# I sprained my ankle last night. What do I do? **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [July 30, 2004, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sprained-my-ankle-last-night-what-do-i-do/257572 "2004-07-30T07:03:22Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Vision\_of\_Love](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/5f8ce5/32.png) [@Vision\_of\_Love](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Vision_of_Love)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 7:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sprained-my-ankle-last-night-what-do-i-do/257572/1 "2004-07-30T07:03:22Z")
I was going down a non-moving escalator after class on my way home and my right foot slipped forwards a few steps while my left stayed behind. I ended up twisting or pulling something on my left ankle and it’s swelling somewhere under my ankle bone. I hadn’t sprained my ankle since I was around three years old, so I have questions. **1.** Was I supposed to put something on it? Ice? Because I didn’t. **2.** How long will this last? Also, when I wake up tomorrow will it be worse? More swollen/achy? **3.** Should I skip my 9AM-3PM shift at work tomorrow if I can deal with the pain? Would it harm my ankle? It’s so achy and sore. ☹ ---
**Author:** ![Briny\_Deep](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/briny_deep/32/17188_2.png) [@Briny\_Deep](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Briny_Deep)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 7:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sprained-my-ankle-last-night-what-do-i-do/257572/2 "2004-07-30T07:04:53Z")
The people who know about such things (I am not one of them) would perhaps advice RICE – Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation. ---
**Author:** ![No\_Disguise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9f8e36/32.png) [@No\_Disguise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Disguise)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 10:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sprained-my-ankle-last-night-what-do-i-do/257572/3 "2004-07-30T10:54:37Z")
[QUOTE=Vision of Love] I was going down a non-moving escalator after class on my way home and my right foot slipped forwards a few steps while my left stayed behind. I ended up twisting or pulling something on my left ankle and it’s swelling somewhere under my ankle bone. I hadn’t sprained my ankle since I was around three years old, so I have questions. **1.** Was I supposed to put something on it? Ice? Because I didn’t. **2.** How long will this last? Also, when I wake up tomorrow will it be worse? More swollen/achy? **3.** Should I skip my 9AM-3PM shift at work tomorrow if I can deal with the pain? Would it harm my ankle? It’s so achy and sore. :([/QUOTE I was an avid skateboarder for about 7 years, and I’ve sprained a few in my day. Ice is supposed to help, though it never really seemed to. Then again, I never didn’t apply ice, so I don’t know how bad it would have been. It’s been a while, but I seem to remember it being totally sore in the morning, and getting better throughout the day. It’s always worst right when you wake up and try to take a few steps. **Go see a doctor.** Don’t be a retard and wait 3 years like I did the last time I sprained my ankle. I had a bunch of chips in my ankle, and they all sort of healed together by now, so the doctor can’t take them out, and I still feel pain just about every time I try to skate. ---
**Author:** ![No\_Disguise](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/9f8e36/32.png) [@No\_Disguise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/No_Disguise)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 10:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sprained-my-ankle-last-night-what-do-i-do/257572/4 "2004-07-30T10:55:57Z")
:smack: ---
**Author:** ![whiterabbit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/cab0a1/32.png) [@whiterabbit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/whiterabbit)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sprained-my-ankle-last-night-what-do-i-do/257572/5 "2004-07-30T13:05:08Z")
I second the “go see a doctor,” but in the meantime, rest and ice are good. You don’t want to find out down the road you damaged it more than you think you did. ---
**Author:** ![MikeG](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mikeg/32/4329_2.png) [@MikeG](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MikeG)\ **Post date:** [July 30, 2004, 1:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-sprained-my-ankle-last-night-what-do-i-do/257572/6 "2004-07-30T13:20:48Z")
I use this method as I have crappy ankles from hockey and bike riding: > **[Sprains and Strains: How They're Different, How to Treat Them](https://www.verywellhealth.com/sprains-and-strains-2548839)** > > Sprains and strains are common injuries. A sprain is a ligament injury, and a strain is a muscle injury, but both can be treated by the RICE method.