7 Natural Remedies for a Sprained Ankle

If you're an athlete, it's only inevitable that you receive an injury of some kind during a game. Usually, that injury will be a sprained ankle, particularly if you're playing in a sport that involves a lot of running. For those who play soccer on real grass fields, the entire match is a minefield of injured ankles waiting to happen. One wrong step in an uneven part of the field, and you're down.On the other hand, you may truly just be unlucky. Perhaps you didn't see that step or ledge walking down the sidewalk or into the building, and the next thing you know, you're either stumbling awkwardly or falling on the ground. Whether you want to admit it or not, maybe you just tripped over yourself the wrong way, and now your ankle is suffering for it. Regardless of the reason, injured ankles are common. They're also extremely painful and difficult to deal with--especially if your life is constantly on the move.Sprained ankles, for whatever reason, don't seem to constitute enough of an injury to sit life out for a while. You might be able to get out of a few games but in the real world? You're still expected to show up at work usually. Or, if money is in demand, you may not want something like an injured ankle from getting in the way of working. For something as commonplace as an injured ankle, it may seem redundant or unnecessary to visit your doctor. As such, you may want to look into natural remedies you can try at home to deal with the pesky pain. Here are a few ideas.

1. Rest And Ice

The key method to an ankle injury is rest. Your body can do a great deal of healing all on its own if it's allowed the time and opportunity to do so. How long you need to rest your ankle should ultimately be determined by your doctor, but if you're winging it on your own, then you'll want to aim for a few days. If there's still tenderness when you walk, you'll likely want to give it a few more days. Resting your ankle at an elevated position can help with the swelling and inflammation, too, so prop it up!Icing your ankle is equally important. Keeping the area cool can help with the bruising, swelling, inflammation, muscle spasms, and pain. However, you don't want to keep the ice against your ankle for too long. It can actually cause nerve damage if left too long against the skin. Instead, aim to hold the ice pack there for 20 minutes. However, if you feel like your ankle is numb, you'll want to remove it faster than that. Use ice every two to four hours during the initial three days following the injury. Ice packs, bath, or massages are all excellent methods.Next