Sprained ankle that just won't heal? *Update Post 18*

[Micca]

I had a nasty sprain many years ago. The worst of the pain subsided over a few weeks, but it was months before all the pain went away. People generally think of a sprain as a relatively minor thing, but it can be quite painful.

Hope you're better soon.

 

[jiminyC_fan]

I had a severly sprained ankle and it took over a year to get better. The Urgent Care doctor told me that a sprain is much worse than a break. Take care of it OP. Follow the doctor's order!

 

[Chad Prince]

Yes, yet another medical advice thread .

Five weeks ago I turned over on my ankle really hard. It was agonizing immediately after, although I was a bit...ummm...medicated with a few drinks at the time. After a few minutes, I could walk on it, so other than putting a bit of ice on it and taking it easy, I wasn't too concerned.

The next day it was quite swollen but I could still walk on it without any pain. However, if I twisted it 'the wrong way', I would literally scream out in agony. Luckily, that didn't happen too often, so once again I just figured it was a sprain and carried on with my life.

I kept thinking it would heal, but it really hasn't. I can still walk without pain most of the time, but by the evening my ankle is throbbing. I still can't point my toe and bend my foot inwards without significant pain. My ankle is still fairly swollen, and I can identify two small areas (one below the big ankle 'bump' and one in front of it) where the pain seems to originate.

So...is it normal for a sprained ankle to take this long to heal? I haven't worked out in five weeks, and it's driving me crazy! I'm planning to go to the doctor in the morning to ask for a physio referral, but I also wonder whether I just need to be more patient and give it more time?

Hi Disney Fanatic,

Curious how your ankle ended up because your experience sounds very similar to mine?

It has been around 9 weeks since I rolled my ankle bad playing basketball. Since it didn't hurt when I would walk on it I assumed nothing was broken and didn't and haven't seen a doctor. The past 5 weeks or so it doesn't seem to have improved - still swollen and can walk fine, but the moment I run is where I can feel it.

Thanks so much if you are able to provide advice!

--CP

 

[Shelley Chiarats]

I stepped over the dog and she moved my direction and I rolled my ankle trying not to step on her. It hurt ALOT initially and I heard it crack. Since I had broken that ankle before I knew the sound. Went to the emergency room and they took xrays and told me it was sprained and sent me home with a small brace. It swelled and turned all kinds of black and blue. But knowing it was "only" sprained I worked at walking on it - first using crutches then a cane (we have those on hand from previous injuries).

Sometime the first week, I went to the PCP and she looked at it and said we would have to wait for the swelling to go down and told me to keep icing it and walking as best I could. But the next week the swelling had gone down and it still hurt so much that she referred me to the ORTHO doctor. Before my appt they sent for my xrays from the ER and called me telling me to quit walking on it immediately because it was broken.

Husband brought me crutches to work and the next day I went to the ortho appt where they took more xrays and agreed it was broken but I was young enough (mid 30s) that they thought putting screws in was the best treatment. So I had surgery and they put screws in both sides of my ankle. Waking up from anesthesia that day was EXCRUCIATING but then they put the nerve block in and I was good to go home that day.

I spent about 6 weeks completely non weight bearing with a boot. And then another 6 weeks wearing the walking boot. It's been about 7 years and I really don't have any trouble out of that ankle. But it makes a nice show and tell because you can see and feel the screws from outside of my ankle.

 

[leebee]

Zombie... It's been over 5 years since OP wracked up her ankle; I bet it's healed by now (I certainly hope so)!

 

[ColoradoDisneyFreaks]

Chad, I sprained my ankle diving last year at the end of June, rolled it really badly wearing dive gear and a lot of weights, so about 50 extra pounds. It swelled like crazy, but we wrapped and iced it pretty much right away and after a day or so I could walk on it slightly. When I got home from the trip, I went to the doctor and he didn't take any X-Rays or anything, just told me it was sprained and I should take it easy. After about 3 months, I finally went back to my regular doctor who sent me in for an MRI and found out that the ligament on the outside of my ankle was torn. I did 3 months of physical therapy and it's better now, not completely healed, but doesn't ache for the most part.