Ankle Injuries
Treatment, Symptoms, Types and Recovery in Singapore
From breaks to sprains to tendon tears, there are many different types of ankle injuries with different severity. Each one of them has its own distinct treatment plan and recovery time. If you are dealing with ankle or foot pain, it is time to get to the cause of the problem.
Here is everything that you need to know about each type of treatment for ankle injury.
What Are the Common Causes of Ankle Injuries?
You can end up with an injury any time your joint is twisted outside of its normal range of motion. In the majority of cases, such injuries happen during sports or workouts but, at the same time, people often hurt their ankles when walking on an uneven surface. This can mean walking on uneven rocks or simply wearing unsupportive footwear. In particular, unstable shoes like high heels or sandals that allow your ankles to twist around are the cause of many injuries.
Generally speaking, the most common causes are the following:
- Trips
- Falls
- Landing the wrong way after a jump
- Walking on uneven ground
- Sudden impact
- Twisting or rolling
What Kind of Ankle Injury Do I Have?
There are three bones that come together. The tibia and fibula of your lower leg meet the talus bone of your foot here. All of these bones are held together and kept in place by connective tissue called ligaments. Meanwhile, your tendons connect your ankles muscles to the bones. This allows you to move and bend while keeping your joint stable.
When you go to the doctor for treatment, you will find that the pain is caused by either bone, ligament, or tendon injuries, similar to wrist injuries. Let’s take a look at the common types of injuries:
- Fracture: A break in your bone is described as a fracture.
- Sprain: When your ligament is stretched beyond its normal range of motion, you have a sprain.
- Strain: If you push your tendons or muscles beyond their limit, you will have a strain.
- Stress fracture: Overuse can cause a stress fracture over time.
- Tendonitis: When your tendon gets inflamed by overuse, you may have tendonitis.
Talk to our wrist injury doctor if you are looking for a diagnosis for your wrist pain.
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Ankle Injury Treatment in Singapore
Looking to get treated for ankle pain in Singapore? We are ready to help! The orthopaedic doctor here at Ray of Health will diagnose your issue and create a customised treatment plan to get you feeling like your own self again. We also offer treatment plans for shoulder pain and torn meniscus treatment. You can also talk to us by clicking the button below.
Why suffer in pain for another day? Reach out to us online, call +65 6235 8781, or chat with us on WhatsApp at +65 8028 4572. You can also talk to us by clicking the button below.
Treating Ankle Injury
How Are They Diagnosed ?
When you arrive at our Singapore clinic, one of our ankle specialists will give you a physical examination. This will be a simple painless procedure to check for swelling and bruising. In some cases, your doctor may also request to have an X-ray done to see if there are any broken bones. If there is a possibility of a stress fracture, you may also be given an MRI or other special type of exam to see if there is an injury that may not show up in a physical examination or X-ray.
Treating Ankle Injuries at Home
Before you get started with at-home treatment, it is essential to visit the specialists at our clinic in Singapore for a proper diagnosis of ankle injury. If you try to self-diagnose the cause, you can end up doing more harm than good. Each type of injury needs its own unique treatment and many injuries absolutely require treatment from a health care professional. If you delay treatment or give improper care, you can end up making the problem worse.
When you arrive at Ray of Health, we will create a customised treatment for your injury. Here are a few common therapies and at-home treatments for ankle pain.
- Rest: Getting off your feet is always the first thing to do when you’re dealing with pain. Put your feet up as often as possible and reduce your walking to the bare minimum for the first couple of days or as recommended by your doctor.
- Ice: For the first couple of days after the onset of pain, put a cold compress or ice wrapped in a cloth. Leave the ice on for 15 minutes and then put it back on every couple of hours during the first 48 hours.
- Wrap: During your first few days or as recommended by your doctor, use an elastic bandage to wrap them up to keep down the swelling. Avoid wearing the wrap at night and follow your doctor’s instructions.
- Elevate: During the first couple of days and after long walks, be sure to put your feet up. Ideally, you want your ankles to be higher than your heart to reduce swelling. This method also helps relief muscle cramps.
- Pain medicine: Taking over-the-counter pain relievers will help reduce the pain. To reduce swelling of the ankles as well, opt for ibuprofen or naproxen. While acetaminophen is effective for pain relief, it doesn’t help with inflammation. Be careful to not take these medications too long, however, as they become less effective and cause damage over time.
- Brace: Your doctor may also recommend a brace if you have an ankle sprain. They will help protect, which can be especially useful if you are transitioning back to playing a sport.
- Crutches: In a severe case, your doctor may recommend crutches to help you get around.
- Physical therapy: After an injury, your doctor may recommend you to a physical therapist. In our Singapore clinic, we work with injury experts who can help you strengthen, reduce ankle pain, and help to prevent future injuries.
How Long Is the Recovery Time?
A fractured ankle may be treated with or without surgery, depending on the specifics of your injury and health background. To treat without surgery, it will be immobilised with a splint or a cast.
If your ankle is unstable, surgery might be required. During ankle surgery, a metal plate and screws may be used to keep it in place. After the surgery, it will be put into a splint and then into a cast.
After the surgery, you can expect a healing time of at least six weeks. During this time, you will be instructed to not put any weight. After this healing time, the ligaments and tendons will likely need more time to heal. The complete healing process can take up to two years to completely recover, although you can go back to your daily routine within three months or so.
When Is It an Emergency?
Ankle Sprain- Image Credit: Mayo Clinic
If you have serious pain, it may be an emergency. Here are a few signs that you need to urgently see a doctor.
- Clear and obvious deformity
- Quick and severe swelling
- Inability to move and support weight
- Severe tenderness and feeling of heat
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Read MoreAnkle Injury Exercises
If you're looking for exercises to relieve pain in your ankles, check out these videos below. You can also check out our other exercises to relieve back aches, and improve shoulder mobility.
Frequently-Asked Questions About Ankle Injuries in Singapore
What Is the Difference Between an Ankle Sprain and a Strain?
Due to the similarity in the names, people often confuse sprains and strains. While these two injuries may sound alike, they affect different parts of the ankle.
Sprains affect the bands of tissue called ligaments. When you stretch your ligaments too much or pull them in the wrong direction, you may get a sprain. A strain, on the other hand, affects your muscles or tendons instead of your ligaments.
Both sprains and strains have nearly the same symptoms. You will experience swelling, loss of your range of movement, and pain in both cases. For that reason, only a doctor can tell you for sure if you have a strain or sprain.
What Are the Degrees of Sprained Ankle Injury?
How to Prevent Ankle Injuries
About the Author
Dr James Tan C H
Dr James Tan is a highly skilled orthopaedic surgeon in Singapore who has more than 10 years of experience in sports injury surgery and exercise medicine. Apart from partnering with the industry to pioneer advanced and proven treatment techniques, Dr Tan has treated athletes from the Singapore National Teams and professional footballers from the Singapore Premier League and the Young Lions. He is a member of the elite Asian Shoulder and Elbow Group and a founding member of the Singapore Shoulder and Elbow Surgery Society.