Ankle sprains are a hassle. This type of injury often occurs when you aren’t expecting it, often due to a stumble, slide, missed step, or even when you’re active in your sport of choice. After an ankle sprain, you need a lot of patience while your affected limb fully recovers.
Why is this so important? Without the right treatment and recovery, ankle sprains may lead to chronic ankle instability (CAI) and ongoing pain. Even with treatment, you could still find yourself dealing with an unstable ankle that’s prone to reinjury after a bad ankle sprain.
Instability obviously isn’t the result you want after going through healing and recovery. But if it’s there, it’s better to know about it. That way, you can protect yourself from further injuries or accidents.
Your ankle instability is treatable, as well. The first step is to correctly identify the problem.
At Town Center Foot & Ankle of Kingwood, Texas, Dr. Stephen G. Eichelsdorfer, aka “Dr. Ike,” provides treatment for ankle sprains and support for patients with ongoing ankle instability.
Here are some signs of ankle instability that you should be aware of as you recover. If you notice any of these issues, tell Dr. Ike about it right away.
The reason a sprained ankle is likely to become unstable relates to the biomechanics of this type of injury. When you suffer a sprain, the ligaments that hold your ankle together stretch too far and may even tear.
Once these ligaments are damaged, they may lose a little of their ability to keep your ankle stable. Your risk of chronic ankle instability goes up if you experience a lateral ankle sprain.
About 20% of severe ankle sprains lead to CAI. You can reduce your risks by taking care and following all of your medical provider’s instructions during your recovery.
Following your recovery from a severe or lateral ankle sprain, watch closely for signs of any ongoing issues with this part of your body. If you notice ankle instability problems, reach out to Dr. Ike right away.
Your ankle may seem to give out, suddenly weakening. It may feel like your ankle can’t support your body weight. You may buckle, stumble, or fall.
These signs of ankle instability may occur when you’re physically active, especially on uneven terrain. But your ankle can also give out when you’re standing still on an even surface.
CAI often results in repeated instances of rolling or twisting your ankle. Your ligaments may be too stretched to provide enough stability. Repeated reinjury only makes the problem worse, as your ligaments suffer more and more damage.
If you have a sprained ankle, take care to follow your recovery instructions so your ligaments fully heal. Don’t push your ankle before it’s ready. This reduces your chances of CAI down the road.
Don’t wait to seek evaluation and treatment if your ankle repeatedly gives out. When this happens more than once following a sprain, it likely indicates an underlying problem in need of medical attention from an experienced podiatrist like Dr. Ike.
Seek care right away if you see swelling, bruising, or visible deformation around your ankle, if you feel numbness or tingling in the affected area, or if your pain levels are severe.
Dr. Ike and our team assess your ankle and recommend strategies to promote stability and reduce your chance of falls. You may need physical therapy, customer orthotics, bracing or a walking boot, or even surgery to stabilize your ankle.
Without treatment, your ankle problems are only likely to worsen, leading to more frequent injuries and more severe physical impacts.
If you’re concerned about ankle instability after a sprain, contact us at Town Center Foot & Ankle and schedule an appointment today. Call now, or request an appointment online.
