3 year ankle injury! - HELP

[clarky]

Hi

I badly sprained my ankle 3 years ago at age 36 (2004). I went over on it to the outside, with my ankle buckled underneath me. It is the 3rd time throughout my life that I have had this injury. I am a very keen mountain biker / cyclist

I couldn't put my foot on the floor for a few weeks and then had difficulty walking for up to a month. I visited casualty and they made standard recommendations - rest, ice, anti-inflammatories etc. No xray was performed

Eventually I began riding my bike again. I competed in several endurance events in 2004 and visited the alps and rode the arduos tour of mont blanc in 2005. Every now and then I would get 'niggles' and pain from my ankle, but a couple of weeks rest always sorted it out.

In 2006 I started 'road cycling' where the riding position is slightly different and the stresses on the body can be higher. I got some ankle pain, but continued to ride. In january 2007 I began serious training for some big events I had entered. After about 6 weeks training the pains in my ankle forced me to stop training.

I visited 2 different physios. The first one said I had dislocated ankle ligamnets and no amount of physiotherapy could help me, I needed an operation.

The second one said I should only have an op as a last resort. He told me to change my riding plans for 2007 and rest and then begin a series of stretching and stregthening exercises. I did this for about 6 weeks and felt much better. I resumed training, but broke down again a few weeks later.

I have had about 9 weeks off serious cycling and still have much pain in my ankle / top side of my foot. I don't feel I can put any force through my ankle and can no longer do the strengthening exercises. I have been referred to a consultant and and waiting for an appointment.

I am desperate to resume training/cycling but am unable to do so. Walking is painful sometimes in the mornings.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

thanks

[GregasGP]

Hi Clarky,

Unfortunately I can't really provide much advice, but I seem to have a very similar problem, but with running not cycling. When I was out and about running my legs and ankles felt ok, but since August when I began running more indoors on Treadmills my ankles and lower legs have been extremely painful. I have tried resting them for a few weeks and stretching but no good at all. I'm only 25. I went over and badly sprained BOTH my ankles in May and September 2006.

I have seen two Podiatrists who mas me some very expensive insoles, but they too have done nothing and have actually made the pains and aches worse. I went to see a Physio who actually said my ankles and lower legs were strong and fine, but I had a tight hamstring and peroneal tendon. Strecthing still hasn't eased the discomfort.

I am going to the Doctors tomorrow to demand a full scan and referral to a Physio.

Good luck and keep us posted and likewise I will do the same.

Greg

[littledancer]

Hey Clarky,

I noticed you didn't mention any doctor getting an MRI of your ankle. I used to be a ballet dancer and did the same thing to my ankle. It sounds like you have an impingment. An impingment is when a ligament partialy tears and the flap that is torn gets stuck in between the little bones in the side of your foot. You should go see a sports surgeon about this. You may even want to mention the impingment. What ever you do, don't do physical therapy, it's just going to make it worse. It causes scar tissue to start growing and it builds up. That's what happened to me and it was like having a pebble stuck in the side of my ankle. It hurt so bad. But don't worry, if you have surgery they can do it arthroscopicly and you'll be back to training and cycling in no time.
Hope this helped. - Elyse

[Seismic]

Have an exam to look for a fractured Talus.
I injured my ankle playing soccer, rolling it out and over the little toe. Even though I don't especially like going to the doctor, I knew it was bad just based on the sound, swelling and color. The doc diagnosed a sprain, and warned that it would take a long time to heal. She was right, but for the wrong reason. The next summer I tried to resume soccer but the ankle wasn't up to it, so I stopped playing.
Three years later, my wife requested that I either stop complaining about how bad my ankle hurt or go see the doctor again. The second doctor told me it looked normal so I got yet another opinion. The third doc identified a non-union fracture of the talus lateral process, and I began treating it at that point (three years later). With the right angle of xray, the fracture was obvious and visibly displaced. The problem is that you need a very specific type of xray otherwise the Talus isn't visible.
PT did work to a point, and I was able to resume playing soccer again after the long layoff. Six years after the injury it was barely stable (need to tape it aggressively) with only minor pain, but it is still broken because of the non-union. However, I rolled it again and am back to square one seven+ years after the initial injury.


Good luck!

[megannifhiach.]

hi
cycling is obviously very important to you and i would advise you to ask your gp to send you for an mri scan it will show all the soft tissue and bone in segments and as good as we can all guess whats up this will tell you. then physio or surgeon can work from this! whatever happens good luck with it and i hope you get well soon!
megan
sports therapist