How do I heal my ankle sprain faster?!
Question: Here's my problem:
I'm obviously a tennis player, and practice starts next Monday. I sprained my ankle exactly a week ago from today, and saw doctor the next day. He didn't give me a cast, air splint, etc. The guy didn't even tell me what grade my sprain was. It's been a week since my sprain, and I just HAVE to get better by 2 weeks from today, or else my #1 spot on the team may go to down to the point that doesn't allow me to compete in the 1st match.
I have mild swelling on my left ankle after a week. Does anyone have any personal experiences with sprained ankles where they figured out a way to make it heal faster? When should I start rehab, I want to heal it properly so I'm not sitting out for the whole season. Oh yeah...and the doctor is going to reevaluate me next tuesday (not tomorrow). Any help is much appreciated...
Answers: Here's my problem:
I'm obviously a tennis player, and practice starts next Monday. I sprained my ankle exactly a week ago from today, and saw doctor the next day. He didn't give me a cast, air splint, etc. The guy didn't even tell me what grade my sprain was. It's been a week since my sprain, and I just HAVE to get better by 2 weeks from today, or else my #1 spot on the team may go to down to the point that doesn't allow me to compete in the 1st match.
I have mild swelling on my left ankle after a week. Does anyone have any personal experiences with sprained ankles where they figured out a way to make it heal faster? When should I start rehab, I want to heal it properly so I'm not sitting out for the whole season. Oh yeah...and the doctor is going to reevaluate me next tuesday (not tomorrow). Any help is much appreciated...
Since it's a simple sprain, you should be healed by your tryouts. However, the best thing to do is rest it. If that means crutches, then so be it. I learned the hard way but the next time when i reasted it, it got better so much faster. The key is RICE! Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. It really helped!
And I hope I did!
Shannyn
Im not sure about now, but when it first happened you sould put ice on it on and off in 20 minute cycles. Also raise your ankle above your heart (by laying down) to stop/limit blood to the injury and compress the injury. I know if thats done in teh first 10 hours healing time is cut in half.
Put a heating pad on it, on low for a couple of hours, I know is says don't use for more that 20 minutes but I've been doing this for years and have had great results, just get comfortable in a chair and try not to move it or stand on it for a couple of hours,
and take a couple of Aleve, the heat promotes blood flow and healing, do this a couple of times and you should be feeling better, this works great if you strain your back or something as well.