What have I done to my ankle it's painful to put on pressure

Hello Anonymous,

Welcome to EmpowHER. Thank you for reaching out to our community with your question about the pain, which is associated with strained ligaments in your left foot.

The ankle is a hinge joint between the leg and the foot, and allows up and down movement. The bones of the leg (tibia and fibula) form a slot, and the talus bone of the foot fits between them. The talus is held to the tibia and fibula by strong bands of tissue called ligaments. Each ligament is made of many strands or fibres of a material called collagen, which is extremely strong.

he ligament on the outside of the ankle (lateral ligament) is made up of three separate bands: one at the front (anterior talo-fibular ligament), one in the middle (calcaneo-fibular ligament) and one at the back (posterior talo-fibular ligament). The front and middle bands are the ligaments injured in a sprain.

Most ankle ligament injuries are caused when the foot twists inwards. All of the body's weight is then placed on the lateral ankle ligaments. The anterior and middle fibres of the ankle stretch or tear a in sprain or strain of the ankle. Occasionally small pieces of bone may be torn off with the ligaments.

Most ankle sprains are fairly minor injuries, which will get better with simple self-care treatment. The word RICE reminds us of the basic treatment of a sprained joint:

Rest - take the weight off the injured joint as much as possible for a day or two

Ice - an ice pack (a small bag of frozen peas is ideal) can be applied for 10-15 minutes, 3-4 times a day to reduce swelling

Compression - a support bandage or strapping will help to reduce the swelling

Elevation - resting with the ankle above the height of the body will allow swelling to drain away into the bloodstream

Although a couple of days rest is useful, it is best to start taking some weight on the injured ankle reasonably soon after injury, usually within 2-3 days. Also start to exercise and stretch the injured ankle as soon as possible after the injury.

Normally a sprained ankle will recover within 6-8 weeks, although it may tend to swell for a few months longer.

I hope this helps,
Maryann