SHE DIDN’T SEE
the other player coming until after
she fell and her foot twisted underneath her at an ugly angle.
That’s when she knew she had sprained her ankle. Again.
It wasn’t the rst time she had done it. Basketball had
taken its toll over the years.
Taking past experiences into account, she decided there
was no need to see her doctor. It was just another sprain,
and she just planned to use the common RICE treatment—
Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation. It’ll be ne in a few
days, she thought.
And that’s how she became anecdotal proof of the impor-
tance of seeing your doctor anytime you suspect an ankle
sprain.
From mild to severe, a sprain is an injury to your ligaments—
the elastic bands of tissue that hold the bones of a joint in
place. Ligaments are made to stretch, but like a rubber band,
they can only stretch so far. And if your foot lands too hard
on an uneven surface or rolls or twists in a bad way, your
ankle ligaments may sprain in protest.
Sprains can be mild, moderate or severe—grades 1
through 3 in medical terms. And each grade requires differ-
ent treatment for proper healing.
That ankle may need surgery
Surgery for a sprained ankle? It happens. And it underlines
the need to let your doctor evaluate an ankle injury, even if
you’re sure it’s only a sprain. Here’s why:
You might also have a fracture.
A sprain is a ligament
injury. That means that whatever happened to your ankle—
whether you fell or twisted it in a misstep—it was enough
to overstretch or even tear tissue. Maybe it was also enough
to break a bone.
Your ligament injury may be severe.
Even if you’re fracture-
free, the damage to your ligaments might need surgical repair.
Head-to-toe team
From diagnosis to treatment and therapy, Faith
Regional Sports Medicine is the official sports medi-
cine team for many area athletes. Find a provider at
or call to learn more.
Family and sports medicine
Michael Adams, MD,
402-844-8167
Orthopedic surgery
Stephen Smith, MD,
402-844-8014
John Lammli, MD,
402-844-8158
Hand, wrist and elbow surgery
Tristan Hartzell, MD,
402-844-8291
Podiatry/foot and ankle surgery
Jason Bailey, DPM,
402-844-8158
Reconstructive and
aesthetic surgery
Demetrio Aguila III, MD,
402-844-8342
You may have recurrent instability.
Sometimes an ankle
sprain just doesn’t heal right. No matter how quickly you
sought treatment for the original injury or how well you
brace your ankle before exercising, it still feels weak and
wrong. Surgical correction may be the best option.
For any of the above, your doctor likely will want to take
an in-depth look at your ankle. Expect to have imaging
tests, such as an x-ray or MRI.
Source: American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons
‘Just a
sprain’?
Let your doctor decide
14 FAITH REGIONAL
HEALTH SERVICES
