We see many patients in our office that give us a detailed history of their life with chronic ankle sprains. Typically patients can describe a long history of sprains starting with a particularly bad one some years back.
Why do these people suffer from chronic ankle sprains? Because their ankle never healed properly from the first strain. In fact it has been estimated that up to 40% of all people who suffer an ankle sprain will suffer chronic pain and weakness in that ankle long-term.
The ankle is held together by connective tissue. The ligaments hold the bones together, the tendons hold the bones to the muscle. An ankle sprain occurs when the ligaments are torn or stretched.
A grade 1 sprain is the least severe of ankle sprains. The ligaments are slightly stretched with a minimum of tearing to the ligament fibers.
There has been a strecthing of the ligaments well beyond normal and which has caused a partial tear. There is noticeable swelling and tenderness and depending on extent of injury, instability when walking.
There is debate now that the standard method of treatments for grade 1 and 2 ankle sprains – that is RICE. Rest, ice, compression, and elevation may cause recurrent sprains.
Among the theories put forth questioning the RICE treatment is that it does not fully allow the ligaments to heal because it reduces the inflammation that is needed to stimulate new tissue regeneration.
Prolotherapy is a reconstructive ligament treatment administered through a series of injections, which signal the body to repair a damaged area. The ligaments and tendons are the supporting structures of our bodies. We've found that a lot of people's chronic pain comes from these areas. Prolotherapy works because it restrengthens an area, which eliminates the pain and restores function.
The injections aren't painful when done by a skilled practitioner. Initially, because there is some local anesthetic in the injection, patients are relieved of pain when they leave the office.
Platelet Rich Plasma Therapy works on the same principle except your own blood plasma platelets are used. Dr. Allan Magaziner and Dr. Scott Greenberg are among only a handful of doctors in the United States who have been trained to use stem cell therapy to treat the symptoms of arthritis and musculoskeletal sports injuries, including tendonitis, torn meniscus and chronic neck, back, knee, hip pain and ankle pain – treatment which is now being offered at the Magaziner Center for Wellness.