Recovering from ankle sprain

[bonnie]

Hi, I'm new to the site, and I'm hoping someone can help me with a problem. I sustained a bad ankle sprain 7 weeks ago, I fell down a steep ditch and sprained it. I went to the hospital and was told there were no fractures showing on the x-rays.

I have reently stopped using crutches, I had about 3 weeks on crutches without weight-bearing, and 3 weeks using crutches but placing both feet on the floor. I started walking short distances without crutches one week ago. I built up to a 20 minute walk into town, but started to get a very sore pain around the lower shin / inside, leg does anyone know if this is related to the sprain, ie ligaments or tendons.

Thanks

[bonnie]

I know its not possible to give an exact timescale, but I want to start running again as soon as possible, am I looking at weeks or months from this stage? Thanks

[Heidi]

Hi
It is more than likely connected to the ankle sprain.
The best advice would be to go to a sports injury specialist who can assess the ankle and provide relevant treament which may include soft tissue therapy, ultrasound, stretching, strengthening and balance exercises:
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/ankle/anklesprain.htm
It is very difficult to give you any advice regarding how long it will be before you return to running. It depends on the extent of the injury, any associated damage, professional treatment and adherence to rehab programmes.

[bonnie]

Thanks Heidi. I am having treatment from a physio who is very good, but I am not going to see her for several days and I am impatient and worried.

I walk, but get pain and my lower leg feels as though someones inflated a plastic bag inside it. Not a very big one and I only notice it when I crouch down low. I've never had an injury like this before and I just don't know what to expect. I get different little aches and pains in my ankle and lower leg every day.

Iv'e just been looking at other posts and note that some people have numbness. At first, my foot and leg would go cold and I had tingles and sometimes electric shock like feellings on the sole of my foot. I only get tingling in the middle of my foot and not all the time, but I still get the cold feeling at times, will this go? I am worried that I won't be able to do sports again. Are all these sensations just normal steps to recovery for a grade 2 sprain?

Thanks

[Heidi]

It sounds as though there may have been damage to other structures (as well as the ligaments) such as tendons (peroneals are commonly injured) and possibly some nerve damage. Usually this will just go, especially as your neural symptoms are minor. I presume you have mentioned all of this to the physio? If not, make sure you do!
Just keep going with the treatment. Many people think that because ankle sprains are so common, that they are straightforward and quick to recover. This is not always the case.

[bonnie]

Thanks Heidi, you've made me feel a lot better. I have told the physio about things, but she explains them and I feel better. The something else occurs later!

I've had minor sprains before, but nothing like this. It's nowhere near as bad an injury as some have, I know that, it's just a bit scary when I experience some of the ongoing changes in my foot, ankle and lower leg. It does seem a lot better better today, though I do seem to have a permanent bruise and pain in the triangle on the inner foot.

I just need to be more patient. Thanks again.

[bonnie]

Heidi, another question. I'm doing well now, I started walking without a limp at the weekend, and I walk half an hour to an hour every day. My ankle swells a bit, but not too badly and I usually do hot and cold in the evening.

Is it normal to keep getting odd pains and creaks and little swellings in places that I haven't before, like the top of my foot? Sometimes my injured ankle and foot are pinker than the healthy one, is this normal 9 weeks after the accident?

Sorry if I'm being impatient again!

[Heidi]

Hi
I would say that the minor aches and niggles etc are relatively normal when getting back to full activity after quite a while off. Not sure about the colour thing though. Get your physio to check at your next appointment.

[bonnie]

There is hope. Having suffered a bad ankle sprain caused by a fall into a metre and a half deep concrete ditch, I seem to be turning a corner.

Keep hope everyone and be patient!

I went swimming yesterday and despite my ankle being a bit sore when I first started walking this morning, it feels fine now.

My physio has never recommended wearing a bandage so that I work my foot properly. I hurt my ankle at the beginning of December and only had the bandage on for about 3 weeks. I don't know if that's normal or not.

The other residual problem is the inner ankle where my physio says that there are two bones there ,and one is not sliding over the other as it should, although it hurts sometimes, it doesn't hurt when I walk, and I am slowly getting full range of movement forwards and backwards. She said that would right itself eventually. I hope so. Of course I have niggles and pains, but overall, I'm walking and doing some sport. I'm so pleased.

[tuvshin1102]

hello all. Please help to to solve some problem in my ankle. I've sprained my ankle kinda hardly 2 years ago. It healed in 3 or 4 weeks. But after sport season starts it starts to pain a little bit and my feet feels so weak. Also I am losing so much explosiveness so it affect my performance so much. I haven't injured it since that injury but I think my ankle is to fully rehabbed. Is there any suggestion what should I do.