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

[BCDisneyFanatic]

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?

 

[Lintasare]

I think you may have fractured a non weight bearing bone. I would get it checked out.

I sprained my ankle pretty bad a few years ago and the first thing they did was take a couple different x-rays to make sure I hadn't broken a bone.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

I think you may have fractured a non weight bearing bone. I would get it checked out.

I sprained my ankle pretty bad a few years ago and the first thing they did was take a couple different x-rays to make sure I hadn't broken a bone.

I always thought that you wouldn't be able to bear weight on a broken ankle. Ugh...I hope that's not it or I'll definitely be kicking myself for waiting this long to get it checked.

 

[Lintasare]

I always thought that you wouldn't be able to bear weight on a broken ankle. Ugh...I hope that's not it or I'll definitely be kicking myself for waiting this long to get it checked.

Actually you can, I had a friend walk around on a broken ankle for 3 weeks before she would go to the doctor. Not all bones are weight bearing so you can walk around on a broken ankle without much discomfort.

Or it's possible you injured a tendon or ligament. I have done that, turn the wrong way and ouchies.

 

[sissy_ib]

Actually you can, I had a friend walk around on a broken ankle for 3 weeks before she would go to the doctor. Not all bones are weight bearing so you can walk around on a broken ankle without much discomfort.

Or it's possible you injured a tendon or ligament. I have done that, turn the wrong way and ouchies.

I had a friend that did the same. I keep telling her to go to the doctor and she actually got mad at me saying it was just a sprain. She finally went and turns out she had chipped the bone in her ankle. She actually brought me a copy of the X-ray so I could say I told you so.

 

[funkychunkymonkey]

I thought I sprained my ankle once, fractured it in two places. walked on it for two weeks, it hurt but I was too darn stubborn. Still gives me issues today!

 

[wdwmom0f3]

It still could just be a sprain. Three years ago my daughter landed wrong while tumbling and she sprained her ankle. We had an X-ray made and it didn't show a fracture, so they put her in an ankle brace. This was in June and I had to have it checked again later in the summer because it just would not get better. She complained every day. I was told that sometimes a sprain is worse than a break because it can take longer to heal. It took her almost a year to get fully over it, maybe because of tumbling too, but she didn't tumble all summer.

I wish you luck!!

 

[NHdisneylover]

Absolutely get t checked out--you cannot know if it is only a sprain and not a fracture unless you have it x rayed.

It still could just be a sprain. Three years ago my daughter landed wrong while tumbling and she sprained her ankle. We had an X-ray made and it didn't show a fracture, so they put her in an ankle brace. This was in June and I had to have it checked again later in the summer because it just would not get better. She complained every day. I was told that sometimes a sprain is worse than a break because it can take longer to heal. It took her almost a year to get fully over it, maybe because of tumbling too, but she didn't tumble all summer.

I wish you luck!!

Yep. My daughter had a bad sprain and ended up being told to wear a boot and keep all weight off of t (crutches) for what turned out to be 10 weeks. She had to keep the boot another 5 weeks after that. Sprains can be really painful and take a long time to heal.

 

[Art 1]

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?

I would be seen but yes a sprain can take that long to heal.

 

[shortbun]

Some sprains take a long time to heal, especially those that go untreated. R.I.C.E.
rest ice compression elevation - right away. It could also be a bone bruise/fracture somewhere that's not needed for support. Go see your doctor.

 

[TeresaMc]

I did same thing mid-November......thought it was a sprain, walked on it for 3 weeks before going to the doctor to find out it was broken. Had a cast for 4 weeks and now its been off for 6 days. I still have a fair amount of pain and not walking very well yet.

 

[Christine]

It is probably a sprain, but yes, it can take a LONG time to heal.

You should go to the doctor and be seen. You probably need to be in a boot for awhile so that the ankle can rest and heal properly.

Also, a "sprained ankle" is a blanket term for anything that happens in the lower leg/ankle/foot and not all pulls/strains/sprains are equal.

For instance, I thought I had sprained my ankle doing a Jillian Michael's tape. I couldn't walk on it for a few days, it swelled, etc. After 2 weeks of not much improvement, I went to see an orthopedic doctor. He determined that I had pulled my posterior tibial tendon. I had to wear a brace, a boot, etc. The initial healing took well over 3 months and I was in and out of that boot for a year.

So, go see someone and get your ankle stabilized.

 

[chiefmickeymouse]

I sprained my ankle a few years ago and it has never been totally right since. I am fine as long as I don't try to wear high heels. It just isn't as strong as it once was. I went through physical therapy for it, and I can walk and run but I won't ever wear heels again.

I hope you feel better. I think you should get an x-ray, there are a lot of little bones in your foot.

 

[zoemurr]

I sprained my ankle a few years ago and it has never been totally right since. I am fine as long as I don't try to wear high heels. It just isn't as strong as it once was. I went through physical therapy for it, and I can walk and run but I won't ever wear heels again.

I hope you feel better. I think you should get an x-ray, there are a lot of little bones in your foot.

I sprained mine 1.5 years ago and I don't think it will ever fully heal. Day to day it's fine but if I kneel it still is sensitive, or if I make that wiggle motion trying to put my shoes on without untying them. I also did pt for months.

I'd go to the dr. Even if it is a sprain you should have a boot and pt. if it is bad.

 

[weeluvdisney]

I sprained my ankle over 2 years ago. I fell down our steps and rolled it. It swelled up 2 times the normal size and was completely purple the next morning so my DH made me go to the dr. He said it was sprained and that a bad sprain can be worse then a clean break. For a year I couldn't run without severe pain and I couldn't jump at all. It is still not back to normal over 2 years later. Hope that is not the case with you.

 

[FlightlessDuck]

I think you may have fractured a non weight bearing bone. I would get it checked out.

Or you tore a tendon. Or herniated something. Or have accessory navicular syndrome. Or ...

In other words, yes, see a doctor.

 

[tazdev3225]

I have to agree a sprain is way worse than a break. I went down on uneven concrete on Sept. 24th. I was in a boot for a month and an air brace for 2 months although I still wear it off and on. I am now headed for an MRI. Sprains are a catch all phrase for injuries. I have tendon damage the MRI is to determine how severe it is. The ortho can feel the tendon moving. Almost 4 months and still a lot of pain. I had a break in the other ankle years ago and walked on it with minor discomfort. Was in a cast for 4 weeks and completely healed. Good luck.

 

[BCDisneyFanatic]

UPDATE:

Well, I went to see my GP yesterday. She sent me for x-rays and told me to put an air boot on my foot for the next three weeks. I wore it all day yesterday, and then put it on this morning when I got up.

After I sent the kids off to school, I took the boot off to have a bath, and realized that I couldn't move my foot AT ALL. Couldn't point my toes, flex my foot, or even wiggle the toes. Left the boot off for an hour, but still no improvement. I headed to the ER, where they figured it was some sort of muscle spasm brought on from the positioning of my foot in the boot. After several heat packs and some muscle relaxants I can now flex my foot a little bit and move my little toe. Thankfully the doctor figures it should go away in the next couple of days. He wants me to stay on crutches until the spasm passes since I can't properly roll my foot when I try to walk at the moment.

On a positive note, the ER doc was able to get access to my x-rays, and confirmed there aren't any breaks (just lots of fluid around the joint). Once I regain use of my foot I'm to start physio. He also wants me to switch to an athletic-type support that allows me to flex my foot up and down while limiting side-to-side movement.

Thanks everyone for your advice. Next time I sprain something I will be smarter and follow the RICE treatment initially so I'm not in this boat five weeks later!

 

[Callie]

I slightly sprained my ankle over 3 years ago. I babied it so much to get out of dance class! Well about 4 months later it started hurting again. I went for PT, but to this day, it still hurts

 

[torinsmom]

I was told I had a sprained ankle after I hurt mine in July. I waited a few weeks before going to the doctor. They xrayed it and found nothing broken. It never got any better, and I finally pretty much demanded an MRI last month. Turns out I tore a tendon and I need surgery. I am having it done next week. The whole time I have been able to walk on my foot almost normally, but it just hurts, especially at night.