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How long does a sprain hurt?

15 years ago

I sprained my ankle chasing a dog that got away. Grrr. Dumb dog. Anyway, when it first happened I didn't think it was too bad, but it's getting pretty painful. I'm getting the ice pack right now, in fact. Does it only hurt for a day or so?

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Comments (14)

Terri_PacNW
15 years ago
I sprained my foot.. and it took several days for the serious pain to go away. And weeks for it to not hurt when I stepped funny.
iowagirl2006
15 years ago
It will also be really easy to resprain it for a long time..even a few years!

RICE!

Rest - Rest the sprain 1 to 2 days

Ice - Ice the sprain for 20 minutes every 3 or 4 hours for the first day or two - but don't keep the ice on it longer than 20 minutes.

Compression - Wrap with an ace bandage - but not too tight

Elevation - try to keep the sprained area above your heart. At night, try to keep it up on a pillow while you sleep.
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susan_on
Original Author
15 years ago
Man, getting up the stairs was not easy! I don't want to miss work tomorrow, so I hope it feels better in the morning. I can't believe how much worse it got after I had a chance to sit for a while. It hurts when I'm "at rest", and I can't put weight on it.
ont_gal
15 years ago
Sounds like pretty bad ligament damage Susan.

Keep the ice to it,try not to walk on it too much and get some Advil or anything for inflammation into you..its' going to be pretty sore tomorrow nite.
donna37
15 years ago
Sometimes a sprain can be worse than a break. I sprained my ankle bad about 10 years ago and the fool I was, went on to work when I should have stayed home. Too, had to drive a standard shift vehicle and use that foot for the clutch.

Please be really careful, I wound up in the hospital with a deep vein thrombosis from that sprain a little over two months later.

I didn't stay off of it like I should. My brother passed away a couple of days after I sprained it and I had to take care of all his funeral arrangements and was on my foot when I shouldn't have been.
dibby
15 years ago
I've had sprained ankles that were painful for a few weeks. The doctor told me one time that I would wish that I had broken it instead of spraining, it wouldn't have been as painful. Do take care of it and try to rest.
hounds_x_two
15 years ago
Sounds painful...been there!
Follow the RICE advice, and consider getting an XRay.
I fell, and didn't have sense enough to RICE. I Rested and Elevated, but didn't Ice or Compress. It was on a Sunday, and I was determined not to go to the ER. By the next morning, my akle and foot were very swollen and very bruised...my toes were almost black. Thought, hmmmm, should see a doctor.

I had a severe sprain and a chipped bone. I needed to be casted, but the swelling was so bad, I had to wait a couple of days.

I hope you feel better soon.
susan_on
Original Author
15 years ago
Thanks everyone. It's swollen but not bruised. I usually don't bruise though. I don't know what I'll do if I wake up like this... maybe I'll be a lot better and won't have to worry about it. But if it still hurts like this in the morning, I'll get it checked out.
love2sew
15 years ago
I sprained my ankle really bad just stumbling over a mat. I didn't feel anything at the time but that night my shoe felt really tight. Well I took a look and could not believe my foot was black and swollen and half way up my leg. The next day I could not put any pressure on it and I was on crutches for 2 weeks and it was another 2 weeks before I could stand a shoe on my foot. The sprain was down the back of my foot and then went down under my arch...I did a real doozy. I had to use a support wrap for 8 months.

If you feel worse or are unsure how you should care for your foot, you should see a doctor. Hope it feels better tomorrow.
Jean
lattefairy
15 years ago
I too sprained my ankle while walking through the snow. My boot played a trick on me and left me limping and in pain for almost a year. It was awful! Pain has been totally gone for several years now, so fortunately no damage was done to the joint.

What worked for me was to wear an ankle support (those elastic ones) and cover the area with Icy Hot.

Hope you feel a lot better soon. (((Susan)))
kframe19
15 years ago
Hate to tell you this, but depending on what was sprained, the degree of sprain, and how much you're able to stay off of it, it could be bothering you for weeks, or even months.
susan_on
Original Author
15 years ago
Well, when I got up it was very sore, but I was able to hobble on it carefully. It's getting worse as the day goes on, not surprisingly. But I had to go to work today. My dilemma is this. I have a doctor appt scheduled for tomorrow at 4:15. I had decided on the weekend to cancel it, because I no longer have the problem it was booked for. But should I keep it and get my ankle checked? Or is that just a waste of time?
love2sew
15 years ago
No, keep the appointment. You seem to be suffering a lot and your Dr. may do an xray. It will put your mind at ease to know it is not broke and your Dr. will tell you what you should be doing to get it better.
So sorry it is not improving.
Jean
good36
15 years ago
Hubby sprained his about 15 years ago and it still will flare up sometimes. But he stills likes sports so that may be why.

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