Frustrated after ankle sprain

[MommaJules]

A week ago, I rolled my ankle while running. I do this often and have rolled it once every year for the past 10-15 years. This time, it felt the same with almost no pain so I continued my run. The next day I was getting up from a chair and immediately had a sharp pain in my ankle, but on the inside of the ankle this time. Now I cannot even put weight on it. I iced it a few times that day, only noticed a very small amount of swelling to the side of the ankle bone but pain continues. I decided to go to ER the following day for xrays as I was still in quite a bit of pain and unable to put much weight on the foot. Xrays were negative as well as a quick u/s of the back lower leg/ankle, where the pain is. Initially, it felt really stiff and very sore but now I am able to move it from side to side but when trying to move it up and down, it really hurts and still feels very stiff.

I hesitate to follow up with my doc if it's just a silly sprain but I wonder if I may have pulled or torn a muscle. Also, I have been soaking it for 10-15 min. at night the past 3 days in a bucket of ice water and iced with ice packs during the day since the injury. Since I'm a week out, is icing still beneficial? Should I see my doc?

Thanks,
Julie

[Heidi]

If it's been a week I would start alternating hot and cold pack, 5 mins each for 20 mins, three times a day. This will really flush the blood through it.
You should go back to your Doctor if there is no improvement within 2 weeks of the injury.
Make sure you keep the ankle mobile as much as possible (without pain) by doing ankle alphabets, circles and gentle calf stretches.