Sprained Ankle Specialist
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Flower Mound Foot and Ankle Center
Tommie T. Harris, DPM
Foot and Ankle Surgeon & Podiatrist located in Flower Mound & Lewisville, TX
Having a sprained ankle is often described as being just as bad — or worse — as a fracture. Since an ankle sprain isn’t anything you should ignore, caring board-certified podiatrist Tommie Harris, DPM, of Flower Mound Foot and Ankle Center can treat your sprain and help minimize your risk of ankle instability. To get started on your sprained ankle treatment at this Flower Mound, Texas, podiatry practice, request an appointment online or call the clinic directly.
Sprained Ankle
What causes a sprained ankle?
Your ankles, bound together by durable ligaments, are designed to be sturdy enough to absorb shock and bear the brunt of your entire body weight. As strong as your ankles are supposed to be, one move in the wrong direction and you can easily tear or overstretch the connective ligaments. Ankle sprains often stem from:
- Sports injuries
- Running on uneven surfaces
- Missing a step on a flight of stairs
- Landing awkwardly after a jump
You can even sprain your ankle if another person steps or lands on your foot, possibly while playing sports.
How do I know if my ankle is sprained?
Since the severity of sprained ankle injuries varies greatly, your symptoms can range from mild discomfort to severe pain and inflammation. Usually, within the first 48 hours of an ankle sprain injury, you experience:
- Bruising or tenderness
- Severe swelling
- Limited range of motion
- Difficulty bearing weight on the ankle
Even a minor ankle sprain (Grade 1 sprain) can lead to ankle instability, but a severe Grade 3 sprain can lead to chronic instability that can drastically increase your risk of future re-injury if you don’t get it treated.
What is the treatment for an ankle sprain?
Even though you’re going to be in pain and likely have lots of swelling after an ankle injury, you can still go to Flower Mound Foot and Ankle Center to get started on treatment. Initially, Dr. Harris may want to use compression bandaging or possibly casting to help stabilize your ankle. He can also teach you stretching exercises you can start performing once the inflammation subsides.
But to really help your ankle ligaments heal, Dr. Harris could recommend rapid technological therapy with advanced medical lasers. These treatments stimulate tissue healing, so you can get back to work or athletic activities with minimal downtime. Plus, your ankle can recover back to its pre-injury state, or possibly even stronger.
While rare, in some cases, Dr. Harris might need to perform minimally invasive surgery to repair a severe ligament tear in your ankle. If you do need surgery for an ankle sprain, the team at Flower Mound Foot and Ankle Center care for you every step of the way.
Get started on your sprained ankle treatment at Flower Mound Foot and Ankle Center right away. Either click on the online scheduling feature or call the office to book.
