Which is worse: a third degree strain (ankle area) or a common ankle sprain?

Question:

i was diagnosed with a 2nd to 3rd degree strain. the damage showed up on the x rays, and they evaluate me for physical therapy on monday.

so, anyone know which is worse, in terms of pain, level of impairment, and/or damage?

Answers:
A strain/sprain are often used interchangeably, but erroneously so. A strain technically refers to an injury to a muscle or tendon while a sprain refers to a ligament.

They typically use the same classification system:]
Grade I: injury but no disuption of the tissues
Grade II: injury with small disruption of the tissues
Grade III: injury with disruption usually through at least half of the thickness of the tissue
Grade IV: usually refers to a complete disruption/rupture.

As to which is "worse" depends on what type of tissue is damaged. A grade III strain of the muscle may actually heal well because of the good blood supply that muscle receive. A grade III strain of a tendon or grade III sprain can both be very significant because of the poor blood supply both of these tissues have. Grade III strains or sprains can both be very painful (as bad as a fracture)...infact are often more painful than grade IV because the nocioceptive input (pain nerves) are still intact. Sometimes, people with grade IV sprains have no pain, but the joint is completely unstable.

Best wishes for a speedy recovery

Which is worse: a third degree strain (ankle area) or a common ankle sprain?

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