Preparing for an appointment

Schedule an appointment or get emergency medical care for suspected sprains that don't respond to self-care strategies or that cause continued pain or instability. If your sprain is severe, you may be referred to a doctor who specializes in sports medicine or orthopedic surgery.

What you can do

You may want to write a list that includes the following:

• Detailed descriptions of your symptoms
• Information about medical problems you've had, especially past ankle injuries
• All the medications and dietary supplements you take
• Questions you want to ask the doctor

What to expect from your doctor

Your doctor may ask some of the following questions:

• How did the injury occur?
• Which direction did your foot turn when you injured it?
• Can you bear weight on that foot?
• What self-care treatment have you used?
• What effect did the treatment have?
• Have you injured your ankle before?
• How was that injury treated?