Will a sprained ankle turn black and blue?

The last 2 kinds of sprains are often associated with tearing of small blood vessels. This allows blood to leak into tissues and cause black and blue color in the area. The blood may not appear for several days. Most of the time, it is absorbed from the tissues within 2 weeks.

What does it mean when your ankle is black and blue?

If your ankle is black and blue, it is a sign that damage has occurred to the soft tissues (i.e., muscle, tendon, skin, fat) in your ankle. The black and blue appearance of your ankle occurs because tiny blood vessels within the soft tissues (called capillaries) have been torn.

Do sprained ankles turn purple?

Most ankle sprains are the same: you rolled your foot inwards and now the outside of your foot has swelled up. You may have difficulty putting weight on the ankle. It might be turning purple or blue.

Do sprained ankles always swell and bruise?

People usually feel immediate pain at the site of an ankle sprain. Often the ankle starts to swell immediately and may develop bruising. The affected area is usually tender to touch and may feel "wobbly" or unstable. In a mild sprain, swelling usually goes down within a few days.

Why is my sprained foot blue?

During the sprain, the small blood vessels and fibres in the flesh burst, causing blood to enter the surrounding tissue. This results in swelling and the blue, bruise-like discolouration.

How To Tell If My Foot or Ankle Injury is BAD! [Sprained or BROKEN?]

Can a sprained ankle turn blue?

The last 2 kinds of sprains are often associated with tearing of small blood vessels. This allows blood to leak into tissues and cause black and blue color in the area. The blood may not appear for several days. Most of the time, it is absorbed from the tissues within 2 weeks.

Why is my swollen ankle turning black?

Discolored ankles is a sign of venous insufficiency

Sometimes deposits of hemosiderin can accumulate under your skin when your blood flow is too insufficient to return the excess iron to your immune system to be cleared away, leaving dark pigmentation in your ankles known as “stasis dermatitis.”

How do I know if my ankle sprain is serious?

People with a more severe ankle sprain — characterized by extreme bruising or swelling and an inability to bear weight on the foot without significant pain, or when there doesn't seem to be any improvement over the first several days after the injury — should seek medical attention, Drs. SooHoo and Williams say.

When should you get a sprained ankle checked?

Should I go to ER for sprained ankle?

Go to urgent care if your pain level and swelling is significant and you have difficulty walking, to the point that you need assistance, due to the pain. Go to the emergency room if your foot is bruised, deformed, or you are unable to walk at all. You may have a fracture, broken bone or serious ligament damage.

How do you tell if ankle is broken or sprained?

While swelling is a symptom of both injuries, if your ankle looks clearly “off,” it's most likely because a bone is broken. Does your ankle feel numb? With a sprain, you feel pain. But if you have numbness or tingling, your ankle is most likely broken.

What is the difference between a rolled ankle and a sprained ankle?

A sprained ankle is similar to a twisted ankle but to a greater degree. When you sprain your ankle, it means you have stretched, and possibly even torn, the ligaments of your ankle. If your ankle is swollen, bruised and painful after you twist it, then you have most likely sprained it.

Is it OK to walk on a sprained ankle?

Do not walk on a sprained ankle. The inflamed tissue needs time to heal, and walking on it too soon may cause more damage. Ankle sprains are common musculoskeletal injuries that can occur from playing sports or from everyday activities.

Why is my foot turning purple after sprain?

Sprains, strains, or dropping something onto the foot can cause bruising, which tends to make the skin appear blue or purple. Such an injury will also often cause pain and swelling. People can usually treat minor foot injuries at home using RICE therapy: Rest.

Is bruising normal with sprained ankle?

The ankle is the most commonly sprained joint. Some common symptoms of a sprain are pain around the joint, swelling, and bruising. Mild to severe swelling and bruising can accompany a sprain to the ankle. Bruising usually indicates tearing of ligament tissue and a more severe sprain.

Do Broken ankles turn blue and black?

You may see bruising ("black and blue") about the joint, although not immediately. This bruising can track down toward the sole of your foot or toward the toes. In severe fractures you may see obvious deformities of bones around the ankle. Your skin may be stretched over an underlying broken bone.

Should you wrap a sprained ankle overnight?

Most experts recommend that you only wrap your ankle during the day for support and protection, while you continue to ice, elevate and rest the injury. While some people feel a sense of comfort from a compression wrap at night—unless it provides pain relief, you shouldn't have your ankle wrapped while you sleep.

What will doctor do for sprained ankle?

Depending upon the grade of injury, your doctor may recommend a cast boot, air splint, and/or crutches. Even a complete ligament tear can heal without surgical repair if it is immobilized appropriately. Your doctor may tell you to incorporate motion early in the healing process to prevent stiffness.

How do I know if I tore ligaments in my ankle?

What does a Grade 2 sprain look like?

With a grade 2 sprain, your ligament is partially torn. The incomplete tear causes bruising (due to bleeding beneath the skin), swelling, and moderate pain. The joint remains fairly stable, but the affected area is tender to the touch.

How do I know if my ankle sprain is grade 1 or 2?

Grade 1: Stretching or slight tearing of the ligament with mild tenderness, swelling and stiffness. The ankle feels stable and it is usually possible to walk with minimal pain. Grade 2: A more severe sprain, but incomplete tear with moderate pain, swelling and bruising.

Can walking on a sprained ankle make it worse?

Yes. That's the very short answer. According to the National Association of Athletic Trainers, ankle injuries, including sprains, are very often undertreated. Ignoring treatment, including excessive movement of the ankle through unnecessary walking, leads to a greater risk of worsening the injury.

Can sprained ankles discolor?

Ankle discoloration develops for many reasons, ranging from bruising caused by a sprained ankle to red skin resulting from an infection (cellulitis). Skin discoloration around your ankle may also signal a potentially serious vein condition called venous stasis dermatitis.

Why did my ankle turn purple?

Peripheral artery disease, a condition characterized by poor blood flow to the lower extremities, can cause the feet to gradually turn purple or blue. Diabetes can have a similar effect on the feet. If you notice a discoloration in the skin of your feet, please see that you seek the care of a podiatrist.

How do you treat a black and blue ankle?