Duration of a sprain

Synonyms in a broader sense

Distortion, twisting

Introduction

A sprain – no matter which joint – is a very common injury and happens quickly. Especially athletes are almost all affected at least once in their lives. When the time comes and the injury has occurred, there is usually nothing more that can be done about it.

But how long does this injured state last now? How long does a sprain take to heal? These questions will be answered here.

For all of the following points, however, without exception, the time periods mentioned are only rough guidelines. Depending on the severity of the injury and the individual situation, these times may vary. Also, optimal healing and treatment processes are always assumed.

If an affected person does not consistently spare his sprained joint, he must of course expect greater problems and longer healing times than someone who acts exactly according to medical advice. As already mentioned, the duration of healing of a sprain is a very individual indication. Depending on the severity of the sprain, the mechanism of the accident, and the type of joint affected, the times given may vary considerably.

For example, a sprain of the ankle joint requires a much longer period of time to regenerate than a sprain of the little toe. The condition of the affected person also plays a not insignificant role: Is it a competitive athlete who has a good basic constitution and has quickly received perfect help? Or is it a rather moderately fit recreational athlete who may have injured himself in his first attempt in years and has not seen a doctor for weeks?

In addition, each body has to be considered separately: Some are only slightly sensitive to pain and tend to recover quickly after injuries. Others have injuries for much longer or wounds that heal more slowly. Of course, these examples are exaggerated, but the basic idea behind them should be internalized in terms of healing times: No case is like the other!

Individual (more precise) predictions can therefore only be made by the treating physician, who looks at the injury in detail and talks to the person affected. When it comes to the length of the sick leave that becomes necessary, the situation becomes even more complicated: Does the affected person want to go back to work quickly and does the sprained part of the body need only a little in everyday life? An employee with a predominantly sedentary job in an office will be less restricted in his ability to work due to a sprained foot than, for example, a mailman who has to walk many kilometers every day.

The latter would be more likely to take a generous sick leave over a longer period of time in order not to jeopardize his recovery. In the case of an office worker, on the other hand, it would also be possible and justifiable to resume normal desk work after just a few days. For each patient individual concepts must be developed, which take into account not only the severity of the injury and the exact localization, but also the occupation of the patient and his main activity.

This is the only way to ensure that the recovery progresses quickly and without complications. The sprain of the foot or ankle is not only the most common type of sprain but unfortunately often the most serious and protracted. Slight ankle sprains can be almost completely swollen after a few days and then almost healed after about a week.

After another 7 days, the joint should finally be stable again. From this point on, there is no reason why you should not resume sports activities. Severe sprains of the foot, on the other hand, take much longer before an improvement is noticeable.

The ankle joint must remain immobilized and relieved for periods of 8 to 12 weeks so that healing can proceed without complications. Often the affected person must wear a special bandage or splint during this period. After these 3 months, however, even the more protracted sprains at the ankle are usually healed and full weight bearing is possible again.

When a sprain on the thumb heals, it is easy to distinguish between the point at which the injury is no longer painful at rest and the point at which it has completely healed. If the splinting and external stabilization is sufficient – for example with a tape bandage or similar – a significant reduction in pain usually occurs quickly. If the affected thumb hardly moves at all, the patient usually quickly notices no more pain.Only after a week to 10 days, however, are movements of the thumb even without a bandage painlessly possible again.

By then the swelling has receded, the damaged ligaments have largely regenerated and the muscles have adapted to the changed situation. From now on you can move your thumb carefully again. Soon it will have resumed its original movements.

A somewhat longer healing time can be expected for sprains of the wrist. As a rule of thumb, the more severe the injury that led to the sprain, the longer the healing process will take. It can take 10 days or even 2 weeks for a wrist sprain to heal safely.

However, since the wrist can be spared quite well and is usually not necessary for locomotion, a complete recovery can usually be assumed. Patients who are unsure can go to their treating physician for a follow-up check, who can then explain in detail which movements can be performed again and what to wait for a while. After the first acute phase of the sprain, which lasts approximately the first 48 hours and in which the swelling increases steadily, the healing phase begins, which includes the decongestion of the affected joint.

Once the patient has remembered the so-called PECH rule immediately after the injury and has cooled and elevated the injury quickly and effectively, the swelling will not last too long. PECH stands for pause, ice, compression and elevation. When cooled and protected, neither a great deal of blood, water nor lymphatic fluid can enter the affected area and the swelling that develops remains so small that it can be quickly broken down and metabolized by the body.

If – for whatever reason – there is a large bruise or a strong swelling of the surrounding tissue, it may take a few more days for it to subside. If the swelling is still particularly severe or the affected area is very warm, further cooling will help to prevent worse. Afterwards, warming, blood circulation-promoting ointments will help to stimulate the blood flow and thus the removal of the swelling and bruising.

The duration of a sprain on the toe is, to the delight of many affected persons, in most cases a rather short matter. The most unpleasant thing is often the event itself, which leads to the sprain, and the day immediately following it. Especially when using a stabilizing bandage and wearing sturdy shoes, a significant improvement is often noticeable as early as the second day. In most cases, patients notice almost no symptoms of their sprained toes within a week. Just as quickly as the pain disappears, moderate strain can then be resumed, for example during sports.