelling
  • Warning

Steps

Enhance quick recovery

Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 1

Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 1

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See a doctor or go to the emergency room. If you have an injury and feel pain, you should seek immediate medical attention. If you need immediate treatment or can’t see a regular doctor, you can go to the emergency room. During the exam, the doctor will ask a number of questions and check for signs to determine the extent and type of injury. You’ll need to provide details about your pain and other symptoms to help your doctor diagnose and treat your injury. Common mild ankle injuries include:

  • Grade I is a partial tear of the ligament that does not lead to loss of function or weakness. The patient can still walk and carry heavy loads with the injured leg. You may feel pain and mild bruising. [1] X Trusted Source American Academy of Family Physicians Go to Source
  • Grade II is a tear in one or more ligaments that impairs function, making it difficult to carry with your injured leg and may require crutches. You may have moderate pain, bruising, and swelling. Your doctor may also detect some problems with your mobility. [2] X Trusted Source American Academy of Family Physicians Go to Source
  • Grade III is complete tear and loss of structural integrity of the ligament. Patient is unable to carry or walk without assistance. You will have severe bruising and swelling. [3] X Trusted Source American Academy of Family Physicians Go to Source
Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 2

Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 2

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Note the sprain on the top of the ankle joint. Ankle sprains include the ATFL ligament, which stabilizes the ankle and is often damaged by twisting the ankle. [4] X Source of Research Injuries are usually sub-ankle sprains, but you can also sprain above the ankle joint if you’re an athlete. This condition affects another ligament, the collateral ligament, located above the ankle joint. If you have this type of injury you will have less bruising and swelling, but will feel a lot of pain and take a long time to recover. [5] X Research Sources
Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 3

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Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 3

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Follow your doctor’s instructions. After your ankle exam, you need to follow your doctor’s ankle treatment plan. Your doctor will usually order rest, ice, bandages, and an ankle lift. Contact your doctor if symptoms become severe or do not improve after a while.

  • Consult physical therapy if you have a severe injury. Physical therapy helps speed up recovery time, and exercise reduces the risk of an ankle injury again. [6] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source
Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 4

Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 4

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Rest the ankle for two to three days after the injury. You need to give your ankle plenty of rest for two to three days to promote recovery time. This means that you should take a break from sports or other physical activity that puts pressure on your ankle. You need to take a break from work if your job requires a lot of standing. [7] X Trusted Source American Academy of Family Physicians Go to Source[8] X Research Source
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Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 5

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Apply ice to the ankle. Apply ice to the ankle for 15-20 minutes at a time to reduce swelling and pain. Applying ice reduces blood flow to the injured area, reduces swelling, and limits pain. Cover the ice with a towel and apply it to the skin. [9] X Research Source

  • After applying ice, wait about an hour and then apply it again. If applied too much can cause skin damage.
Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 6

Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 6

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Ankle bandage. This helps limit the movement of the ankle. Bandages reduce swelling and speed up recovery. Use gauze or a wound dressing device to wrap around the injured area. [10] X Research Sources[11] X Research Sources

  • Remove the bandage at night. Leaving the dressing on overnight can impede blood flow completely down the foot and cause tissue death.
  • Mechanical bandages are a clinically proven form of wound dressing to reduce swelling. Consult your doctor or physical therapist about this technique.
Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 7

Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 7

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Raise the ankle. This method reduces blood flow to the injured area, helping to limit swelling. You can raise your ankle while sitting or lying down. Use a pillow or leg to raise the ankle higher than the heart. [12] X Trusted Source American Academy of Family Physicians Go to Source
Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 8

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Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 8

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Support the ankle during treatment. Reducing pressure on your ankle by limiting standing on it helps you recover faster. You can use crutches or a cane to support your body while walking. Note that you must support your ankle when going up and down stairs. [13] X Research Source

  • When going up stairs, use your normal foot to step forward. This leg has the effect of lifting the entire body weight and reducing the force of gravity in this case.
  • When going down stairs, use the injured foot to step down first. This allows suction to support the injured leg while stepping down.
Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 9

Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 9

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Estimated recovery time is about 10 days. Following your doctor’s instructions and resting your ankle will help you recover, but it usually takes about 10 days for the ankle to fully heal. [14] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to source Do not rush into treatment or the condition may get worse. If you need to, quit your job and ask friends and family for help during your recovery.

Use pain relievers

Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 10

Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 10

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Take NSAIDs as directed by your doctor. Consult your doctor about NSAIDs for pain relief during treatment. Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) work to reduce swelling and relieve pain from an ankle injury. Some of the more popular NSAIDs on the market include ibuprofen (Advil or Motrin) or naproxen (Naprosyn). [15] X Research Source

  • Consult your doctor before using an NSAID if you have heart disease, a history of stomach ulcers, high blood pressure, kidney damage, or diabetes.
Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 11

Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 11

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Talk to your doctor about celecoxib. Celecoxib (Celebrex®) works to reduce inflammation caused by ankle injuries. This medication works by controlling the production of the inflammatory hormone prostaglandin. This medicine needs to be prescribed by a doctor. You should take celecoxib after eating because taking it on an empty stomach can cause stomach upset. [16] X Trusted Source PubMed Central Go to Source
Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 12

Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 12

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Talk to your doctor about piroxicam. This medication blocks the formation of prostaglandins and is administered in sublingual form to dissolve and enter the bloodstream directly to reduce swelling quickly. [17] X Research Source
Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 13

Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 13

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Consult your doctor about the final surgical approach. This method is rarely used to treat swollen ankles, except for severe ankle injuries that have not responded to medical and rehabilitative therapy for many months. If your ankle swelling gets worse and doesn’t improve during the extended recovery period, you should talk to your doctor about whether this method is right for you.

Limit activities that cause swelling

Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 14

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Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 14

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Use a cold compress. Avoid exposure to heat while treating an ankle injury. Heat increases blood flow to the affected area and makes inflammation worse. Warm compresses, saunas, and hot baths are bad for the first three days of injury. Avoid hot heat during this time and always use a cold compress to reduce pain and swelling. [18] X Research Sources
Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 15

Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 15

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Do not drink alcohol. Do not consume alcoholic beverages during treatment. Alcohol dilates blood vessels in the body, making ankle swelling worse. In addition, alcohol also slows down the healing process, so you should limit it completely during treatment.
Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 16

Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 16

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Gentle activity. Limit running and other physical activities to allow the ankle to recover. Running and jumping and heavy activities only make the condition worse. You should rest for at least a week before resuming training.
  • Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 17

    Image titled Cure a Swplen Ankle Step 17

    {“smallUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images_en/thumb/c/ca/Cure-a-Swplen-Ankle-Step-17-Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Cure-a- Swplen-Ankle-Step-17-Version-2.jpg”,”bigUrl”:”https://www.wikihow.com/images/thumb/c/ca/Cure-a-Swplen-Ankle-Step-17- Version-2.jpg/v4-728px-Cure-a-Swplen-Ankle-Step-17-Version-2.jpg”,”smallWidth”:460,”smallHeight”:345,”bigWidth”:728,”bigHeight” :546,”licensing”:”<div class=”mw-parser-output”></div>”}
    Pause the ankle massage. Do not massage your ankles for at least a week. While an ankle massage sounds good, it only increases external pressure on the injury, making the swelling worse.

    • You can start a gentle ankle massage a week after allowing your ankle to rest and heal.
  • Warning

    • If you suspect a broken ankle or severe swelling, you need to go to the hospital immediately.
    X

    This article was co-written by Troy A. Miles, MD. Dr. Miles is an orthopedic surgeon specializing in Adult Reconstruction in California. He received his MD from Albert Einstein College of Medicine in 2010, after which he attended the residency program at Oregon Health & Science University and a PhD student at UC Davis.

    There are 12 references cited in this article that you can view at the bottom of the page.

    This article has been viewed 27,964 times.

    Swollen ankles are often caused by damage to the ankle, which can be painful and difficult if you do physical work. You need to see a doctor promptly when injured. Your doctor can assess your injury and recommend the right treatment for you. However, doctors often recommend a few conventional treatments for people with ongoing ankle injuries. You can learn the methods below to treat swollen ankles.

    Thank you for reading this post How to Treat Swollen Ankles at Tnhelearning.edu.vn You can comment, see more related articles below and hope to help you with interesting information.

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