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How do I Treat Ankle Inflammation?

Felicia Dye
Felicia Dye

Ankle inflammation can have a number of causes. Your ankle may be swollen because of mild or serious injury, because of arthritis, or because you have applied too much pressure. It is important to consider the cause when considering how to treat your ankle. There are some problems, such as muscle or nerve injury, for which you should seek immediate medical attention. Thereafter, you should follow the medical advice you are given.

Generally, when there is ankle inflammation, a person will be advised to stay off her feet and to elevate her leg as much as possible. People are often unaware how much pressure they apply to their ankles until there is an injury. Relieving your ankle of the pressure can help prevent a more serious injury or a greater amount of swelling.

A person experiencing ankle inflammation should elevate his or her legs as much as possible.
A person experiencing ankle inflammation should elevate his or her legs as much as possible.

Ice can also be helpful in treating the inflammation. Cold causes blood vessels to become smaller. As a result, blood cannot travel as easily to that area. Placing an ice pack on your ankle while you are resting can help reduce both the pain and swelling.

While you are immobile, it is a good idea to elevate your foot, because this allows the fluid to drain away from your swollen ankle. You need to make sure that your leg is not too low or too high. If it is too low, the area may not drain. If it is too high, you may prevent proper circulation. It is generally recommended that your ankle should be nearly level to your heart.

When you are on your feet, you should probably restrain from certain activities. Impact activities are likely to aggravate your ankle inflammation if you do not allow yourself time to get better. These activities include running and jumping rope.

A compress may be wrapped around the ankle to prevent increased ankle inflammation.
A compress may be wrapped around the ankle to prevent increased ankle inflammation.

You also may want to consider applying a compress and a brace. These can be worn together. The compress is generally something like a long bandage that is wrapped around the ankle to help prevent it from becoming larger. The brace is generally a firmer item that can resemble a shoe with the toe area cut out. This can act to stabilize your ankle and provide extra support.

Aspirin may help reduce ankle inflammation.
Aspirin may help reduce ankle inflammation.

Aspirin may also help to reduce the swelling and the pain. It is one of the most commonly suggested over-the-counter drugs for swells and sprains. If your ankle inflammation is severe or caused by a medical condition such as arthritis, you may need to take prescription anti-inflammatory medications.

Discussion Comments

subway11

I know that when I was pregnant, I used to get swollen ankles all of the time. I always had to have my legs elevated and drink a lot of water. My ankles would get so swollen that if I poked them with my finger you would see the indentation mark.

The only other time this ever happens to me now is when I am on my feet for too many hours. Whenever I go with the family to the theme parks, my ankles get a little swollen too. But I always drink water and rest my legs and it goes away.

For me this is the best ankle inflammation treatment. Whenever I do this, the inflammation goes down almost immediately.

Valencia

I developed ankle bursitis from wearing badly fitting running shoes. It's so incredibly painful, and a hard way to learn that there's no price limit on foot comfort! Foot inflammation meant I missed three important road races, all to save a few bucks on footwear!

Penzance356

@angelBraids - Sorry to hear about your painful ankle. Tendinitis does tend to affect sports players rather than be brought on by a twist, but that's something the doctor could check out for you.

As you know, it's pretty much impossible to stay off your feet, then you have this ankle pain when walking and create a circle of pain and stress on the injury.

I think you could definitely use some of the tips here to help recovery. At least go to the drugstore and get an ankle support.

angelBraids

I've had pain in my ankle since I twisted it a few weeks ago. It was my own fault as I rarely wear shoes with heels, so struggling to walk in them was inevitable.

Someone suggested I may have ankle tendinitis, but I thought that was something related to your knees or arms. Is it still worth trying the tips here considering the injury isn't new?

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    • A person experiencing ankle inflammation should elevate his or her legs as much as possible.
      By: goran&asa
      A person experiencing ankle inflammation should elevate his or her legs as much as possible.
    • A compress may be wrapped around the ankle to prevent increased ankle inflammation.
      By: nito
      A compress may be wrapped around the ankle to prevent increased ankle inflammation.
    • Aspirin may help reduce ankle inflammation.
      By: Kadmy
      Aspirin may help reduce ankle inflammation.
    • Ice can help reduce inflammation from an ankle injury.
      By: Luis Santos
      Ice can help reduce inflammation from an ankle injury.
    • Relieving the ankle of pressure can help prevent more serious injury.
      By: lightwavemedia
      Relieving the ankle of pressure can help prevent more serious injury.