How long does it usually take a sprained ankle to heal?

[Anonymous]

I sprained my ankle today going down the stairs and I'm super worried cause I have so many projects due by the end of this week and a presentation. My mom tells me to walk or off but sometimes it hurts a lot and sometimes it's not too bad. I haven't gotten it checked out professionally yet cause I would have to commute there and where I am it's been raining/sleeting so I'm worried about slipping.

[whattothink]

Generally about 4-6 weeks. Depending on how bad it is you should get checked out. I thought I had a really bad sprain once, but after a couple days went to the doctor. Found out I completely tore the tendon in half and I was on crutches (and a pretty hard core brace) for 3-4 months (no pressure for the first two I think). The worst part about that, it will never heal back, so I randomly sprain my ankle about 4-5 times a year (still got my brace though so it helps a bunch when I do).

[Asker]

Sprains will always leave the area that was injured damaged?
I'm so worried I want to cry it might sleet tomorrow where I am and to get to the doctor I would have to take the train for 40 mins which requires me to go up and down the stairs. I have so much work cause the semester is finishing up too and finals next week I don't even know how I can handle all of this

[whattothink]

No tearing the tendon in half does. But I'm just saying you can't tell how severe it is. The doctor can by pressing on it and making an estimated guess. Also depending on how bad it is you may need things like crutches or a pretty intense brace (mine is like a boot you lace up to keep the ankle from moving) to keep from further injury. I wouldn't want you to fall since that will only make things worse, but if light walking, an ace bandage at minimum, resting the foot while elevated, and alternating hot and cold compresses aren't working it may be a decent sprain. Regardless a sprain isn't going to heal that quickly it will be a minimum of several weeks.

[whattothink]

Also I wouldn't stress out about it on top of everything else. I completed a semester and a half of school (while having most of my classes on opposite sides of campus and up on the top floor) while working 60 hour weeks at a job I had to stand for with mine. I made it through just fine. The only real issue after I learned to hobble around on my crutches and support my weight at my standing job was using that foot to drive a stick shift. A sprained left foot and a clutch does present interesting issues.

[Asker]

Its a bad idea to try and walk it off right? My mom made me cry before cause she kept insisting that if I massaged it and walked around a lot it would get better but I feel like my ankle got stiffer and hurts more than it did before 😢

[whattothink]

Well you need to lightly walk on it, but you need to do all the other stuff too. Not walking on it can cause stiffness. But walking too much without support from a brace or a bandage can make it worse. I would assume at least you or your mother has a book or Google how to care for a sprained ankle.

[Asker]

Yeah I googled it but my mother doesn't speak English and she's basing her knowledge on ancient family "remedies"

[Asker]

Thanks for the help