what is best for a sprained ankle hot or cold to reduce swelling ?

my dr. says cold on 20 minits at a time. ice packs & gettin off your feet.

RICE- rest ice compression elevation. Elevate your ankle and ice it for 20 minutes at a time but no more than 20 minutes. Do not apply heat until the swelling is gone. Advil is great as an anti-inflammatory. Stay off it, use a cane or crutches to get around. If you haven't been to a doc to have it x-rayed then do so. I actually broke a bone in my foot and had no idea I broke it until I got an xray a few days later. I thought it was a sprain. you also should be evaluated for other damage like torn ligaments. I hope you feel better.

Ice for the first 24 hours. Then after 24 hours alternate between ice and heat. Do ice for 20 and heat for 10. This tricks the body into not swelling as much.

first 48 hours should be icing it 20 min every few hours. After 48 hours alternates 20 min of ice and then soak it in very warm water...to get all the swelling (blood) flushed out of the ankle. It will hurt for a while longer.

It's cold wraps for the first 24 hrs, then try very warm with epsom salts 2 - 3 times a day...

Thats what Gramma always said....

cold to reduce swelling, but you should alternate between them.

cold