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Normal to experience this amount of pain with ankle sprain?

Posted , 4 users are following.

debbie00376
debbie00376

hi, I badly went over on my ankle in high heels 7 days ago. I felt a tear and intense heat in my foot/ ankle. Did the usual ice, elevated, tubi grip. Went to hospital had x Ray which said it wasn't broke but radiographer said "irregularity with cuboid bone" which then the doctor said was normal. My foot right down to my toes is black and blue with bruising and swollen to bout twice the size. Can put a bit of weight on it and have been icing/compression, trying to rest etc. but in the morning and sometime late at night after sitting or being in bed when I come to stand the pain is terrible (iv had children and it's similar to labour) I can't weight bear for bout half hour after this. It is worse now than it was the morning after I did it, is this normal healing process? Thanks

0 likes, 15 replies

15 Replies

  • pam42544
    pam42544 debbie00376

    Posted

    Hi Debbie, my sister had the same accident on heals a few years back. The hospital she went to actually gave her a boot and crutches as she couldn't weight bear and hardly walk. This supported her ankle while it was healing. I never realised how painful a sprain could be. She had the boot for around 7 weeks.

    Hope this helps.

    • debbie00376
      debbie00376 pam42544

      Posted

      Hi, thanks, yes they gave me crutches, but I'm just in an tubi grip. 
  • susan69134
    susan69134 debbie00376

    Posted

    Did you have your foot x-rayed as well as the ankle? I went over on my ankle, had it x-rayed which showed a small fracture, the next day in clinic consultant sent me for an x-ray of my foot, I had a far worse break of the 5th metatarsal which needed a screw putting in it, and had been missed in A&E.
    • debbie00376
      debbie00376 susan69134

      Posted

      I'm not over confident with how I was dealt with at A & E to be honest. They x rayed ankle and foot. I think I'll go back tomorrow. It's the pain getting worse when iv been in bed that's worrying me and the swelling not going down. Thanks 
    • susan69134
      susan69134

      Posted

      That happened to me too, had a break straight through the ankle joint, went back the next day and found I'd fractured the 5th metatarsal which needed a screw putting in. Five and a half months later, the ankle is healing but the foot hasn't, been walking round full weight bearing for the last six weeks in the hope that that will encourage bone growth, very painfull and so far not successful.
    • debbie00376
      debbie00376 susan69134

      Posted

      Oh dear that sounds awful. Seems a&e quiet often miss things! Most of my pain had gone by time they told me it was broken, i really found my private physio helped. Very expensive over the last 2 months but im sure it speeded healing of soft tissue and helped the swelling. Good luck Susan hope your feeling better on it soon x
    • susan69134
      susan69134 debbie00376

      Posted

      Thankfully I've been getting great NHS physio, they gave me the exercises to do and I've been working hard on them. Movement is fine, if a little painfull, it's when I put weight on it that it really hurts.

      As for A&E missing the fracture, it's not that common to fracture your ankle and the 5th metatarsal at the same time, so once they confirm a fracture in the ankle, they don't normally persue any other avenues unless it's obvious that there's another injury. After all it's not really their area of expertise, that's why you see a consultant in fracture clinic and you only get a temporary cast in A&E.

  • peter73075
    peter73075 debbie00376

    Posted

    Hello Debbie,

    I would advise you to see a orthopedic specialist and also get an MRI done, just to make sure that you don't have any major torn ligaments.  I recently rolled my ankle and they did an xray which was negative, but then ordered an MRI which showed a completely ruptured ATFL ligament.  I was immediatly placed on crutches and a boot for about 16 days and just recently got out of the boot and only using 1 crutch.  I also started my first PT yesterday and I'm almost walking without aid.  If you did tear something, it will need to get a lot of elavation and rest before you can start getting back on it.  Again, see a ortho Doc if you can and recover it the right way.  Good luck and hope it gets better.

    • debbie00376
      debbie00376 peter73075

      Posted

      Hi Peter, I did end up having a MRI and discovered that I'd fractured my talus! I also had severe focal bone bruising on the cuboid. Fortunately no significant tears to my ligaments. I got put in ski boot, but as I was 6 was on from initial injury I found it more of a hassle than a help. Just been advised to rest and elevate when possible, x-Rays I had last week show that luckily it's healed ok despite me walking on it! I'm having some pt sessions too as I was a runner and I now can't do any impact activities for 6 months. Good to be doing something though, and I'm swimming too. Hope your recovery is speedy Peter
    • peter73075
      peter73075 debbie00376

      Posted

      Great! Glad to hear that it has healed! Did the injury happen while you were running? I was walking on a golf course and stepped into a hole. My ankle totally flattened! Fluke injury. I'm 37 and had no bone issues prior. It's amazing how quickly you can mess it up. Hopefully, I don't have future issues. Thankfully, no major pain. Im following Dr orders.
    • debbie00376
      debbie00376 peter73075

      Posted

      No I went over on it whilst dancing in high heels! Really annoyed with myself!, Iv never broken anything before and I'm only 38 so hoping I will return to running with no major problems by christmas fingers crossed. Good that your sticking to your doctors advice, it's easy to push yourself bit too far when your a active person. You'll be back on the golf course soon I'm sure! 
    • peter73075
      peter73075 debbie00376

      Posted

      Wow! You must have been really moving lol. Yes. I'm pretty active. Was playing some of the best golf of my life. 290 yard drives and I hope that it doesn't affect my swing too bad when I get back out there. I'm probably going to wear a lace up brace. No dancing for me for now wink
    • debbie00376
      debbie00376 peter73075

      Posted

      Well I'm not giving up on heels just yet ha ha! I'm sure with the right physio and pt sessions keeping everything else strong we can both expect a good recovery. You'll get back to your best don't worry!
    • peter73075
      peter73075 debbie00376

      Posted

      Like the heels huh? Lol. You better be careful.

      Yes, I'm sure we will. My first PT was excellent. I just tonight started walking with no aid or pain. I just have the air brace on now.

    • debbie00376
      debbie00376 peter73075

      Posted

      Well I dont wear them too high as I'm quiet tall anyway lol. Great that your walking unaided and the pains subsided. I believe ligament rupture is worse than a break and I was in agony - I must be soft lol. Good luck with the pt,really helped me, I'm going to continue with them for a while, don't want any repeat injury
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