Swollen Ankle After a Truck Accident

There are several reasons for why your ankles swell after an accident. Some of the common causes include a fractured ankle, torn ankle tendons and ligaments, small tears in the ankle muscles, muscle strain, and Lisfranc fracture, which is the dislocation and fracture of the metatarsal bones. Any of these injuries can immediately cause inflammation to manifest. The blood vessels will expand to allow the influx of blood carrying white blood cells. These white blood cells are responsible for getting rid of the irritants and cell debris caused by the tissue damage, and they will signal for other white blood cells to flock to the area. The influx of white blood cells will further worsen inflammation and swelling, and the increased blood flow will cause the redness and warmth associated with swelling.

The swelling in the legs from the knee down is caused by an accumulation of fluid in the area. This abnormal fluid buildup may be caused by several medical conditions like salt retention, venous insufficiency, or effects of a medication you’re taking. They may also be caused by infections, liver disease, blood clots, among others.

The most common causative factor for lower leg swelling is broken bones, soft tissue injuries, and multiple ligament knee injury requiring reconstructive surgery. The prolonged immobilization may cause deep vein thrombosis or DVT to develop, and some of its symptoms include swelling of the leg, pain in the calf, and discoloration of the area.

You need to see your doctor immediately if you have these symptoms of DVT since the blood clot can be dislodged, travel via the blood, and block arteries and veins.

There are several ways to reduce swollen ankles. For one, you can elevate your swollen ankles for about 10 to 15 minutes twice a day. Make sure though that your ankles are above the level of your heart when you’re lying down. This allows the fluid to move away from the lower legs and decrease swelling.

Another way to reduce swelling is to apply cold compress during the first three days after the accident. The cold constricts the blood vessels, decreases blood flow, and also reduces swelling. After three days, though, you need to switch to a hot compress. This will then dilate the vessels and allow the influx of fresh, oxygenated blood to wash away cellular debris and promote faster wound healing.

Swelling of the ankles can be controlled by elevating the legs and applying a cold compress followed by a hot compress. You can also try wrapping an elastic bandage around your swollen ankles to compress the swelling. Just make sure, though, that it’s not too tight that it begins to affect the normal blood flow into the area.

Simple range of motion exercises will also help reduce swelling, so move your ankle gently. If you can walk around, do so since this can also help reduce swelling.

If these did not work and you’re still experiencing significant pain and persistent swelling, then you need to visit your doctor immediately. There may be other serious injuries in the ankle that prevent it from healing properly. Your doctor will order imaging studies to look for any damage to the ankle ligaments, tendons, and bones that may worsen your condition.