Ankle sprains are a common variety of ankle pain causing injuries, which are especially prone to occur to individuals engaged in athletic activities (contact sports or running events), but can occur just as often to people who do not engage in these activities. An ankle sprain is an injury to the ankle which occurs when ligaments (tough, fibrous tissues which serve as connecting agents in the lower leg, foot, and ankle) are overly stretched, bruised, or partially or completely torn.
Following an injury, one will usually experience an immediate ankle pain reaction at the site where the tear occurred. Occasionally, the pain reaction will be delayed, due to nerve damage which may have previously occurred at that site. Normally, however, the ankle will immediately redden, bruise, or begin to swell. The ankle pain one experiences may be anywhere from mild to severe, and can come and go at various times as swelling and bruising proceeds.
The level of ankle pain you experience will likely depend on just how much of a sprain or ligament tear your injury has produced. In very severe cases of ankle sprain, one will often not be able to walk, or put any sort of pressure upon your affected foot, due to the instability your injured ankle is experiencing. You will likely notice a popping or snapping sound when you move your ankle or try to walk about, and may feel a sort of sensation akin to”tearing”. The level of ankle pain in this case may be very severe, but most in cases will lessen. Most individuals will recover fairly quickly.
The degree of seriousness of the ankle sprain injury will, of course, vary with the general health and flexibility of the individual who has received the injury. Age and genetics will also play a determining factor. Younger individuals will be in possession of a more flexible system that will, overall, be more equipped to quickly repair itself. As one ages, one’s system becomes accordingly less able to “snap back” from such injuries, and thus requires more time and rest to allow the injured area to repair itself. Ankle pain naturally increases according to the level of the severity of the injury, and older individuals may unfortunately experience a great deal more of it.
In general, ankle sprains are graded as mild, moderate, and severe. In cases of mild sprain, the ligament will be overly stretched, causing a mild case of overstrain. Moderate strains are characterized as being due to a strained and partially or severely torn ligament. A severe case of ligament sprain involves complete tearing, to the extent that your ligaments can no longer support or control your ankle joint. If the swelling, bruising, or ankle pain are only slight to moderate and you can still manage to put a bit of weight on your ankle, then the sprain you have experienced is most likely merely a mild one, and you will probably not require immediate medical attention.
If, however, a “popping” sound was heard when you initially sprained your ankle, or if your ankle appears to be bent in an abnormal fashion, you should consult professional medical help immediately. If these two symptoms are present, and if the swelling around your injured ankle is severe and bruising or discoloration of the skin is likewise present, you should go to the hospital without delay. It is certain that you have sustained a severe ankle sprain, and that neglect of this injury, if allowed to occur, will have lasting consequences in years to come. Ankle pain, whether mild or severe, is not a symptom one should ignore.
