A sprained ankle may not always heal on its own. These steps may be necessary

Q. Two nights ago, I was walking the dog and stepped in a hole twisting my left ankle badly. I felt a pop and had trouble walking. I went to the emergency room and X-rays of the ankle showed no break. The doctor said I had a bad sprain, and I was given crutches and an ankle splint. The ankle is still painful and very swollen. I am a very active person and wonder what can be done for a quick recovery.

A: The most common injury for an ankle sprain is twisting the ankle inwards, resulting in tearing the ligament(s) on the outside of the ankle. Ligaments connect two bones together maintaining stability of the joint. A sprain is a tearing of the ligaments ranging from mild, a microtear, to severe, a complete ligament tear.

Mild sprains usually heal quickly with rest and rehab. Severe sprains may require immobilization in a brace to allow healing of the ligaments followed by a more extensive rehab program. Rarely are ligament tears severe enough to warrant surgery. I recommend you see an orthopedic surgeon to evaluate how significant your injury is and see what you can do to optimize your recovery.

Dr. Harlan Selesnick is team physician of the Miami Heat and Inter Miami. Send your questions to HarlanS@baptisthealth.net