Why does it swell up like this?!?

You most likely sprained you ankle. Inflammation is the body's response to injury. Multiplication of organ specific cells may be occuring. Fibroblasts that reside in the area affected start to secrete large quantuities of collagen, while blood vessel cells proliferate in the process of angiogenesis. The inflammation is occuring as a result of your body quickly sending its resources to repair torn tissues.

What are the symptoms of an ankle sprain?

Common symptoms associated with an ankle sprain are pain with swelling and bruising. The degree of symptoms tends to correlate well with the extent of the damage to these ligaments.

Grade I Ankle Sprain:

Grade I ankle sprains cause stretching of the ligament. The symptoms tend to be limited to pain and swelling. Most patients can walk without crutches, but may not be able to jog or jump.

Grade II Ankle Sprain:

A grade II ankle sprain is more severe partial tearing of the ligament. There is usually more significant swelling and bruising caused by bleeding under the skin. Patients usually have pain with walking, but can take a few steps.

Grade III Ankle Sprain:

Grade III ankle sprains are complete tears of the ligaments. The ankle is usually quite painful, and walking can be difficult. Patients may complain of instability, or a giving-way sensation in the ankle joint.

As said before, pain and swelling are the most common symptoms of an ankle sprain. Patients often notice bruising over the area of injury. This bruising will move down the foot towards the toes in the days after the ankle sprain--the reason for this is gravity pulling the blood downwards in the foot.

Do I need to see the doctor if I have an ankle sprain?

If you do have significant symptoms following a sprained ankle, you should seek medical attention. Signs that should raise concern include:

Inability to walk on the ankle

Significant swelling

Symptoms that do not improve quickly or persist beyond a few days

Pain in the foot or above the ankle

Differentiating between a sprained ankle and an ankle fracture can be difficult, and sometimes an x-ray is needed. While moderate pain and swelling are common symptoms following a simple sprained ankle, symptoms such as inability to place weight on the leg, numbness of the toes, or pain that is difficult to manage should raise concern. If you think you may have done more than sustained a sprained ankle, you should seek medical attention

Well Mr. B.A. in Biology... take your hind end to the doctor if you think you may be hurt more than you think.

OR you can just let it be, continue what you're currently doing and hope that it's not a blood clot that may end up travelling up your leg, into your chest and into your heart, in that case... you die. The choice is yours. LOL

It doesn't take a college degree to figure that one out genius, it's called good common sense.

Did you add the part about the B.A. to try to throw of the fact that your injury was caused by stupidity? Maybe you were feeling dumb and wanted to offset that by telling us you have a degree?

email me for further discussion. I am not trying to insult you just studying the human condition.

P.s. I have a Ph.D in bullsh*itting.

It might be sprained. The body is healing, it looks ugly but it is part of the process. If it last for over a week, and is still painful you might want to go to the doctor.

Might be broken. I knew someone once who dropped a sewing machine on her foot and hobbled around in pain for a week until she finally went to a doctor and found out it was broken.

you are sucha nerd hehe but i really think you may have broken it. or maybe a hair line fracture. i would say have it checked out because the last thing you want is for your ankle to heal wrong.

I would go see a doctor, it must be an odd case if a knotthat large does not hurt.

you should get that checked out imediately! and if you choose not to then instead of putting ice on it use a warm towel and wrap it around your ankle. but i really think you should get that checked out ASAP

sounds like you jammed it real bad and maybe bruised the bone. may take a couple weeks for it to go back to normal.