How to ease the pain of a sprained ankle.

Spraining your ankle can be incredibly painful and uncomfortable when it first happens. But unfortunately sometimes that pain can last for a very long time after the injury has occurred. Correct treatment of a sprained ankle is absolutely essential for minimizing the pain later on.

But there are many myths surrounding the treatment of a sprained ankle so it can be very hard to know what to do for the best.

The most important things to remember when treating any kind of sprain is R.I.C.E, rest, ice compression elevation.

The first thing you need to do when the injury occurs is remove any clothes such as shoes or socks from the ankle. If you leave your shoes on the ankle could swell up a great deal making it incredibly uncomfortable and even dangerous to remove. Try to take your shoes off as soon as you feel the pain.

The nest thing to do is apply an ice pack to the injury as soon as you can. This is not always practical but as soon as it is possible to do so then you need to try and get some ice onto the ankle. Apply the ice pack and leave it there for about thirty minutes. This should be repeated at least every hour for the first seventy two hours, this will help to constrict the blood vessels which will minimize any bruising and swelling that may occur.

Try to elevate the ankle to the level of your chest, this will be very beneficial for your circulation and it will also decrease your recovery time. Rest the ankle as much as possible, many people think that with a sprained ankle you can walk it off. All this will do is make matters worse. Avoid putting pressure on the ankle unless you absolutely have to.

Check the pulse in your foot on a regular basis. If you feel that it is weak or that you cannot find it then seek medical attention.

Apply a warm compress every hour for the first two days after the injury.

Ibuprofen will help to reduce the swelling in your ankle and it will also help to alleviate the discomfort. Always follow the instructions and never take more than the recommended dose no matter how much pain you are in

When you first start to walk again you should wrap your ankle in a bandage for additional support. It should be at least two inches wide and wrapped tightly. Get a nurse or any medical professional to show you how to do it.