posted
Okay, so, I sprained my ankle for the first time ever in late October. While it's surprising, considering my history of athletics, the real bitch behind this is that it was a bad sprain. I tend to go numb and nod when doctors explain things to me, but what I could get out of it was that I tore some ligaments (or something of a similar name and nature). I had a huge, baseball-sized swelling on the side of my ankle, and I was hobbling around on crutches for a couple weeks.
Which is where the whole I-know-what-it-feels-like-to-be-a-chick thing enters in. I've never felt so helpless -- I know understand what my girlfriends tell me when they worry about rape in dark alleys or wherever. Swear to god, one day I met a strange, Armenian-esque, burly, hairy dude when I was picking up my mail. He was really friendly and all, but I couldn't help but think he was going to whack my ankle with a long stick, throw me over his shoulder, and cart me upstairs to have his way with me. Heh. I just wish I could say the doctor was medicating me so I could explain that bit of paranoia away...
But, yeah. My point is, I'm getting really irritated with my ankle. I can walk around without the brace, now, and I can do it normally -- i.e., no gimping. What I can't do is run or even stretch it to its extreme positions. Why not? It's been, what, nearly two months now? I'm really starting to soften up, here, I need to start a good running program again -- especially if I'm to do this bike thing come June or July. CT? Anyone with any medical knowledge? What the hell's wrong with my ankle, and why isn't it fixed yet? How can I fix it? How can I make a million dollars before I'm thirty? Why aren't they making a movie series about A Song of Fire and Ice? Why is Slash so cute?
posted
Unfortunately, when ligaments and tendons are damaged, they take a long time to heal (and in same cases will never be the same again). It is possible that the limited range of motion in your ankle is a permanent thing. I tore all the ligaments in one of my fingers more than 10 years ago. It was immobilized for about a month. It has never been the same since. I still sometimes have problems with it. Did you ever do any sort of physical therapy? With all of my ankle problems I've had (basically everything short of breaking it), I've had physical therapy several times. It may be a good idea for you to see your doctor and see if he has any good ideas for you.
Posts: 5879 | Registered: Apr 2001
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posted
What sort of doctor treated the sprain? Have you seen him again? Consider seeing a sports medicine doctor, a physiatrist, or an orthopedist. Or do you know any physical therapists you could ask? All of the above people should be able to give good advice.
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Shit. Permanent? I couldn't take that, I need to be able to run.
Shit.
The doctor who treated my ankle was just some dude who was in the ER at midnight when I wheeled myself in there. He looked at it, felt it up, then told a nurse to give me a brace and crutches. Nothing more. I went back once, to see if there was something I should be doing, but the doctor on duty just gave me a funny look and told me to walk when I felt I could.
I don't know any physical therapists. To be honest, I'd feel stupid as hell going in to get my ankle massaged, or whatnot -- are there any exercises I can do myself to heal my ankle? I'm guessing weight training wouldn't help it (if it's possible to lift weights with the ankle), but what would?
I'll definitely call in to a physical therapist, but knowing me and my schedule, it could be a month before I got to see one. In the meantime, can my ankle be healed through, I don't know, self-massage? Ice packs? Voodoo?
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posted
I second the physical therpist idea. I had problems with my ankles back when I played soccer and physical therapy was very helpful in treating the injury and preventing more of them.
I remember standing on one foot with my eyes closed to exercise and strengthen the ankle. I also had some surgical tubing for resistance exercises, but I can't recall which ways I had to move my foot with those.
Since you can't go running, have you thought about trying a low impact exercise such as swimming?
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I had a very serious ankle sprain almost three years ago. I tore two ligaments, and I was on crutches for a couple weeks, and then in a walking cast for almost a month, if I remember correctly. My bad ankle still can't extend all the way, and it still hurts from time to time. It also pops a lot.
Stretching and exercising it will help you to regain flexibility and strength, though it's very possible that it will never be quite as good as your other ankle.
Yeah, life sucks like that.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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posted
i've had a lifetime of sprained ankles and chances are, you're running career isn't over, but it does take time for them to heal. (yes, more than two months, sometimes up to a year)
Depending on the severity of the sprain, you might want to consider physical therapy- your doctor might be able to tell you if that's necessary.
You should continue to wear a brace/support of some type on that ankle everytime you exercise because since those ligaments are bent out of shape right now, you take the chance of another, more severe sprain. There are some home exercises that you can do to build back up your ankle... let me see if any interent sites have them written before I go into a long detailed explanation.
Posts: 862 | Registered: Oct 2003
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posted
Here's another suggestion from someone who has sprained his ankle far too many times: maybe you should go to a podiatrist. It seems like lots of doctors say, "Oh, it's just a sprain; just walk it off." My podiatrist was a lot better than that (of course, it's sad to think that my family has had enough ankle sprains that we have a favorite podiatrist).
Also, definitely wear a brace. If I had been wearing my brace that fateful day, I wouldn't have thrashed my ankle.
Posts: 9945 | Registered: Sep 2002
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quote: I'm guessing weight training wouldn't help it (if it's possible to lift weights with the ankle), but what would?
Actually, lifting a weight strapped to my ankle was recommended as an ankle strengthening exercise the last time I did a number on my ankle. They sell weights that velcro to the ankle, but I used to drape a heavy beanbag-type thingy over my ankle instead.
I was also told to do certain exercises -- I still flex and point my feet for a few minutes every so often. I do that both sitting down, with my feet in the air; and standing, rising onto my toes and then down and rocking back on my heels. When I'm bored standing in line, I stand on one foot and flex and point the other.
Of course, there's one recommendation for strengthening ankles that should be perfect for you, Lalo. Take up ballet.
*Is smugly glad he is double-jointed in his ankles*
Did I ever tell you guys the time I rolled my ankle almost 90 degrees inwards during a cross-country race, and finished the 2 miles without a hitch (other than the fact that I'm hella-slow)?
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Another exercise you can do for your ankle (that I did at physical therapy, along with the flexing and stanging on it with my eyes closed) is to raise and lower yourself on the edge of a stair with that foot (do it where there is a hand rail though, so you don't go all wobbly). You can use stretchy bands (kind of like giant rubber bands) to help provide resistance when flexing your foot (to help strengthen it). Riding a bike is also good exercise for your ankle.
I don't think they ever massaged my ankle while I was at physical therapy. They did do some interesting electro-shocky type things though (running a current through there apparently helps decrease inflammation and promote healing)!
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Though I have incredibly whimpy ankles I've never had a sprain. I guess that explains why I've managed to avoid developing a fear of large, hairy Mediteranean men.
Despite my lack of experience in these womanly matters , I hope these links help.
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![[Dont Know]](graemlins/dontknow.gif)
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Take up ballet.![[Wink]](wink.gif)
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matters , I hope these links help.
