Some of the most common injuries seen in urgent care clinics and emergency rooms are sprained ankles. Sprained ankles can cause severe pain, and sometimes can trick patients into thinking they may have a more severe injury like a fractured bone. Sprained ankles occur when the ligaments that support the ankle joint and hold it in place are strained, leading to swelling and joint instability. Sprained ankles often heal on their own, however, understanding the correct course of treatment is essential to a proper recovery.
If you’ve experienced an ankle injury, AFC Urgent Care Edgewater is available to provide swift diagnosis and treatment. Our walk-in clinic in Edgewater, MD is available 7 days a week to provide essential injury diagnosis, including on-site digital X-ray imaging services - all on a walk-in basis. Simply walk into the clinic, or save your spot online in advance below.
Understanding Whether Your Ankle is Sprained or Broken
If you injure your ankle, you should always seek medical attention. While sprained ankles will heal on their own in most scenarios, there are cases where you may require specialized treatment, or the injury could be more severe than you think. Your medical provider will be able to take X-ray images of your injury to rule out the possibility of a broken or fractured bone. Without proper diagnosis and care, you could further damage the joint.
Common symptoms of a sprained ankle can mimic symptoms of a broken bone including swelling, bruising, difficulty bearing weight on the affected limb, tenderness to the touch and pain.
How to Treat a Sprained Ankle
It is vital that you do not use the affected limb if you have a sprained ankle. Resting it will ensure your body has time to heal the injuries to the ligaments. Pushing through the discomfort will slow down your recovery time. If your medical provider does determine that you have a sprained ankle, the fastest way to heal is to follow the RICE method of treatment:
R: Rest
I: Ice
C: Compress
E: Elevate
This method will ensure that you are adequately resting the joint while also addressing any swelling or discomfort during the healing process.
Visit AFC Edgewater for Injury Diagnosis & Treatment in Edgewater, MD
Sprained ankles are extremely common injuries that can happen out of the blue. If you think you may have sprained your ankle, you should always seek medical care for proper diagnosis to rule out a more serious injury. At AFC Urgent Care Edgewater, our walk-in urgent care clinic offers patients in Edgewater, MD with rapid injury care on a walk-in basis.
Our clinic is state-of-the-art and equipped with the technology to accurately diagnose common injuries like sprained ankles including on-site digital X-rays available on a walk-in basis. We accept most medical insurance plans and offer competitive rates for self-paying patients. Give us a call for more information or to speak directly to our medical staff at (410) 956-3394.
