Inversion ankle sprains, or sprains that involve the ankle turning inwards, are a very common injury both with athletes and with sedentary people. This type of injury often needs physical therapy, and there is much published research and data in relation to why these injuries occur, how to rehabilitate sprains, and how to prevent repeat sprains.
One clinical observation pertaining to ankle sprainers is that many of these people tend to lack strength in the “hip abductors.” These muscles include the gluteus medius and minimus, and also to a lesser extent the gluteus maximus.
Could weak hip abductors actually make it more likely for someone to sprain his or her ankle?
Most likely the answer is yes. Patients with hip abductor weakness tend to hit the ground with their heel slightly closer to the midline of the body when walking.
To picture this, consider walking on a straight line drawn on the floor. This “tightrope” type of walking requires placing the foot at the midline of the body, leaving the same-sided hip comparatively speaking out to the side. This is a prime position for a sprain as the body’s center of gravity places stress on the ankle in such a way that encourages the ankle to roll inwards. Ouch.
Of course, we all don’t walk around on tightropes, but the physics still holds true for even minor deviations like the one just described. All rehab protocols for ankle sprains ought to include strengthening for the hip abductor muscles. Strong hip abduction helps to place the ankle in an ideal striking position with walking and running.
One idea for hip abduction strengthening is side-walking with elastic resistance around the lower legs. View the hip side-walking exercise video below.
Image credits: Top photo © Hasan Shaheed/Fotolia; 2nd © Maridav/Fotolia
I had an accident and got my ankle sprained. At the time I had an x-ray and they was not dislocation. Afterwards I massaged it and didn’t give any special treatment. It’s four years now and I still feel pain and discomfort in my ankle. Please advice me on what to do. Is there any chance of getting my ankle completely healed again
Michael you may have lost a bit of range of motion in the ankle from the sprain which may be effecting how you walk. I would see a physical therapist to have it evaluated. There is a lot of stretching and strengthening that you can do: Since I cannot see your ankle I cannot tell you exactly what the issue is.
Hi. I am wondering about my ankle. 20 years ago I sprained my left ankle badly. I have had a lump that feels squishy on the outside of the ankle ever since. Lately it has gotten mildly painful and feels bigger but it only aches when I am reclining . At this time my left knee( at the base on the outside ) has become excruciating to put weight on when I try to stand up or go down stairs but otherwise feels ok and it does not hurt to touch it. It also gives out when I move it wrong. I have an appt with an orthopedist for my knee in 2 weeks. I am wondering if this lump on my ankle could be related to knee pain and should I bring this up with the doctor when I see him. Also wondering why it feels squishy and aches only when I am not standing on it. Thank you.
Your knee pain could very easily be related to your ankle. Get your ortho to prescribe some physical therapy. Find a good, experienced PT who has manual therapy training. Ask around.
The bone on the outside of your shin (the fibula) will sometimes go slightly out of place with a severe sprain. The top of the fibula also goes up to the outer portion of the knee joint, which is where you are reporting pain.
I suffered a bad high ankle sprain 4 years ago. One year after my injury I started to develop hip bursitis pain which traveled to my lower back (same leg as ankle sprain). Now my lower back goes out and needs regular adjusting. In fact my PT showed me how to do it myself. On top of this, I now have knee pain. I only get relieve from all these areas by deep massaging all my glute muscles twice a day and extra work on gluteal trigger points with tennis ball/end of massage stick. I’ve had multiple cortisone injections in the hip, hip bursitis and piriformis muscle. Ive had over a year of PT and my leg isn’t any better. The pain in my hip, back, knee is chronic. The injured leg is also suffering from atrophy (quads/hamstring/glutes). I use TENS machine daily to relieve pain and work the injured leg (strength training). It is a daily struggle with no relief from pain and my leg is not getting stronger. In fact, muscles continue to weaken. Recently I started to massage my ankle and noticed it was very stiff and the ankle sprain pain came back almost as if I had sprained it again. I’m continuing to massage it to breakup scar tissue. I’ve been tested and have no nerve damage. Any suggestions on getting my ankle/leg better?
Mariana it might be possible that the bad ankle sprain has fed in to all of your problems. You may have lost range of motion in your ankle, and this will very often effect how well you contract your buttock muscles when you are walking. The result can be weakness up the chain into the hip.
I would find a really good PT and have him / her work extensively on regaining any lost motion in your ankle. Get the ankle moving better and then start to work on regaining strength in your buttock muscles.
Hi. I had an ankle stabilization surgery in 2010. Within the last year, it has been swelling up really big and is quite painful. Could I have re-injured it, is the surgery failing? How can I get the swelling down…Ice and creams aren’t working. Thanks!
I would have the doc check it out who did the surgery if he or she is still around. You could try a compression sleeve like the type you find at the drugstore in the mean time. Some people also have success with ace-wrap.
Hi I had a mild sprain a month ago and it is getting better but I might need more work on my ankles mobility… anyways but now I’ve been getting some lower back pain and it also seems that my legs (both)seem weak but very minimal…. is there anything I can do to fix?
I would see a physical therapist to get an assessment. The lower back pain might be effected by the lack of mobility in the ankle.
I fell down the stairs in February of this year and think I sprained my ankle pretty badly. I didn’t see a DR because I didn’t think it was broken. Now, 7 months later, the pain is gone but there is still a lot of swelling. Is it normal for the swelling to still be there? I had some minor bruising when the accident happened but nothing major. I am debating wether I need to have it checked out or if I need to resign myself to the fact that I will always have a fat ankle, or cankle now.
Ankle swelling can last for quite a long time for a moderate sprain. It wouldn’t hurt to have the ankle looked at by a PT. Sometimes the fibula bone gets stiff after a sprain, having it worked on may usher the swelling away.
I sprained my ankle on stairs four weeks ago. It didn’t hurt too much after and I found I could put weight on it, so after icing and resting for a day or two I was walking a bit on it.
The swelling never went down. I’ve been on crutches, elevating, icing and ibprofen-ing for a week. Still swollen! Still doesn’t hurt. But I do think that I might feel some tingling when I relax.
Went to see a nurse practitioner and we basically ruled out a fracture since I can walk on it fine without pain.
I’m wondering what I should be doing, of course to make the swelling go down and so I can start dancing again!
Thanks, this is an amazing service.
Sometimes in my opinion the ankle ligaments will actually slightly pull the fibular bone forward during the sprain motion. This can cause sustained swelling, sometimes for many months. Your swelling may very well just go down with time, but if it does not I would visit a PT. You can get some manual therapy to help make sure that the fibular bone is aligned well in addition to getting some exercises to strengthen things up.
Hi! Four years ago, I sprained my ankle while walking on a hill. I couldn’t even stand on it, and I had to get my family to help me walk back home. I didn’t realize until ater that night that it was extremely swollen, black, blue, and purple. I basically could hardly walk on it for a couple days. About a week and a bit later I went to the doctor and was told that I sprained my ankle. Then I got an ankle brace. (Mild support)
No improvement. So the doctor decided i should get an xray. nothing was wrong. Then a few moths later I got a high support ankle brace. I also started to go to physio therapy weekly. Which made my ankle 10 times worse, I could hardly walk. Then I was sent for an MRI. Nothing was wrong there either.
(I was not doing any sports, running, and hardly any walking since I rolled my ankle).
So about a year went by, and it started healing. Then 2 years after I rolled my ankle, it was perfect, except for a bit more stiff than my other ankle, but NO pain.
So my new problem, that started a couple months ago, is that whenever I go for a short, light walk, my ankle starts hurting really bad. sometimes I can hardly walk on it when I get home (only happened a few times). I Sometimes try to ice it when it hurts, but it often makes it worse. I do still wear the high support brace when I do light walking. But after walking, I sit and rest it, don’t move it at all, and it still aches in pan. It sometimes feels like a weird, crampy feel. I’m not doing ANY heavy activities, and I’ve tried some very light ankle stretches, and they just make it worse.
I’m really confused and don’t know what to do. I can’t do any walking without it hurting very badly.
If you could give me any advice, that’d be great! Thank you so very much for your time!!!
Grace this requires having someone look at it. Find a manually trained PT who has lots of experience (at least 10-15 years). It sounds like the ankle is weak and certain joints in the ankle are stiff.
Hey Dan, I had sprained my left ankle about 3 weeks ago playing basketball. I had jumped and I had landed wrong which caused my ankle to get sprained. I couldn’t walk on it properly because it was hurting, when I went to the hospital the doctor did x-rays and had ruled out that nothing was broken but I had sprained my ankle and that I had torn a ligament. During the first 2 weeks it was all blue and black on the left side of my ankle and I had used the RICE method. I had started walking with a cane but was limping and very difficult to do so because I had to go to school as well. I usually walk up and down the stairs one step at a time, and yesterday I decided to put my left foot up first and try taking a step, and when I did the right side of my ankle and the bank hurt so much and I think i had heard a little crack, it was painful and I had sat down and rested it. Today I had wrapped the brown bandage over my ankle because it is very difficult for me to walk on it even with a cane. The first time I had cracked my ankle about 7 years ago, and the second time i had just sprained it about 3 years ago but it wasn’t this bad. I’m worried that my ankle will never be the same again and was wondering what this could mean and will I be able to walk properly again?
That does sound like quite the sprain Rob. This may take a month or two to come back. I would say given that you have sprained before, you need to get one of those “lace-up” braces for the ankle. I used to sprain my ankles playing basketball (all the time). Once I started wearing the braces I never sprained them again. (If you check out the product link on our website, you should be able to find the ankle brace I am talking about.)
I would also get one or two visits of physical therapy to get some ideas in terms of what to do for exercises etc..
I sprained my ankle 2 years ago, I slipped on ice so u didn’t recover nicely because I didn’t use my crutches I just waited forever till I could walk again. Now my ankle is stiff as ever ,continues to get swollen because of work and is always off balance. Past month or so I have awkward range of motion in my hip on the side I sprained it, its near my rear but it feels stiff as well n has a pain that feels u need to be cracked is this a result of the Spain and not letting it heal?
I would see a PT Curlisa. It sounds like your butt is getting weak because of the ankle sprain. If the ankle gets stiff, it can make it difficult for the gluteal muscles to work the right way when walking.
I got right ankle sprained. I am using ankle foot orthoses with that I can walk without pain. When my swelling go away completely. I was wondering why in a month I am not completely healed. I got my ankle sprain in 27 october 2015. What would I do. I did 2 weeks rest then start my office. In the morning I get no swelling but evening it’s swell.
Farhan, this may take several months for the swelling to go down. It does depend on how severe the sprain was. I would do a little bit of exercise for the ankle if possible to strengthen the muscles up. You can get good exercise ideas from a physical therapist or doctor.
Physical therapist
2 weeks back I strained/sprained my ankle just walking down some stairs. Ankle feels back to normal but now the upper front area of my foot hurts when walking. Is this due to walking awkward for two weeks?
Most likely yes. Some of the ankle joints as well can stiffen up from the sprain. This can force the muscles that lift your foot to have to work harder to advance your foot when walking. If the pain doesn’t lessen over the next week I would ask the doc about it.
Hello doctor Baumstark,
Four years ago I sprained my right ankle from soccer. It swoll up to a size of a golf ball or maybe even more. The sprain also made my toes to swell as well. Right after the incident I quickly went to hospital to see what happened because I blacked out for the second I fell so I don’t know how I fell. In the xray there was no sign of tear of my ankle ligaments. So the doctor assumed it was just a grade 2 sprain. I was on crutches for only a week because the doctor didn’t specify how long I had to use it for. I thought I was fine to walk on it. However it did take more than months to fully recover. Afterwards I sprained it couple of more times during soccer and JUST walking. Therefore during winter break I went to get it checked up to see how my ankle was. Xray showed that my ankle is in a pretty bad shape. Two days after the check up I sprained it again JUST by walking. I was wondering if I keep spraining because of the weak ankle or because of the balancing issue? Also the most recent sprain did not swell a lot and I can walk on it with a little bit of pain. Once in a while though I have to limp on it because of the pain. Is it okay to walk on it? Lastly do you think it is okay to play soccer if not track this semester?
I would definitely get a brace for the ankle, the kind that laces up. If you check out the “products” section on our website, I believe that there is one there.
You should probably also see a physical therapist to get some ideas on how to strengthen the ankle muscles. That should help, but it does sound to me like your ankle is unstable. I would not play soccer on it until you have it checked out either by a doctor or a PT.
Thank you so much for the suggestion!!!
I had a severe sprain about three years ago. I was on crutches for 2 weeks and an aircast. Now when I look at my ankle I notice an indention on the top of my ankle right where it meets my foot. Also it seems like the bones on the inner foot and ankle stick out more than my other foot. I am also starting to have heel pain when I am on my feet for long periods of time. Should I go see a doctor about it? I have recently restarted my physical therapy exercises I did right after the injury.
I think that this warrants going to see an orthopedist who specializes in ankles. If the doc wants you to do some more structured PT, I would find a PT that is manually trained. You may have some chronic stiffness in a few of those joints in addition to lateral instability.
Hi,
I’m having pain in both my ankles.
I hurted my right one while skiing a couple of years ago. I fell and it went too much in plantarflexion. It heeled but I hurted it again while kicking a soccer ball. Since then it is always hurting on the front and on the back of my ankle. When I walk, I have the sensation that one of my bone (the talus I think) is slidding towards the front, hitting the bone in front and causing pain. I also have pain in the back of my ankle. Have you ever encountered something similar?
I hurted my left ankle while trying to figure what was wrong with my right ankle. I pulled my calcaneum back and it started hurting. Have you ever encountered something similar?
Both of my ankles seem to be hurting on the fron-back axis (and not really the sides). Do you have any recommandations? I have passed all tests (MRI, …) but nothing is found.
Cheers,
If the MRI’s are clear, it may not be a bad idea to work on some supervised stability training. Single leg balance training is a good way to build up the stability over time. It sounds like you have some instability in the ankle. There are likely a few ligaments that have been stretched out.
I would visit a PT and get some ideas in terms of how to strengthen beyond the balance training.
Hi Doctor. I’ve been unsuccessfully trying to post this at the “Two Long-Term Effects of Ankle Sprains”. My long-term effect is not listed and it seems to be something hard to identify.
I first got a sprained ankle on November 2013. No properly treatment lead to further injuries, even a ligament rupture. I finally seemed to fully recover (according to the MRI scanning) and I’ve been playing soccer since then (more than 1 year ago now) with almost no discomfort. However, one weird sensation remained, one that I had even when I wasn’t recovered. It happens not when I stretch the ankle, but when I do the opposite move (flexion). I.e.: When controlling an aerial ball with the chest, bending my body a little bit forward with my knees pointing forward and my ankles behind them (knees over my toes). The deeper I go, the more painful it gets, and it gives me the impression that I could get injured if I push it too far. I had developed an unconscious tendency not to do so.
According to what I’ve been told by the physios, it could be either some waste or the scar tissue from the injury which didn’t heal properly due to the fibres of the ligament getting tangled. I’ve been trying some massage on the ligament, but it doesn’t seem to work.
I would really appreciate if you could tell me what do you think the problem is and what can I do about it.
Thanks for your time.
It is a bit difficult to picture exactly what you are describing there Santiago, but I am going to guess that there is some residual scarring or slight inflammation in either your talk-crural joint or your subtalar joint. If an ankle sprain is significant enough, those joints will often become scarred up. Maybe you could try to gently stretch that range in a more controlled situation (not while playing soccer)? You might want to try to find a manually trained therapist and have them move your ankle around to see what is going on.
Thanks a lot for your answer, Doctor. I forgot to mention that it was the anterior talofibular ligament, but I think you are right. It looks like some residual scarring. What methods are usually used to deal with it? I think I should put some extra pressure on the massage. Maybe I was being too gentle and I actually need to take it to the level where I feel some pain to make it unstick. I also read about an “Active Release Technique” so I think I’m going to look for a physio specialized in that technique to treat me.
Thanks again for your help.
Hi Dr Dan,
My name is Rachel. I believe I left you a comment on another link or this link but it might have been deleted or something because I can’t find my post. Anyways just incase you don’t remember the story, 4 years ago I sprained my right ankle during soccer because someone stepped on my foot or kicked my ankle. (I don’t quite remember what happened exactly because I blacked out for a second) As soon as I fell I got pulled out of the game and I was told to take off my cleats and shin guards to check if anything was broken. My coach didn’t say I broke anything but he told me to go get it checked just in case. When I went to see the doctor, I got an xray taken where it said my ankle was totally fine but just have a grade 2 ankle sprain. Therefore I was on crutches for a week and I went to physio for a but more than a month. Then I got back to sports where I slightly sprained it few times afterwards. Every time I sprain it though, I did RICE it. (And this is how much I posted last time and asked what to do to make my ankle better. I think you recommend a brace?) But earlier this February I was at the carnival and dancing to the music where the ground was uneven and it was covered with fake grass carpet. So I didn’t see that it was really uneven. While I was dancing, I was walking to go play games at the carnival when I twisted my ankle and I fell on the ground. I tried to get up because I thought it was those light sprains. However, this sprain felt worse than four years ago when I sprained it during soccer. Therefore I was wheeled out to a first aid place. They helped me ice my ankle and the first aid practician said I had a tight tendon. Following night I went to go see a doctor to get it checked. Xray again said my bones were fine so I was prescribed pain killers that lasted five days. After five days though, it didn’t get any better even with the pain killers so I made an appointment with orthopedist. Just touching my ankle and testing it for a while, he said I tore my ATFL and CFL ligaments. He gave me an aircast for it and gave me another pain killers. However, the pain killer didn’t work well so after couple of days I went back to get stronger pain killers along with stomach reliever and he said I might needed a surgery. Also on that day I made an MRI appointment. Few days later, when I got an MRI done it said I partially tore my ATFL and CFL ligaments and something about a deltoid muscle. After three weeks of aircast, I wore braces for three weeks. I went to go see a physical therapist and she gave me an acupuncture on my ankle and it did get way better. I went three times, once a week, and my therapist told me that I don’t have to keep coming anymore as long as I dont feel any pain. I thought it was a bit odd that I only had to go for three weeks but after that I did exercises she told me to do for about two-three weeks. While I did the exercises, I had yoga classes for my school credit. There, I did one leg balancing exercises whenever we did balancing exercises. However after one leg balancing, it started to hurt again but the pain would be gone after a while. When the weather is bad, it would also hurt a bit for a while and then it gets better. And today for my pe class, I ran a little bit for ultimate frisbee and after class it hurted again and at night it swelled up a bit. I still feel like my right ankle is weaker than my left. So my question is: if I do need a surgery, when do you think I need to get it? I heard it is not a good idea to have an ankle surgery when I’m only 18. Also is there anything I can do now to make it better?
Warm regards,
Rachel
I think that surgery should always be the last resort Rachel. I would spend some time with focused strengthening of the ankle, probably under the supervision of a PT. You should probably be doing elastic band exercises, “toe tapping” exercises, and hip strengthening in addition to eventually doing standing balance exercises. (Fee free to check out the ankle exercises that I mentioned on the website, they are under the media tab, password is “patient”, Get permission from your doc or PT to do them though!!!) If you can get the strength in the effected ankle to where it feels good and you are still constantly spraining the ankle, that would be the time to talk to a surgeon.
As I mentioned before, I think that wearing one of those “lace up” ankle braces is a life-saver for many people like you who play sports etc.. I used to sprain my ankle very often in high school, and I didn’t get control of it until my strength was ideal AND I wore my lace up brace every time while playing basketball.
Thank you for your fast and kind response!! I have done band exercises though? But I will try exercises on your website just in case it is different from what I have been doing.
I would really like to get the lace ankle brace if I can find one in Hong Kong. Also is it normal to find my hips tight after I sprained my ankle?
Thanks again.
It is not uncommon to have hip tightness as a compensation for a sprain. You can find the link to the ankle brace on our website (physiodc.com), under the “products” link, scroll down to the “tarsal lock” ankle brace. That ought to be adequate.
Hi I have a grade two atfl sprain and was very swollen and sore this was 2 and a half months ago and then was having pain in the back of my ankle after the physio performed a whip test and I had an anti inflammatory injection which made it feel a lot better but now some time it’s still very sore on the the inside and outside but I can walk fine and drive fine and can jog for about 5 minutes then gets uncomfortable and can also do lower body gym and feels fine what do you recommend to get it back to 100% ? Thanks Joe
Probably time will decrease the inflammation. I would not jog past the threshold of pain in the mean time. Hopefully you are doing some of the stabilization exercises (rubber bands, balancing on one leg, etc)? Make sure that you also have adequate dorsiflexion of your ankle. A lack of dorsiflexion will cause your running mechanics to be a bit less than ideal. Your PT should be able to quickly assess that by looking at your feet.
Hi there, my name is Jeannie and I’m 41. Six weeks ago I had a bad fall and inverted my ankle. The pain hit me like a lightning strike instantly. I tried putting my foot down but I felt clicking in my ankle and the pain was too bad. Went to hospital and the X-ray said no break. Saw my physio and he said ive torn my AFL completely due to the amount of movement on a tilt test.
Anyway, been in a brace since getting off the crutches. (Crutches for three weeks). I’ve been doing my rom exercises and have some work with bands now.
However, the pain I have now is getting worse. It’s usually when I bear weght I’m getting this pain in a certain point about 90% of the time. That same pain has always been there but only occasionally. At times it’s so bad I have to stop walking. It almost feels like it’s not in the right position or something.
Why am I getting increasing pain? Surely it should be going away, not getting worse.
I’m wondering, is it because the swelling is slowly going down that it could lead to more pain?
Please let me know what you think?
Many thanks
Jeannie
That sounds like a severe sprain. Sometimes those will be associated with a “bone bruise”, which takes many months to go away. I would maybe see if wearing a soft brace around the ankle helps with that pain for the short term. I would walk slowly, and try to walk with as normal a walking pattern as possible. I would also make sure tat the PT is doing some manual therapy to the ankle in addition to stabilization exercises.
Thanks so much for replying. I’m now 7 weeks post sprain. My PT took me out of the brace 5 days ago and my pain comes and goes. However, since coming out the brace I have suffered very bad swelling around my ankle again. My PT recommended to put the brace back on for compression and ice and elevate it and take ibuprofen for a few days. I did that but today even my toes are swelling up, especially my toe next to my big toe and feels very uncomfortable. Any idea why I’m now getting this swelling?
I would see a physical therapist. It sounds like one of the ankle bones is stiff as a result of the sprains. If it is moved around a bit by the therapist it might help a lot.
Hi dan, I am now on my 4 weeks since I dislocated my ankle. My doctor said its just severe sprained. And yesterday morning I almost fell, I accidentally bend my ankle. And till now there’s a bit pain. I’m in my boot when it happened. What should I do?
My guess is that this is either posterior tibial tendonitis, or “tarsal tunnel” syndrome, or maybe a combination of both? It may be to your benefit to get the right pair of shoes on your feet, especially if your feet are naturally flat. I have at times tried taping a patient’s ankle and foot so that there is extra arch support. You might ask your PT if taping the foot would be useful. (I use “leukotape” with the patients here in Washington DC.)
Bone bruises stink. They take months to heal. I would guess from your info. that this will slowly improve with time. Cortisone injections to the ankle are not that common, but it is possible that this could help with any inflammation.
I would limit your walking to help with the healing as well. It is possible to over-work the ankle in this fashion.
Hi Dan –
I’m a 36 year old female, who loves to stay active, exercise and chase after my kids. I’ve kept in decent shape through running (never more than 3.2 miles) and using our Total Gym. This past winter, my good friend convinced me to play on a women’s 30+ soccer league. I played competitively my whole life and the last time I played was in 2006. Taking that into consideration, I was concerned, but promised my husband I wouldn’t over do it during the game, and go “all out”. When the first game came around, I played modestly, and had a great time! Before the game started, I noticed a slight ache in my right outer ankle above the heal bone. I took my cleats off, and stretched everything out, put my gear back on, and it felt fine. After the game, the ache was still there but not too bad. When I drove my friend home and got out of the car to say hello to her family, my ankle was in a ton of pain and I proceeded to limp. I was so annoyed because I did not twist it! The next morning, it was swollen under my ankle bone and above my heal. Not black and blue, just moderately swollen. I rested, iced, compressed, and elevated, and it slowly got better. A few days later, my outer right knee was aching, and it almost felt as if I strained my IT band (I’ve done that before but on my left leg). I rolled it out and it’s almost like it gets better then gets worse again. Now, my ankle is fine, but my outer right knee is holding me up. I’ve made the decision to not play soccer for the summer, but I cannot stand not being able to do any sort of exercising. It’s almost making me depressed. Do you have any insight into what could be going on? It’s like I have a limping injury!
Thanks for your input, I really appreciate it.
Susan
Background:
Torn left knee ACL and lateral meniscus (’96) – full and excellent recovery post surgery…no problems
Broken and 3rd degree sprain on right ankle (same on that was bothering me) in 2001 – I was in germany and healthcare wasn’t as great. Completed physical therapy when I returned home, and have had 0 problems until now. Peroneal tendonitis???
Sometimes bad sprains will swell like that for a long time. You might find that using a “compression stocking” might work better for times when you are not wearing the brace. Ask your PT about it and see what he or she says.
Looking for some help for my husband. About 7 years ago he fell and sprained his ankle. Dr gave him some type of shoe and he said that his ankle would be fine. But ever since he randomly gets severe ankle pain sometimes swollen sometimes just pain. His pain gets so bad to the point he can not walk. I really would like to find a way to help him.
Tell the doc what happened, you might need a more immobilizing boot. Be careful walking around in the mean time.
About 4 years ago I partially tore a ligament in the ankle it went undiagnosed for years about a year ago it was discovered that indeed it was a partially torn ligament which did not heal correctly. I did pt for two months felt no comfort. The pain is there all the time. I have not found anyone that can help ease the pain. Is this normal? I was told by the orthopedic that surgery was not an option. I have been in pain for years and have ran out of options what else can be done to help heal my ankle.
Hi Dan,
I’m 32 and I sprained my ankle 4 years ago dominating the bball court. I am still feeling pain. I went to the doctor. He took x-rays and said there was no break. Recommended physical therapy which I went for a month and continued band exercises and stretches. I went back to another doctor a year later and he basically said I should have continued pt. The pain has continued throughout mostly on the inside of my right ankle below the bone that sticks out a bit. I can run on some days and on others I can limp around to get to places. When I rotate my ankle there’s a lot of cracking going on as well. I need some advice. I am a teacher with a limited amount of income. Do I just live with a crappy ankle or is there something I can do, in budget, so I can get back to running? Thank you.
Hi so I sprained my ankle about 2 weeks ago it’s been a long time since the last time I did it. The swelling is gone and same with the discoloration but there is still pain in my heel and I can’t put too much pressure on it quite yet. I’ve iced and elevated and have a ankle brace. Is there anything I’m missing and is this usually normal?
Hi, about 2 weeks ago I was about to walk down the stairs and as I put my foot on the first step my ankle went, it made a crunching sound, it swelled a lot and it was hard to put weight on it, after a few days the pain went and I could walk normally, but the swelling only went down a bit, I still have a bit of swelling now and if I’m on it a fair bit my ankle aches a lot, is there anything I need to do?
Thanks
First, thanks for answering people’s questions.
I mildly sprained/ strained my inner ankle in early Feb, six months ago. Never rolled or twisted it, just felt funny at the end of my run on a slushy snow day. A week later i had to walk a lot and the funny feeling turned into pain and a limp.
It wasn’t getting better with RICE so I ended up in a boot, with crutches and PT. I started walking after a little bit and then three times ended up back on crutches due to a recurring pain and resulting limp. This last time (2 month stint) i can’t seem to get better. Before i had some tendon pain above the ankle which healed up. Now I still have mild swelling and my foot hates not being elevated, gets irritated, feels hot inside and angry. It also send a mild but sharp pain next to the ankle bone, nearest my heel, when i try to stand or walk on it without crutches.
The Dr. Think it’s from nerve damage even though the EMG shows nothing. I just started gabapentin but that doesn’t treat swelling and IbProfen doesn’t seem to help, trying Aleve now but that doesn’t seem to help either.
I try to elevate as much as i can and rest after work. I have basically killed my social life to calm my foot down after work each day. Any other thoughts on getting the inflamation to go away? I do ice every night as mornings are usually ok. Sometimes ice at work if it’s really bad in the afternoon. Thankfully I do a lot of work at my desk. When it’s feeling calm i do stretchy band exercises, but via my PT, only if it’s not adding pain. My PT doesn’t know what to think anymore so we’re being cautious.
Also if you have a different idea than nerve issues, id be glad to discuss with my Dr. The MRI, on close (second opinion) did show a bone chip but it’s in a different location in my foot (more on top) then the pain areas i have.
Thoughts, any experience with a similar odd case?
Thanks.
There is a possibility of a fracture, particularly if you cannot put weight through it. I would see a doc to get an x-ray.
Did the PT actually put his or her hands on your ankle? It sounds to me like the ankle might need to be “mobilized”. Very often there are a few joints that become very stiff after ligament sprains. This can cause a whole lot of pain with walking. Find either an osteopath or a PT who does lots of manual work.
Oh, I just wanted to mention, our first game was 6/5 – not in the winter. These aches and pains have been persisting for the last 2-3 weeks, with knee being the most bothersome and recent…
Hi Dan, i’m now over 15 weeks post sprain. It has definitely improved, swelling is going down but I still have pain. It’s the same pain I referred to above and its at the middle front of my ankle. It’s not as bad as it was, and is there probably around 40% of the time I walk. It’s not excruciating, but enough to bother me and make me stop at times. My PT says I may have bruised the bone which may be causing the ongoing pain, or there’s just some inflammation inside which hasn’t settled, and has spoken to me about cortisone injections. I’m not too sure about starting to get injections. What would you recommend?
helo im zari from philippines.. im 25 yrs old now.. when i was young i frequently have a sprain (i think bcoz of less calcuim on my bones) ive already experienced more than 5times sprain on my ankle part.. and the result is swollen joint ankle .. after my pregnacy ive experienced painful feeling in my fibula and ankle joint ..it become more swollen as i expected.. is there anything you can share about my experienced?
There are three (3) principle lateral ligaments in the ankle, it may be that you have sprained the anterior one on one occasion and the more lateral ligament on another occasion.
I would get back on the balance board or BOSU to work on balance training once all of this has calmed down. It may be a good idea to get an x-ray just to make sure that there is not an avulsion fragment like you described. I don’t think that an MRI is in order unless the doc insists.
I am similar condition ?
Have been suffering from 6 years now!
If I had to guess, I would say peroneal tendonitis. This is a muscle / tendon that snakes down the lateral side of your shin and around the back of the ankle. I would have it assessed by a PT. I bet that your ankle doesn’t move entirely well enough because of your old ankle sprain and fracture. That can place a huge stress on certain tendons with high-impact movements.
hi my name is Olivia and I’m 15 years old. in January of 2016 I took a massive spill on the basketball court. I got wheeled off the court because I heard a popping sound and couldn’t put pressure on my ankle. i went to the er and they said nothing was wrong, but they noticed I fracture my ankle awhile ago. they gave my an air cast and crutches for 2 weeks and I worked on stretching with my schools athletic trainer. I finally was “normal” about 2 months later. since then I’ve repeatedly rolled my ankle and it’s always swollen. it has never looked normal since the day I sprained it. my trainer said that that is normal, but she got a little concerned when I couldn’t do the new stretches she gave me because my ankle won’t move the way it needs to. she sent me to my doctor and the doctor told me this is normal. I understand doctors know what they’re talking about, but I think there is something seriously wrong and no one is taking this seriously. everything is a burden to do because walking makes it inflame and my ankle will give away at random times. it seems like it’s very unstable all the time and I cannot balance on it. I was wondering if you’d have any information on this?
Probably a sprain. You could see your doc and have him or her check it out to make sure that there is not a fracture. Sometimes sprains can be swollen for many weeks or sometimes months after the fact. Ice, elevation, and compression (with an ace-wrap or something like that) often assist with the recovery.
With more moderate sprains some PT can help to get the strength and stability back. Gentle exercises with resistive bands often help with that.
I would schedule an evaluation with a very experienced PT who specializes in “manual therapy”. I think that this might have to do with stiffness in certain joints of your ankle that are a result of the sprain.
I am a bit biased here, but it sounds like your husband should get a physical therapy consult. I am guessing that there are some joints in his ankle that are chronically stiff from the original injury. This may be affecting how he walks.
Need help figuring out what msy be going on with my ankle. About 16 years i injured my right ankle pretty bad, i went to step out of a friends house onto a half moon shape step and missed the step and landed on my ankle and felt a pop. My foot had turned inwards when i did the misstep. I got up and was able to make it to my vehicle while barely able yo put weight on it. When i would push on accelerator i had severe pain. When i got home i noticed the outside of my ankle had swollen to size of an apple. I never had it checked, thought was just a sprain.
Now few days ago i am at work and walking down one of our halls and feel little tiny pop on inner ankle and instantly could hardly put weight on it. I got to a chair and was able to stretch my ankle and after a few minutes started to feel better. About an hour later it did the same thing. The next day i am at work and the top of my foot, front of ankle hurts and the inner part also and it had me limping. I have also noticed the last few years that the outer part of my right ankle is swollen like it may have fluid in it. I am on my feet everyday at work for 8 i assisted living. I am concerned i may have an injury i am not aware of or ankle may just be weak. Any suggestions or ideas to what could be going on or what i should do? Thanks so much
A few recommendations Olivia….
1. Find a good, manually based PT who can work on restoring joint motion in the ankle, you also need to be doing a strengthening program
2. EVERY TIME that you play basketball from here on out you need to either have the athletic trainer tape your ankle, or you need to get one of those ankle stabilization braces. I have found that the “lace up” ones tend to work well.
After a ankle injury my Dr put me in a walking boot subsequently I wanted up wearing it 4 months prior to surgery and then after surgery I wind up wearing it for another four or five months anyhow now I am excruciating in pain in the hip of that same leg. My podiatrist had told me that perhaps it was my leg bone jammed into my hip bone from wearing the boot for so long could have caused some hip problems can you give me your opinion on this and what would it be my ankle still bothers me but my hip hurts worse thank you so much God bless you goodbye
I would definitely see a PT to get an evaluation. My guess is that the severe sprain that you did 16 years ago stiffened up some of the ankle joints and is messing with your walking mechanics.
Hi, i’m 23 years old, i am actually overweight. back in 2010, i accidentally fell fron the stairs and twisted my ankle. back then i didnt have my foot checked because i was so sure during that time that it was just a sprain and all i have to do is to avoid putting pressure on my foot and have it rest. It healed after a few days. I never felt any pain nor did i ever experienced other accidents after that. But this year, 6 years after that incident, i felt extreme pain on my left foot (it felt like i was stepping on needles and i couldnt even walk or even apply pressure on my left foot) i dont exactly know where the pain is coming from. i originally thought the pain was from the arch and the heel part because whenever i stand up it feels painful on that area, but when i massaged my foot i realized that the most painful part is on the top part of my foot,(im not sure if it is called talus). It will also go away after a few days. but what really bothers me is that it is the third time this year. I really dont know what to.. I cant sleep because my left foot felt hotter and is throbbing in pain even if I am just lying down. i also read that foot pain can sometime be caused by obesity or overweight and i do understand that, however what bothers me is that i didnt do anything strenuous nor had any accident and i only experience pain from the foot that i sprained before. I am worried and scared, does it mean that i have to go surgery?
Go and see a PT. I would bet a dollar that your pelvis and hip are a bit out of alignment. Walking around with a boot for that long can easily cause some asymmetry.
Hi, Dan!
I played roller derby for a year and suffered six (minor!) sprains throughout that time. Right ankle (3), right knee (1), left ankle (2). Some were my fault for reasons such as getting back on the track too early. In the case of the knee, it’s because I braced my ankle hard, and then my knee got twisted when my skates tangled with another player’s and we fell. Others were not due to my own stupidity, but I just don’t understand why I sprain so easily. I am a huge workout junkie and have rock-solid ankles. I am a ballroom and aerial dancer, I’ve been a runner for over a decade, and spent 6 years on active duty. All without the tiniest sprain. I also stick as much as I can to an anti-inflammatory diet and, while my stretching regimen could be improved, it’s definitely there.
What’s troubling me now is that my left ankle is still giving me trouble (still slight pain, 3 months later), and those sprains were both very minor. Additionally, I did much better rehab than I had with the right ankle. RICE, epsom salt, balance disk, etc. I rolled my ankle doing silks over the weekend (again, completely minor). It does not hurt at all, but that’s what caused me to remember something that confused me from the two left ankle sprains. When it was sprained, it always hurt right in front of the ankle bone. But the swelling, including from this recent minor roll, is about an inch in front of that. What’s going on? Is that a piece of bone fragment? Or are my nerve endings deceiving me, and that’s actually where the sprain is? In general, should I have an MRI?
And yes, if I do return to derby, I will always have lace-up braces on. I actually have the Swede-O pictured in this article. Other than cutting off circulation to my forefoot, as all braces that provide any support do, it’s great.
thank you… i’ll probably go and gave this foot checked… cause again my foot started to ache after i spent 3hours at the mall last sunday.. anyways, thank you for the help:)
This might be tendonitis. I think that a visit to the orthopedist would be a good idea. There are things that can be done to get rid of that inflammation, but there needs to be a proper diagnosis and evaluation of the ankle.
Hi I have sprained my right ankle 3x over the last 25+ years. I have bursitis in my hips which flares when I do too much. Lately at work my ankle is really bothering me, I wear my ankle support when it gets like this but it caused my leg to swell. I am 44 years old, weigh 178 & really want to get back into exercising but I’m in pain? I always worry about my ankle? Any ideas, exercises, help would be appreciated!! Thank you, michelle
With something this chronic, I would get a PT consult. There very well might be some underlying issues in terms of ankle mobility that might be effecting you up the legs and into the hips.
I am a 45 year old female, former soccer player. I sprained my ankle several times in high school. I recently had an MRI due to ankle pain and we discovered that I tore my Anterior Talofibular ligament so many years ago (25 years ago is the last time I sprained my ankle) that the ligament is completely gone. At this point, is surgery necessary, seeing as I’ve lived without this ligament for 25 years? I have played soccer, tennis, football for years since high school and seemed to function well until now. I have an appointment with a podiatrist in December but was curious what you think.
If you are not actively spraining the ankle, I don’t think that the surgery is absolutely necessary. The ATFL is there to keep the ankle from spraining into “inversion”, if you aren’t going into that range by accidentally spraining, that is great. I would maybe use a stabilization brace with higher level activities such as hiking and sports.
I am 24 year old female. I have sprained my left ankle 5times in the the ten years.twoof the rimes were falling down stairs and those were the worse. My last time was the end of march the day before easter. I found out it was a grade two sprain. I went through physical therapy but actually got kicked out because i was not progressing after 4 appointment. I continues with stretches and excersises. It is almost december and I still have pain. My ankle is wobbly. Walks are a no no unless i want more pain or to re injure my ankle. Braces hurt and itritated my ankle more or make if really stiff. I have tried several different ones. I even gor shoes fitted. I am at a loss on what to do. Is it worth going back to the doctors?
Yes it is definitely worth following up with the doc. I find it strange that they discharged you from PT after only 4 visits. Maybe find another PT office and see what they can do. You might have some luck with a softer type brace for some stability when walking. I would steer away from the hard plastic kind or other hard braces (like air casts).
I fell in October and got my foot/ankle looked at 2 days after the fall. I was diagnosed with a high ankle sprain in my right foot. I was put in a soft cast and walking boot. I have been getting it checked every 2 weeks and it has only gotten worse. I am scheduled for a MRI on Tuesday. I also am using a different doctor due to not caring for how the orginial doctor did not actively try to help fix my ankle. I am now out of the soft cast but still in the boot and I have a huge bruise across my foot and ankle from the cast being too tight I guess. I am in more pain now then when I was in the walking boot and cast together. Is there a good chance something is torn? Also what else can I do other than ice, elevation, and compression for this pain and swelling and bruise.
Those types of sprains are the worst! They can take a long time to heal (many months), so don’t be too discouraged about the time frame. It is possible that the ligament tore, but that usually does not require surgery. I would guess that you could start with very basic ankle and foot exercises (towel grabs, circles etc.), but I would get the okay from the doc to start doing so.
Hi,
I sprained my ankle playing soccer in April and missed most of the summer season. I got back playing at the end of the summer and am now playing indoors at a fairly competitive level. I have been wearing an ankle brace that has laces and velcro straps that wrap around the brace since I have returned playing. I am just wondering when it would be safe to stop using the brace? I think now I wear it more for peace of mind as I don’t have any pain in the ankle any more but should I continue wearing it to prevent injury again?
Thanks!
Chris
The ligaments that were stretched out will not go back into their original shape. You are always going to have a very slight lag in reaction time in your ankle because of that. Most people who do solid rehab will get back very close to their original performance, but in my opinion you will always be at higher risk of re-spraining. Why take the risk? If the brace is tolerable, wear it. I for one continued to sprain my ankles playing basketball despite rehabbing until I had braces like the one you described.
I hurt my ankle 2 years ago and went to the doctors which told me it was a bad grace 2 sprain but because I had already started to walk again on it they didn’t give me crutches. I have been a dancer for since I was 4 (now 14) and I took just over a week off dance to rest my ankle then slowly worked it back in. I then re-strengthened my ankle with exercises from my doctor. Up until now my ankle hasn’t bothered me enough day to day for me to go back to the doctors.
Recently I have started dancing ‘en pointe’ and with this came back my ankle issues. It is stable most of the time but occasionally just slips from underneath me.
What should I do about my situation? Should I visit a Physiotherapist, my Doctor, a Chiropractor? Any advice will be gratefully received
-Emily
I would say that PT would be a good idea.
Hi Dan
I’m 49 years old an ex athlete and soccer player,I have had both cartilages removed from my left knee,had another two tidying up operations,these were all done roughly decades ago,recently I’m having severe pain in my right ankle,I’m thinking maybe a result of slightly favouring my right leg over the years,I have kept myself very fit over the years,but now I’m struggling even to swim as my ankle swells,although not a massive swelling,do you think my quads need strengthening,our NHS in the uk isn’t the greatest anymore,I’ve been advised up to 9 months for an X-ray,the problem area is the soft tissue area on the outside of my right ankle
A visit to the orthopedist is a good idea. It sounds like tendonitis. I also think that an evaluation by a physio is a good idea. There could be weaknesses in several different areas that could be contributory.
I sprained my ankle about a year and a half ago, I got out of bed and tried to walk while my foot was asleep and first step my ankle twisted outwards. I went to the hospital and declined an X-ray because I was 7 months pregnant. A week later my doctor reassured me an X-ray would be fine considering how far along I was in my pregnancy but anyways the X-ray showed soft tissue swelling. It has bothered me here and there but for the past week walking on it is almost unbearable, stretching it hurts as well. I thought maybe the weather out here is causing the discomfort, it’s been cold and wet in my city. Could I have possibly tore a tendon or something?
This is probably just a bad ankle sprain. Elevation, and maybe a compressive neoprene brace might help to make walking more tolerable. That really stinks that this had to occur with you seven months pregnant. I would recommend seeing a physical therapist to get some ideas in terms of gentle exercises to begin with.
Hi back in march of 2016 I was walking down stairs and stepped on one of my child’s shoe and my ankle twisted inward anc fell all the way to floor after that I have been having pain on my buttock, pain on my waist and picking sensation throughout my abdomen headache, body pains I was wondering if a fall like this can cause so much pain it’s almost a year and still with pain.
I would find a really good PT and get an evaluation. Sometimes having a bad ankle sprain will have an effect on how you walk, which can in turn cause pain up the chain into the hip and lower back. There might of course be something additional going on, but I do think that it is in your best interest to have it evaluated by someone who does manual therapy.
Hi. I was in colorguard for a while, and during one of the marching band shows, I stepped into a hole and sprained my ankle. My mom, a nurse, had me ice/heat it and take and antiinflamitory for a few days. For the most part it was better so I finished up the season without a doctor seeing it. It’s been about five years and my ankle still give me issues. I don’t even have to walk on it wrong, pain just shoots down my foot and around my ankle. I end up with a limp, and it even caused me to slip down the stairs. It’s becoming a real problem but my mom won’t take me to a doctor and just tells me to take ibeauprophen. Is my ankle still sprained after five years?
It probably still isn’t sprained, but there are probably some issues in some of the ankle joints in regards to stiffness. I would beg the parents to send you to a good PT for an evaluation. You really only need one or two sessions to get a good idea of what to do on your own in terms of stretching and exercises.
Hi Dan,
Last year on a April 11, I was hit by a car and sprained both my ankles.
One ankle had pain for just that night while the swelling was there for about a couple months.
Now my range is very good with no pain whatsoever but one ankle has a lump, which can change size, gets bigger when I walk long distances or travel long distances, otherwise it’s there but hardly noticeable but you can still see it.
What can I do for this lump to totally dissolve?
Thank you
It depends on what the lump actually is. If it is scar tissue, it will probably soften over time, but I don’t think that it will entirely go away. The other possibility is that it is a pocket of swelling? Those can hang out for quite a while. The only way to be sure is to have it palpated by a PT or doc.
The past year I have rolled my right ankle both times and fell to the ground landing on my right knee causing very painful bursitis both times and the first time (August 2016) my sprained ankle didn’t feel normal and had pain for 2 whole months, this time it happened 8 days ago (3/14/17) and my ankle hurts pretty bad and my doctor wait is is lax (he said extremely loose to describe it to me). I am a healthy but overweight 30 year old and my ankle should be strong as I go up and down the stairs from my third floor apartment at least a dozen times a day for the past 2 months since I moved in. My doctor referred me to an orthopedic surgeon, I have no idea what to expect. I’m concerned it will roll and I will fall while going down my stairs and severely injure myself by falling down the stairs. What usually happens in my type of case?
Oh, and my ankles do exactly what the picture shows at the beginning of this article, my right one does not move nearly as far upwards as my left one.
You should probably undergo some formal physical therapy to strengthen the heck out of the ankle. That is your best best in terms of conservative management. The doc or PT may also recommend getting an ankle brace to stabilize it with higher level activities such as hiking, sports, etc.. In the mean time I would be very careful with stepping, especially in unfamiliar settings. If you are constantly spraining and have no luck with conservative management, I would consider surgery for stabilization purposes. Try the conservative approach!
Hi, I sprained my ankle 4 months ago landing incorrectly from jumping high. I wore a special shoe to help my ankle heal. I didnt keep it on for very long which was my mistake. I play a sport which made me quick to take it off. I still get some stiffness & pain if I do a lot. Even sometimes when I run. Today, I had some pain in the same area(right side of right foot) that I hurt. Should I do some excericises to help with the pain? Since it seems the ankle didn’t heal correctly. I even noticed the inner part of the ankle where the bone sticks out of your foot. My right foot’s bone looks bigger than the one on the left just a bit. Also, How long does it take to get your ankle back to normal if it didn’t heal the right way?
I would schedule a visit with a physical therapist who does manual therapy. It sounds to me like parts of your ankle are stiff from the original sprain and need to be worked on. There are certainly exercises that you can do to help with the overall stability and mobility (single leg balancing, theraband exercises, etc.), but I would get a pair of eyes on the problem.
I am 16 years old and I have spranged my right ankle at least 10 times ever since elementary school. The last time I spranged it it healed and then I hurt it again. I went to an urgent care and they looked at my ankle and took x rays. I found out that my ankle is deformed and that is what caused me to hurt my ankle so many times. They sent me to an orthopedic surgeon and he said that it was just something I was going to have to live with. After about two years I haven’t spranged my ankle into yesterday when all I did was walk on an uneven surface and my ankle gave out. I’m just tired of having to deal it when all I have to do to hurt it is walk wrong. I’m nervous I’m going to have so many problems with it in the future and bad arthritis
Also when I went to the orthopedic surgeon he said that if I hurt or I could t stand on one foot that he would have me get surgery. It didn’t hurt at the time as I saw him weeks after they told me I needed to see an orthopedic surgeon. I do notice that it hurts sometimes when I run or I do a lot of walking but the pain does go away
I would get a “lace up” stability brace for that ankle and wear it for a while whenever you are outside on uneven surfaces. It does also sound like you should at least do a visit of physical therapy in order to get a list of training exercises to work on strength and stability. I would try all of that prior to any surgery.
Hey, so earlier this year I sprained my ankle a couple of times and the last time I sprained my right foot was during the month of early December. I’ve been noticing recently since then that my balance whenever I stand I tend to lose my balance, could it be that because of the amount of times I sprained my ankle running or from skating that it could be considered as a possibility because of that?
When the ligaments get stretched out from a sprain, there is a permanent lag in reaction time at the ankle as a result. That is probably why your balance feels off. You can at least partially compensate for that with balance training, or wearing one of those lace up braces.
So I’m 24, I’ve sprained both ankles numerous times, often they’re mild sprains but once or twice they’ve been severe high ankle sprains that kept me out of sports for weeks. Recently I sprained my right ankle pretty bad rock climbing, I landed on it with my toe pointed down and it rolled over. I experienced a pop/snap sensation when it happened but figured that was normal. It swelled up and there was a lot of pain so I did the RICE technique for a few days and used crutches. But about 4-5 days later I could walk on it, with mild pain however but I thought that would be OK. Bruising then started to appear on the bottom inside of my foot and the bottom outside of my foot, both near the heel. It’s now 7 days later and the bruising is spreading gradually. Should I be concerned? I can walk and balance on one foot with mild pain, so it’s not broken right? Should I just see a doctor at this point?
The only way to be sure is an x-ray, but my money is on no fracture. Bruising can be like that: it drains over time. Given the number of times that you have sprained, you should probably be wearing some type of bracing with high level sports and activities. I would also see a doc about this. You probably need some structured rehab and long-term ideas in terms of stabilization training etc..
I have mildly sprained my left ankle many times. I have twisted my left ankle moderatly once (180° twist front to back), broken that ankle once, and severely turned it twice (inward rotation). The first time I turned it, it felt like my foot was falling offso the doctor put me in a cast and then a walking boot for 6 weeks followed by PT. Recently, about 10 weeks ago, I turned it again. I also was scheduled for metatarsal surgery 10 days later. So, I was again put in a walking boot, no weight bearing (I could not put any weight on it at all) and used a medical scooter. Now 10 weeks post injury and post-op, it is still very painful, very swollen, and still visibly bruised. I have been working on range of motion but due to pain, that is very limited as well. I am concerned and frustrated. It just doesnt feel right in the joint. It also used to pop all the time. Please help…
Also, when walking in the boot, I feel pain in the outside of my ankle and it feels like a ligament pops and then I can’t walk in it anymore. I cannot walk on it without the boot still.
Surgery does take quite a bit of time to recover from, especially foot or ankle surgery. Getting out of the boot should help, but I would stick to the protocol that the doc provides. A compression stocking might help as well, ask the PT about that.
I would also find a PT with a ton of experience in manual therapy to help you through this.
I have either done my CFL or ATFL (Doctors examination) and this occurred roughly 6 months ago, the ankle pain has receded but it feels weird to walk heel->toe like I do with my right foot. Like it as if my heel sticks out at the bottom and makes me put most of my weight on big toe. Anyway, my ankle and calf on my left leg have become considerably smaller (calf by about 35-45%) however the doctor took no notice? I am wondering what I should do as I can’t afford must else apart from my doctor :(
I would at least get one visit of physical therapy and let the therapist know that you would like a list of things to do. It sounds like your ankle is stiff and the extrinsic muscles are weak.
hi,
8 days ago I was hit in the ankle by a woman riding a skateboard. The thin wooden part of the board hit into the soft part of my outer ankle around the calcaneofibular, I think. The impact was painful but not extreme. The soft tissue swelled and was lightly bruised. I didn’t have any mobility reduction. It was slightly painful for a few days but nothing noteable. I happened to be at my GP doctor for another issue the following day and she told me to use a liniment but wasn’t worried as it hadn’t affected my ankle movement. Yesterday – a full week later I touched the place of impact and noticed it was still sore if I pressed it and it sermed to radiate pain onto the other-side of my foot and heel. I woke up this morning with a lot more pain on the opposide side of my ankle and also along the back of my foot (possibly in my achilles and also in the sole of my foot right in the center towards the ball of the foot). The pain grew steadily throughout the morning. I applied an icepack but the pain only continued to increase. By noon I could no longer place weight on my foot to stand or walk. The place of original impact is still a little swollen. My ankle is stiff and very painful now. It hurst to flex it or turn it, especially inwards.
Does any of this makes sense? It seems like an odd thing for the pain to really begin a full week following an injury.
I have rheumatoid arthritis in my wrists, hands and toes but have never before had a problem with my ankles.
I am a 38 y/o female. I am 14 weeks pregnant so cannot have an Xray.
Any suggestions would be appreciated.
Thank you
That is a bit strange. It does sound like you at the very least inflamed some of those lateral ligaments. The inflammation can subtly change the way that you walk, and that can in turn start to cause pain in other areas. I would maybe get a soft, neoprene brace around the ankle while walking to protect it for a week or so. It wouldn’t hurt to see an orthopedist if this does not improve.
Hi, on the 18th May 2017, I fall down and injured my ankle. After 5 weeks of casting it in cement casting, the doctor suggest me to have surgery due to my ligaments injuries and fibula hairline cracks. I refused to have the surgery and decided to have my ankle wrapped in Chinese traditional herb. After the cement cast was remove, I had not putting force on the injured ankle and I don’t feel any pain on it anymore despite different direction of twisting. However , there is still minor swelling visible on the end of my fibula. What should I do if I refuse to have operation?
PS: I am currently still have my ankle wrapped in the Chinese traditional herb.
The fracture should heal after about 6 weeks. If you have an x-ray that would confirm the healing. You could start some physical therapy to work on the fibular stiffness and swelling. It may also be a good idea to start training the ankle with exercises to compensate for the lack of stability from the ligaments.
My 11 year old sprained her ankle 5 week ago and still hurts most of the time. Should I put her in physical therapy?
Either PT, or an orthopedist. She might need an x-ray???
The day she sprained it she got an X-ray at an urgent care they said it should be better in 2 weeks and that it’s just a sprain and gave her a small sandal like boot without crutches or anything . She’s still complaining that it hurts meanwhile it’s been 5 weeks I don’t know what to do
If the x-ray is clear that is great. I would maybe schedule a PT visit at this point.
About 3 months ago I sprained my ankle playing a sport. Now it’s July and it’s still swollen but dosn’t hurt nearly as bad.(I have sprained it before in the past.) Also now I have started to have knee pain. It’s not all at once but at some times is so severe. I was just wondering if I should be worried?
I would see a PT about this. It wouldn’t surprise me if the knee thing is directly related to how the ankle is moving.
My left ankle is very stiff but not usually painful unless I am on my feet for many hours. Even though there is no pain, this ankle often gives out from under me with no warning. What do you think is going on and what kind of a doctor should I see about it?
I would see an orthopedist who specializes in ankles. My guess is that the lateral ligaments are a bit unstable from a sprain?
Thank you for your reply. I have sprained my ankles in the past and probably did not treat the sprains correctly. I guess a trip to an orthopedist is in order. I appreciate your help.
Hello,
I sprained my ankle badly 11 weeks ago and was told that it was a third degree sprain. I was recommended surgery since I completely tore one ligament and partially tore another. after being in a cast for a couple of weeks I took an MRI 6 weeks after and the ligaments are still torn. I wanted to get your advise on whether PT for a few weeks would build up my ankle strength to the point that I would not need the surgery to have an active lifestyle ( I am 20 and love hiking and running) or is it better in the long run if I have the procedure? (Broström operation). I have had conflicting opinions from different doctors. I still have difficulty in motion and walk with a slight limp after walking large distances.
Best,
Noor
For a grade 3 sprain, I would guess that it would take at least 4-6 months to recover from for someone your age. The question after that is whether or not there is enough stability in the ankle to allow dynamic activities. If the ankle feels super loose and you are not in control of the ankle movements, that might be an indication that the Brostrom procedure might be a good idea. I would definitely go through a structured rehab process first to see if the conservative route gives you enough stability. It is not like doing the conservative thing will make it worse.
I have a injured ankle and I’m just 16 years old. I don’t remember what happened but a few years ago I started to get really bad pain in my left ankle. It’s a sharp pain that only really hurts when I’m off of it but sometimes it will hurt when I walk on it. It does swell up a little bit but then goes away after time. It will only hurt for a few days then will go away for a month or few weeks then will come back. When I was younger I used to play soccer all the time. Just last year I went to the doctor’s and they said I have a stretch ligament but just said physical therapy would help. We didn’t do the physical therapy because we couldn’t afford it but now the pain gets worse and hurts more frequently. What should I do? I really want to start being more athletic but can’t because of the pain and afraid that I could make it worse.
The ankle probably has some stiffness in certain joints and isn’t moving correctly. I would make an appointment with a manually based PT and have your situation figured out. At the very least with a visit or two you could have the ankle mobilized and you could get a list of stabilization exercises that you could do.
Hello. About 4 weeks ago I fell down a few of my stairs and twisted my ankle. I never heard a popping noise but the pain that immediately followed I thought for sure I broke it. After a few minutes of just sitting there waiting for the pain to subside enough to look at it I realized since the pain died down I didn’t break it. I looked at my ankle and noticed that it was really red and I had bad bad bad carpet burn but it wasn’t swollen or bruised. After waiting a few more minutes I was able to get up and make it to my couch with ice. I couldn’t put any weight on it though because it hurt excruciatingly to do so. I held ice on it for a while and then treated the burn. After about 4 hours I was able to walk but applying weight was still unbearable so I limped like mad. I tried not to put it threw to much stress that day. It never at any point swelled. 2 days later I had to work so I was walking on it a lot but not without limping and barely any weight on it. After 1-2 weeks the carpet burn was completely healed and I was able to walk on it normally but it would still hurt. Just bearable enough that I didn’t need to limp so I tried to continue to walk normal so it wouldn’t lock up or anything. It has now been 4 weeks and although I can walk on it and it’s not swollen it still hurts to apply my weight on it. Nothing to intense pain wise(maybe a 4 out of 10) but it’s been 4 weeks and I’m starting to worry I might have done more damage to it than I thought. There were never any actual signs of bruises but when I touch my ankle it feels like it’s bruised. I don’t know if I just twisted it or sprained it or what I should do at this point. Do you think it’d be necessary to see a doctor? Or should I expect the pain to last a bit longer?
It sounds like a bad sprain, the only way to know for sure if it is fractured is to get an x-ray. It does sound like PT might be a good idea as well. I would see the doc.
Thank you very much for this article. It helps to explain a possible mechanism and some solutions for leg pain (shin pain that then quickly extends to outer knee and thigh/hip pain) that I began to experience during long distance running training, after spraining my ankle & some foot tendons/ligaments two years ago. I worked out that it seemed to start mainly in the extensor digitorum longus and rapidly worsen from there). The accident happened during training for a trail half-marathon. After several weeks’ initial rest the therapist suggested I could continue to train although at a lighter level. I thought that the pain was from either my muscles overworking to protect my still healing ligaments (or later, not properly healed ligaments) or I needed to work more on strength and stability. Your article helps to clarify this. Thanks again.
In 2003,it was determined after an x-ray, I had a severe left ankle sprain and was told it would have been better had I actually fractured it. I was out of work for more than 3 months. I also have arthritis in my right knee ( I am 64).
My left foot is now a full size bigger than my right and have a lot of trouble finding shoes for both issues. I have not had pain in my ankle until recently. I have a new part time job that requires standing and walking for hours and I could barely walk (knee) after about 3 hours. I found sneakers and I am now comfortable at work but when I remove the shoes, my ankle is swollen and hurts very badly, especially when I try to point my toes down. This lasts for a few days and then starts all over when I go back to work. Any suggestions?
Definitely see a PT about this. It sounds like the ankle bones need to be mobilized a bit, something down there isn’t moving correctly. I would also recommend a compression sock, but have your doc sign off on that.
I sprained my right ankle 2 months ago (June 13) stupidly picking up a napkin off the ground and didn’t see the curved asphalt. It ended up being a high ankle sprain as diagnosed by my physio. I have been doing ankle exercises and working on some agility ladder work. I tried starting back at running 3 weeks after the sprain – a walk run – 2 min running, 3 min walking x 30 min. after i did about 3 of these runs – i noticed that the opposite hip – my left side started getting sore to the point i couldn’t run. I went to a different physio as my regular physio was off for the summer. She told me that i tried running too early and needed to wait longer. She needled my right calf as it was extremely tight and gave me more exercises for stabilizing and strengthening. i continue to feel improvements in my ankle stability and strength – still not the same a before but better. it has now been 8 weeks and at my last physio appt, she told me i could start running but only 1 min running x 4 min walking – for 30 min – do that for a week – before increasing if there is no discomfort. So i was very excited today and went out to do that… unfortunately – my left hip is starting to bug me again. this is sooo frustrating… the physio had checked my calf just this week and it was not tight and things looked good. do i need to wait longer before i start running again. i only ended up doing a total of 6 min of running. Am i doing something that is changing my body mechanics that is resulting in the left hip pain when it is my right ankle that i sprained. Any help would be greatly appreciated!
A lack of mobility in the left ankle from the sprain could cause a compensation in the other leg with running. First and foremost, I would look at how much “dorsiflexion” each ankle has. If the left is restricted, I would have the PT work on that. Having the PT watch you running on a treadmill might also be very useful.
Thanks a ton Dan! I just did the kneeling test and I definitely have more limited dorsiflexion on my right ankle (the twisted one). I found some exercises to help increase the mobility. I really appreciate your help. It’s interesting that my physio never had me do this test nor pay much attention to how my dorsiflexion was. Great idea to have them watch me run.
Hello!
I sprained my ankel about 3 months ago due to stepping wrong at the gym I have iced it when I get home but the next day I would go right back to the gym and now im getting pain in the lower and upper part of my ankel ,what should I do?
I would see the doc or a PT about it Paige.
My daughter cannot move her ankle at all or her toes. She has not had any accident and has had this for a very long time. When she walks her feet swell and all the bones are very sore. She has no feeling in her calf i.e. Put a pin in and she cannot feel it. One doctor said she had misaligned toes. Also all nerve checks and MRI done came back normal. The local doctor says the x- ray is normal! Am at wits end because she cannot walk far without being laid up for the next day or so. Any ideas?
That sounds very strange. I would have a rheumatologist do some blood work to see if there are any abnormalities. I would also think that a consult with a neurologist would be a good idea, but it sounds like you already covered that base. Bringing her to a large hospital to see an orthopedist is a good idea. Someplace like John Hopkins in Baltimore, or MGH in Boston, or maybe the Mayo Clinic? Problems that are not diagnosed sometimes need to be looked at by people in the top of their respective fields. Good luck with this.
Hi Doctor. I had a complete rupture of my ATFL (anterior talofibular ligament) with retraction, 50% tear of my syndesmosis and partial tear of my CTFL four years ago. It was a rough injury, I walked around on it for almost a month thinking it was “just a bad sprain” until I was finally rushed to an MRI and then immobilized with conservative treatment. I never had surgery. I’ve had a few partial ankle rolls since, but haven’t sought any medical treatment.
Three weeks ago I slammed the garage door on that same ankle, just above the bone, pretty darn close if not exactly where that ATFL injury happened. I got an X-ray and MRI after two weeks of it still being bruised and painful- the X-ray was clean, the MRI showed a chronic tear of the ATFL. What does chronic tear of the ATFL mean? Is the MRI referring to my old ankle rupture from 2013? I’ve been using my old walking boot the past week not knowing what the results may be. Should I stay in my boot, or am I okay to walk around on it? Functional rehab?
Thanks so much for your thoughts!
I am not a radiologist, but my guess is that the chronic ATFL tear is from the old injury. This means that the lateral ligaments are not providing support to the ankle (although slamming your ankle in the garage door is not the result of lacking stability in the ankle). I would at least use an ankle brace for the time being. You should probably have it evaluated by a PT to have it assessed in person.
My daughter at 5 years old sprained her ankle and now 14 she still has pain and swelling with it she has went through pt and the doctors seem to say everything is fine she went to a specialist and they final released her. I give her ibropren all the time for it what to do.I need to find out something else to do .
Hmmm, that is weird. Did the PT do manual stuff to her ankle? If the PT did just exercises, I would find a PT who performs manually based mobilizations / interventions. I would bet that she has some restrictions in one or more of the joints of the ankle resulting from the sprain. I would also have her waling analyzed by the PT to see if anything looks strange.
Dan, great article. I injured my ankle ligaments badly playing soccer around 14 years ago, which then also developed in to tendonitis. It took me around 6 months to return to fitness.
I have really struggled with the range of motion since then. And the soleus stretch is very restricted.
Since retiring from soccer around 4 years ago I have sciatica type pain in my hamstring (which has now stopped) and gradually lost some of the feeling in this leg. I also get muscle twitching and cramps regularly. The loss of feeling mean I struggle to do any sort of running exercise or sport, which is very frustrating.
A chiropractor I saw recently felt it may be linked to my old ankle injury and nerve compression, but didn’t give a confirmed diagnosis. Is this something you might have come across previously?
I am currently awaiting an MRI scan on my back after being referred by my Doctor.
Would you recommend any other exercise or treatment I could try. Thanks for any advice.
Most definitely YES! My money is on that the sciatica is a latent, long-term effect of the ankle sprain. When you lose ankle range such as how you describe, it disrupts how you use your buttock muscles to walk. Guess what is a common cause of sciatica? Under-usage of buttock muscles.
I would have that ankle mobilized / manipulated to get back as much glide as possible. A good PT can do that. You can start working on strengthening the buttock muscles (see the hip exercises on our website that are performed on the table), but in my opinion they aren’t going to hep correct your problem until that ankle is more mobile.
Hi my name is victoria and i had broken both sides of my left ankle in 2015 .it dont hurt when im walking why im not working but when im at work and work two days straight i get really bad pain in my foot to were i cant walk the next day the dr said it was because i needed a arch support and it did help but im still having sever pain in the back of my foot when i try to walk or relax it ….i domt know what it could be….it is sever pain.
I would see a physical therapist about this. You might benefit from having the joints moved a bit.
I sprained my ankle approximately 18 months ago and then again a few weeks later whilst I was in recovery. I was given exercises to do on the ankle which helped a great deal, however, there was still a weakness present and my ankle would ache if I was on my feet or walking for a particularly long period of time. Over the past couple of weeks my ankle appears to have flared up again to the point where there is pretty much a constant ache and I have caught myself a couple of times almost going over on my ankle again, it feels almost weaker than ever. I don’t recollect causing any additional trauma to the ankle since it has flared up again and was wondering if you had any advice. Many thanks.
Ugh. I think that a visit to the orthopedist is in order. Those lateral ligaments may be extremely stretched out at this point. An MRI would confirm this.
I fell July 27th & sprained both my ankles & my right knee. Well I heard something snap in my knee. I was on anti inflammatory meds for 2
Mos & have been going to physical therapy. My right ankle & knee seem to be healing up but my left ankle is still tore up! I tore my aftl & partially tore a few other ligaments my bone is bruised too. I had an MRI about a week & a half ago. I’ve been out of work & my dr ordered another round of physical therapy. Do you kno how long it will take to heal? I am really in pain the past few days, not sure if I reinjured it or maybe I could use some more anti inflammatory meds? I kno those aren’t good to be on long term either. I just want to get back to work. I work on my feet. That’s why the dr signed me out
This totally depends on what exactly is going on in the left ankle. Bone bruises do take a very long time to heal, usually longer than fractures. I would think that maybe it would take another few months?
To add to my first post my ankle still hurts to this day especially when the weather is changing.
The single best exercise that you can do for this is probably single leg balancing, but I would get it checked out by either a doc or a PT first. It sounds like there is a degree of instability in the lateral ligaments.
Hi,
I am a very active runner and I have a bad history of ankle sprains. I sprained my right ankle for the first time in 8th grade and have since then sprained it 7 times throughout the past 7 years. The ankle always feels pretty good in a couple of weeks, so I return to running with no problem and limited rehab. However, the past few sprains have been particularly concerning because, although the sprain is to the outside of the ankle, I am somehow straining a ligament on the inner ankle, thus causing the injury to take longer to heal.
Last week I sprained the right ankle yet again on a run. I am very frustrated that this injury keeps occurring because every time it severely limits my cross-country training. I am determined to rehab this injury correctly so that this problem doesn’t occur in the future, but I am worried that the damage is already done since I have sprained it so many times. What are your suggestions?
I would see an orthopedist who specializes in ankles. My guess is that the lateral ankle ligaments are totally stretched out to the point that you have very little stability in that direction. I would hold off on any major interventions until you have an idea from the MD as to just how unstable the ankle is. The medial pain that you describe may actually be a bone bruise from that side of the ankle cramming togteher during the sprain. Does that make sense?
Thank you so much for your advice! I have an appointment with an orthopedist next week. In the meantime would you advise returning to running with the support of an ankle brace?
Chronic sprains like this will at least necessitate wearing a lace up brace with playing sports, probably permanently. Your other option would be to have the ankle athletic taped each time you play (which can get annoying). The recovery for this sprain will likely take longer (months) because you keep irritating the same structures. I would get some manual based PT as well to make sure that everything is moving properly.
2 years ago, I had an ankle sprain whilst playing football, and I was initially told that it would eventually heal, but it became a lot more swollen and eventually I got a cast. I had taken physiotherapy for 25 sessions and my foot was almost fine, until I had another ankle sprain. Since then, I have had 10 more sessions of physio, which did not help much.
2 months ago, I had to undergo an arthroscopy surgery. Since then I am able to walk only if I wear an ankle brace, yet I still feel significant pain if I walk too long. I have had been advised to use pain killers at the moment and to walk without an ankle brace, which does increase the magnitude of the pain. What do you suggest I do? And around how long should I wait until I can play any sport again?
I would hold off on the running until you see the doc.
Hello I am just wondering what you think of Active Ankle ankle braces for a 15 year who plays volleyball and basketball. I get the theory that wearing braces just weakens everything but for the time being I think she needs something. She has rolled her right ankle two times and left ankle once all since April of this year. Since all this she wears lace up ankle braces on both feet during sports but for some reason she only wore one at her first basketball practice last week and of course injured it. The weird part is she hurt it while doing a drill in which they were running backwards a few steps then exploding forward–when she pushed off to explode forward she rolled her ankle. Obviously she needs PT to strengthen muscles, ligaments, and tendons of the ankle but what about her hips? Or any other recommendations?
PS We have been to the ortho and had an xray and is currently in a walking boot. She can bear weight and see the doc again in a week. He made no other recommendations as of yet.
For someone who sprains with that frequency I would definitely say “yes” to the ankle support braces. I would wear them with every practice and every game. She should probably also do a course of structured PT once the inflammation is down. I am a proponent of hip strengthening in addition to foot and ankle strengthening when it comes to this.
Hi…
Background:
I’m a very active 37 year old female. Many years ago, I sprained my ankle. It healed after physio and time. Then about 3 years ago, I sprained it again at work, and also had an avulsion fracture. I was unable to rehab my ankle back 100% after this injury. It remained unstable and I would roll it very easily. Then about a year ago, I sprained it again (also at work, and also had an another avulsion fracture). I have tried physio with no success. Now I am terrified I’m going to sprain it again. I can crack it regularly, and it feels mildly sore sometimes. It is more painful if I try to pull the inside of my foot inward (forcing my ankle to go into the position it tends to want to roll into). I have a very active job… requiring me being on my feet all day with 3-4 hours of walking/running on uneven surfaces. I’ve tried wearing a brace (The ASO) to help with the instability during the aforementioned 3-4 hours. However, it still feels like I could easily roll it if I stepped wrong with enough force. As well, it ends up making my entire foot ache. Furthermore, contrary to their claims, it stretches out all my shoes, and some shoes, I can’t even fit it under. The only benefit I really feel that I get from it, is that it keeps me more mindful of HOW I’m placing my foot when I walk. Perhaps I should mention that I have very limited dorsiflextion in BOTH ankles. I always have! I’ve never been able to do a squat in my entire life because I simply can’t bend at my ankles enough. So I fall backwards.
Physio Conerns:
I’ll be honest, I have very little faith when it comes to physio and ankle injuries at this point. I’ve tried several different therapists, and ultimately, I get left alone on a yoga mat doing the same stretches and exercises every time. Exercises that I know are important, but I can save myself the time and money and do them on my own. I know them well by now. I never feel I get something out of the appointments. And I never seem to progress beyond where I am now. Which is, I walk normally, I have minimal pain – it’s more just achy, but it’s VERY unstable and I feel confident I WILL sprain it again. And likely again and again. I work on the dorsiflexion, but never get much improvement. A few cm’s if I’m lucky. It honestly feels like something stops my ankle from bending more… not just stiffness. It feels like something solid simply stops it.
Question:
I’m wondering if I’m a good candidate for surgery? I’ve never had a doctor or physiotherapist even mention surgery as an option to me. In fact, they’ve never even mentioned it as an option for anybody. Basically I’ve been told I will likely always have problems. I live in Canada, so perhaps that plays a roll? I’ve read about the rehab for the surgery, and it sounds tough. I don’t know if there are other things I could try that I haven’t. I’ve been to 6 different physiotherapist and literally experience almost identical treatments from all of them. I feel like I’m at a loss here and I get the impression that everybody thinks that I should just manage with what I have.
Any suggestions?
Thanks!
I do think that surgery is a good option in your case. I am frankly surprised that this has not been presented to you as an option at this point. Find the best ankle orthopedist in your area and tell him / her exactly what you just said. The modern stabilization procedures that are done now are really, really good.
Thank you for your reply. I’m surprised nobody has even mentioned that there is a surgery for this type of thing, even if they didn’t feel it would benefit me. And saying “I read on the internet…” is often met with a look, so I haven’t brought it up yet. But I will. Thanks again.
I have sprained my left ankle twice within a year of eachother, today I couldn’t breathe at the end of a 5k because my good leg was in a lot of pain due to the extra stress I’ve been subconsciously putting it through to compensate for my bad ankle. What should I do, I don’t want to stop running cross country
Gwen I believe that one such surgery is called a “Modified Brostrom” procedure.
PT!!!!!! Find an experienced manually-based therapist. That should help a lot.
Thanks again ,everytime i approach a doctor i keep hearing new ankle terminologies :-)will I be able to cure and regain my ankle mobility with more of manual therapy? you see Its been three years and my ankle has remained stiff and calm from a long time :-(.I really doubt if it would be possible,sometimes i loose hope.
There are many doctors who said i can never regain my ankle mobility like the original.
Do you have any of your physio centers in Europe?
I am not familiar with what types of outpatient centers there are in Europe Hema. I think that the best strategy would be to call around and ask if there are any PT’s who practice manual medicine.
Hello. I sprained my ankle about 6 months ago and have had PT and that didn’t help. I have partial torn ligament, fluid in my ankle, bone bruise, and some other things I cannot remember. Eventhough it has been 6 months ago and the doctor gave me a shot in my ankle and a boot to wear, and then 2 weeks later she put a soft cast on and it still did not help. she said they should have treated my foot before PT. Do you think at this point I should consider surgery?
Of course, thanks so much!!
Typically, the stability brace is not needed for a very controlled situations such as a stationary bicycle. The brace is usually used more for walking out in public etc. or any situation that involves uneven surfaces. Definitely wear the brace when you are out and about, at least for the next few weeks. Listen to your body, if your ankle is screaming at you after cycling, back off for a few days and start more gently. As always, run this stuff by your doc!
Thank you very much! As far as the stability brace, how often should i wear this? I plan on Day 10 getting on the stationary bike on low and starting to get some cardio in – curious is this is too soon? Since i am able to walk on it i dont want to overdo it but i also want rehab to start so i do not lose any range of motion. Its currently still a bit weird to rotate the foot around in a circle, so im unsure whether Day 10 would be too soon. I appreciate the reply! It has settled my mind a lot – 33 Years old on Wednesday and havent sprained an ankle since high school, things have changed quite a bit! Also a Trip to Hawaii in 30 days, praying for a smooth rehab for that!
If it was only one week ago, I would say that this is a normal part of the inflammatory and reparative process. Give it a few weeks and don’t push things too hard. I would expect that pain to subside.
A few months ago I jumped off a little hill and sprained my left ankle. It healed but today I was walking to my secondary school and it rolled underneath me twice. It now really hurts and its hurts to move,wiggle m toes pen to put pressure on it! Need help asap plz. I can’t properly rest it because I’m in school and constantly walking around so what should I do???
Bad bone bruises take a very long time to heal, so it does not surprise me that you are still going through this. If it were me, I would probably wait at least another 3-6 months to see if it heals more. I would in the mean time perhaps do some light strengthening and use a soft ankle support if the ankle feels unstable when walking around in public.
What is the longest you have seen someone in a walking boot for a sprained ankle. I am going on 3 weeks. I started PT last week but i still can’t get weight on it to flex so I can walk. Doctor wants it gone but it hurts too much and my job requires walking. I am trying to fade boot across another two weeks so it will be about 5 weeks before I am free of the boot.
You can talk to your doc about pharmaceuticals. Sometimes anti-inflammatories will help, but that is not my area of expertise.
What should I do about pain and walking around?
Get a lace up ankle brace and wear it whenever you are out and about. It should keep you from rolling it. We have some on our website products link .
hello, i sprained my ankle almost 10 years ago, and there are times that it hurts more now then when i sprained it… when i first sprained it i went to er, they took me out of work for two days(i am a CNA in a nursing home i do A LOT of bending, walking and squatting) they said to usea air cast and also that i needed to follow up with my doctor, which i never did. i returned to work after my two days and never got treatment or pt for my sprain. a few years back i went to er cause pain was so bad but they did nothing other then make it seem like i was drug seeking which was far from the truth. but after then experience i have been hesitant to seek treatment or be seen by a doctor thinking they will think the same thing. i am pretty sure i have arthritis in it now cause cold weather makes it a lot worse.. i mostly get sharp pain in the front of ankle and the outer ankle. it kind of helps if i walk on the outside of my foot, but i also get pain which i can only discribe as a really bad tooth ach but in my ankle, i don’t even have to be moving it to feel this pain. i could use some advice on what could be wrong with my ankle and how to fix it. thank you for any help
mary
I would say six weeks is the longest I have seen for a bad sprain.
Hi there,
Almost 2 months ago now I badly rolled my ankle – it got really swollen the first couple of days and it was painful to walk but I was able to work out with it after a week or so, so didn’t see a doctor or anything. It has gotten almost completely better since then, however I’ve lost some of my mobility. For example, when I squat right down I can get a full inch or so lower in my non-injured ankle. I have mild discomfort in it when I attempt movements like this and I’m just wondering if I go to a physio if I could regain the mobility and lose the discomfort?
Thanks!
I would definitely go and see a PT about this. The ankle joints are probably super stiff and need to be freed up. Find a good PT who practices manual-manipulative techniques. It should help a lot.
I sprained my ankle back in September and at first I did not treat it at all, no ice or wrapping, 2 months went by and I saw that it is not healing, so I started to pay closer attention to it, I went to a few doctors and all of them said a different thing, eventually we figured out that it was a sprain, I believe it was somewhere between grade 1 and grade 2, I lost dorsiflexion range of motion in my ankle and currently doing PT, I was wondering whether the lost range of motion is permanent, and what else should I be doing besides taking fish oil, icing, PT and ace wrapping?
This does sound like something that can be loosened up with a few manipulations by a PT. I think it would be a good idea.
I finally went to my doc who ordered an MRI, I do not have the full results but my docs office called and said they will be referring me to an orthopedic surgeon. they stated that the MRI showed cystic abnormalities. I am not sure what that means but I am hoping that I will not need surgery, but at same time I don’t want to be in pain anymore.
mary
I injured my big toe a couple years ago and it left me with a bad habit of placing my weight on theat foot mostly on the outside, and today walking down some steps I rolled my ankle and felt what I can only assume was my joint popping loose for a quick second before popping back in. Immediately I couldn’t walk and for the next half hour or so until some pain medication kicked in it hurt to the point it was hard to breath regularly. About three hours later now it’s still almost impossible to put weight on. It’s swollen and there’s light bruising on the outside. I’m very busy and was wondering if it’s necessary for me to see a doctor or if I can use crutches until it heals and then seek out a physical therapist.
The dorsiflexion should come back eventually. I would have the PT work on loosening up the ankle through mobilization. That usually helps quite a bit.
I have sprained my ankle about five months ago. I have initially applied ice, rolled elastic bandage and rested for 3 days but didn’t taken any medical support. After a week it became normal but there is light swell around sprained area which didn’t heal till now. I can walk for about 2 KM maximum. While I’m running or walking for longer distances I’m having pain at my at ankle. It’s been 5 months since I hurt my ankle with sprain and still there is light swell at that region and I’m having pain. Is it the ligament i have broken with sprain? I haven’t undergone scanning.
I would definitely see a doc about it. You may need an x-ray.
I have sprained my left ankle a couple of times now.. the last time was jan 2016 it took longer to recover but it is fine now.. however sometimes in the cold it can start throbbing or can have a sharp pain in the ankle area only ever on the left ankle. I am just wondering what this maybe and if it’s something to be concerned about?
Thanks
It wouldn’t hurt to have it checked out by a PT or other healthcare professional. You may have actually fractured it in the past, as old fracture sites do from time to time tend to ache.
Rolled my ankle 1 week ago today. Was on St Paddys Day and didnt feel much that day. I was able to walk on it without issue for the rest of the day – after getting home my ankle was swollen and bruised.
Next day the swelling spread and it started getting sore, but could still bear weight on it and walk with a slight limp. Called my doc when it happens and she said since i was able to put weight on it immediately and after there was no need for an xray, just had a bad sprain. Did RICE but also went to work on Day 3 with an ankle stability brace and proper stuff to elevate and ice/rest it. Was able to Plant and flex pretty well, but the rotating part still feel a bit unstable.
Did this the rest of the week, planting and flexing periodically throughout the day along with slowly trying to rotate it every so often until i felt pain. Yesterday i was able to walk on the ankle 100% at the end of the day without the brace, heel to toe with little to no pain (only pain was when i turn on it) – however there was small swelling around the joint only and at the bottom of the foot (no pain at the bottom of the foot, however) Today, Swelling is almost gone and the only swelling is located close to the top of the ankle bone and a little below the ankle joint, bruising is getting better. I can dorsiflex with almst no range of motion issues (although its a bit stiff and tight), and i can point with no range of motion loss, but a tinge of pain right at the end of the point. My concern is when i rest it and the few minutes after i get up and move. I have shooting pain around the ankle, located at the ligaments, for about 5-7 minutes until i get moving, then it disappears completely. Is this normal? I suspect i had a light Grade 2 sprain.
Yesterday, I fell off a rock climbing wall and ended up falling really weird, and I could feel a slight pop when I landed. It hurt, I’m not going to lie, but I thought that it was probably a minor sprain. It started swelling within a few minutes and by today morning, the ankle was bruising and swelling pretty bad. So, my parents insisted on taking me to Urgent Care (Even though I kinda hate that place) and the people at Urgent Care told me I possibly had fractured my growth plates, and since I’m still a teen, they told me to put minimal weight on it because it could affect me later. They put me in a boot and crutches, but the thing is, I have a 5K in 10 days that I have been training for the past 6 or so months that I have to go to. I am an XC runner, and this race is basically the epitome of my entire season. I know that all the doctors are going to say to not go there, but I literally paid 115 dollars to be at the race, and, well, as I said, I’ve been training for it for the past freaking 6 months. So should I attempt the 5K, or should I stay at home and be miserable because all that sweat, time, and money was wasted?
(BTW, we haven’t seen an orthopedic yet, so we’re not 100% sure it’s a fracture.)
If it is fractured, running the race would be about the most dangerous thing that you could possibly do. If it is not fractured, it is still a very, very bad idea based on what you just said. I would cut your losses, get an x-ray, and treat it according to the doc’s recommendation.
Hi I rolled my ankle badly again and Ive had cts and X-rays it seems that Ive redone a chronic avulsion injury from the past I never checked out, I’m hoping the bone fuses back together, do you know anything bout these types of injuries and I’m hoping it does not require surgery, any info would be great
I am a 20 year old male and I sprained my ankle 3 and half weeks ago I like to stay active and the past three weeks have been killing me. I now have full range of motion and can put my body weight on the one leg/ankle without pain. However, there is still some slight swelling. Should I still be staying off or am I in the clear to start running again? (Ps I haven’t really been doing any RICE technique since it stopped hurting a few days ago)
I would guess that the doc would put you in an immobilization boot for 4-6 weeks to allow the avulsion to heal back into place. That is usually preferable to surgery.
Probably yes. Some people will swell for quite some time.
I don’t think my previous PT did, which frustrated me because I felt like it wasn’t helping at all. But if my orthopedic gives me a note to get physical therapy again which is what he most likely will do, I’ll go to another one. But the swelling in my ankle is at the distal end of my fibula and you can see the difference compared to my other ankle when for example I stand on the tip of my toes. How could that mess things up in terms of total recovery? Can it be fully healed?
I would find a good PT and get an evaluation.
Great article!
I’m a 39 year old male and about a year ago, I stepped awkwardly off a curb and ended up with a 3rd degree ankle sprain tearing all 3 lateral ligaments.
The injury has healed mostly with some occasional residual tenderness, but now I find my ankle and metatarsal joints popping constantly during dorsiflexion. If I’ve not performed the maneuver in a few hours, I can hear 5+ pops across these joints with a simple dorsiflexion.
Is this usual with a degree sprain such as mine? Suggestions? Thank you!
I would say definitely. Either a PT or an orthopedist would be a good start.
I sprained one ankle eight years ago and the other two years later. Now, when I first start walking in the morning, my feet hurt very bad. I went to have both injuries treated when they happened. Would being more physically active help? I play with my kids but I don’t do any kind of stretching.
I would start with a stationary bicycle for the week and see how that goes first. Running can be tricky with sprained ankles, particularly if you are running on uneven surfaces. If the bike thing goes well, I would progress to a slow jog on a treadmill (flat, easy surface). It might be a good idea to consult with a PT in order to see if a soft stability brace is in order for sports etc..
My 19 year old daughter sprained her ankle a year ago. When she walks a lot or stands for a long time it still hurts. Should I take her back to get it looked at?
Thanks you very much.
That swelling probably needs to go down for full function to come back. I definitely think that having some manual work done on the fibula would help that.
Hi im a girl im 30 yr young like a month ago i sprained my ankle really bad when i fell i heard 2 popping sounds i went to the ER they just gave me a brace boot and told me i had sprained my ankle but im very concern that i still cant streched my foot or when i try standing on it i just cant my foot wont go all the way down my heel is like standing up my calf hurts and my inner ankle as well sometimes i noticed that my knee hurts too plzzzzz help! 😥😢
Yes, this is common, and I would bet that there is appreciable stiffness in some of the tarsal joints etc.. A good, manually trained PT should be able to assess and address this problem.
I sprained my ankle two years ago and to this day it’s still a little swollen. I could still run as fast as I could before and kind of jump like I used too but it’s still weak and hurts if I land on it a certain way, I wanted to know if you could let me know why that could be? I went to physical therapy already twice and they could not help me then, I have done another MRI and I’m going in Wednesday to see the results. I feel like it’ll come back normal but I never had ankle sprains this serious in the past, I wanted to know if this is normal, another thing I haven’t iced it in a long time, would that possibly get rid of the little swelling I have left? Even if it’s been two years, and when I do engage in running or some type of sport, afterward my ankle would be more swollen, not way more than usual but enough that it’s noticeable. I’m 17 year old guy and im desperate for help
Have you seen a PT about this? It might be a good idea to have it looked at to see if stretching or stabilization is in order.
Hi,
I sprained my ankle 10weeks ago.
Though I am now able to walk and workout again. My ankle slightly swells after a long day wearing rubber shoes.
I am able to flex it back to normal with zero to minimal pain that is very tolerable.
Is this normal?
Did the PT’s actually physically work on the ankle joints? If not, ditch the old PT’s find a PT who is experienced in performing MANUAL THERAPY. A chronic swelling or stiffness in my opinion usually results from the ankle not being able to move smoothly through certain joints. The distal end of the fibula in particular can get a bit sticky and mess things up in terms of total recovery.
The current MRI might of course shed some light on the situation, but if the MRI is clear, I would try the manual-based PT route.
Hey, I sprained my ankle pretty bad about 2 weeks ago and the swelling has gone down quite a bit, but now I’ve noticed that there’s a tingling sensation in my big toe and there are a couple of black spots around the top of my ankle. Is this normal and if so how long does this last?
You may have irritated the nerve a bit, this can happen with marked sprains. There is a possibility that you may have fractured one of the ankle bones. It may be worth your time to see the doc and have it checked out.
I had ankle surgery for a growth plate double fracture on my right foot they put two screws in and this happened in March, this week I finally got out of my boot and I’m scared because it hurts whenever I walk. Will I always feel pain, I’m 15 and 6’2 and I weigh 224 pounds and I think my life is ruined and I’ll never have fun again.
If you just got out of the boot, I would say that it would be totally normal for the foot and ankle to hurt for some time, perhaps a few months (or more). I definitely think that having some physical therapy at some point might be a good idea to make sure that everything is moving well. I fractured my ankle pretty badly as well a few years back, and I was convinced that I would never walk again. You will get there, but this will take some time.
11 weeks ago i dislocated my ankle and tore several ligaments and tendons. I was put into a cam boot for 4 1/2 week then moved to a lace up brace. Once in the brace i started PT and completed about 7 weeks of PT. Then I was put back in the boot for a few week due to the pain. PT increased my pain. I just got a repeat MRI (previous was done in April 20, 2018). How is it still possible for the current MRI to still show tears in ligaments/tendons, and sprain of the ankle this many weeks later. Why do i still have so much pain. Dr. suggested Brostrum repair it that necessary, what other options do i have.
New MRI shows Talofibular tear, Calcaneofibular, deltoid and spring ligament tear, posterior tibialis mild tendonosis,
That was a huge tear. Those type of massive ligament tears I would expect that to take a long time. You are going to have to be super patient. If this were my ankle, I would see where it is in 3-4 months and assess the situation. If your ankle is unstable (sprains again), or if the pain has not gone down I would only then consider surgery. And I would get a second opinion to be sure. Can you see that I am conservative?
i didn’t even give all the details on the MRI that was a quick summary. At this point do you think a lace up brace is enough support for what is going on. Do you ever see injuries like this hard casted. At this point i will try anything. Hard to be patient with this much pain. Thanks for your input!
I am always a fan of conservative management. What you are describing should be pursued prior to surgery in my humble opinion. Immobilizing the ankle can help to build some scar tissue which might help stabilize the ankle.
Hi dr. Baumstark-
What is your thought on the bromstrom (sp?) approach for surgery to repair ankle instability? I have 3 partially torn ligaments in both my ankles from a bad fall during a workout, and they’re causing so much instability that im unable to do much of anything without pain or fear of rolling or spraining my ankles again.
Have you seen patients that have had successful results years down the road? Or vice versa? I have done about as much research as I can but would appreciate any personal insight or thoughts you’d be willing to share.
Thanks in advance!
I have seen a few Brostrom post-op’s, and I would say that this procedure does provide a good amount of ankle stability long term. If you are horribly unstable and you have exhausted other options I would think that this would be a logical step.
I am a 63 year old female. I sprained my ankle 5 weeks ago this weekend. I have been using a walker since then and unable to put weight on my ankle until a few days ago when I went to a PT session. He manipulated and pulled and stretched my foot and since then I have been able to put weight on my ankle, have ‘graduated’ to a cane and finally have faith I may get better. My question is this. I have been using a swede-o lace/Velcro brace and was wondering if I should continue to wear it as I get better to prevent another injury and if so for how long. ? When I wear it , I feel like it prevents me from relearning to use my foot to walk from heel to toe when I walk forward. But when I am barefoot , it still hurts a little when I try to do so. And I worry about reinjury. Please advise
I would use the swede-o for walking longer distances and with walking on uneven surfaces. Make sure that you are doing some strengthening exercises every couple of days. Ask the PT about it. The goal is to wean you off the brace, but that may take a while and should be done under the guidance of your PT.
1975 I broke my left fibula after few days they did a surgery and put a two and a half inch screw in it the hold it together fast-forward 40 + years, I have favored my left ankle and my right ankle is going to hell I’m wondering what I can do I favor both ankles now my right ankle turns out and it’s very painful, my left ankle gives out what I walk and sometimes it just rolls over so now my right ankle rolls and I don’t know what to do if I had to do a sobriety test and failed miserably I assume that all these years of favoring my left ankle I have damaged my right ankle, does that make sense ? At a loss
This sounds like something that a physical therapist should be able to help you with. I think that stabilization training is in order here.
I sprained my ankle 6 months ago. I didn’t notice it was swollen and bruised until several days after the incident. I was out of town and continued to walk on it for 2 weeks. I never felt any pain until the squishy swelling went down. The injury is no longer soft, but my ankle still looks slightly bulbous, and it doesn’t always fit into certain footwear like it used to. The ankle no longer hurts, except on occasion, and it makes a popping sound every so often. Will the size of my ankle return to normal?
I have seen a few patients who have that weird swelling for a year or more following an injury. It might be worth your time to have the joints assessed by a PT or an osteopath. If there is some latent stiffness in a few of those joints it is possible that this could maintain some low grade swelling.