Cubs' Ruggiano Out With Swollen Ankle

Chicago Cubs player Justin Ruggiano has been scratched from the past few games because of a swollen left ankle. He woke up Tuesday morning with the ailment.
If this had been the regular season, Ruggiano says he would be in the lineup, but he decided to be cautious with his ankle. He was scratched from the lineup against the Angels and does not think the problem is serious. 
"I just woke up a little swollen, not comfortable to run around on now," Ruggiano said. "Given the fact that we're a week out (before the season starts), I want to give it one day. I'll be fine tomorrow."
Ruggiano received treatment for the inflammation in his ankle on Tuesday and was in the batting cages getting some hitting in before his appointment. 
"I think what I did was break up some old scar tissue," he said. "There was no (ankle) roll, nothing that happened.
"It felt good yesterday," he said. "I did it before the game. Played the whole game, felt good, went home, you sleep for 12 hours, 10 hours, and then it has time for the swelling to set it. That's all it is now, it's just swollen." 
If this was the regular season, Ruggiano said he would "definitely" be in the lineup. 
Inflammation is the body's normal protective response to an injury, irritation, or surgery. This natural "defense" process brings increased blood flow to the area, resulting in an accumulation of fluid. As the body mounts this protective response, the symptoms of inflammation develop. These include swelling, pain, and increased warmth and redness of the skin. 
Inflammation can be acute or chronic, and it sounds as though Ruggiano's inflammation is chronic. When it is chronic, the inflammation reflects an ongoing response to a longer-term medical condition, such as arthritis.
Although inflammation can be caused by an infection, they are not the same and are treated differently. Your foot or ankle surgeon can best determine the cause of your inflamed tissue. 
To reduce inflammation and the resulting swelling and pain, injured tissue needs to be properly treated. The earlier you start treatment, the better. 
Initial treatment will include the R.I.C.E. therapy (rest, ice, compression, and elevation), as well as an anti-inflammatory such as ibuprofen . The symptoms of inflammation typically go away after two or three days. If your pain or discomfort do not improve after three days, call your doctor or go to an emergency room to determine whether a more serious problem exists. If Ruggiano's swelling has not gone down by today, he should seek further medical attention to determine if there is a more severe problem. 
Reference: MLB
If you are a baseball player with a foot or ankle problem, call our Rocky Hill or Middletown office to make an appointment.
Jeffrey S. Kahn, DPM
Connecticut Foot Care Centers
Sports Medicine Podiatrist in CT
Podiatrist in Rocky Hill and Middletown, CT
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