A sprain is a stretching or tearing of a ligament located near an articulation and is usually caused by sudden movements. Some people are more likely to be victim of this ligamentous trauma than others. This is true of athletes, elderly or overweight persons and those who have already sustained such injuries before. In addition, intense exercise performed without warm-up, inadequate or insufficient training, muscle fatigue, the use of a playing surface in poor condition and inappropriate footwear are all factors that promote joint distortion.
A sprain is characterized by pain, swelling around the joints and, in some cases, bruising. Its severity is determined by its symptoms. In the case of mild sprain, the pain is quite bearable and the affected person can still perform movements. Swelling only appears the next day or after a few hours and the stretching of the ligaments does not result in bruising.
In the case of a moderate sprain, the pain allows only limited movement, the joint swells up in less than four hours and a bruise appears. If the sprain is severe, the patient suffers from intense pain as well as a snapping sensation and has a great difficulty moving the affected joint. Bruising and swelling then appear within minutes.
A treatment requiring an internal application is recommended if the injury is not located around the muscle. In this case, the homoeopathic remedies are to be administered in the form of granules and need to be taken orally. The dose usually consists of 3 granules that need to be left to dissolve under the tongue. Three granules should be taken daily during 5 or 6 days. In general, the treatment will be based on Arnica 9 CH, a remedy that reduces the risk of internal bruising.
If swelling and pain around the joint occur, Bryonia 5 CH is recommended. Meanwhile, Ruta 4 CH will be prescribed if the wound is close or in direct contact with a bone. Five or six granules of this remedy, which may be combined to Arnica 9 CH, need to be taken every hour. And to treat recurrent sprains that are due to inadequate treatment, either use Natrum carbonicum 9 CH or Calcarea fluor 9 CH. Three granules of either one of these remedies need to be taken three times a day over a 15-day period.
For local treatment, perform a light massage on the swollen area by using anti-inflammatory Arnica-based ointment. In order to alleviate the pain, it is best to coat the sprain with a mixture of essential oils prepared from 8 ml of Helichrysum Italienum, 5 ml of Calophyllum Prophtyllum and 2 ml of Laurus Mobilis, for three daily applications during 2 to 3 days. In addition, Ledum 4 CH can be applied, using a compress, on the cold and numb areas.
Consultation with a physician in case of sprain is recommended if the pain is unbearable, lasts for over a week or if the injured limb cannot be moved or is dislocated. If there is a high risk of fracture, an x-ray and magnetic resonance imaging test that can show the ligaments’ state may even be necessary. In addition, if the homoeopathic treatment does not produce any effective result after two days, it is best to visit an osteopath who will be able to correct the initial injury.
• Arnica Montana
• Calcarea Fluorica
• Rhus Toxicodendron
• Ruta Graveolens
• Tendinitis
• Trauma
Good to know: Homoeopathic remedies that are used to treat sprains are not only effective in the healing process but can also speed up the patient’s recovery. Certain remedies come in the form of granules while others are available in the form of mixtures that need to be applied on the affected joint.
