Who here knows about sprained ankles?

[manlymatt83]

I sprained my ankle bad (or so the doctor said) on Sunday when carrying a table down two flights of stairs. I missed a step and landed wrong (side ways), heard a crack, and my entire foot bent inward as I landed. It pretty much swelled up entirely within a few minutes like a baseball and I went to the ER. They took x-rays: no fracture, but he wanted me on an air cast, crutches, and gave me some heavy drugs for pain.

Sunday was a disaster. It hurt a lot. Monday was, too. I couldn't walk on it.

But fast forward to today... the swelling is gone, it doesn't even hurt to touch it, and I'm able to walk on it without pain. It's a little stiff, and my ankle cracks when I walk (it's kind of weird), but there's no pain. Do I still need crutches, or can I get away with just the air cast? Also, can a sprain really heal this quickly, or am I doing something wrong?

 

[highland145]

Put the boot back on for 2 weeks. You will not be sorry in the long run. Just got over one.

 

[BoomerD]

I love it when people come here to question the wisdom of their doctors...

The doctor is as full of shit as a Christmas turkey. You don't need the crutches or the air cast. Throw them in the trash can. Just rub some dirt on the ankle and get back to work...

"Manly" in manlymatt not found...

 

[Texashiker]

Who here knows about sprained ankles?

Man up and stop complaining

You sound worse then my 15 year old daughter when she is on her period.

 

[LiuKangBakinPie]

There's this stuff called herbal ice. Don't know what its called over there but its a tube. You rub it on your muscles normally. rub it on it before you get into bed everynight. Works like a charm to relax the muscles

 

[Mr. Pedantic]

Yes, you still need the cast. If you don't have trouble walking without pain then you can ditch the crutches I think.

And no, if you have a sprain bad enough to need crutches it will be around 4-6, but possibly up to 8 weeks, before it heals completely with physio help.

I love it when people come here to question the wisdom of their doctors...

The doctor is as full of shit as a Christmas turkey. You don't need the crutches or the air cast. Throw them in the trash can. Just rub some dirt on the ankle and get back to work...

"Manly" in manlymatt not found...

I hate it when people say this. The crutches and the cast reduce the load and help stabilize the joint to help the ligaments regrow. Without the support it's likely they won't regenerate properly, and just scar over. And that drastically reduces the strength of the joint. So good luck and have fun with all the other sprains you'll get on that ankle.

 

[vi edit]

Sprains are very unique to the injury and the person. No two are ever alike. I sprained mine pretty bad a year ago playing basketball to the point that everyone watching it thought I broke my ankle. Xrays were negative but profound swelling and bruising for about three days. I was playing ball again the next week with no ill affects.

Other people I know have gone weeks, if not even months with sprains bothering them. It just really depends on how well your body heals and how much actual damage was done with the injury.

Can't really tell you if you need the crutches or not. Personally...if the swelling is down and the pain is gone then I'd likely ditch them. Your doctor would probably advise otherwise. But I find most non-athlete oriented clinicians are overly cautious in their advisements.

 

[Sentrosi2121]

Also, can a sprain really heal this quickly, or am I doing something wrong?

You're doing nothing wrong. The drugs have finally kicked in and altered your reality. You are now Superman, and you can do anything.

 

[ichy]

How about doing what your doctor recommends?

I broke my ankle about a year & a half ago and I was on crutches for a week. After that I could walk with my foot in an aircast for another six weeks or so. If it actually was a bad sprain then it'll take months to heal fully.

 

[SearchMaster]

I hate it when people say this. The crutches and the cast reduce the load and help stabilize the joint to help the ligaments regrow. Without the support it's likely they won't regenerate properly, and just scar over. And that drastically reduces the strength of the joint. So good luck and have fun with all the other sprains you'll get on that ankle.

You should probably go to the doctor and have your sarcasm meter checked

 

[PClark99]

Sprained my right ankle about a dozen times, sometimes bad enough to go to the Dr.

It can take 2-3 months for everything to return back to "Normal" after injury it depending on how well you take care of it.

 

[zebano]

vi edit is right they're all different. My buddy sprained his ankle and missed 2 months of basketball and after returning for two weeks is taking more time off to do rehab work since it gets sore after 2 games right now. Other people have been back in a couple of weeks. I suggest doing whatever pain-free walking you can and put the boot back on as soon as there is any pain. Hopefully you have longer and longer pain-free walking durations each day until you don't need it.

 

[highland145]

I love it when people come here to question the wisdom of their doctors...

I did screw a girl in a Howard Johnson's once. Does this count?

 

[manlymatt83]

Yes, you still need the cast. If you don't have trouble walking without pain then you can ditch the crutches I think.

And no, if you have a sprain bad enough to need crutches it will be around 4-6, but possibly up to 8 weeks, before it heals completely with physio help.


I hate it when people say this. The crutches and the cast reduce the load and help stabilize the joint to help the ligaments regrow. Without the support it's likely they won't regenerate properly, and just scar over. And that drastically reduces the strength of the joint. So good luck and have fun with all the other sprains you'll get on that ankle.

OK. I will definitely wear the aircast still for at least a few weeks. As for the crutches, should I just carry them around with me for at least another week, and force myself to use them on long distances (such as walking to the subway?)

 

[jonks]

RICE: rest, ice, compression, elevate.

Depending on the severity of the sprain it can take weeks to months to heal. I've suffered a 3rd degree sprain to my left and a first degree to my right ankle. The left took 8 weeks before I could walk on it, the lesser sprain I was walking with crutches for 3 days and then just limped till it got better.

 

[BoomerD]

RICE: rest, ice, compression, elevate.

Depending on the severity of the sprain it can take weeks to months to heal. I've suffered a 3rd degree sprain to my left and a first degree to my right ankle. The left took 8 weeks before I could walk on it, the lesser sprain I was walking with crutches for 3 days and then just limped till it got better.

Do NOT be posting common sense answers in OT threads. You've been warmed.

 

[BrokenVisage]

I did screw a girl in a Howard Johnson's once. Does this count?

Non sequitur lie achieved!

 

[highland145]

Non sequitur lie achieved!

The Holiday Inn was booked.

 

[spidey07]

Ankles take a LONG time to heal. Keep it elevated, try not to put much weight on it.

I had a bad ankle for about 4-5 years because I never let it fully heal and would easily re-injure it. Don't do that. It can take a fully 6 months for it to really heal.

 

[manlymatt83]

Ankles take a LONG time to heal. Keep it elevated, try not to put much weight on it.

I had a bad ankle for about 4-5 years because I never let it fully heal and would easily re-injure it. Don't do that. It can take a fully 6 months for it to really heal.

Thanks for the advice. I've started biking again and doing a little boxing. It's feeling better. I'm keeping an eye on it.

 

[crashtestdummy]

I have to agree with what everyone else is saying. I got almost the same injury you described (moving out of apt, missed a step, rolled foot) about 4 years ago. It was about 4-5 months before it felt the same again, in large part because I refused to let it heal properly. Use the crutches for at least a couple more weeks. It may feel needless, but you'll heal much faster.

 

[Cal166]

8 years ago, while playing basketball, went up for the rebound and landed on someone's foot, my whole right foot went inwards and you can see the bone popping out. Went to ER and while in pain, waited about half a day in the hallway to see a doctor. Took x-ray then waited more, he finally came and took 5 seconds to pop it back in, put a cast on then went home.

Took about 3 weeks off and did nothing but lie in the bed recovering. Good thing for pain killers!

 

[Homerboy]

Have fun with your new 1/2-strength ankle for life!
Mine still gives me problems 8 years later. I have to wear an brace for anything "athletic" I do.

 

[sdifox]

I used to fuck up my ankle every saturday playing volleyball on concrete slab. And if you step on the edge, twist goes your ankle. No, they did not back fill the surrounding of the slabs.

I cannot put on skates properly because the joint in my ankle is really wide now due to the repeat injuries.

My ankles are not very strong.

 

[highland145]

I used to fuck my my ankle every saturday.

I cannot put on skates properly because the joint in my ankle is really wide now due to the repeat injuries.

My ankles are not very strong.

Some Asian chick?


Working on my new title.