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Post by adoette on Oct 3, 2014 15:34:26 GMT
I rolled my ankle 4.5 weeks ago on a sweet gum ball while running. It was diagnosed as a really really bad sprain (3 weeks later because I was convinced it would get better). I am in an air cast for most of the day for another 3 days then as needed but encouraged to walk as much as possible without. If it is not better after a week of that I am supposed to go back to the orthopedist. But he said a sprain this bad can take up to 12 weeks to heal.
For the most part it is okay, except stairs. And it isn't painful but it does ache. And it is still swollen. Not freshly injured swollen but not any better on that front in two weeks.
Anyone had any experience with badly sprained ankles? I am going kind of nuts. I am a runner-and I have discovered I kind of need the physical release. I have tried to exercise some but it is just not the same, at all. Walking just doesn't cut it. And I can't really do anything high impact yet.
Is this really going to take TWELVE WEEKS? Am I going to a quack (he came highly recommended by several friends)?
ETA: he said I would have been better off breaking it. That sounded like crazy talk but apparently a clean break is better than what I have-so says the internet.
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Post by jenjie on Oct 3, 2014 15:42:51 GMT
I yeah I sprained my ankle so bad. I seriously thought it was broken. It was so disfigured after my fall and I couldn't walk on it. It was a bad sprain. I was in a walking cast for 6 weeks.
Did they say it would have taken less time Ito recuperate with a sooner diagnosis? Feel better!
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Post by deshacrafts on Oct 3, 2014 15:46:16 GMT
Yep it's possible it could take 12 weeks. I have had that sprain before (back when I was in my 20's). The end of May I did it again stepping off a patio. Did everything I was supposed to do, but after 3 weeks it was still swollen and sore. I went to the doctor, had an x-ray and found out I had fractured my leg. It is now October. I spent most of the summer in a boot and am now in physical therapy for acute Achilles tendinitis. All related to the "sprain". Good luck and do what the doctor says. I found icing it regularly helped a lot.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:47:20 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 15:47:59 GMT
DH badly sprained his ankle 3 weeks ago come Sunday and it has not gotten better much at all. Still swollen, still incredibly painful.
Like you, he's been told that it could take up to 3 months to heal and that breaking it would have been better.
Hope your's heals faster than that!
L
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scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,524
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
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Post by scorpeao on Oct 3, 2014 16:24:12 GMT
It might be too late but I swear by arnica gel. It's homeopathic, and when applied immediately after an injury it really does lessen the severity and length of rehab time. I've purchased it at CVS and Target.
I sprained my ankle in high school and ended up in a cast. The doctor told me that a break is actually better than a sprain. To this day my ankle is still weak.
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Post by adoette on Oct 3, 2014 16:26:36 GMT
Bummer. Doc said I probably should have come sooner but would not have made a huge difference in treatment.
For sure no break but next step would be MRI. Stupid insurance company won't authorize until three weeks of treatment. So I guess the wait slowed that up.
I was kind of hoping for one of those miraculous pea suggestions. But at least I know it is not abnormal.
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Post by Dori~Mama~Bear on Oct 3, 2014 16:32:13 GMT
I sprained my ankle really badly back in the late 80's and I was on crutches for 4 months. I then had to do physical therapy and I was off work for almost 6 months. When I finally did go back to work I could only work half days for the first 2 months. The doctor didn't want me standing on my foot for 8 to 10 hours a day. I have had more problems with that ankle since then. I can take a step any time any where and my ankle will snap. this is the same ankle I feel and hurt a few months ago.
good luck with healing....
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Post by meowgal on Oct 3, 2014 18:07:39 GMT
I BADLY sprained one ankle and broke the other last year when I fell down the deck steps. The sprain was by far, much more painful and took more time to heal. I wore those horrible boot things on BOTH feet for six weeks. Yeah, it was just a blast trying to get up and down stairs, etc. I blew off the walker option....at least my feet were even on the ground in those boots and I wasn't gimping along. 16 months later and my sprained ankle is still swollen...I suspect I'll have a cankle for life.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:47:20 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 3, 2014 18:43:01 GMT
my friend just did the exact same thing and was told it would be better if she broke it...it is still swollen 6 weeks later.
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Post by snappinsami on Oct 3, 2014 21:04:31 GMT
I've heard many times that breaks can heal faster/better/easier than sprains.  I hope yours heals quickly! |
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Mary Kay Lady
Pearl Clutcher
PeaNut 367,913 Refupea number 1,638
Posts: 3,116 
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Post by Mary Kay Lady on Oct 3, 2014 22:48:58 GMT
About 8-10 YEARS ago I fell and badly sprained my ankle. It did take about 6-8 weeks before I could put any weight on it.
I'm not a runner (I just started C25K) so I can't advise you in that regard. Even though it's been years since my injury my foot continues to swell. I imagine it will for the rest of my life.
I hope that your recovery goes quickly.
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Post by mztfied on Oct 3, 2014 23:01:02 GMT
Those sweet gum balls are a menace. My Mom's cat got one stuck in his mouth. Vet had to remove it. That cat was not a happy camper.
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Post by Judie in Oz on Oct 4, 2014 14:26:54 GMT
I had to look up what a sweet gum ball is because I thought you were talking about candy! Turns out it's the seed pod of a liquidamber, one of which is in my front yard and I want to get rid of. They are noxious weeds around here, and the seed pods are murder. Adoette, I hope your ankle feels better soon.
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scorpeao
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 4,524
Location: NorCal USA
Jun 25, 2014 21:04:54 GMT
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Post by scorpeao on Oct 4, 2014 15:54:37 GMT
I had to look up what a sweet gum ball is because I thought you were talking about candy! Turns out it's the seed pod of a liquidamber, one of which is in my front yard and I want to get rid of. They are noxious weeds around here, and the seed pods are murder. Adoette, I hope your ankle feels better soon. I never knew they had a name! I thought it was candy too. We had a liquidamber tree in my yard as a kid and I called their seed pods "prickly worlds." At 41, that's what I still call them. I can't wait to use the real name and regal all my friends. |
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Deleted
Posts: 0
Aug 18, 2025 19:47:20 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Oct 4, 2014 16:25:24 GMT
I had to look up what a sweet gum ball is because I thought you were talking about candy! Turns out it's the seed pod of a liquidamber, one of which is in my front yard and I want to get rid of. They are noxious weeds around here, and the seed pods are murder. Adoette, I hope your ankle feels better soon. I never knew they had a name! I thought it was candy too. We had a liquidamber tree in my yard as a kid and I called their seed pods "prickly worlds." At 41, that's what I still call them. I can't wait to use the real name and regal all my friends. I thought it was a candy, too! We have those in the park I played at as a kid. One day, my friends started bombing me with them so I took off running. Right into a tree. Bounced off that tree and landed flat on my back. Sorta like an ACME cartoon character, lol. L |
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Post by lesleyanne on Oct 4, 2014 16:42:06 GMT
Yes, it could take that long or longer. It's actually faster to heal a break. My ankle had a 2nd degree sprain from a fall down stairs. It needed at least that long in a cast then brace. I also did physio three times weekly at the beginning, stepping down to twice, then once by 12 weeks. The best physio seemed to be ultrasound then specific muscle training therapies. Unfortunately, once the ligaments are stretched they never return to completely normal without surgery.
I would recommend physio.
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I hope yours heals quickly!
