Sprained Ankle or Wrist: RICE, Healing Time, and When You Need an X-Ray

A sprain is a stretched or torn ligament, most often in the ankle or wrist, and it causes pain, swelling and bruising around the joint. Most mild sprains heal at home in one to three weeks with rest, ice, compression and elevation (RICE). Get it checked if you can't put weight on it, the pain is right over a bone, or it isn't improving after a few days, because a sprain and a small fracture can look alike.

Sprain or strain?

A sprain is an injury to a ligament, which connects bone to bone at a joint. A strain is an injury to a muscle or tendon. Ankles and wrists are the most common places for a sprain. Backs and hamstrings are common places for a strain.

Signs of a sprain

• Pain around the joint, worse when you move it
• Swelling and bruising
• Stiffness or trouble using the joint
• Sometimes a pop at the moment of injury

Sprain or fracture?

It can be hard to tell without an exam. A fracture is more likely if:

• You can't take four steps on the injured ankle or foot
• Pressing on the bone itself, rather than the soft area around it, hurts
• The joint looks bent or out of shape
• There's numbness, or the hand or foot is cold or pale

Our minor fractures page explains what happens next.

The RICE method

For the first two or three days:

• Rest: stay off it, or use the wrist as little as possible
• Ice: 15 to 20 minutes at a time, every two to three hours, with a cloth between the ice and your skin
• Compression: an elastic wrap, snug but not tight enough to cause numbness
• Elevation: raise it above your heart when you can

Acetaminophen or ibuprofen can help with pain if they're safe for you. After a few days, gentle movement helps the joint heal and keeps it from stiffening.

How long does a sprain take to heal?

A mild sprain usually feels much better in one to three weeks. A moderate sprain can take three to six weeks, and a severe one with a torn ligament may take months and need physical therapy. Going back to sports too early is a common reason for spraining it again.

When to get seen

Come in if you can't bear weight, the pain is over a bone, the swelling is severe, or it isn't getting better after a few days. A clinician can examine it, decide whether an X-ray is needed, and splint or brace it. At an AfterOurs clinic, a standard self-pay visit is $175, a visit with one moderate service such as an X-ray is $250, and a self-pay in-clinic visit never costs more than $330. We contract with all major commercial and government plans, including Colorado Medicaid and Medicare. See our sprains and strains page and the cost and insurance page.

Go to the ER or call 911 if a bone is poking through the skin, the joint is badly deformed, the hand or foot is numb, cold, pale or blue, there's heavy bleeding, or the injury came from a serious fall or car crash.

Where to find us

Four clinics across metro Denver, all ages welcome, se habla español:

• Hampden (Southeast Denver): 8 AM–11 PM daily
• Littleton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
• Thornton: 8 AM–11 PM daily
• Highlands: Mon–Fri 5–11 PM, Sat–Sun 8 AM–11 PM

Walk in, or book online.