Swollen Ankle After a Truck Accident

It’s normal to experience a swollen ankle after a truck accident, but if it starts bothering you and affecting your daily life, know that our Eason & Tambornini personal injury lawyers handle injuries sustained in a truck accident. Our lawyers can help answer questions like what causes ankles to swell, what causes legs to swell from the knee down, and how long you should elevate swollen feet. Foot injuries can take a long time to heal, and treatment can be expensive, especially if you need surgery and physical therapy. Give one of our lawyers a call so we can explain your legal options.

What causes ankles to swell?

There are several reasons why your ankles swell after an accident. Some 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 blood to carry 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.

What causes swollen legs from the knee down?

The leg swelling from the knee down is caused by an accumulation of fluid in the area. Several medical conditions like salt retention, venous insufficiency, or the effects of your medication may cause this abnormal fluid buildup. Infections, liver disease, and blood clots, among others, may also cause them.

The most common causative factors for lower leg swelling are broken bones, soft tissue injuries, and multiple ligament knee injuries 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.

How long do you elevate swollen feet?

There are several ways to reduce swollen ankles. For one, you can elevate your swollen ankles for 10 to 15 minutes twice daily. Ensure 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 a cold compress during the first three days after the accident. The cold constricts the blood vessels, decreases blood flow, and reduces swelling. After three days, you must 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.

What remedies are good for swelling of the ankles?

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