Ankle Sprain - how long to recover?

[Meg O'C]

Ok, so this morning as I left the house in the dark for work and locked the front door, I thought to myself, "Gosh it really is dark out here. I should have left the outside light on." Just as I reached what I thought was the ground (and wasn't!), TWIST, SNAP went the ankle, THUD went my tailbone, pocketbook and laptop on the slate walk. I tried to stand and literally could not move. Thank goodness for cell phones! I called DH in tears. He was only 10 minutes into his commute so he turned around and came home and lifted me into the car and off to the ER we went. I was crying not so much because it hurt (it did a little then and does a lot now) but because the house is filthy, we have no groceries, dirty laundry out the wazoo, need to change the sheets, swap the summer-winter clothes, still need to unpack stuff from our move. This was going to be such a productive weekend!! Not to mention that I am 8 weeks into my new running routine and was feeling really proud of my progress and the results. Fortunately it was a sprain, not a break but I am still so annoyed! DH will help get stuff done around the house this weekend (not exactly as I would have done them but this is not time for my type A personality to take over!). My real concern is resuming my exercise routine. I have never broken or sprained anything so this is all new to me. The ER doc said, RICE and stay off it for 3 days. Aircast for a week, try putting weight on it on day 4. If I am still unable to put pressure on it after a week, I should consult a doctor. I'll probably consult one anyway but what have you all experienced in terms of recovering from a sprain and resuming an exercise routine? DH sprained his ankle a couple of times playing basketball in HS. He was pretty much "out of the game" for six weeks!! I will lose all my running progress in that time! Sorry for the whining - I'm just so annoyed at myself!

[Ralph]

Meg, the Aircast is a GREAT device. I've seen patients wearing it weeks to months after a sprain, so don't just give up on it after a week. And don't wait a week if you can't put pressure on it - be a bum the rest of today & into tomorrow, keeping it elevated & iced, but start trying to walk on it (with the Aircast, of course) by tomorrow evening or certainly by Sunday. If it's still significantly uncomfortable by Monday (or if it's worse), see an orthopedic surgeon or your primary doctor.

I'd recommend holding off running for at least a week, then go back low & slow while continuing to wear the Aircast - the Aircast allows your foot to move up & down, all that's necessary to walk. It prevents eversion & inversion of the ankle which is what's most uncomfortable with a sprain. Good luck!

[Grace]

Oh, poor Meg!!

I FEEL for you!!! I have sprained my right ankle three times and my left one twice. And I broke my right foot once at the same time as one of the sprains.

In my opinion, and I'm sorry to say, cuz it's definitely a bummer, but I don't think you'll be back to running in a week. The aircast is GREAT!! I only had that on my last sprain, as it didn't exist the times I sprained before. I saved mine as I occasionally get sore ankles, and I just think it's the greatest thing since sliced bread.

You will be able to put pressure on it and walk in then next few days, but take those advil - you'll need them, especially today and tonight during the night. If you can, try sleeping with your foot up on some pillows, it will help, and the weight of the blanket on your foot will be painful, so try to rig it so it's elevated somehow above your foot. Sleeping on your side will help, so your foot can be sideways against the mattress instead of up and down.

Maybe you didn't sprain it horribly (like I always manage to do), so you may very well heal faster than I typically do, which would be good. But you'll see for yourself when you'll be comfortable running again. If you're like me, you'll be anxious to try, and you'll get out there, and then you'll realize how much it still hurts with all that pounding and pressure. But I truly doubt it will be in a week's time. And that aircast will be your new best friend. 100 times better than the old ace bandage wraps!

Hope you're feeling better soon, and it really is a bummer. I totally know how you feel about being sidelined when you had so many plans/things to do. Take care!

[BosunsWife]

I did something similar last week but not as bad as yours sounds. I was leaving DD's doctor's appointment and headed down a hill with my purse on one side, grasping DD's new fire helmet (smokey the bear gave it to her) and pushing her umbrella stroller. To make a long story short, I tripped against her stroller, fell to one knee and twisted my left ankle. Bright spot was I didn't lose my grip on the stroller and so DD didn't fly off down the hill! I went home and iced it with heat alternatively. Took some Tylenol (since we are trying to get pregnant) and elevated. It is still sore, but only if I move it from side to side.

Mental note: Next child, I WILL get those extenders for the stroller handles! Umbrella stroller handles are too short for someone that is 5'10", I'm always tripping over her wheels.

[cindyluwho]

What a bummer...I know how it feels since I've sprained my left ankle 6 times! It's important to give it time to heal properly though before going running again, in my opinion. It's incredibly frustrating when you feel like you've got a million things to do and can't, but maybe you can take this down time to catch up on some reading!

[Meg O'C]

Thanks all, for your advice, sympathy and support! It is Sunday night and I am definitely feeling better and better everyday. Friday I was religious about icing every two hours and I really did stay off it and keep it elevated. Saturday I iced less than I would have liked (it feels so good after icing!) but by mid-day I was limping around and was able to put light pressure on it (on the outside of the foot). DH came in from raking leaves and was furious to find me vaccuuming but it felt better to move around a bit - it gets very stiff if I don't move it. I am thinking this feels more like a sprained foot than ankle. My foot is still very swollen across the top and on the inside above my arch (particularly around the area of the bone below my ankle on the inside - I have very flat feet and that bone always sticks out a lot). If I put my foot down totally flat and put pressure on it - ooowwww!! The pain shoots up over that bone towards my ankle but actually stops short of the ankle. The aircast is great - nice support and just makes me feel better about limping around - like a security blanket.

Grace, you are so right about the weight of the covers hurting! Feels much better if I keep my foot angled to the side.

Ralph, Cindyluwho, should I wait until I don't have any pain to return to trying to run? The paperwork from the ER said I should. My sister is a PT and sees a lot of patients who did not wait long enough and heal well enough before getting back into their routines. I am afraid to start back too soon and get hurt all over again. I figured I would be out of commission for 4-6 weeks as faras running is concerned.

Bosunswife - glad you are feeling better. I couldn't imagine keeping up with a toddler with a sprained ankle!