Ankle Injury
Your ankle joints are composed of the weight-bearing leg bone (the tibia), the stabilizing leg bone (the fibula), and the ankle bone (the talus). Your ankle forms the intersection of all three bones. Tendons and muscles work together to allow you to move your ankles so you can walk and remain mobile. The ligaments hold the bones together.
Fractures and ankle sprains are the most common sources of ankle pain and injury. And while athletes, especially runners, are more prone to foot pain and ankle injuries, anyone can easily stumble and end up with an ankle injury. And when it happens, your sports medicine doctor is ready to provide you with the best treatment.
Ankle Injuries NYC — SPIN Sports Pain Specialists
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Reasons to Seek Swollen Ankle Injury Treatment
A sprain occurs when you somehow damage a ligament. Swelling, difficulty walking, pain and tenderness are the most common symptoms of sprains. The second most common cause of ankle sprains and stress fractures is walking on uneven ground, causing you to turn your ankle.
Athletes are at the highest risk of getting ankle sprains and fractures, especially when participating in:
- Basketball
- Track and field
- Football
- Gymnastics
- Competitive dancing
At-Home Ankle Injury Treatment
When an ankle injury is minor and doesn't cause much pain or stop you from being able to walk, very often it responds well to basic home first aid. This home care is appropriate only after you've seen your doctor and been approved for at-home ankle injury treatment.
The most basic home care for swollen ankles consists of:
Remain off your foot until the swelling subsides. And that means refraining from participating in the activity that led to the sprain in the first place.
Cold compresses help reduce inflammation. Apply ice as soon as possible after you hurt your ankle and continue this treatment off and on, for about 20 minutes at a time, for about 48 hours.
A snug elastic bandage also helps reduce swelling and eases discomfort.
Keep the swelling down by elevating the affected foot on a couple of pillows. Ideally, keep your foot higher than your heart for maximum benefit.
If, after the first 48 hours of homecare, you still have swelling — and especially if you begin to see more bruising — go back to your sports medicine doctor for further testing and swollen ankle injury treatment. Your doctor relies on imaging tests like x-rays, ultrasound, and MRI to evaluate the damage and develop the best treatment for an ankle injury to suit your needs.
More Extensive Ankle Injury Treatment
If you've broken bones in your ankle, you may need surgery and the insertion of screws and pins to hold it back together. Smaller stress fractures usually heal with time and rest. Immobilization with a boot, with or without crutches, usually is recommended during swollen ankle injury treatment for fractures.
Torn ligaments must be treated with surgery to repair them, while tendonitis often responds better to injections to decrease pain and inflammation. Recovery from surgery can take up to eight to 10 weeks, while sprains may resolve in as little as two weeks when you follow your doctor's orders.
Your sports medicine doctor is well-versed in pain management for the best type of pain reliever to use. Whether you need over-the-counter pain relievers or prescription-strength drugs depends on your level of pain and the severity of your ankle injury.
Ready to find relief from your ankle injury?
Dr. Melepura's Midtown Manhattan clinic offers same-day appointments for evaluation and treatment.
Prevention Is the Best Treatment for Ankle Injury
Accidents often are unpredictable and inescapable, but just as often, they can be prevented with a little foresight and planning.
Tips to keep you healthy and avoid ankle injuries include:
Warming up sufficiently before each activity by stretching your soft tissues makes your muscles more flexible and easier to go with the flow of the stresses that you place on them.
Wearing appropriate shoes for each activity helps to ensure you maintain your footing. For example, you shouldn't be surprised when you turn your ankle while hiking in wedges.
Staying away from trails and paths that are notoriously uneven. Be especially mindful of your step when you do decide to tackle difficult terrains.
Paying attention at all times when you're playing your sport, working out or just walking can help you avoid many pitfalls. Texting while walking is one of the latest popular reasons that people need to visit a New York sports medicine doctor for ankle injury treatment.
Changing out your running shoes every 300 to 400 miles, as recommended by trainers and sports medicine doctors keeps your feet fresh and your ankles safe.
Real Stories from our Patients
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD
Double Board-Certified Pain Specialist
Meet Dr. Febin Melepura — Your Ankle Injury Specialist in NYC
Dr. Febin Melepura, MD is a double board-certified interventional pain management specialist and the founder of the Sports Pain Institute of New York. He completed his residency and fellowship training at New York Presbyterian Hospital / Columbia University Medical Center, one of the nation's leading academic medical centers.
He holds dual board certifications from the American Board of Anesthesiology and the American Board of Pain Medicine, and has treated more than 7,500 patients and performed over 5,250 procedures throughout his career. He has been named a Top Pain Management Doctor in New York and one of America's Top Doctors™ by Castle Connolly.
Dr. Melepura's approach to ankle injuries is rooted in precision: identify the exact source, treat it with a targeted injection, and get you back to your daily life as quickly as possible.
Ready to Book an Appointment?
Same-day appointments available. Call (212) 621-7746 or book online.
What Our Ankle Injury Patients Say
"Able to make an appointment to see Dr. Melepura on short notice… attentive to my concerns… Jazmin was also very kind and helpful."
"Excellent hospitality, listener and explainer… highly recommend the doctor and the place."
"Dr. Melepura is the best! He worked with me to find the optimal solution to my shoulder pain while I was preparing for a fight!"
"Lovely, bright and modern… doctor and staff were kind… felt my concerns were heard."
"Helpful and friendly staff who gladly follows up with you if and when needed. Dr Melepura was very helpful and professional as well as provided me with excellent information and feedback."
"Dr Febin is fantastic! Highly recommend him and his practice the Spin clinic. The doctor is a good listener, kind, attentive and gave me great advice. "
"Dr.Melepura was very efficient and interpersonal, felt like he was understanding the problems I was having and explained the processes to take to rehabilitate. I would recommend."
"I felt listened to and truly understood by Dr. Melepura. Started PT the very next day. They were very friendly and I didn't feel rushed at all. Already recommended them to my friends who have or continue to play through pain."