What should I do if I break my ankle?

Ankle sprain (broken ankle) is usually caused by external force that results in tearing and injury of ankle muscles and ligaments, causing capillary hemorrhage, local tissue edema, and pain and swelling as the main manifestation. After ankle sprain, the muscles are damaged, the veins and channels are injured with it, the blood and qi stagnation, hematoma is formed, and the qi stagnation and blood stasis can trigger pain and dysfunction, if the treatment is not timely or improper, it can cause local swelling, which is difficult to eliminate, and can even cause tissue adhesion. In the early stage of ankle sprain, i.e. within 24 hours, ice and pressure should be applied to reduce capillary hemorrhage and tissue fluid exudation, and hot compresses and kneading should not be applied to prevent increased damage and bleeding. After the active bleeding period has passed, methods of activating blood circulation and removing blood stasis can be used, such as acupuncture and bloodletting. Bloodletting by stabbing the collaterals can make the blood stasis come out, dissipate the cold and stop the pain, and make the meridians unobstructed. In the later stage of the injury, when the swelling is not obvious, manipulative massage can be used to treat the injury, and functional exercises for the ankle can be taken at the same time, such as dorsiflexion and flexion exercises for the foot. The recovery of ankle sprain is not only to eliminate swelling and pain, if the recovery is not in place, it can cause adhesion of local tissues, functional disorders, and even cause habitual sprains and traumatic arthritis of the ankle.