Sprained ankle that is long to heal
by My
(Viet Nam)
X-ray of the ankle
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I'm 19 and having a 10 month sprain now.
Sprain status: the swelling has decreased by about 90% but it pains inside, and restricts me from walking more than a period of time.
If I walk for more than a certain period of time, I will feel pain and nearly not be able to walk anymore.
At the time the injury occurred I rested, applied r.i.c.e, used a brace then got to go to school. 1 month after that and did have join in some school activities that need quite a lot movement. I think the reason may be because I didn't have COMPLETE REST but I still do some.
I still got to go to school every day now and I'm wondering if I have to drop out of school for half year or one year to cure this
I've seen a lot of doctors and orthopaedics practitioners but it didn't help.
I'm quite afraid that it would affect heavily on my future.
Hope to see your solution.
Hello My,
I think the problem is that the correct diagnosis has not been made, and thus the wrong treatment has been given, or insufficient treatment.
Very occasionally, but it really is rare, a sprain can be so bad that it leaves a permanent mark; that doesn't sound like the case, from what you describe.
It's not impossible that a fracture has been missed; there are many overlapping bones in the foot and ankle, and often the radiologist doesn't see the fracture line. It happens all too frequently, particularly if the xray was taken soon after the fracture, and there hasn't been enough swelling to open the crack and make it visible.
A very common injury is the subluxation of the ankle mortise or subtalar joints. It's not seen on xray usually, and is very painful. I know because I've had it myself. The analysis and and treatment of such subluxations is usually not difficult in the hands of a skilled chiropractor.
Then the cuboid bone can be a devil. It articulates with six different bones and any one of those joints can be problematic.
My suggestions are:
1. Have a second xray taken if one hasn't already been done. Specify as accurately as you can where the pain is.
2. If you can persuade the orthopedist, have a CT scan done. That will find any fracture that may be lurking.
3. See if you can find a chiropractor with a FICS qualification; sports chiropractic.
4. Do our alphabet exercises.
I hope this contributes.
Dr Barrie Lewis
Chiropractic Help homepage»
Ankle exercises
» Sprain that is long to heal
Sprained ankle untreated
X-ray of the ankle
Sprained ankle untreated now foot discomfort
Hi
I was walking nad went one step up only to miss a side of a step and landed on the widther side which was a bit deeper, of the steps on the same time a huge stone,like a moutain type of stone
was the I lended on it with the left foot and my ankle bend to the inner side nearly broken, for a few minutes I felt hot sensation, but after 5 minutes was very painful, got home did not sleep,is like I felt my blood passing thru, that breathing type of sensation,
the next morning it was swallon could not see the side bones, it took about twoo weeks, walking painfully, but healed. Sort of healed, now is been a year and a half still untreated, so I have discomforts on the same footsince then,
but sometimes I'm fine, comes occasionally, but everytime I wake up and try to stand or walk, I feel pain, or discomfort, in the middle of my foot, more like in between bones or tissues, I can't feel pain when touching butwhen I walk, that middle muscle that streches,somewere inside the Deltoit ligament the one that goes on the middle upper side of the foot, or maybe is the painful one,thanks for the pics the help.
Please help.it feels like is now a long term thing.Since I tripped I had this pain for almost two years now, but never put it together that I was that ancident, sometimes after walking a long distance, both my feet can't take it, I am thinking when am I getting to were I am going,the left foot get more tired that the other
Hello,
The ankle and foot is a very complex organ, and when you sprain your ankle like you did, many things can happen.
Perhaps there's a fracture lurking, sprained ligaments, pulled muscles and injured joints.
I'm afraid that without a careful and thorough examination, no one will no exactly what your problem is. Obviously something.
It's naughty to not have such a serious injury unexamined, and untreated. You may have a disabling ankle / foot pain for the rest of your life.
Start looking for someone who knows about feet. It may be difficult. What you don't need is pills. A good examination: what's wrong! That's what's needed.
Good luck.
Dr Barrie Lewis
Untreated sprained ankle
by Destiny
(Kentucky)
Ankle fracture
I sprained my ankle a couple years ago; I did nothing about it but rest it. About a year ago I sprained it again on a walk, like fall to the ground sprain. I got up and walked home and told everyone I was fine. The ankle never healed.
In the winter it is so sore, and I still have swelling in the ankle and around my lower leg, like very lower leg. I wrap it sometimes, but this doesn't really take care of the pain I still get. Is it possible to see a Dr at this point and get a referral for a specialist? Can therapy help after this long of not getting help?
Hello Destiny,
A careful, thorough examination, that will probably include xrays is long overdue.
Whenever you have an injury and you know you're not getting better, then the longer you delay, the greater chance you'll have a life long disability. I'm don't believe in rushing off to the doctor or chiropractor for every little pain, but a year is far too long.
In the first instance, you need a diagnosis, then one can start to think about the appropriate treatment.
Do it, soon. Keeping to this thread, let us know what comes of the examination.
Medic? Chiro? Your choice.
Dr Barrie Lewis
I sprained my ankle
I sprained my ankle when I was 20 years old I am now 43, and since then I occasionally step on it wrong and I can hear my ankle pop out of socket then back in again and my ankle is sprained again.
When it pops out and back in you can hear it and the pain is very intense. The last time I did it I broke out in a sweat and felt nauseous and almost passed out. Because of this I can't even sit Indian style with my legs crossed because if I lean forward a little my ankle will pop out and back into socket again leaving me with a sprained ankle. What advise can you give me on what I should do to prevent it and also how long should I ice it for?
Hello,
It sounds like your ankle isn't actually spraining, but one of the bones is subluxating which can certainly be extremely painful, especially if you are standing.
I would suggest you start by doing the "alphabet exercises". Since on a normal chair with your foot off the floor. Raise the toes maximally, and dorsiflex the ankle; bring it towards your head. Now paint the letter capital A in the air, trying to move all parts of the foot and ankle, including the toes. Now a B... and so on.
Try to get through the whole alphabet each day. Do you get a painful click whilst doing this?
If this all happened twenty years ago it may be arthritic now; perhaps it's time for an x-ray.
It's probably the ankle mortice joint, or subtalar joints; look these terms up at our sprained ankle page.
What's really needed is a careful and thorough examination leading to a diagnosis; look for a chiropractor who works with feet.
Good luck! This really can be very painful and will probably get worse if you do nothing; try and avoid a fusion of the joint.
Dr Barrie Lewis
Badly sprained foot after six weeks
by Julie
Swollen foot
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I wrote in earlier regarding a badly sprained foot, having tripped over a Chinese rug. I have attached a couple of photos now it has nearly been six weeks and a photo of my normal foot and the original photo after just three days. Should I keep off it until all the swelling goes.
I still have slight bruising. Movement isn't too bad but it is still slightly tender on the ankle side and inflamed. I am still massaging it gently with arnica oil and warm foot baths. Do you think that I should seek medical advice now as it has been such a long time or is this normal after such a bad sprain and to carry on with what I am doing? The bruising on my leg is from crawling on the floor and has nothing to do with the original injury.
Thank you so much and I am sorry to bother you again.
Kind Regards
Julie
Hello Julie,
This was a serious injury. I really needs to be evaluated by a competent professional; you don't want to be crawling on the floor for the rest of your life; it happens.
It may be badly torn ligaments, but you could very easily have nasty fractures in there.
Can you place full weight on the leg now?
Keep to this thread if adding new comments.
Dr Barrie Lewis
Badly sprained my left foot five weeks ago.
by Julie
Swollen foot
I tripped over a Chinese rug and nearly passed out. I went to the hospital after a week of keeping my foot raised and not putting any weight on it. I plunged it into cold water every two hours and strapped it with crepe bandage. It swelled like a barrage balloon the next morning.
I had three x rays at hospital and was told that it wasn't broken but badly sprained and to keep off it a further two weeks. They strapped it up forcing my toes towards my leg and told me to keep that on for three days. I continued to do RICE and kept off it for a further four weeks as it was still swollen and bruised by the heel and along the side of foot by the ankle was extremely tender.
It was tender to touch along the top of the foot also where thee was yellow bruising and a smarting sensation by the heel. I also continued to spray it with arnica which helped with the swelling. In the last week I have put the water jets on in the bath as this was not possible before as the foot was too tender. I can move my toes and move it backwards and forwards but the heel is still swollen and bruised slightly, although this is less so.
I have also been using warm water treatment in the last week and this seems to help it considerably and also lightly massaging it with arnica oil.
My concern is should I put weight on it now and ease myself into walking properly as it has been five weeks? I have managed to do slight exercises with the foot and I can move my toes freely and move the foot up and down and to the side. My concern is that it is still swollen by the heel and I am still experiencing a smarting almost like someone is pricking my foot with a needle sensation on occasion by the heel. It is still slightly swollen by the ankle also.
The photograph is of my foot three days after spraining my foot and before the bruising came out by the heel and at the side of the foot.I would say it has reduced by 80%. When it is not in a raised position it goes red and starts swelling on top of the foot and towards the toes.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Kind regards
That's a beauty, Julie!
I think you can probably safely assume there's nothing broken. Xrays of ankles are notoriously difficult; if you are still concerned you'll have to ask for a CT. But probably three different radiologists, if one was concerned he would already have recommended a scan.
You're doing the right things but it was obviously a very bad injury. It's obviously improving, albeit slowly.
My main concern is that after five weeks you are still getting sharp stabs; that probably means you have subluxated one of the ankle joints, probably the subtalar is down by the heel.
It's very important you make the ankle move now, preferably non weight bearing. Do the alphabet exercises you'll find at Chiropractic Help regularly.
If you continue to have those sharp stabs then start looking for a chiropractor who works with feet. Take the xrays with you. Probably best to keep using a crutch.
Get rid of the Chinese carpet!
I hope this contributes.
Dr Barrie Lewis
Comments for Badly sprained my left foot five weeks ago.
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