What is the best way to recover from a sprained ankle?

You'll need balance training IOT not continue visiting PT. Hint: go see your PT!

Trail running is one of my favorite pastimes these days. In May before the summer kicked into full swing I went out to the trails near my residence. Immediately after I entered the trail system my left foot/big toe got caught on a small dime sized root that stuck up out of the ground less than one inch. I went down hard. I jumped back up to see if anyone saw me. Of course, no one saw because I was the only person on the trails at 7:30am in the morning. Dirt covered the left side of my body from my shoulder to my ankle. I dusted myself off and kept running. I felt fatigue and achiness after I finished. Over the next few weeks I kept running with very little pain.

I did feel achiness in my hip flexors and quad muscle, but I didn't really think anything of it. The last week of June and over the holiday I vacationed in Florida. I always run the beach when I am there. I also do push ups, leg exercises, abs. I did lunges too. The lunges aggravated the injury that I did not recognize that I had. The injury kept me from running for about two months.

I'd say resting, and ice can fix most common injuries.

Motrin, obviously.

I can tell you what a Doctor told me that scared me into being real careful on where I walk. More than 3-4 bad sprains per ankle and you have jacked it up for life and it will be forever prone to spraining. I had a problem earlier in life and thankfully never exceeded 2 bad sprains the second one is where I got the good Doctors input.

LTJG (Join to see) I rolled my ankle training for a 100k a few years back. I got trecking poles and better trail shoes. Ankles are my biggest fear.

I have been so lucky to only hyperextend it on walking or running on uneven surfaces (from working as delivery driver at UPS). I never have needed to take time off. If running, I just say watch your path ahead and if walking off-duty wear boots with ankle support.

Look up the HEM ankle rehab at hemanklerehab.com IU cost a bit but it helped me with a serious sprain and I was able to run a 71k trail race a few months later with no problems, FYI RICE is not a proven method and is still debated about it's effectiveness.

Update: Went to the doc today - got a referral to a Physical Therapist. If I don't get the results I want, they will refer me to Sports Medicine.

Whiskey, hacksaw, and a blow torch....just kidding. Others have already answered.

Elevation and Ice. I would have some type of brace to keep it immobilized until you're comfortable enough to take it off, I would say maybe a week? Start trying to get a small amount of weight on it but still use your other leg to support the majority.

I tore a big ligament in my right ankle when I was 15 and I had it immobilized for 2 weeks but after 4-5 days I started to put weight on it, increasing day by day. After the 2 week period. I took the brace off and started standing on it, increasing my weight.

Be weary though, it will be weak and even after it's rehabilitated you can still roll your ankle. It hurts like a mother too, be careful.