Can You Have a Fracture and Not Know It?
Broken bones hurt, so it seems impossible to walk around with a fracture and not know it — but it happens. Read on to learn common signs of a hidden broken bone, and find out what you can do about it.
How to Prevent an Ankle Sprain From Becoming a Chronic Instability
An ankle sprain may seem like a simple injury, but when it doesn’t heal correctly, that minor sprain can turn into a long-term problem known as chronic ankle instability. This condition can cause your ankle to feel weak, give way during activity, or ache even months after the initial injury.
The skilled team at Cascade Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center, P.C., is dedicated to helping patients remain active, mobile, and pain-free. When you sustain an ankle injury, proper healing support is key to avoiding future problems.
Why a single sprain can lead to lasting weakness
When you sprain your ankle, the ligaments that stabilize the joint are stretched or torn. These ligaments are responsible for keeping your ankle steady during movement, and once they’re injured, they don’t automatically regain their full strength or coordination.
Without proper rehabilitation, those ligaments can remain loose, and there’s a risk that the surrounding muscles may weaken, which increases the likelihood that the ankle will twist again.
Start with an accurate diagnosis
Don’t try to shake off or walk off an ankle sprain. Even one that seems minor requires careful evaluation. Your feet and ankles play a significant role in the ability to move freely, so it’s best to avoid taking chances.
What feels like a mild sprain could be a partial tear or even a fracture. Getting the right diagnosis matters. That’s why it’s best to rely on experts, like our team at Cascade Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center.
Our team uses on-site X-rays and ultrasound imaging to assess the extent of the injury, ensuring that you receive the correct care from the start and lowering the risk of long-term complications, such as chronic ankle instability.
Proper rehabilitation is crucial
Once pain and swelling subside, the real work begins. Physical therapy is essential to rebuilding stability and strength after a sprain. Rehabilitation plans focus on restoring range of motion, rebuilding strength in the ankle and lower leg muscles, and retraining balance and coordination (known as proprioception).
How regenerative medicine can help
For patients whose ankles are slow to heal or continue to feel unstable after an injury, our team offers regenerative medicine options, such as platelet-rich plasma (PRP) therapy. PRP uses a small sample of your own blood, which gets spun down to concentrate the platelets (cells packed with growth factors that promote tissue repair).
When injected into the injured ligaments, PRP can help accelerate healing, reduce inflammation, and strengthen the damaged tissues. At Cascade Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center, our specialists utilize ultrasound guidance to ensure precise delivery of PRP to the areas that need it most.
This advanced, minimally invasive treatment can also help athletes return to sports sooner and safely.
How custom orthotics can help prevent reinjury
Even after recovery, subtle changes in the way your foot moves can increase the risk of an ankle sprain. Custom orthotics can help correct these imbalances. Our team utilizes 3D scanning technology to design orthotics that fit your feet precisely, meaning you get better support and alignment.
These inserts redistribute pressure, improve stability, and prevent your ankle from rolling inward or outward during activity.
When surgery becomes the next step
Most ankle sprains heal with conservative care, but when the joint remains unstable despite physical therapy and other treatments, our team may recommend minimally invasive ligament repair or reconstruction.
These procedures restore the natural stability of the joint and help prevent ongoing weakness, pain, and recurrent sprains. Our surgical team uses advanced techniques and guided imaging to ensure precise results and a smooth recovery.
Strong recovery starts with expert care
Our goal is to help you recover fully and return to the activities you love, stronger and more stable than before.
If you’ve recently sprained your ankle or feel unsteady after an ankle injury, don’t wait for it to turn into a chronic problem. Contact our Cascade Orthopedics & Sports Medicine Center, P.C., team to schedule an office visit in The Dalles or Hood River, Oregon, today. Your future mobility relies on getting the correct care.
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