Can a sprained ankle cause problems later in life?

Ankle Sprains and Arthritis The American Journal of Sports medicine found that repetitive injury and other symptoms of chronic ankle instability can lead to early-onset osteoarthritis, which can cause pain and dysfunction later in life.

Why does my sprained ankle still hurt after a year?

“An ankle sprain that lingers beyond 3 months is often an injury to a bone, tendon or ligament that is unlikely to heal without intervention,” he says. “And the longer an ankle injury persists without proper treatment, the greater the likelihood that permanent disability will result.” In other words, Dr.

Can ankle sprains cause permanent damage?

All it takes is one harmless misstep to leave you with a sprained ankle. While it’s one of the most common musculoskeletal injuries in people of all ages, it can lead to permanent damage if you aren’t careful.

Why does my ankle still hurt months after I sprained it?

An ankle sprain may result in damage to the surface of the ankle joint or to structures around the ankle joint. This could lead to the development of persistent pain and swelling in the ankle, which does not settle despite a course of physiotherapy or rest.

What happens if a sprained ankle is not healed?

A sprained ankle can turn into a serious chronic instability if left untreated. When you leave torn ligaments to heal on their own, they can fuse together haphazardly and form weak, inflexible scar tissue. Your range of motion can suffer tremendously, resulting in difficulty walking for the long term.

Can sprained ankles ever fully heal?

They can take longer to heal and sometimes require longer than three months to resolve with treatments like splinting, wearing a boot or a walking cast, and physical therapy. With the proper treatment, however, your high ankle sprain can heal completely.

How can you tell if you tore a ligament in your ankle?

If you have torn your ankle ligament, symptoms include:

1. Swelling around your ankle joint.
2. A feeling of instability.
3. Bruising – sometimes up your lower leg and into your foot.
4. Tenderness to touch.
5. Pain when putting weight on your ankle.
6. Popping sound at the time of injury.

Does a sprained ankle ever fully heal?

How do you know if you have a Grade 3 ankle sprain?

Grade 3: This is a full tear of the ankle ligament. You may have heard a popping sound when it happened. This level of sprain causes severe pain, swelling and bruising. Because the ligament is no longer able to do its job, your ankle will feel unstable and will be unable to support any of your weight.

How long do ankle ligaments take to heal?

Mild, low-grade ankle sprains will usually heal in one to three weeks with proper rest and non-surgical care( such as applying ice). Moderate injuries may take between three and four weeks. Because of limited blood flow to the ligaments of the ankle, more severe injuries may take between three and six months to heal.