How to help a sprained ankle - Tilted Forum Project Discussion Community

Jim Kata · 03-27-2004, 06:29 AM

So last night I got real stupid and "sprained my ankle". It didn't really hurt last night because I was so drunk that nothing mattered. This morning I woke up and it is killing me. I've put an ice pack on it and am trying to keep off of it....any other advice on how to help it get better faster?

Mephisto2 · 03-27-2004, 10:01 PM

Go to a physiotherapist as soon as you can. I believe you call them "physical therapists" in the US?

Being married to one, I always hear about recurring problems people experience due to badly healed injuries.

They will also help you out and tape up the ankle (an absolute must).

Mr Mephisto

onodrim · 03-27-2004, 10:27 PM

You're right to be icing it, also keep it elevated, and get to a doctor ASAP. While it may be just a sprain, it could be worse, or get worse if not treated properly. But for now, ice and elevation are the best things you can do. I sprained many things back in my athletic days, and that always worked for me.

Hard8s · 03-28-2004, 03:09 AM

RICE

Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation

Just do not leave the ice on too long. 15 mins on, 15 mins off, repeat.
Also as it starts to get better, start to do full range of motion exercises with it. Best one is to write the alphabet with your big toe in the air. Also to restrengthen it use a towel, put your foot in it like a sling and pull slowly on the towel while pushing with your foot. Move it around in different directions while restraining it with the towel.

I've had many a sprain including a 3rd degree sprain. The doc told me it would have healed quicker if I had broken it. (Stupid Basketball Game) Most of this comes from that sprain.

Jim Kata · 03-29-2004, 05:15 AM

Thanks....feeling 100 times better already...now instead of having a tennis ball in my ankle, its a golf ball.

Note to self: You are not 15 years old anymore.

clavus · 03-30-2004, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Hard8s
RICE

Rest
Ice
Compression
Elevation

Just do not leave the ice on too long. 15 mins on, 15 mins off, repeat.
Also as it starts to get better, start to do full range of motion exercises with it. Best one is to write the alphabet with your big toe in the air. Also to restrengthen it use a towel, put your foot in it like a sling and pull slowly on the towel while pushing with your foot. Move it around in different directions while restraining it with the towel.

Word for word, this is what I would have written, if Hard8s hadn't stole nmy thoughts. Does anyone know how to make a really good tin-foil hat? Gotta keep him out of my head!!!!!!!!!!

Hard8s · 04-02-2004, 01:57 AM

One Tin Foil Hat coming up!
I was wondering where all these strange ideas keep coming from!!! Put it on dammit, put it on!!!

Eowyn_Vala · 04-07-2004, 03:29 PM

yeah, pretty much do what everyone else is suggesting and remember sometimes sprains take longer to heal than broken bones! I sprained my ankle badly last May, the doctor mentioned crutches but I was going home for the summer from school in two days so they told me to see my doctor there. Well I waited for a few weeks and then went in and there wasn't much they could do. I had to keep it wrapped up until November/December and whenever it started hurting again I would have to ice it and one doctor even recommended heat! The ice worked better though! Now my ankle is pretty much okay but still gets sort of sore occasionally and once sprained ankles are much easier to sprain the next time, then the next. I've sprained the same ankle badly three times and not so badly several others!

gar1976 · 04-09-2004, 01:26 PM

Ice only for the first day or so, then use heat to assist with the healing.

Used to get sprains all the time in HS (played three sports). Sprained them so bad my senior year in basketball, I wound up with some permanent lumps. Weird.

b1naryb0r1s · 04-14-2004, 06:18 PM

Hard8s definitely knows what he is talking about with the sprained area. I've suffered multiple sprained ankles and the trainer had me doing that very same thing. They even had me put my foot in a 15 gallon water cooler filled with ice-water up to my lower calf (that completely sucked ass) and doing the following with ABC's.

Anyhow, just go with the concentrated method listed above by Hard8s and you'll be good to go in almost minimal down time.

Take care and be careful becuase it will be very easy to reinjure yourself until you gain strength back in your ankle/foot.

03-27-2004, 06:29 AM	#1 (permalink)
Jim Kata Swollen Member Location: Northern VA	How to help a sprained ankle So last night I got real stupid and "sprained my ankle". It didn't really hurt last night because I was so drunk that nothing mattered. This morning I woke up and it is killing me. I've put an ice pack on it and am trying to keep off of it....any other advice on how to help it get better faster?

03-27-2004, 10:27 PM	#3 (permalink)
onodrim Cosmically Curious Location: Chicago, IL	You're right to be icing it, also keep it elevated, and get to a doctor ASAP. While it may be just a sprain, it could be worse, or get worse if not treated properly. But for now, ice and elevation are the best things you can do. I sprained many things back in my athletic days, and that always worked for me. __________________ "The world is so exquisite with so much love and moral depth, that there is no reason to deceive ourselves with pretty stories for which there’s little good evidence. Far better it seems to me, in our vulnerability, is to look death in the eye and to be grateful every day for the brief but magnificent opportunity that life provides" -Carl Sagan

03-28-2004, 03:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
Hard8s Addict Location: Wherever I am!	RICE Rest Ice Compression Elevation Just do not leave the ice on too long. 15 mins on, 15 mins off, repeat. Also as it starts to get better, start to do full range of motion exercises with it. Best one is to write the alphabet with your big toe in the air. Also to restrengthen it use a towel, put your foot in it like a sling and pull slowly on the towel while pushing with your foot. Move it around in different directions while restraining it with the towel. I've had many a sprain including a 3rd degree sprain. The doc told me it would have healed quicker if I had broken it. (Stupid Basketball Game) Most of this comes from that sprain. __________________ If ignorance is bliss, then wipe this smile off my face!

04-02-2004, 01:57 AM	#7 (permalink)
Hard8s Addict Location: Wherever I am!	One Tin Foil Hat coming up! I was wondering where all these strange ideas keep coming from!!! Put it on dammit, put it on!!! __________________ If ignorance is bliss, then wipe this smile off my face!

04-07-2004, 03:29 PM	#8 (permalink)
Eowyn_Vala Insane Location: There's no place like home..	yeah, pretty much do what everyone else is suggesting and remember sometimes sprains take longer to heal than broken bones! I sprained my ankle badly last May, the doctor mentioned crutches but I was going home for the summer from school in two days so they told me to see my doctor there. Well I waited for a few weeks and then went in and there wasn't much they could do. I had to keep it wrapped up until November/December and whenever it started hurting again I would have to ice it and one doctor even recommended heat! The ice worked better though! Now my ankle is pretty much okay but still gets sort of sore occasionally and once sprained ankles are much easier to sprain the next time, then the next. I've sprained the same ankle badly three times and not so badly several others! __________________ Cain: I know what you're doing. I've lead troops into battle before. DG: And, how am I doing? Cain: Well, there's less hugging when I do it

03-27-2004, 10:01 PM	#2 (permalink)
Mephisto2 Junkie	Go to a physiotherapist as soon as you can. I believe you call them "physical therapists" in the US? Being married to one, I always hear about recurring problems people experience due to badly healed injuries. They will also help you out and tape up the ankle (an absolute must). Mr Mephisto

03-29-2004, 05:15 AM	#5 (permalink)
Jim Kata Swollen Member Location: Northern VA	Thanks....feeling 100 times better already...now instead of having a tennis ball in my ankle, its a golf ball. Note to self: You are not 15 years old anymore.

04-09-2004, 01:26 PM	#9 (permalink)
gar1976 Custom User Title Location: Lurking. Under the desk.	Ice only for the first day or so, then use heat to assist with the healing. Used to get sprains all the time in HS (played three sports). Sprained them so bad my senior year in basketball, I wound up with some permanent lumps. Weird.

04-14-2004, 06:18 PM	#10 (permalink)
b1naryb0r1s Crazy Location: Murfreesboro	Hard8s definitely knows what he is talking about with the sprained area. I've suffered multiple sprained ankles and the trainer had me doing that very same thing. They even had me put my foot in a 15 gallon water cooler filled with ice-water up to my lower calf (that completely sucked ass) and doing the following with ABC's. Anyhow, just go with the concentrated method listed above by Hard8s and you'll be good to go in almost minimal down time. Take care and be careful becuase it will be very easy to reinjure yourself until you gain strength back in your ankle/foot.