Ankle Sprain

When to Call a Doctor

See your doctor immediately if you notice any of the following:

• Your foot or leg bends at an abnormal angle.
• You feel severe pain.
• You feel pain in your calf, knee, thigh, or groin. These can be signs of a blood clot.
• Your foot is cool or pale or changes colour.
• You feel numbness or tingling in your foot or toes that lasts after the initial injury.
• You can't move your ankle.

You should see your doctor after an ankle sprain if you notice any of the following:

• You heard a popping sound at the time you sprained your ankle.
• You have moderate pain or severe swelling or bruising around your ankle.
• You can't walk or put weight on your affected foot, or your ankle feels unstable.
• You have redness or swelling in your leg or groin.
• You have no improvement in your ankle after 1 week.
• Your swelling and bruising last more than 2 weeks.

Also be sure to contact your doctor if you have a cast or splint around your ankle that feels too tight. If the cast hurts, pinches, or feels like it is digging into your skin, it may be too tight.

If your pain is mild and you are able to put some weight on your foot, you may follow the recommendations in the Treatment Overview and Home Treatment sections of this topic. Initial treatment and rehabilitation exercises ensure that your ankle heals properly. If treatment recommendations are not followed, your ankle may remain weak and unstable.

Who to see

Your family doctor, general practitioner, a nurse practitioner, or an emergency medicine doctor can evaluate, diagnose, and treat ankle sprain. You may be referred to a specialist, such as:

• An orthopedic surgeon.
• A sports medicine doctor.
• A physiotherapist (for stretching and strengthening exercises).

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Author:	Douglas Dana Amy Fackler, MA	Last Updated: March 30, 2006
Medical Review:	William M. Green, MD - Emergency Medicine Adam Husney, MD - Family Medicine H. Michael O'Connor, MD - Emergency Medicine
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