I sprained my ankle 2 1/2 weeks ago should it still be swelled?

Answer 1

Monitor your ankle for signs of inflammation/swelling:
Redness (is it red?, by looking at it), Heat (Is it hot?, by touching it), Pain (is it painful? by touching and moving it), Is there presence of pus or something like light yellowish color sorrounding the affected area. All these things be watchful, contact your physician if any of this is present.

Answer 2

I have had ankle problems for most of my life. If it is a high ankle sprain then yes, it may still be swelled. Often there is a ligament damage between the two bones in your leg so it will take an very long time for your ankle to get back to 100%. Even when the swelling goes down and the pain goes away, be aware that you still may not be fully healed. Try icing it for 15 minutes then heating it for 15 minutes, repeat this a few times and it may help the swelling.

Answer 3

It can be. Depends on the severity of the damage to the structures in the ankle. A "sprain" is a partial to full tear of the ligaments in a joint. The other factor is how you treated it after the initial injury. You need to be practicing RICE techniques (rest, ice, compression, elevation), as well as going non-weight bearing by using crutches. At this point you probably have done more damage if you have not been doing these rehab techniques. You should go to your physician to have a X-Ray to rule out fracture, and then checked for extra damage to the surrounding ankle structures. Sprains come in 3 levels of damage - 1 being partial tear with mild swelling, pain, and point tenderness 2 being partial to near full tear with moderate swelling, moderate pain, and low ROM 3 being full tear, severe pain, extreme low ROM (range of motion). Expect to be off your feet for another week or two minimum. Good luck.
BTW- do NOT use heat in conjunction with ice as this will recreate an inflammatory response and increase swelling!!!!

Answer 4

Deuce is right. I sprained mine over a year ago.. Still gives me problems. I had swelling for a few weeks too. MD said I would have been better off breaking it instead.. Good luck.. Ice is.. Better to stay off it as long as you can..

Answer 5

It depends on the extent of the injury and the amount that you use the ankle. Your best bet is Ibuprophen and keeping the ankle up. If it continues to be swollen you may want to consult your doctor to make sure you didn't tear a ligament.