Damaged but not dead!!

I am no Doctor, nor did I stay in a Holiday Inn Express last night, but I have sprained my ankle approx 10-12 times back when I played a lot of BBall.  The main reason why I think I sprained it so many times is that I didn't let it properly heal the first time.  One time I completely blew it out walking down the street and had 2-3 other "minor" sprains just from slight "twists".  I used to soak it in Epsom salt and water as Hot as I could stand..it seemed to help.  But nothing helped more than time and good wrappings.  I had a Sports Medicine friend of mine wrap it like crazy whenever I would play and that helped a lot.  I also got a brace for a while.  A sprain is very traumatic to the ligaments around the ankle and you should give it the proper rest it needs, otherwise it may never get back to full strength.  Might be a good time to work on swimming!  Good Luck.

x2 I've done it on both ankles multiple times, playing volleyball, hiking, walking the dog... My ankles are so weak that stepping the wrong way on a small rock will trip me. I've had the right ankle in a cast 3 times for torn ligaments. Here's what I know now:

Do NOT do circle-motion exercises yet!!! You are supposed to rest the sideways ligaments for at least 8 weeks. I remember, the last time I sprained the right side, I kept it in an air-cast for that long but started running/jogging as soon as I could. You need to get the circulation going. But forwards, not sideways!

Get a good brace. A rigid one for 8 weeks, then a slightly flexible one for a year. Yes, a whole year, that's supposedly how long it takes to really grow the ligaments back to where they are stable. You don't have to wear the flexible one all the time but I'd wear it when you're on uneven terrain.

There are also exercises you can do to strengthen the ankles--once the sprain has healed. Ask your PT about those. They involve the wobbly boards you might have seen at the gym. I find them scary. My ankles are so weak I won't even try those

Sounds like you need to get some professional (in person) advice.

Tincture of time is the best healing that they taught us in medical school.

THANK YOU ALL FOR THROWIN ADVICE MY WAY. I actually decided to come out of pocket and go at least once to see a physical therapist. Just get a professional opinion on how my ankle was progresssing. He said it looks much better than he expected given my decription on the phone! I'm doing strengthening exercises, 3 sets of 10 each exercise with a resistance band, balancing, toes lifts and calf raises- AND doing range of motion ABCs 2x while icing at least 3 times a day. It is MUCH stronger that I even thought so I'm in good shape! I am going to start some "power walking" in Feb. I've making a conscious effort to walk without a limp and when I'm standing still evenly distribute my weight on both legs. The PT said as long as I ease back into running, keep my compression sleeve on I should be fine for my races. YAY!! Just what I wanted to hear. So far so good. I guess this means I have to work on my frustration level and be happy that I am able to what I can right now. It could be worse!

What did your PT say Madcap95?

Edited by Gale4s 2008-01-21 3:48 PM

#1 reason for it to not get better is incomplete rehab.  the rehab is VERY importnat.  Get thee to a PT and get a home exercise program