Good advice but I'd suggest that if symptoms persist you should consult an A&E department or minor injury unit, rather than your GP. Complex ankle ligament injuries can be disabling and require accurate and full assessment, and management. Also need to rule out subtle fractures of foot or ankle bones. The average GP will underestimate the complexity of this type of injury. 

The advice here for early treatment is spot on, though you should always get it x-rayed too; but symptoms will persist long after 72 hours - sprains can take months to settle properly.

Having recently suffered this injury myself, the best advice I can add is to see a physiotherapist as soon as possible, preferably within the first week - even if you have to pay. The advice and treatment will be worth every penny. (Note: the first question my physio asked was if I'd had it x-rayed - he said he couldn't have treated me otherwise.)

In short, I have been encouraged to keep the joint as flexible as possible, and to put weight on it as soon as I could. I noticed how my recovery speeded up once I had the nerve to walk again. You're aiming to rebuild the muscles that keep the joint in place, so that you don't need the crutches/support bandage/Ibruprofen anymore!

I've got to go with the RICE cure and yes maybe a pair of supportive boots if you have to do much walking on it ,but rest is best.

RichardLeeHolland said:

Plus, if you do need to keep walking, keep it a good pair of walking boots.  This will give you excellent support. After a bad sprain I went on a walking holiday to Madeira. It was fine in my boot. Took over a year to get it back so I could run on it. 

Was this because you didn't rest it enough?????
 

Plus, if you do need to keep walking, keep it a good pair of walking boots.  This will give you excellent support. After a bad sprain I went on a walking holiday to Madeira. It was fine in my boot. Took over a year to get it back so I could run on it.