A sprained foot is a painful condition, but how do you know it's a sprain rather than a fracture? There are several key indicators of a sprain that you should know, in order to seek the proper treatment.
Knowing the signs and symptoms of a sprained foot helps you avoid injuring the foot further and causing complications. The earlier you get treatment for a sprain, the better your foot heals, and the sooner you can return to the activities you enjoy.
At Sports Medicine Associates of San Antonio, Dr. Marque A. Allen provides a quick diagnosis and various treatments for foot and ankle injuries. Dr. Allen is a board-certified podiatrist offering physical therapy, topical CBD, and PRP injections to help your foot sprain heal efficiently.
A sprain is a common injury that can occur in just about any joint in the body. It occurs when you stretch a ligament beyond its normal capacity or tear it completely through.
The foot is one of the prevalent areas where you can sprain because it has 33 joints. A foot sprain occurs when any of the ligaments that attach bone to bone stretches or tears, causing several symptoms.
Doctors use a grading scale to determine the severity of your foot sprain. Three grades of sprains exist, including:
A grade 1 sprain is the most minor type of sprain. It happens when the ligaments barely stretch beyond their normal capacity. Rest, ice, and anti-inflammatory medications may be all that is required to allow a grade 1 sprain to heal.
A moderate injury results in a grade 2 sprain, when the ligaments stretch further or partially tear in the foot. A grade 2 sprain may require professional treatment and more rest than a grade 1 sprain.
The most severe type of sprain is grade 3. With a grade 3 sprain, the ligament completely tears, requiring weeks of treatment and, in serious cases, surgery.
Each type of sprain has specific signs and symptoms that help you determine if you need to seek treatment or if you can manage your symptoms at home.
The signs and symptoms of a foot sprain vary from person to person, depending on the location and severity of the sprain. Knowing the signs of a foot sprain is vital to seeking early treatment and preventing long-term complications.
Symptoms of a foot sprain can mimic other injuries, which is another reason it's vital to get professional care soon after the injury. The telltale signs of a foot sprain include the following:
The first sign of a problem with your foot is pain. If you're playing a sport or taking a run and notice pain in your foot, the best idea is to stop and evaluate it at home.
Severe sprains can mimic fractures and other significant injuries, prompting you to seek treatment right away. The longer a sprain goes without treatment, the worse the injury becomes.
If you notice any of the above signs after an injury, visit our office for treatment. At your initial appointment, Dr. Allen evaluates your injury and takes an X-ray of the injured foot.
Depending on the level of the sprain, Dr. Allen offers various treatments to help you heal quickly. Many foot sprains heal with conservative treatments such as:
Dr. Allen also offers topical CBD products to reduce inflammation and help the body heal naturally. Platelet-rich plasma, or PRP, is another treatment we offer that utilizes your blood and platelets to trigger the body's natural healing response.
Surgery is only necessary for severe sprains that don't heal with conservative treatments or where chronic ankle instability occurs after the injury.
Call one of our conveniently located offices in the greater San Antonio, Texas, area today, or request a consultation for a foot sprain with Dr. Allen on our website.
