Sprained Ankle (cont.)
What are the signs and symptoms of
a sprain?
The usual signs and symptoms include pain, swelling, bruising,
and loss of the ability to move and use the joint (called functional ability).
However, these signs and symptoms can vary in intensity, depending on the
severity of the sprain. Sometimes people feel a pop or tear when the injury
happens.
Doctors use many criteria to diagnose the severity of a
sprain. In general, a grade I or mild sprain causes overstretching or slight
tearing of the ligaments with no joint instability. A person with a mild sprain
usually experiences minimal pain, swelling, and little or no loss of functional
ability. Bruising is absent or slight, and the person is usually able to put
weight on the affected joint. People with mild sprains usually do not need an x
ray, but one is sometimes performed if the diagnosis is unclear.
When to see a doctor for a sprain
- You have severe pain and cannot put any weight on the injured joint.
- The area over the injured joint or next to it is very tender when you touch it.
- The injured area looks crooked or has lumps and bumps (other than swelling) that you do not see on the uninjured joint.
- You cannot move the injured joint.
- You cannot walk more than four steps without significant pain.
- Your limb buckles or gives way when you try to use the joint.
- You have numbness in any part of the injured area.
- You see redness or red streaks spreading out from the injury.
- You injure an area that has been injured several times before.
- You have pain, swelling, or redness over a bony part of your foot.
- You are in doubt about the seriousness of the injury or how to care for it.
A grade II or moderate sprain causes partial tearing of the
ligament and is characterized by bruising, moderate pain, and swelling. A person
with a moderate sprain usually has some difficulty putting weight on the
affected joint and experiences some loss of function. An x ray may be needed to
help the doctor determine if a fracture is causing the pain and swelling.
Magnetic resonance imaging is occasionally used to help differentiate between a
significant partial injury and a complete tear in a ligament.
People who sustain a grade III or severe sprain completely tear
or rupture a ligament. Pain, swelling, and bruising are usually severe, and the
patient is unable to put weight on the joint. An x ray is usually taken to rule
out a broken bone.
When diagnosing any sprain, the doctor will ask the patient to
explain how the injury happened. The doctor will examine the affected joint and
check its stability and its ability to move and bear weight.
Next: What causes a strain? »
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