10 Symptoms and Treatments of Ankle Sprains

3. Bruising

Another common symptom of ankle sprains is bruising. Bruising occurs with most tissue injuries, and is typically noticeable 24-48 hours after the injury. The bruise will often be purple or blue, but may not happen with all sprains. Bruising is a result of ruptured blood vessels under the skin, which occurs when the ligament in the ankle is torn. It is often tender to the touch, but it looks more serious than it actually is. Bruises will heal on their own, although ice and over-the-counter pain relievers may reduce some of the tenderness and discoloration.