sprained ankle, how long to get better?
Discussion
Stepped of a curb and went over on ankle yesterday going to fortnum and mason, hobbled home before the pain really kicked in and was glad I was wearing some boots.
Iced up the ankle all of yesterday and then found my York ankle support and strapped that on quite tight so I could sleep, today Im wandering round with hiking boots on as they give some more ankle support.
How long before it is back up and running again so to speak?
I need to do xmas shopping and the like that I can't do on the net, but today it took me about 20 mins to walk to the local shop which is only about 200m away so know going back into town is not doable but just wanted to try and start walking again.
Is that the right thing to do or should I keep off it all the time and immobile?
Iced up the ankle all of yesterday and then found my York ankle support and strapped that on quite tight so I could sleep, today Im wandering round with hiking boots on as they give some more ankle support.
How long before it is back up and running again so to speak?
I need to do xmas shopping and the like that I can't do on the net, but today it took me about 20 mins to walk to the local shop which is only about 200m away so know going back into town is not doable but just wanted to try and start walking again.
Is that the right thing to do or should I keep off it all the time and immobile?
Worst "I shop at Fortnum and Mason" post ever. 
Yes, 6 weeks and get it secured. I did it on a vert ramp. Ended up getting a full plaster cast because when the doc told me I could remove the temporary cast, my face lit up. His immediate response: "We're getting a full cast on it."
Bastid.
Yes, 6 weeks and get it secured. I did it on a vert ramp. Ended up getting a full plaster cast because when the doc told me I could remove the temporary cast, my face lit up. His immediate response: "We're getting a full cast on it."
Bastid.RemainAllHoof said:
Worst "I shop at Fortnum and Mason" post ever.
Yes, 6 weeks and get it secured. I did it on a vert ramp. Ended up getting a full plaster cast because when the doc told me I could remove the temporary cast, my face lit up. His immediate response: "We're getting a full cast on it." Bastid.
Just proving it wasn't a drunken fall... honest... I hate the place, just the OHs parents like their tea so every time I go to Finland I pick up some stock for them.Yes, 6 weeks and get it secured. I did it on a vert ramp. Ended up getting a full plaster cast because when the doc told me I could remove the temporary cast, my face lit up. His immediate response: "We're getting a full cast on it."
Bastid.So I guess Im keeping the york ankle support on then. Is that ok or is there any better supports out there as I need it to get better if I'm off snow boarding in new year.
As someone who had to retire myself from playing footy due to repeated ankle inversion sprains, I'm probably an expert!
Walking on it was a bad idea. That will have done more damage. But as for a quick recovery, ice, elevation (probably both too late now) and rest. Depends how bad it was. My first sprain was almost a dislocation it was that bad. Generally, about 2-3 days should be enough rest, then start using it gently, even if bruising is still there and it hurts or feels a bit weak or you will lose mobility.
Sadly, recovery is never full (hence my footy retirement!) as once ligaments stretch due to a sprain, they never completely settle back to their original size... All you can do is build up the surrounding muscle and try and give your proprioceptors a chance to deal with the next incident.
Walking on it was a bad idea. That will have done more damage. But as for a quick recovery, ice, elevation (probably both too late now) and rest. Depends how bad it was. My first sprain was almost a dislocation it was that bad. Generally, about 2-3 days should be enough rest, then start using it gently, even if bruising is still there and it hurts or feels a bit weak or you will lose mobility.
Sadly, recovery is never full (hence my footy retirement!) as once ligaments stretch due to a sprain, they never completely settle back to their original size... All you can do is build up the surrounding muscle and try and give your proprioceptors a chance to deal with the next incident.
Can't really help beyond echoing the RICE recommendation. Could try eating fish oils and glucosamine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RICE_(medicine)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RICE_(medicine)
I did my ankle ligaments in a big way in August last year. I was on crutches for about 10 days as I literally couldn't touch the floor at all without excruciating pain.
After that, I borrowed an air cast from my brother from when he shattered his heel (those plastic casts that you put on and then pump up the supports with air). I managed to go to work wearing it - A pretty manual job but I'm self employed so had to work
It was just under 3 months before I felt confident enough to jog on it, and another couple of weeks before I was back playing football.
It all depends how badly you've damaged it, but in the first instance you should give it as much rest as you possibly can.
After that, I borrowed an air cast from my brother from when he shattered his heel (those plastic casts that you put on and then pump up the supports with air). I managed to go to work wearing it - A pretty manual job but I'm self employed so had to work
It was just under 3 months before I felt confident enough to jog on it, and another couple of weeks before I was back playing football.
It all depends how badly you've damaged it, but in the first instance you should give it as much rest as you possibly can.
RemainAllHoof said:
Can't really help beyond echoing the RICE recommendation. Could try eating fish oils and glucosamine.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RICE_(medicine)
This was done for all of yesterday as standard, mixture of ice pack and freeze spray to sort it out.http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/RICE_(medicine)
since the support and the shoe was put on there is very little pain, although I do know its there and feels a lot better.
As for the no walking that is not possible in my flat and I also needed to go to the shop for some more throat sweets as I have a cold at the moment.
Antonia said:
Evidence based medicine says:
Support bandage, pain killers and walk on it as normal (provided it is not broken of course).
6-8 weeks to recover I think.
People who walked on their twisted ankles had less long term problems.
Thats the point its not like I can simply stay off it for several days... not possible at all, so if its better to stay on it that is better.Support bandage, pain killers and walk on it as normal (provided it is not broken of course).
6-8 weeks to recover I think.
People who walked on their twisted ankles had less long term problems.
Current practice is to not use compression/support at all. Patients are encouraged to walk about normally but elevate the leg when resting and use intermittent ice packs to reduce the swelling.
In terms of time scales it will normally get worse over the first 48 hours due to the inflammatory process, there is a school of thought that this period is essential to the healing process and using anti inflammatories like ibuprofen or diclofenac will delay the process.
The ankle should improve to the point where it isn't limiting you in day to day use by about two weeks. Full recovery can take up to 12 months depending on the demands you place on it.
In terms of time scales it will normally get worse over the first 48 hours due to the inflammatory process, there is a school of thought that this period is essential to the healing process and using anti inflammatories like ibuprofen or diclofenac will delay the process.
The ankle should improve to the point where it isn't limiting you in day to day use by about two weeks. Full recovery can take up to 12 months depending on the demands you place on it.
You could be absolutely fine chum. I sprained mine badly 2 months ago and was flying to Portugal for work the next day. Went to A&E where they dosed me up and X-rayed it (had chipped bone in leg also), they said 6 weeks, and flying would cause a problem.
I could only just manage to hobble around the airport, and next day hobbled around the factory, 3rd day could walk fine, but pain was still there and 7 days later was right as rain
I`m a great believer in powering through the pain with these sort of things and it`s always worked for me.
Good Luck
I could only just manage to hobble around the airport, and next day hobbled around the factory, 3rd day could walk fine, but pain was still there and 7 days later was right as rain
I`m a great believer in powering through the pain with these sort of things and it`s always worked for me.
Good Luck
Bill said:
Tiggsy said:
Theres a lot of current thinking that says the RICE concept is flawed - i had a big sprain a while ago and used HEM (look it up) to great affect.
Give us a clue 
ankle still swollen slightly and have had lots of tiger balm on it and iced it up...
Despite the fact I shouldn't be moving on it... have been and now its more a dull ache now... how ever since I have been walking like a gimp for the last few days on it the result is a pulled calf muscle... that ironically gets cramped up very easily at the moment.
The only thing Im not pushing doing at the moment is stretching the Achilles tendon too much as that is still a little sore.
least the ankle is better now.
Despite the fact I shouldn't be moving on it... have been and now its more a dull ache now... how ever since I have been walking like a gimp for the last few days on it the result is a pulled calf muscle... that ironically gets cramped up very easily at the moment.
The only thing Im not pushing doing at the moment is stretching the Achilles tendon too much as that is still a little sore.
least the ankle is better now.
Du1point8 said:
ankle still swollen slightly and have had lots of tiger balm on it and iced it up...
Despite the fact I shouldn't be moving on it... have been and now its more a dull ache now... how ever since I have been walking like a gimp for the last few days on it the result is a pulled calf muscle... that ironically gets cramped up very easily at the moment.
The only thing Im not pushing doing at the moment is stretching the Achilles tendon too much as that is still a little sore.
least the ankle is better now.
I did a lot of stretching and movement from day 1 ( foot was black still). IMO it helped with moving flud out and preventing scar tissue. Despite the fact I shouldn't be moving on it... have been and now its more a dull ache now... how ever since I have been walking like a gimp for the last few days on it the result is a pulled calf muscle... that ironically gets cramped up very easily at the moment.
The only thing Im not pushing doing at the moment is stretching the Achilles tendon too much as that is still a little sore.
least the ankle is better now.
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