Sprains
You Can Trust Us With Your Ankle Health
Too often, our podiatrists see patients who have had their ankle sprains treated by another foot doctor but are still in pain. Unfortunately, ineffective and costly treatments can sometimes make a condition worse or cause problems that are not always reversible. When your injured ankle isn’t treated properly and in a timely manner, it can heal itself in a way that may cause instability, limited mobility, and increase your likelihood of future sprained ankles. Timing is everything when treating a sprained ankle, so the sooner you see one of our podiatrists for treatment for ankle sprains in Levittown and New York, NY, the sooner you can get back to your pain-free life.
Immediate Treatment for Your Sprained Ankle
Should your injury happen at an odd time and prevent you from seeing a foot doctor right away, there are several steps you can take yourself to find some relief until you can see our podiatrist.
When you first sprain your ankle, you can follow the PRINCE acronym to feel better.
P: Protect your ankle. In this case, protection means limiting mobility. You may choose to apply a brace if one is available to you.
R: Rest. This means resting your ankle and avoiding walking if at all possible.
I: Ice. To reduce swelling and help you feel better, apply ice to your ankle for 10-20 minutes every 1-3 hours at least for the first day. You may also choose to continue doing this for the second day if swelling persists.
N: NSAIDs. These are over-the-counter medicines such as Advil or Motrin that you can take to help alleviate pain, inflammation, and swelling.
C: Compression. Wrapping your ankle in an ACE bandage can help reduce swelling and stabilize your ankle. Be careful not to wrap it too tight, though, as you don’t want to cut off circulation to your foot.
E: Elevation. Elevating your ankle to where it’s above your heart for 2-3 hours a day can help reduce swelling and bruising.
Our Treatment Approach
Almost all ankle sprains can be treated with conservative methods such as laser therapy, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), a walking boot or brace, and EPAT shock wave therapy. Even a complete ligament tear can heal without surgical repair if it is immobilized appropriately.
A three-phase program guides treatment for all ankle sprains—from mild to severe:
Phase 1 includes resting, protecting the ankle, and reducing the swelling.
Phase 2 includes restoring range of motion, strength, and flexibility.
Phase 3 includes maintenance exercises and the gradual return to activities that do not require turning or twisting the ankle. This will be followed later by being able to do activities that require sharp, sudden turns (cutting activities)—such as tennis, basketball, or football. This three-phase treatment program may take just 2 weeks to complete for minor sprains or up to 6 to 12 weeks for more severe injuries.
Contact Us for Treatment for Ankle Sprains in Levittown & New York, NY
Experience our 5-star-rated podiatry care by scheduling your New West Podiatry New Patient Assessment today. Simply call (212) 874-1190 to reach our Manhattan office, (516) 579-2800 to reach our Long Island office, or click here to use our convenient online form. Your appointment includes:
- Discuss Your Goals & Concerns
- Complete Exam
- Diagnosis & Treatment Plan
- Start Treatment At Your First Visit!
During your appointment, we will take the time to answer any questions you have about our podiatrists, our treatments, our offices, or anything else you may want to know about us. We can’t wait to help you get back to living your life pain-free!
As one of the premier podiatry practices in Levittown & New York, NY, our podiatrists and team at New West Podiatry also provide 5-star podiatry care to patients from East Meadow, Merrick, Bellmore, Hicksville & Plainview, NY & the surrounding areas.
