The ankle is the part of the body that connects the lower leg and the foot. There are ligaments responsible for keeping the ankle in place. These band of tissues helps to hold it together and prevent the excessive movement of the ankles.
When one of these three ligaments that hold your ankle together gets torn or stretched, you get a sprained ankle. You can sprain your ankle when you turn, roll, or stretch it awkwardly.
In this article, we will explain what a sprained ankle can feel like, its causes, and symptoms. So, if you are wondering what a sprained ankle feels like, continue reading.
Causes of Sprained Ankle
Spraining your ankle is something that can happen to anyone. It happens when your ankle is forced to move out of its normal position as a result of pressure or excessive movement. It is quite a common injury and you have to be careful if you do not want to experience it.
This kind of injury can occur from something as simple as stepping in a hole or an uneven surface. Running and putting your foot on the ground the wrong way can hurt your ankle thereby spraining it.
Some of the things that can lead to a sprained ankle are:
- Running on an uneven surface
- Placing your foot excessively on the ground.
- Rolling your foot in an uncomfortable way
If you are someone who plays sports, you can also sprain your ankle from many activities. If you are playing football and you hit the ball in a manner that twists your ankle, you can hurt the ligament. Or if you jump during basketball and land with force on your feet, you can also end up with sprained ankles.
Running at full speed and quickly changing direction can also injure your ankles. People who wear shoes that do not offer total support and balance can also injure themselves by spraining their ankles.
You are also at a higher chance of spraining your ankles if you have sprained it before. Any activity that involves putting pressure on your ankles can lead to spraining.
Symptoms of Sprained Ankle
Spraining your ankle is not an injury you can miss. When it happens, you might hear a loud noise that sounds like a pop.
If you suspect that you have sprained your ankle, there are certain symptoms you need to look out for. They include:
- You will feel throbbing pain in your ankle. This pain will increase if you try to stand or move your foot.
- Your ankle will be bruised and excessively swollen.
- The inflammation from an ankle sprain causes a rush of blood. So a sprained ankle will be red and warm.
- Weakness in the ankle is one of the symptoms of a torn ligament. Your ankle will feel weak and you will struggle with stability. You will find it almost impossible to walk.
Other symptoms related to torn or stretched ligaments include restricted movement, excessive itching, cold feet, and stiffness.
Should I see a Doctor after Spraining My Ankle?
An ankle sprain can be minor or acute. The degree of your sprain will determine the extent of the pain you will feel.
If you feel a bit sore, then your sprain might be minor. This usually means an overstretched ligament. This should heal within four to twelve weeks. If your ankle ligament is torn partially or fully, then you need medical assistance. This will cause you acute pain and you will have problems putting your full weight on your feet. You will experience most of the symptoms written above.
You should go see a doctor if you suspect you have a sprain. This is to ensure your case is properly evaluated and diagnosed. Your doctor will look at your ankle and let you know the extent of the damage.
Ignoring and refusing to seek proper care for a sprained ankle can lead to severe damage that will take months to heal.
Sprained Ankle vs. Broken Ankle
As much as these two injuries affect the ankle, they are not the same. A sprained ankle occurs when the ligament is torn, twisted, or overstretched. However, a broken ankle occurs when you break one or two bones in your ankle.
Although their symptoms can be the same but they are not the same thing. The healing duration of an ankle sprain is also shorter than that of a broken ankle.
Related Questions
1. How do I know if I have sprained my ankle?
If you twisted or awkwardly rolled your ankle and you start feeling discomfort after, then there is every chance that you have sprained your ankle. Some of its symptoms include bruising, redness, soreness, and restricted movement.
2. Can you walk on a sprained ankle?
This depends on the severity of your sprain. If it is minor, then you might feel soreness if you try to walk immediately. You might have to wait for two days before you start putting your weight on the ankle. However, if it’s severe and in need of medical attention, then you might have to wait for two weeks before you start putting on partial weight and work your way to full weight.
3. Is my ankle sprained or rolled?
Even though you can sprain your ankle by rolling it excessively, this does not mean you sprain it simply by rolling. If you have little pain and swelling, then that might just be a case of rolled ankles. You will not experience severe symptoms like movement instability. However, if you are experiencing intense pain with the symptoms mentioned above, then you might have a torn ligament.
4. How to tell if an ankle is sprained or fractured?
If you can see that the shape of your ankle looks different from normal, then there is a chance that you have a fractured ankle. A fractured ankle means your ankle bone is broken while a sprained ankle means a torn ligament. When a fracture occurs, you will feel numbness from loss of blood flow in your ankle. If this occurs, you will need urgent medical attention to prevent significant damage.
5. What does a sprained ankle feel like?
If you have an ankle sprain, you will feel swelling, redness, and bruising in your ankle area. This injury also comes with pains ranging from minor to severe depending on the severity of your injury.
