I sprained my ankle. How can I get better quickly?

As for the term "sprained ankle", the real medical definition is that the swelling and soreness that occur after the sprain are caused by external reasons, that is, the symptoms and reactions caused by local soft tissue damage, muscle and tendon strain. This is also a common problem in our lives, because life is full of bumps and bruises. So what should we do if we sprain our foot? How can I finish it faster?

How to operate

1. After spraining your ankle, do not massage the sprained area yourself. Be sure to take an X-ray first. According to your pain, if you hear a crackling sound when you sprain your ankle, go to the hospital for an X-ray in time. If the X-ray shows a fracture or dislocation, see a doctor immediately. If you do not have a broken bone, you can recover on your own by following the steps below.

   2. Apply cold compress in time: Put the injured foot in cold water in time, or wrap ice cubes in a towel and apply it to the swollen area for about 30 minutes each time, every 3-4 hours. This can relieve pain, promote vasoconstriction and reduce bleeding. Remember to apply cold compress first.

   3. Raise the injured limb. After the injury, you can put a pillow under the injured limb. The main purpose is to ensure blood and lymph return to the injured area. The height should be slightly higher than the patient's heart.

   4. Apply hot and cold compress after 48 hours. Apply hot compress after nearly 48 hours, and apply hot towels or hot water bags to the feet. The purpose is to promote blood circulation and remove blood stasis, and promote the absorption of tissue exudate.

   5. Correct massage: Before the bleeding stops, it is advisable to continuously massage the hematoma. The method is to press the local area with the thenar of the palm. The pressure should be tolerable even though it is painful. The time is to press continuously for 2 to 3 minutes and then slowly release it, pause for a moment and repeat the operation. Each repetition is 5 times as a stage, and it is appropriate to do 3 to 4 stages a day. After the bleeding stops, knead the area, using the thenar eminence or the tip of your thumb to apply a certain amount of pressure and knead the area. The direction is centered on the obvious swelling, and knead in all directions around it centrifugally. Do it for 2 to 3 minutes each time, and do it 3 to 5 times a day.

   6. Apply medicine appropriately. For local swelling caused by sprained ankle, do not use oral medication. You can use external blood-activating medicine and apply it to the swollen area two to three times a day. The swelling can be significantly reduced.

   After the bleeding and swelling stop, Chinese herbal medicine can be used for fumigation in the later stage. If you don't have any Chinese patent medicine on hand, you can also fry the flour until it turns yellow, mix it with rice vinegar and apply it to the affected area to replace the Chinese patent medicine. The effect is also ideal. Boil water with a small pinch of Sichuan peppercorns and a handful of salt for fumigation and washing, which is also a good alternative to Chinese herbal medicine.

   Following the above steps, a mild ankle sprain can generally return to normal in a few days. Be sure to pay attention: try to wear shoes suitable for sports in the future and tie your shoelaces tightly. Secondly, make sure to fully stretch before exercising, jog for a distance, and do some foot stretching exercises. Finally, take protective measures, try to exercise on flat ground, control the speed according to the curve when turning, and never fail to brake in sharp turns.