Have you recently twisted, rolled, or turned your ankle out of place? Ankle sprains aren’t known to be a serious condition that requires extensive treatment, but they sure do pack a punch when it comes to pain, inflammation, and limited range of motion. You may be trying to treat your sprain at home with a little TLC and ice. For most people, that might be enough! But what happens when your simple sprain doesn’t seem to be getting better?

Many complications can happen when you sprain your ankle that most people aren’t aware of. We want to shed light on some of the complications you may run into after spraining your ankle. Here’s what you need to know about ankle sprains!

Check Your Feet

During an examination for a sprained ankle, most doctors check just the ankle. But this can be a big mistake! When you sprain your ankle, your foot also gets twisted. Sometimes this can lead to a foot fracture that goes undetected because of the concern over your ankle.

The fifth metatarsal bone is usually the one to get fractured during a sprain. Ask your podiatrist or whatever doctor you’re working with for an x-ray. They’ll easily be able to see any potential breaks or fractures that way.

Don’t Wait!

Is your sprained ankle still hurting and swollen after three weeks? It’s time to go back to your podiatrist for a more thorough evaluation. You may have ankle joint damage, a broken heel bone, or nerve damage. Even with an x-ray, you can’t see any joint or nerve damage, so it may be difficult to detect at first. Walking on a broken bone can create a lot of long-term problems, which is why it’s so important to call your foot doctor if you have any concerns about ongoing pain.

Accurately diagnosing, examining, and treating your foot condition is crucial. At Advanced Foot Care of NJ, LLC, Dr. Anant Joshi, and his staff treat a range of conditions and are committed to providing results. To schedule an appointment, contact his office in Woodland Park, NJ, at 973-256-0002.