How to Treat a Swollen Ankle
A swollen ankle can be the result of an extremely painful ankle injury. The main parts of treating such an injury are rest, icing the injury, using compression and elevating the foot, better known as the R.I.C.E. treatment. It is important that you follow the components listed in R.I.C.E. on a daily basis when treating a swollen ankle. Otherwise, you could increase the amount of time the ankle is swollen or even make the injury worse.
Other People Are Reading
Things You'll Need
- Crutches/wheelchair
- Ice bag
- Towel/cloth
- Splint/wrap
- Anti-inflammatory medicine
Instructions
-
-
1
Rest the swollen ankle. A person suffering from a swollen ankle may not have the luxury of being out of work on bed rest for a week straight. You should use either crutches or a wheelchair in order to get around. Do not put any weight on your swollen ankle as you could prolong or even worsen the injury.
-
2
Ice your swollen ankle. Recline yourself, such as on a couch or bed, so that the ankle is elevated. Place a paper towel or cloth towel over your ankle. Then, put a bag of ice over the ankle. Ice the ankle for about 20 to 30 minutes. Repeat this step four times a day in order to reduce the pain and swelling.
-
-
3
Use compression to immobilize the swollen ankle. This can be either a splint or a compression wrap. Some individuals prefer using the splint as they are very easy to put on and take off themselves. Whichever you choose, make sure that the device or wrap is snug, yet not too tight around the swollen ankle. If it is too tight, you may hindering the ankle from healing, therefore, prolonging the injury.
-
4
Elevate the swollen ankle whenever possible. This can be done while reading, watching TV or playing a favorite video game. To elevate the ankle, stretch out on a couch, bed or recliner. Place a pillow underneath your ankle for comfort, and to elevate the ankle.
-
5
Massage the area after a few days. Doing this will increase the blood flow to the area, which can decrease the swelling, as well as help speed the recovery process. You should only massage the area if you can do so comfortably without any pain.
-
6
Take an anti-inflammatory medicine, such as acetaminophen, ibuprofen or aspirin. These medicines can decrease both pain and swelling. Remember to follow the instructions found on the bottle.
-
1
Tips & Warnings
Be patient. It can take up to two to four weeks (maybe even longer) for a swollen ankle to completely heal.
Consult your doctor if the swollen ankle does not improve after 48 to 72 hours.
