If you play a sport and you have sprained your ankle, you want to do everything you can to relieve the pain and help your ankle heal faster. A bad sprain can really hurt, but the good news is they generally heal completely with no lasting effects. This article will offer you advice to help you alleviate some of the pain of a bad ankle sprain and help it to heal faster.

Go to the doctor

If you hurt your ankle during a practice or a game, you want to go to the doctor right away so you can rule out a more severe injury. Some injuries will need to be treated right away if you are to expect a good long term prognosis. The doctor may give you an x-ray and will examine the injury. If it is determined to be a sprain, they will bandage you and send you home with basic care instructions, crutches and possibly pain medication.

Caring for your ankle at home

You were more than likely bandaged in a splint you can loosen and tighten by adjusting the Velcro straps.Make sure the splint provides you with good support, but isn't so tight that it will cut off your circulation. Leave this splint on according to the doctor's instructions.

You should lay with your ankle propped on pillows so it is elevated above the height of your heart while you are in the laying position. You want to do this in at least twenty minute increments, as much as possible, for the first 24 hours to decrease the swelling. This will also help with some of the pain.

For the first day, you will also want to put an ice pack on your ankle for twenty minutes at a time throughout the day. The ice will help to control both the swelling and the pain.

Use your crutches as instructed and avoid putting pressure on your ankle. Using your ankle too soon can prolong the healing process and bring on more pain.

Take any prescribed pain medication according to your doctor's instructions. If it's time for a pill, don't put it off until the pain sets in. This will only cause you to suffer unnecessarily until the pain medication kicks in.

By following these tips you will have an easier time getting through the healing process so you can get back to participating in your sport again. If you've suffered an injury, don't hesitate to contact a sports injury specialist, like those at Conroy Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. Doctors and physical therapists can design a specialized treatment plan that will have you back on the field as soon as possible.