A sprained ankle is a very common injury. The majority of cases are sports injuries but you can also sprain your ankle doing simple, everyday activities.

Erik Roth was busy repairing his truck, minding his own business when all of a sudden his wife got his attention but not in a good way. "I was working on my truck and I had my leg sticking out and she had to run out to the store and I didn't move my leg and she backed over my foot."

Erik knew something was terribly wrong with his ankle. "It doubled in size in about an hour, it turned black and blue."

Orthopedic Surgeon John Kagan explains "Generally speaking when you tear an ankle ligament you immobilize the ankle for a period of time and then work on rehabilitation. You just need to position the joint and try to avoid that stress that caused the original tear in the first place. You use the RICE treatment."

Remember the word R I C E ---when an injury like this occurs. That means-- rest, ice, and compression- not too tight but firm and of course, elevation. Your physician will also probably want to take an x-ray and maybe even an MRI to if he thinks its necessary. Dr. Kagan says that "Some people when they sprain an ankle it's such a bad sprain that they also do bone damage at the same time. That's where the MRI comes in."

Luckily for this happy couple --- all is well again. Like Erik's, most sprained ankles heal between one to four weeks.

And if you've had a sprained ankle and yet you feel like the pain has never really gone away, you should see your orthopedic doctor for a re-evaluation. Something could have not healed correctly and may cause you even further complications.