This swelling can make it hard to wear shoes and delay the healing process, so many people often wonder how long this swelling will persist. There’s no standard answer, but in today’s blog, we take a closer look at how long swelling typically lasts depending on the significance of your sprained ankle.

Sprained Ankle Swelling Relief

As we alluded to above, everyone will experience different results in terms of swelling and how quickly it will dissipate. However, if you ended up on this page because you are dealing with some swelling after an ankle sprain and you’re wondering when your ankle may return to a normal size, we’ll try to provide some answers based on the type of sprain you suffered.

Grade I – A Grade I sprain is considered the most mild type of ankle sprain, involving some overstretching and minor tearing of the supportive ankle ligaments. In most instances, swelling is minor and may not be all that noticeable. Many individuals can get back to normal activities within 3-7 days, especially if they RICE (Rest, Ice, Compress, Elevate), but full healing can take up to three weeks.

Grade II – A Grade II sprain is a little more severe. This type of sprain involves a partial tear of the supportive ankle ligaments, and this will lead to more significant symptoms. Pain, swelling and bruising may all be more noticeable, and you may have difficultly placing weight on the foot. It’s not uncommon for some swelling to persist for 2-3 weeks following a Grade II ankle sprain, and full healing usually takes between 3-6 weeks.

Grade III – A Grade III ankle sprain is the most severe type of sprain, categorized by a complete tear of the ligaments that stabilize and support your ankle joint. Pain and swelling will be significant. Swelling will be most noticeable in the first two weeks following a Grade III sprain, but it can persist for more than a month. A Grade III sprain can take anywhere from 6-12 weeks or longer to recover depending on the damage and whether or not surgery is needed to address the ligaments.

Regardless of the type of sprain you suffer, you can work to limit swelling and reduce its impact by resting your foot to protect it from additional trauma and elevating it above your heart, which will naturally help pull fluid away from the area. Icing your ankle can also constrict blood vessels and limit fluid accumulation in the ankle, but these techniques won’t be able to completely stop your swelling.

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Dr. Silverman’s Tips For Controlling Swelling

Obviously the individualized advice given to you by your provider will trump anything you read in this blog, but odds are their advice and these tips will be pretty similar. Here’s how we oftentimes recommend that our patients work to control swelling after surgery:

Rest – Short-term rest can help to protect the area from additional trauma that could lead to increased swelling and fluid buildup.

Ice – Ice and cold packs can help to constrict blood vessels and limit fluid onset in specific areas. Ice is one of the simplest forms of edema control.

Elevation – Gravity can cause fluid to build up in a specific area, but you can also use gravity to your advantage by elevating the area above your heart. If you undergo surgery on your foot or ankle, you may find that you can limit swelling by propping your foot up on a pillow to help fluid drain away from the injured area.

Compression – Compression bandages and wraps can help to support fluid movement in and out of an area. If fluid isn’t able to pool in a specific area, you’ll notice less swelling.

Physical Therapy – Once you have been cleared for physical therapy, you’ll want to jump into your exercise program, because these targeted movements and motions can help to facilitate healthy blood flow to and from a specific area, helping to reduce swelling.

Early Movement – Even if you can’t be weight bearing, simply being upright and active can help to get your heart pumping and encourage healthy fluid movement to and from specific areas of your body. Laying in bed all day, even if you foot is elevated, is a recipe for prolonged swelling.

Anti-Inflammatory Meds – Anti-inflammatory medications can help to control post-op swelling, but should not be your only form of edema management.

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Calming Swelling And Bruising In A Sprained Ankle

Here are a number of ways to safely manage a sprained ankle in the immediate aftermath to help prevent swelling and bruising from developing.

RICE – RICE is probably the best combination of things you can do for your ankle in the first 24-48 hours after the sprain. RICE stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. In other words, after a sprain, get off your feet and rest the area. Better yet, elevate the area to help prevent against fluid accumulation in the area. Gently wrapping the area can also help to prevent against fluid build up. Icing the area has also been shown to help prevent the onset of swelling.

Anti-Inflammatory Medications – Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications can help to prevent inflammation and in turn swelling in the area. They can also prevent some mild to moderate pain relief, which will be helpful depending on the severity of your ankle sprain.

Stretching – After a couple of days, stretching can help to improve blood flow to the injured area, helping to treat bruising and improve healing. Gentle range of motion exercises will help strengthen the ligaments and bring healthy blood to the area.

Limited Weight Bearing Followed By Walking – Another way to help prevent against swelling and bruising is by striking an appropriate balance between limiting weight bearing and walking on the injured ankle. Right away, you’ll want take some stress off the area and help protect it by not walking on it. Continuing to put pressure on the area can make damage worse and lead to more swelling and bruising. However, after a while, you can do more for your ankle by walking than by staying off your feet. Once you’re to the point where you can walk without hobbling or compensating for your injury, walking can actually help speed up the recovery process. Not only can walking help reduce swelling and bruising, but it can help to strengthen the ankle and prevent against future sprains.

If you can do all of the above things, we’re confident that you’ll be able to help limit the amount of bruising or swelling you experience after an ankle sprain. We’re not saying you’ll be able to prevent it completely, but you can help your injured ankle heal much faster if you work to limit swelling and bruising. For more information, or for help treating your ankle sprain, reach out to Dr. Silverman’s office today.

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How To Reduce Foot Swelling After Surgery

Here are five things you can do to reduce the amount of swelling that occurs following a foot operation.

1. Rest – Odds are you’ll have some weight-bearing restrictions after foot surgery, but regardless of the restrictions it’s a good idea to give your foot some short term rest to reduce swelling. Swelling is worst in the first 24-48 hours, and extra activity and stress on the area can lead to more swelling. Limit your activity for the first days after surgery, and follow your doctor’s weight bearing instructions.

2. Elevate – Another great way to limit foot swelling after surgery is to safely keep the foot elevated when you’re lying down. This way gravity works in your favor instead of against the lowest area of your body. Prop your foot up on a couple pillows when you’re in bed or rest it on the armrest of your sofa if you’re in the living room. This will help move fluid out of the area.

3. Compression – Compression therapy helps to restrict blood flow and swelling in the area. Use compression socks or elastic bandages to apply some light pressure to the area. Just be sure that you don’t wrap the area too tightly, because you don’t want to eliminate all blood flow to the area. Light to moderate pressure is a great way to help reduce swelling after foot surgery.

4. Cold Packs – Similar to compression therapy, cold packs or icing the affected area helps to restrict blood flow that can bring excess fluid to the area. Slowing down this blood flow works to limit the body’s natural inflammatory response to injury. Icing the area for 15-30 minutes a couple times a day after foot surgery can help to reduce fluid buildup in the area.

5. Anti-Inflammatory Medications – Finally, consider taking over-the-counter anti-inflammatory medications to help with inflammation and swelling after an operation. Before starting an anti-inflammatory regimen, talk with your doctor to ensure they will not cause any issues with other prescriptions or painkillers you’re taking.

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Why Are My Feet Swollen?

Here’s a quick look at five reasons why your feet may appear swollen:

1. Injury – Injury is the most obvious reason as to why you’re dealing with swelling in your feet. When your foot gets injured, blood can pool in the area and natural inflammation in the area can lead to swollen feet. If you sprain your ankle or bruise your heel, expect some minor to mild swelling in the area. This typically resolves on its own after a few days of RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation), but if it doesn’t or if pain worsens, head to a foot specialist’s office.

2. Lymphedema – Your lymph nodes are an important part of your immune system, but if they get damaged or need to be removed (which is common during cancer treatment), your body loses the ability to get rid of fluids as easily as it once could. This problem is called lymphedema, and it can lead to swelling in your extremities, especially in your feet. Compression socks are one conservative treatment option that can help move fluid out of the area and reduce swelling, as can exercise. You can usually manage swelling caused by lymphedema on your own, but bring it up to your doctor on your next visit if you have any lingering concerns.

3. Kidney Damage – Your kidneys provide a vital bodily function in that they help expel waste from the body. If they aren’t working correctly – oftentimes due to a condition like high blood pressure or diabetes – too much salt can remain in the body. This excess salt means your body is also holding on the more water than it should. As you stand and walk, that water moves downward to your feet and legs, which can cause swelling. You should talk to your doctor about how to manage conditions that are affecting your kidneys.

4. Chronic Venous Insufficiency – Your blood flows back to your heart through your veins. If your veins get damaged or if you stand or sit for hours on end, your blood doesn’t return as it should to the heart. When this happens, it can pool in your feet and legs, which in turn leads to swelling. Exercise, stretching and avoiding standing/sitting for long periods can help keeping blood from pooling in your legs.

5. Pregnancy – Foot swelling is also natural during pregnancy. That’s because a woman’s body holds onto more water when she’s pregnant. Swelling can happen at any point during the pregnancy, but it can get even worse at the end of the day or if you’ve been standing for a long time. Swollen feet during pregnancy can be uncomfortable, but it’s usually not a sign of a problem for baby or mother.

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