How long for sprained ankle to heal?

[summerrluvv]

If you sprained your ankle, how long did it take to heal?

I slipped at work on the ice almost 2 weeks ago and it's still hurting me. I went to the doctor last week and had an x-ray...nothing broken thank goodness. I've been trying to stay off it, but that's hard with 2 kids. This is pretty much ruining my life at the moment since I'm usually an active person with my kids, and we had planned to go skiing over winter break, etc.

 

[Disneylover79]

It usually takes 6 weeks or so for a sprain to "heal" try to stay off of it as much as you can......I hope you feel better soon

 

[Darcy03231]

I had a very bad fall with a bad ankle sprain/strain. A year and a half later and I still occasionally have trouble with it. Physical therapy did help.

 

[J3nn78]

I have heard that sprains often take much longer to heal than breaks. It is not uncommon for the pain of a sprain to linger for months or even a year. Hope you are feeling better!

 

[mamacatnv]

I badly sprained my ankle a month following knee surgery. My PT gave me some large rubber bands and a few strengthening exercises. It took weeks and weeks to heal and every now and again it acts up, it has been a year and a half.

Have you tried doing the ABC's with it?
Sit or stand with something to hold onto and trace the ABC's with the affected foot so that it works the ankle in every direction. Do this often throughout your day.

 

[MickeyMomOfThree]

Yeah, I fell 13 years ago. When we got to the ER they said it wasn't broken and I said good and the doctor said not so fast, a break they can just fix, a sprain does it's own healing. I was in PT for 4 months. STAY OFF IT!!! And good luck, it can take time.

 

[lajones81]

If you sprained your ankle, how long did it take to heal?

I slipped at work on the ice almost 2 weeks ago and it's still hurting me. I went to the doctor last week and had an x-ray...nothing broken thank goodness. I've been trying to stay off it, but that's hard with 2 kids. This is pretty much ruining my life at the moment since I'm usually an active person with my kids, and we had planned to go skiing over winter break, etc.

I had a very severe ankle sprain, which took a few months to heal. Feel better!

 

[Melmac]

I sprained my ankle last summer playing softball but it was a pretty bad sprain - just shy of surgery and I couldn't physically walk on it for 3 or 4 days after I did it. I was in a boot for 8 weeks and did physio for 5 months (until my benefits ran out and I couldn't afford it anymore). It still affects me now.

Ice was always helpful and if you can, do physio. It helped a lot and I always felt way better afterward. I agree with the "ABCs" ... the movement in all directions felt good too.
Hope you feel better soon! I don't have kids so I didn't need to run around but my dog was neglected for a bit, haha.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I had a severely sprained ankle in 6th grade for which my parents did not take me to the doctor. It was BAD BAD BAD! So I think that contributed to how long it took. While I don't recall the exact amount--it was many weeks...probably a month or more before I did PE. I got antsy and begged to jump on the trampoline when they did a gymnastics segment. PE teacher didn't want me to, but allowed me. Of course that meant I had to do the rest of PE. It wasn't too bad that I recall. I did favor the ankle while bouncing on the trampoline (using the good foot mostly).

It was cold when I did it, and it was warming up when I jumped on the trampoline. That is all I remember.

2 weeks is still pretty early.

 

[bamagirl@hrt]

I had a very bad sprain 5 years ago. It happened at night, so I thought I'd go to the doctor the next day if needed. Well, I could put *some* weight on it the next day, so I didn't go to the doctor. Mistake. I did wear an ankle brace, and after 6 months or so, I could walk without a limp. However, that ankle remains "weak" to this day. If hiking, it particularly hurts and feels that it may give way when going downhill. That stinks when you live right next to the Great Smoky Mtns. & like to hike with your family!

 

[Julia M]

I sprained my ankle about 8 years ago and it was very difficult. I had the same experience as others reported.....my MD said I would have been better off with a break. I ended up being off it a week (I mean, not moving), weeks with crutches and it was a year until it was really heal;ed, if not longer. I also went to PT and that helped.

I'm so sorry.

Julia

 

[cassiez76]

stay off of it and make sure you wear a brace.

i sprained my ankle in '03 and it's caused all sorts of problems. finally in '07 i had PT and had a nerve test done. major damage done. i can tell you when the weather is changing though!

be careful!

 

[tiggger1]

I have heard that sprains often take much longer to heal than breaks. It is not uncommon for the pain of a sprain to linger for months or even a year. Hope you are feeling better!

This! I torn the tendons in my ankle last nov. it took at least 2 weeks before I could really walk on it. At least 2 months before I didnt hurt all day...Its been over a year and it still hurts if I am on it too much!

 

[Shelley Chiarats]

On Friday night Jan 28th, I tried to step over the dog and she went the wrong way and I stepped down wrong. I told them I heard it crack and it did not feel right and really hurt so we went to the ER.

They took xrays and said it was justed sprained, gave me a brace, some pain meds, and "Have a good night!"

I started using my husband's old crutches and worked my way up to one of his old canes. Saw my own doctor on Tuesday Feb 1st, told her what the hospital said. My foot was really swollen, maybe 3 times as much as my right foot. My doc said it was too swollen to tell much and gave me meds to take down the swelling.

Went back today, Feb 7th and the swelling had gone down but it still hurts. I can hobble ok with the brace on but not at all without. So she says we need to get an MRI.

She scheduled the MRI and the MRI place called the hospital for my xrays. They got them and saw immediatly that not only could they see the break but the radiologist had marked it fractured.

So my doc calls me back, tells me to stay off the leg completely and I now have an ortho appt tomorrow on Feb 8th to find out what to do about my broken leg that I've been walking on for a week and a half.

If it ain't one thing it's another.

 

[MrsJackSparrow4Life]

I wore a brace for a month when I sprained mine really bad. After that I was able to handle putting weight on the ankle but I still feel some pain every now and then (especially when it is cold).

I sprained mine in November.

 

[LilyWDW]

If you sprained your ankle, how long did it take to heal?

I slipped at work on the ice almost 2 weeks ago and it's still hurting me. I went to the doctor last week and had an x-ray...nothing broken thank goodness. I've been trying to stay off it, but that's hard with 2 kids. This is pretty much ruining my life at the moment since I'm usually an active person with my kids, and we had planned to go skiing over winter break, etc.

More then 2 weeks, especially if you don't stay off of it.

The more time you spend on it, the longer it will take to heal. I'm sorry to say, but you are going to have to take some down time if you want it to start feeling a bit better.

Skiing with a bum ankle would not be a good idea.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Let's see I severely sprained my ankle as a child, probably 4. One of my legs got caught in a bike wheel. Never was the same.

So yrs later, I was working doing landscaping and stepped wrong and sprained it so bad I was in a cast for 8 weeks.

I think it took me over a year to be "healed". I had to wear an ankle brace all the time and high top boots for any sort of outdoor work.

You need to wear a brace at all times when moving about so you do not reinjure it. Take brace off frequently and keep your feet elevated to keep down swelling.

Skiing is obviously not a smart thing to do with an ankle sprain.

 

[wdwmom0f3]

My 12 yo DD did this to her ankle at cheer practice one day. She landed hard doing a back tuck and hurt the growth plate. It hurt her for a while. I even had a second x-ray two months later because it was still bothering her.

She did this in May/June and was still having trouble in August. To this day she wears a brace on it when she tumbles because it bothers her a little.

OP, I hope your ankle is better soon, but don't be surprised if it takes a while. You may want to put a brace on it to help it.

 

[NHdisneylover]

DD14 fell down the stairs and sprained hers pretty badly 3 weeks ago. The doctor has her wearing a brace, keeping it bandaged with light pressure and using crutches during the day. He said if it feels okay after 6 weeks she can start to use it for short amounts of time and increase it until she is 100% but he expects it will be more like 12-15 weeks before she can do that and 6 months before she is back to 100%.

 

[mhsjax]

OP I am sorry about your ankle. But boy you guys aren't making me feel much better. My DD sprained her ankle on Sat. The circumstances are just infuriating, but I won't get into those, but lets just say it was caused by someone. Anyway, she has a cheerleading competition this weekend and then another 2 weeks from now. She is also now falling even more behind in her tumbling, I am beyond mad at this point.

Sorry to hijack you thread OP. I hope you feel better soon, it is hard to stay down with kids. Take care of yourself.