A sprained ankle usually takes between two and six weeks to heal, so it’s not necessarily worrying if you’re still suffering pain after a month. It may just be that you have a rather more severe sprain that will take a little longer to get better. However, it may also be a sign of more severe ligament or tendon damage.
Ligaments and tendons
The bones in your body are connected by ligaments, which are made of tough, flexible tissue. Usually, they can cope with the bends and twists you make, but if they twist suddenly, they can become overstretched. In the worst types of sprains, they can even snap completely in two.
Tendons work in a similar way, but instead of joining two bones together, they link bones with muscles. Tendons can become inflamed, leading to a painful condition known as tendinitis. They can also snap, and the pain from a tendon tear can feel very like that caused by a sprain.
Types of ankle sprain
- Grade I: These are the least severe sprains, and usually heal within two or three weeks. The ligaments in your ankle are simply stretched, with no further damage, and this allows them to get better – and the pain to disappear – quite quickly.
- Grade II: With this type of sprain, there is a ligament tear, but it doesn’t run all the way through the ligament. These sprains will often heal on their own, but this can take as long as several months.
- Grade III: Sprains in this category are the most serious. With a Grade III injury, the ligament breaks apart totally. This can lead to long-term problems with your ankle. In some cases, your doctor may decide that you need surgery to fix the damage.
Because of the possibility of long-lasting effects, it’s important that you get persistent ankle pain checked out by your podiatrist. This will ensure that you get the correct treatment – and help you to recover more quickly.