Severe pain 6 months after sprain
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Hi All,
Just wondering if anyone may have experience similar and whether there was any recommendations/advice that could be offered please?
I sprained my ankle before Christmas by rolling it off a kerb on a dog walk. I heard a snapping at the time and had severe pain my husband was several steps in front at the time and commented on the noise. He helped me hobble home, it wasn't far.
I immediately elevated, iced and rested. After it was still incredibly painful and swollen I went to a&e for an x-ray about 5 days later. They said it was fine, just a bad sprain. There didn't appear to be too much bruising.
For about 6 weeks I avoided any impact activity, continued ice, elevation etc, then slowly returned to some light running based on the a&e advice.
After a few months I was still experiencing a lot of pain so stopped running again.
I went to see a specialist chiropractor who said my ankle was completely jammed up and used ultrasound therapy and an 'activator' tool to pop bones back in to place.
I went for several of these sessions, perhaps 7 or 8 over the same about of weeks but no improvement. I then went to my GP physio who questioned the chiropractor treatment, and said I needed to do strengthening activities as have barely any stability in my ankle.
6 weeks later and I am still in so much pain, particularly on at the bottom of the bony part on the inside of my right ankle. It is so sore to touch. It causes me to limp a lot as it hurts too much to put weight on. There is also still a fair bit of swelling.
The GP physio has now put me on anti inflammatories, advised to continue strengthening exercises, ice, elevation and have also referred me for an ultrasound scan.
I'm so upset by the treatment that could have been completely wrong for me, but also can't believe how sore it is and how much worse it is getting. I tore ligaments in both ankles about 20 years ago falling down some stairs, so I definitely have weakness there but this pain is so frustrating.
Has anyone else had a similar experience with a sprain? Could it be ligament tear??
Thank you.
1 like, 3 replies
barbara66703 jen65554
Edited
x-ray plz ... see a specialist. some sprains a more serious than a break. i'm thinkin if you heard a noise you probably tore a ligament. it's a awful sound creek crack.. anti inflam meds ,rest, ice and keep your foot up. i did the same tore the ligament in one foot and broke a bone in the other, just stepped down one lousy step . i was given a boot for the break and pain meds. the ligament ankle was worse was in a wrap type cast. i did rice seems ok now but the ligament ankle is week and doesn't quite bend like it should especially going up or down steps. i injured it a few years ago too so ligaments take forever to heal .
sending healing vibes your way.
jen65554 barbara66703
Edited
Thanks for your reply Barbara. I'm so sorry to hear you've suffered very similar. I remember years ago I was told it would have been better breaking my ankles than tearing the ligaments! It took a long time to get back to rights.
I just can't understand how it isn't torn based on the severe pain in one area plus then general aching / soreness all around.
Do you think x-rays would show any bone damage so far down the line? I'm intrigued to know what the ultrasound will show when I eventually get one.
Both the chiropractor and physio said any bone damage would have healed by now if it was that but not picked up on the initial xray.
I guess I will have to keep doing what I'm doing with ice, etc and wait to see what the scan shows.
barbara66703 jen65554
Edited
soft tissue damage doesn't show on xray ... sometimes not always on MRI . I have same issue. I found walking in sand after cast for torn ligament was removed does slowly help strengthen and return rage of motion. It took over a year to heal.
it's a long process unfortunately. one day at a time.