When To Seek Professional Help for an Ankle Sprain

Dr. John Hickey is a foot specialist who can help you with your ankle sprain in Levittown, NY. However, it’s not always necessary to visit a doctor for a sprain because they vary in intensity.

Some might be so mild that a little Rest, Ice, Compression, and Elevation (RICE) can help. Here are times when you simply can’t just take it easy after you sprain your ankle.

Sudden Pain When You Injure It

Some sprains are subtle and slow and don’t require heavy pain management or therapy. However, sharp or sudden pain or a “pulling” sensation when you hurt your ankle indicates a serious problem.

You should call us right away for help. We’ll determine what’s wrong and ensure you can walk away from our office with appropriate care and treatment.

Pain or Tenderness in the Area

After an hour or two, the immediate and sharp pain of your foot injury should go away. However, if you feel pain or tenderness in the area for hours or even days after the sprain, there’s something more at play here. You can’t let this problem linger too long, or you threaten your overall strength and stability. We understand this and will do whatever we can to help. A “popping” sound is also a serious indicator of problems.

Swelling or Bruising 

Dr. Hickey knows that severe swelling or bruising with an ankle sprain in Levittown, NY, can indicate something more severe than a sprain. 

You might have torn more tendons, muscles, or tissues in your leg and need to come to us immediately. We’ll treat the pain, minimize your suffering, and ensure your swelling and bruising go down effectively. 

Inability to Bear Weight

A minor sprain typically doesn’t take you off your feet for more than a few hours and rarely makes it impossible for you to bear weight. But if you can’t stand on your foot due to the pain, your sprain is very serious, and you need to call us right away. 

Our team will sit down with you and determine what’s wrong, including finding a treatment to reduce your suffering.

We Are Ready for You 

Dr. Hickey knows how to handle your ankle sprain in Levittown, NY, and will do whatever he can to ensure you get the help you need. Talk with our team to learn what care works best for your sprain. We’ll do whatever we can to ensure you get help. 

Call us at (516) 735-4545 to learn more about the many ways that our team is here to support you.