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When to see a doctor
By Mayo Clinic staffPain that occurs immediately after an injury can be intense. Yet every injury isn't a medical emergency, and even painful injuries sometimes can be helped by home care.
Call for immediate medical help or go to the emergency room if you:
- See an exposed bone or tendon
- Are unable to walk or put weight on your foot
- Have severe pain and swelling
You are likely to have an X-ray if:
- You aren't able to put weight on your foot
- You have pain at the tip of either ankle bone (malleolus)
See your doctor right away if:
- You have signs of infection, such as redness, warmth and tenderness in the affected area or you have a fever over 100 F (37.7 C)
Schedule an office visit if:
- Swelling doesn't improve after two or three days of home treatment
- Minor pain doesn't go away after several weeks
- You have ankle swelling, stiffness and pain that's worse in the morning or after you've been active
Self-care
For many ankle injuries, over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications and home treatments, such as resting and icing your foot, may be all you need. For the best results, start these measures within 48 hours after an injury:
- Rest. Keep weight off your ankle as much as possible. Take a break from your normal activities.
- Ice. Place an ice pack or bag of frozen peas on your ankle for 15 to 20 minutes three times a day.
- Compression. Use a compression bandage to reduce swelling.
- Elevation. Elevate your foot to help reduce swelling.
- Ankle problems. American Academy of Family Physicians. http://familydoctor.org/online/famdocen/home/tools/symptom/543.html. Accessed May 13, 2010.
- Foot and ankle injuries. American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/menus/foot.cfm. Accessed May 13, 2010.
- Devin C, et al. Common causes of ankle pain. In: Firestein GS, et al. Kelley's Textbook of Rheumatology. 8th ed. Philadelphia, Pa.: W.B. Saunders Co.; 2008. http://www.mdconsult.com/das/book/body/200981153-3/997595864/1807/295.html#4-u1.0-B978-1-4160-3285-4..10043-9--s0050_1236. Accessed May 13, 2010.
- Chorley J, et al. Clinical features and management of ankle pain in the young athlete. http://www.uptodate.com/home.index.html. Accessed May 13, 2010.
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