How Do podiatrists in Melbourne Deal With Ankle Sprains
Ankle sprains can appear quite frightening, and the swelling and bruising can sometimes be quite intense. In some cases, it may require a trip to the accident and emergency, especially if the swelling is cutting off circulation. Otherwise, it is just a long and painful recovery. Thankfully, our podiatrists at Era Health clinics are able to diagnose ankle sprains, treat them, manage the pain and help you rehabilitate.
What has happened?
When you sprain your ankle, you actually injure one of the ligaments around your ankle. There are quite a few ligaments in the ankle, and it does not take much to sprain an ankle.
Are you going to lose your foot?
The stories you read on the Internet of people losing feet through ankle sprains are very rare cases. This only happens in severe cases where the swelling cuts off the circulation to the foot and it goes untreated. The last case in Australia featured a man that severely sprained and damaged his ankle whilst drunk and fell asleep instead of seeking medical help. If you do fear that your sprain is swelling up too much and your foot is starting to feel numb and go a funny color, then you should seek medical help right away.
The symptoms of a sprained ankle
There will be a fair amount of pain, and you will see swelling. After a while, you may also see bruising, which often looks worse after the swelling has gone down.
If you suspect you have sprained your ankle, then book an appointment in an Era Health clinic. The podiatrist will be able to diagnose your ankle sprain and prescribe a treatment for pain management and rehabilitation.
Have your ankle examined by a qualified podiatrist or doctor
It is always a good idea to have your ankle sprains checked out because there may be more damage than it first appears, and do not forget that a the symptoms of a broken ankle are similar to that ankle sprains.
What happens next?
After all other injuries have been ruled out; your podiatrist will prescribe medication to manage the pain, discomfort and swelling as needed. He or she will then suggest physiotherapy and give advice on what you should and shouldn’t do in the coming weeks as you recover. Much of the advice you receive will allow you to self-manage your own recovery so that you do not have to make repeated visits to the podiatrist, doctor or physiotherapist.
