If you hurt your ankle playing tennis, running, or even walking around your yard, treat your injury immediately. Even if your injure appears minor, there could still be something seriously wrong with it, including a torn ligament or dislocated joint. If your injury doesn't heal in the right way, you could experience arthritis and other problems in the future. Here are things you may do to treat your minor ankle injury before it gets worse.

Ease the Swelling in Your Injured Ankle

Your ankle consists of three major bones: a tibia, talus, and fibula. All three bones come together to create one large joint. Soft tissues called ligaments hold the ankle bones in place. If one of your ligaments or bones tears, sprains, or breaks, your entire ankle could become swollen and unstable. 

Injured tissues can swell if they become filled with fluid or inflammation. If fluid builds up between your ankle joints and soft tissues, it can cause great pain later on. In addition, you only have a short window of time before the swelling in your ankle becomes too painful to treat.

You can ease the swelling in your ankle by placing a small bag of frozen vegetables or a cold pack on it. Be sure to cover or wrap the ice pack or frozen vegetables in a thin cloth before you apply it to your ankle. Also, place the ice or vegetable pack in different places on your ankle. These tips can help prevent ice burns in your skin.

If your ankle becomes so swollen that it oozes fluid, stop and contact a medical specialist or doctor right away. You may have an infection in your ankle joint. If the swelling subsides in your ankle after treating it with ice, see a doctor for an exam and further treatment.

Allow a Doctor to Examine and Treat Your Ankle

A doctor will most likely examine your ankle with X-rays or CT scans before they actually treat the injury. A doctor needs to learn where the injury is in your ankle before they can prescribe the proper treatment for it. Some injuries can require advanced treatments to overcome, including a fractured tibia or a torn ligament. 

If your injury is minor, a doctor may ask you to rest your ankle. You can hinder or lengthen your healing time if you don't follow a physician's advice. Injuries that don't take time to heal properly can also develop arthritis in them. Arthritis can affect the cartilage or bones in large joints like your ankles.

If your injury is serious, a doctor may stabilize it with a cast or boot. The cast or boot keeps your ankle joint from wobbling, bending, or moving around while it heals. For severe or hard-to-treat injuries, a doctor may recommend surgery as an option. A doctor may place metal pins inside your ankle to help the bones repair themselves. A doctor may also use surgery to reconnect the tissues inside your ankle. 

It's essential that you avoid anything that could interfere with your treatment, such as walking on hard pavement or jumping on your feet. You can also encourage your ankle to heal by staying well-nourished. Try to eat foods that contain vitamin C, potassium, and protein to boost your immune system and to promote healing in your ankle. If you take medications that cause nausea, add ginger and tea to your diet. If you need help with your diet, ask a doctor for assistance. 

Don't allow your minor ankle injury to become worse. You can find the help you need now by contacting a professional who offers injury treatment services near you today.