ruptured deltoid ligament 7 months still in pain

[Loringtr32]

Hi everyone,

I'm 25 and 7 months ago I went over my ankle (inversion) whilst doing gymnastics. I landed awkwardly between two tumbles on a soft mat and was twisting at the same time so my ankle whilst in inversion was twisted out the way and I had to push down on it to take off and make sure I didn't land on my head.

Got taken to A&E where they x-rayed it and I was told it was not broken and just to go home. The nurse (who was a witch) tried to get me stand on it however the pain was just unbearable and reduced me to screams and crying. She forced me to try again twice and I just couldn't so they issued me with crutches and sent me on my way.

I could not put weight on my foot for about a week, and when I eventually could Had to walk like a penguin. It eased off a few weeks later but was still painful first thing in the morning and last thing at night. About a week after that I caught the bottom of my foot on a sidestep of a truck and banged it quite hard, the pain shot up my leg and couldn't walk again that day.

I think it was about 6 weeks later it was my turn on the Physio waiting list so along I went, had approx a 15 min session once a week for 4 weeks. all the Physio did was tell me my bone was out of alignment and moved my back and forward (I think this is plantar flexion and the other one toes towards my head) after 4 sessions of that he said I was ready to go back to training as I could hop on that ankle.

went back to training that week and needless to say on a landing a somersault in a soft foam pit, the force of the landing pushed my ankle into a lot of planter flexion and I was in agony again and couldn't walk.

had an 8 week rest over the summer holidays before returning to training, did a jump where i landed on my toes with knees forward, again, reduced to tears and couldn't walk.

Went back to dr who referred me to specialist orthopaedic surgeon who sent me for an MRI scan.

After waiting 2 months for this it came back that I had a ruptured deltoid ligament, surgeon said surgery would be speculative and may not even help.

Several times in between my ankle has rolled back into inversion and bruised and swollen for a few days.

So what do I do now?

I still have medial pain, can't bend my knee forwards with foot flat on the ground, it just doesn't seem to go or gets too painful. I can't train because everytime i do I hurt it more and physically can't land.

help Pleeeeeeeeease I'm a breaking point, gymnastics is my life.

[Loringtr32]

Forgot to say I also have lateral pain and it's always the lateral side that swells up more

[Heidi]

Hi
It sounds like it was a pretty severe ankle sprain - ligaments on both sides were damaged.
You definately needed more physio (and ideally a lot sooner after injury) than you recieved.
From what you have said the calf muscles are extremely tight and probably weak. You probably also have weakness in the peroneal muscles which control inversion/eversion.
My advice would be to start with stretching the calf muscles frequently (several times a day). I would also get yourself booked in with a very good sports massage therapist. Not only can they work on the calf muscles but they can also friction the damaged ligaments to break down excess scar tissue. This may hurt but definately worth it.
You need to start strengthening the ankle, resistance bands are great for this. Balance is probably also decreased so a wobble board or cushion would come in handy.
You can find loads of info here:
http://www.sportsinjuryclinic.net/cybertherapist/front/ankle/anklesprain.htm