Just an ankle sprain or..?!
Question: It is probably just a common strain and I should probably be asking a doctor. lol I'd like to hear what you all have to say, first, however.
On New Year's Day, I was walking backwards, away from fireworks, when I accidentally stepped off the small curb of the driveway and twisted my ankle.
It just ached badly at first, and it still hurts a little to walk. When I move it around, when I can, my ankle "clicks." When I twisted it, I heard it "pop", or "snap". That's one thing I'm worried about. What is that??
Also, no one is seeming to make a big deal out of it, but should I be icing it and elevating it and such? Will I cause damage to it if I don't?
At the moment, it is swollen puffy and a little blue in color.
Answers: It is probably just a common strain and I should probably be asking a doctor. lol I'd like to hear what you all have to say, first, however.
On New Year's Day, I was walking backwards, away from fireworks, when I accidentally stepped off the small curb of the driveway and twisted my ankle.
It just ached badly at first, and it still hurts a little to walk. When I move it around, when I can, my ankle "clicks." When I twisted it, I heard it "pop", or "snap". That's one thing I'm worried about. What is that??
Also, no one is seeming to make a big deal out of it, but should I be icing it and elevating it and such? Will I cause damage to it if I don't?
At the moment, it is swollen puffy and a little blue in color.
I'm not quite sure what the popping was! Yes, you can be doing all the steps to make it heal faster. Here are the steps if you don't know the whole R.I.C.E system it might be a little helpful :)
use the RICE system to help your sprain.
R: Rest...After a muscle, bone, or joint injury you need to take some time off from your activities to allow your body to heal. For example, if you sprained your ankle, you need to not walk around or put weight on your ankle. You should rest the injured body part until it no longer hurts to use it or put pressure on it. You should rest the injured body part for at least 1 to 2 days. If the injury is serious, you may need to see a health care provider. In these cases, you may need crutches, a splint, or cast and need to rest the injury for an even longer period of time.
I: ice...Ice helps control swelling and inflammation around the injured area. Ice should be put on an injury as soon as possible. Putting ice on early usually helps the injury heal faster.
Never put ice directly on the skin. Wrap a bag of ice in a towel or a piece of clothing. If ice is not available, use a bag of frozen vegetables such as peas or corn. The idea is to put something cold over the injured area. Even a cold water bottle is fine.
Leave the ice on for 15 to 20 minutes at a time then remove it for 15 to 20 minutes so the area can warm up to room temperature. You may repeat this on and off process for as long as you want. Ice should be used as often as possible during the first 1 to 2 days after an injury
C: compression...Compression helps limit swelling to the injured area. It also provides some additional support to the injured area. You may use an elastic bandage, trainer's tape, or even a piece of clothing to tie around the injured area. Be sure not to tie it too tightly. Putting it on too tight can cut off the blood supply to the area.
E: elevation...Elevation is another way to help decrease swelling by using gravity. If you can, keep the injured part above the level of your heart. This helps blood go back to the heart. If you can't raise the injured body part above the level of your heart, at least keep it parallel to the ground.