Hi guys
This post is a mix of vent and advice and desperation... It's been 10 weeks since my ankle injury - a grade 2 sprained ankle. Probably the worst pain of my life so far... Anyway.
I would just like some advice or someone with similar experience....
So it's been 10 weeks and it still hurts after a certain angle of movement, I can't move it smoothly and fully, it's still a bit swollen, the bone is still sensitive even if the shoe is touching it.
Bit of context:
March 7: I fell playing padel. Went straight to the hospital, where they made an x-ray ( they said it's not broken ) they put me in a splint for 10 days. And told me not to put my weight on it, walk as less possible and only with walking sticks. 10 days later they told me to cut the cast off, and be back to normal.
Well obviously I couldn't. I still had to use walking sticks. I was in pain, my foot wasn't moving. And it was so swollen and purple.
On the 15th day I went back to the traumatología for the advised check up- it was very painful as she was checking and moving it around. Still swollen and everything.....
The doctor sent me to get an MRI - which I attended on day 17 after the injury. 2 days later got the results stating grade 2 sprained ankle. I got 20 sessions of magnetic therapy+ fisio.
Here is when the story goes downhill a bit. I couldn't start the rehab for 2 more weeks because of a travel that had to be done due to family stuff. The doctor said it is what it is, go but always use the walking sticks, ice it rest it as much possible. I tried. my best but obviously I wasn't a relaxing 2 weeks...
Anyway fast forward this 2 weeks of travel
There I was now roughly 5 weeks after the injury, still in pain, still swollen starting with magnetic therapy slowly loosing the walking sticks on short walks.
I got 5 sessions, it was okay, maybe a bit of improvement it was less swollen. Then they started with easy excercises... I lasted 3 sessions of that, then my ankle got worse almost as bad as it was before the week of magnetic therapy. Since then I only received magnetic therapy, 14 more sessionS - no excercises.
After the 20 session was done I went back to the traumatologist, she checked me, at this point it's still a bit swollen, can't move it until a certain angle and forcing it hurts. The bone and around the bone is still sensitive to touch and push. So she gave me another 20 sessions....
And here I am today on the 3rd day of the 2nd round of sessions. Still a bit swollen, but now I am able to walk on a flat and stable surface and if the shoe is not touching the bone. Stairs I can't take without pain.
It slowly improving, I am able to move it around more but still nothing compared to how it should be. After a certain angle to every direction it hurts, I have this pulling sensation , pretty sharp pain.
The traumatologist, the fisio guy , hell even chat gpt is telling me that it takes long time to heal, and that it's kind of normal that I still haven't recovered ..... time and patience..... But I'm running low on those after the past 10 weeks. I don't know .... Is it really normal that I still haven't recovered not even until the point to walk comfortably?
Anyone maybe with similar situation like this? Any advice? Anything.....
Thank you!
Rest, do physio, and listen to your doctor. I know you want to play so badly, but letting it fully recover is the only way for it not to ban you from playing all together.
I'd suggest getting a second and maybe even third opinion if you're not happy with your rate of improvement. Boots and sticks are normal but not necessarily optimal. Your physio is also normal but not necessarily optimal. Go see a couple of sports medicine specialists.
Did that playing soccer. Side of my lef was purple at the bottom of the ankle, normal, then purple all the way where the ligament starts. One of the worst nights of my life. It will heal but needs consistent RICE. Keep hitting the gym while it's healing for hoper body and activities that don't aggravate it and use it as motivation. If you give up exercise you will have a harder time.thia happened 15 years ago or so and I can to hard at sports but it still looks a little bigger than my other one, lol
I've taken a 4 month break last summer until my pain went away, and I'm afraid yours sounds more severe than mine...😔
I left mine alone as much as possible. I'm not a doctor, but starting physio while there's still swelling doesn't sound reasonable to me.
Not a doctor either, but even after surgery, the physio is typically started surprisingly early, so the patient doesn't lose range of motion.
Not familiar with OPs specific injury, but would be surprised if some type of physio is not involved in the recovery from almost the beginning.
Im sorry too hear! This is not pleasant at all. Buy enough recovery, strength and circulation is key!
\#1 Ask for a proper excercise protocol.
\#2 You Could potentially check for missed injuries
\#3 Not abnormal to have pain after 10 weeks.
Other tips
\* Do some cycling or waterjog some days a week for increasing blood circulation
\* Do som hot/cold water immersion 4\*2 min
\* Do some one-leg band exercises to strength ankle-mucles and bloodflow
You must rest. During high school, I suffered numerous ankle sprains while playing soccer because I decided to continue playing and always returned to the field with just a week of recovery. However, when I got a grade 2 ankle sprain, my foot turned purple and became significantly swollen. That’s when I visited a traumatologist, who told me that both of my ligaments were nearly destroyed. He advised me to undergo surgery for both ankles due to my chronic ankle sprains, but he couldn’t guarantee that my ankles would fully recover. Consequently, I decided against surgery (this was about 15 years ago, nowadays surgery is 100% effective).
Looking back, I regret not allowing myself enough time for a complete recovery during my younger years. A few years ago, I quit soccer and decided to take up running. I prepared for a marathon and successfully completed it. I discovered that running training helped strengthen my ankles.
I’ve been playing padel for almost three years now, and I’ve only sustained two ankle sprains. In the past, I would rest for only a couple of weeks after an injury. However, I’ve learned the importance of rest and now ensure that I rest for at least two to three weeks after any injury. Remember, rest is crucial for healing. Apply ice, seek rehabilitation, use an ankle support band and give your body the time it needs to recover.
I had a grade 2 ankle sprain as well recently and it’s a truly painful injury so I sympathise with you. I don’t think traveling right after your injury helped your recovery and rn I’d treat it like it’s a new injury. What I’d recommend is 2 weeks straight of rest (very minimal movement) and ice it every 3-4 hours and sleep with your leg elevated. This really helped me because my leg was able to heal and I could walk with crutches after this period.
It took me 8 weeks of not playing padel at all before I felt my leg was ready and this is non negotiable for you if you want to go back to normal. I’m back to playing padel now and I use an ankle brace everytime to prevent the injury from straining/repeating.
Good luck man and I hope you can play padel again soon!
10 weeks is nothing - it took me 10 months to be 100% back to normal after my last sprained ankle (not sure what grade it was, but it was a very bad sprain). Stay positive and give it time to heal! Gentle exercises are good, but don’t rush back onto the court anytime soon or you’ll be right back where you started.
You are not going to like what i have to say but i wish someone said this to me when i was younger.
I was 18 when i did the same to my ankle. Didn't give it time to heal properly.
I am now 55 and it is still fucking my life up. Don't be me.
I believe i would be playing professional padel if i had given it enough time to heal..... /S (just kidding guys)
Give it time to heal. Padel will still be here in a few months time.
