We’ve all heard it before. Your child sprained his ankle while playing football, or maybe your daughter tripped and twisted it while cheering, or perhaps you were playing catch with the kids and just landed funny. Everybody always says, “Just walk it off”, and you go home, take an Advil and ice it. But that may not always be the best treatment, especially if an ankle injury is still bothering you days later.
Ignoring an ankle injury is far more dangerous than people realize. Not only will you continue to hobble around in pain, but the injury could get worse if not treated immediately, especially if the bone is fractured.
If you put off treatment you are also making yourself more at risk to:
- Chronic pain
- Ankle Instability
- Bad infection of the bone (and eventually the foot)
- Possible amputation
- Early arthritis
- Swelling
“Toughening it out” isn’t worth it when your overall health and wellbeing is at stake.
If you sprain your ankle and exhibit any of these symptoms, make an appointment with a podiatrist immediately:
- Pain while bearing weight on injured ankle
- Swelling of the entire ankle joint
- Bruising or any other discoloration
- Difficulty moving your foot or ankle
- Hearing a “pop” sound at the time of injury
It is okay to self-treat with RICE– Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation, but it is more important to have the injury evaluated by a podiatrist. A bone fracture in your foot or lower leg may have lasting consequences and it is just not worth the risk. Don’t walk it off!! Don’t hesitate to see a doctor; Dr. Yavor Geshev at Hollowbrook Foot Specialist in Wappinger Falls can help to get the injury diagnosed and a proper treatment plan started immediately.
By Dr. Yavor Geshev, DPM, FACPM
