To know if an ankle is sprained, look for these symptoms: pain especially when putting weight on the foot, tenderness when touching the ankle, swelling, bruising, stiffness, and sometimes a popping sound at the time of injury. The ankle may feel unstable or like it’s giving out. Pain usually increases with movement or pressure on the ankle. If the symptoms include inability to bear weight, significant swelling or bruising, or if the ankle looks crooked, it could be more serious, like a fracture, and needs medical evaluation. Mild sprains usually allow some movement and weight-bearing, while severe sprains involve partial or complete tears of ligaments causing difficulty walking and instability. If pain, swelling, and bruising are present, but you can still bear weight with some discomfort, it likely indicates a sprain rather than a break. For any severe symptoms or uncertainty, seeing a doctor for proper diagnosis and possible imaging is important. Key signs of a sprained ankle include:
- Pain and tenderness around the ankle
- Swelling and bruising
- Difficulty or pain when bearing weight
- Stiffness
- Feeling of instability or the ankle giving out
- Possible popping sound when injured
For more serious injury signs like inability to walk, severe deformity, numbness, or tingling, seek medical attention promptly as these might indicate a fracture or nerve injury.
