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sprained ankle

14 years ago

last Thurs I sprained my ankle after I'd finished decorating for my step-daughter's wedding reception. (I thought I was on the last step of the staircase going onto the floor when in fact there was 1 more step) I landed on the side of my right ankle and went down. It swelled up right away, the reception lady got a bag of ice for me and I had it elevated for about 45 min. By then it was time for rehearsal at the church so we went to that, got an elastic wrap on the way back to the hotel where the rehearsal dinner was held. No rest/elevation/ice that evening or the next day for the wedding and evening meal. I finally got to relax on Sat afternoon. On Sun I went for x-rays to make sure it wasn't cracked. They said just a bad sprain. It's been hurting so much that I went back to the Dr today and he said it will be a long recovery..........not what I wanted to hear!! I'm off work for a while (I work 3 days a week at a large garden center in the gift dept and at the registers and we can only sit down for our 1 15 min am break and 30 min lunch)

Does anyone who has had a sprained ankle have any tips? The Dr said to start taking short walks on level ground wearing good walking shoes. I did that this afternoon but the top of my foot is very bruised/swollen and the bone on the side is swollen and rubs on my shoes so it wasn't very comfortable. I wore crocks into his office and he said although they are comfortable they are not supportative.

Any tips appreciated

I HAVE been self medicating with Cadbury chocolate and that does help!!! LOL

Diane

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Comments (8)

jannie
14 years ago
I agree, Cadbury chocolate will make everything better. Try to stay off your feet as much as you can.
Sally Brownlee
14 years ago
I am surprised he did not tell you to get an inflatable brace.
I used one several times and it gave me great relief. It is big help in stability...you ankle will still hurt, but you will be more confident.

Hope you have a quick recovery!

Here is a link that might be useful: ankle brace
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I have been running for 40 years and trail running for 20 and hiking and gym and blah, blah, blah. A few years ago I was running and stepped on a pine cone, fell off and tore all the ligaments in my ankle. I went to my doctor, had x-rays and then sent me straight to physio. My kids still tease me about falling off of a pine cone. This is not the only time I have sprained an ankle. I'm coming off of a slight sprain right now from doing ladder work in the gym and then going straight into high knees over low hurdles. I screwed up the transition and went over on my foot. Went straight to my physio and he started the healing process for me. At the very least I would go to a physio if you have one. Only go to one that you trust. They can quicken the healing and give you strengthening exercises for the foot and ankle. If you don't have one then you could go to your doctor. I wouldn't bother with an Ace bandage but rather would get a small soft brace which are available at drug stores. They go under the foot and around the ankle, are velcroed and provide really good support. Wear it when you first go back into the trails and if you have walking poles or can borrow some do so for the first few times as well. Good luck - this really is a pain in the butt.
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pawsitive_gw
14 years ago
I was in a hard walking brace, supposedly for 6 weeks, but took it off after 2 (got tired of picking the foxtails out of it every day!!). Get a good ace bandage and wrap it. Elevate it when you can, and ice it at night. Use one of the OTC pain relief that is an anti-inflamatory. If it's at all possible, use crutches. It's a good 6 weeks healing. I happened to fracture a small bone in my ankle as well. The dr said it would have been better to break it than have such a really bad sprain, because you stretch out all the ligaments and tendons. Keep an eye out on just how purple and green it gets, it's a hoot. I hadn't seen such pretty colors since the last time I was kicked by a horse. NOTE: any imbedded ads are NOT my doing.
rosepetal2
Original Author
14 years ago
this is a pic of the swelling/bruising on Sun
[IMG]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c204/rosepetal2/SANY0391.jpg[/IMG]
this was last night
[IMG]http://i28.photobucket.com/albums/c204/rosepetal2/SANY0401.jpg[/IMG]
rosepetal2
Original Author
14 years ago
guess I forgot how to post pics, will try again

Sun

last night
janie_ga
14 years ago
Salgal, I was about to recommend the exact same brace! LOL

I sprained my right ankle in November 1991 and August 2009. Both times I used that brace both times. I also try to wear hiking boots as much as possible. I used that brace until late Nov. 2009 and then switched to a soft velcro type from Walmart for another month or so. MD said that since I had sprained it in the past, it would take even longer to heal. (Also sprained the left on in 198... soemthing, in 8th grade gym class).

A break is supposed to be easier to heal than a sprain.
Sally Brownlee
14 years ago
yes, my brace is from summer of 1991, too! - I still have it because my ligaments are so stretched it happens so easily again...
this brace is very easy to put on and take off..cheap and it really does help keep you on your feet. But having said that you should try RICE (rest, ice, compression, elevation) for the first couple days as much as possible. Then slowly build up.
Gosh, my ankle is hurting just thinking about you! I also can't watch any videos of people turning their ankles...it almost makes me sick.
janie_ga
14 years ago
Yep, that looks an awful lot like the pictures I posted last August! The exercise physiologist also made a u-shaped foam thingie for each side of my ankle with the ankle bone that sticks out cradled in the "U". Then he wrapped my foot in the ace bandage. The u-shaped foam was supposed to help give a "tunnel" for swelling to go back up my leg when it was elevated. I still had swelling for about two weeks and was sooo happy when I could put a shoe on again!

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