Treatment of Recurrent Ankle Sprains

Recurrent ankle sprains can cause ankles to feel loose, with a tendency to turn in easily. And as a result, the ankles will continue to sprain repeatedly. Patients who have chronic, recurring ankle sprains usually have loose ligaments that need to be tightened.

Sometimes there is persistent pain in the ankle. This is due to a more severe sprain of your ligaments causing a complete tear and some separation of the bones of your ankle when stress is applied. This separation can cause a feeling of instability especially when your foot is on uneven ground or when stepping off a curb.

Ankle pain can also be due to other factors such as
• Injury to other ligaments
• Cartilage injury
• Nerve damage
• Tendon dysfunction

If you have persistent pain after an ankle sprain, a careful examination by a doctor is necessary to ensure you have the proper diagnosis. Only then can treatment focused on the problem begin.

On physical examination, the doctor will get an idea of how loose the injured ankle is compared to the normal ankle. X-ray tests may also be performed to assess the stability of the ankle. With a combination of investigations, the doctor will be able to see if the bones are held together tightly enough, and he can then provide a proper diagnosis.

Some treatments of recurrent ankle sprains are:
• Arthroscopy of ankle for soft tissue impingement and cartilage lesions
• Reconstruction of ankle lateral ligaments for stability
• Bony impingement of the ankle