How Can A Sprained Ankle Be Treated?

Brief Answer:
No need for further ice

Detailed Answer:
Hello and welcome,

Applying ice for a sprained ankle has generally been recommended for the first 72 hours after injury. After that period of time, it is not considered to be helpful. For injuries in general, you may hear that sometimes people find it helpful after muscle strains, once they get back to activities, to apply heat before exercising and then icing it afterwards.

Newer recommendations do not advocate ice after ankle sprains unless there is terrible pain. It can delay healing. In addition, while NSAIDs are recommended for the first 48 hours to decrease inflammation, after that it is advised to switch to acetaminophen (Tylenol) if you need something for pain.

But continue to keep it elevated whenever possible. And advocate, after your X-rays are done, for physical therapy. My reason for saying that is that in severe ankle sprains, some "proprioception" (position sense) can be lost and PT exercises can strengthen the ankle to prevent further injuries, and regaining that proprioception by doing specific ankle exercises helps with preventing reinjury.

I am including an article (it is not a research article but rather written for laypeople - still useful) on the newer thinking regarding ice for ankle sprains. Unfortunately you can't just click on this (it won't show up as a blue link) but rather copy and paste it into your address bar to go to the site (which is from Consumer Reports).

Here it is: https://www.consumerreports.org/health/avoid-ice-for-a-sprained-ankle/

I hope this information helps. Please let me know if I can provide further information.

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