What should I do for a sprained ankle?
For a sprained ankle, the first 48 hours are relative rest, ice wrapped in cloth for short spells, gentle compression and elevation. Add pain relief as needed. Then the part most people skip: early gentle movement and balance work, which speeds recovery and prevents the loose, re-spraining ankle.
Weight-bearing as tolerated is encouraged; complete immobilization beyond the first days usually slows healing.
Get an X-ray decision from a professional if you cannot take four steps, or there is bone tenderness at the ankle knobs or midfoot, numbness, or deformity. An ankle still unreliable at six weeks earns physiotherapy rather than resignation.
Source: NHS, sprains and strains
See a doctor promptly if
- Taking more acetaminophen than the pack allows, even slightly, over several days. Contact a doctor or poison service the same day, before any symptoms appear
- Black tarry stools, vomiting blood, or new upper abdominal pain while taking an anti-inflammatory
- A rash, swelling of the lips or tongue, wheeze, or breathlessness after any painkiller
- Needing a painkiller most days for more than two weeks, or a headache that returns as each dose wears off
- Fever with a stiff neck, a rash that does not fade under pressure, confusion, or severe breathlessness
- Much less urine than usual, ankle swelling, or sudden weight gain while taking ibuprofen regularly
Answered by the AskDoc Medical Team · Medically reviewed under our Medical Director, MBBS · How we review
If you are buying a thermometer
A basic digital stick thermometer is accurate and costs a few dollars. Forehead scanners are fine for quick checks on children; ear thermometers need good technique to read true.
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