I fell and tore the ligaments in my ankle last week - argghhh! Any advice welcome

[Idontknowhowtohelpher]

I fell (down one single step!) last Friday. Waited 40 minutes for an ambulance then was taken to A & E. I had xrays and was told no bones were broken. I was told that I had torn the ligaments and was asked did I want the ankle plastering or not. Well, I didn't know so I said no. They gave me a pair of crutches and basically said off you go then.

I couldn't put any weight on it until Monday. I haven't had any advice on using the crutches, how long for etc., if I should be exercising the ankle, should it be bandaged (it wasn't at the hospital), how long it will take to heal, when will I be able to drive again...... the ankle is very bruised, swollen and painful.

I don't know if I'm resting too much - is that possible?

I know that I'm lucky that nothing worse happened. I know that I'm very lucky that people have rallied round to look after dd2 so that I don't have the stress of childcare as well as feeling sorry for myself.
I'm just asking for any advice or to hear about other people's experiences. Please?

You need physio as soon as possible!

You need to get checked. DH broke the small bone in his leg, and was put in plaster for it, which according to our research, wasn't necessary. What the doctor didn't tell him, was that he had severely damaged his ankle ligaments at the same time, hence the cast. A week later his leg swelled, he went back to hospital and a consultant called in and that is when he found out about the ligament damage. He had to have a pin put in it to keep the bones aligned while the ligaments heeled. They said if he didn't he'd end up with bad athritis in the future in that joint.

He had an air cast on, so could take it off for showers etc... Pin in for about 6 weeks, and is now on a physio regime. It will be about 6mths before he's 100% again.....

Thanks for your replies.
I've got a physio appt - for 2 weeks time.

Don't think of it as 'only a sprain'. Some sprains can take longer to heal and be worse than broken bones. If they offered to cast it for you I imagine it must be a Grade 3.

It took about 4 months for my ankle to be 'normal' again after a severe sprain and a lot of physio (never going to be 100%)

It depends on which ligament you've sprained exactly as to whether you should be moving it around or keeping it still.

I tore the ligaments that hold the tibia and fibia together (two bones in your leg). Should have been non weight bearing but everyone kept telling me you've got to keep moving a sprain and walking on it, so the final outcome isn't as good as it could have been.

Thanks tyler80. This is what is getting me down - I don't know what sort of "sprain" it is. Why did they ask me if I want a cast? Surely it should either be necessary - or not, rather than a matter of my choice. Because I didn't know what to do!
Googling doesn't help either, it just makes me more miserable.

Can you get back in touch with the hospital or see your own GP?

They didn't x-ray on my first visit to A&E, just gave me a leaflet.

Two weeks and no improvement I went and visited my GP, who referred me back to hospital for x-rays where they discovered no break but different type of sprain to what is usual. But by this stage I'd been trying to walk on it for 2 weeks! Got the physio referral then.

They were pretty useless over all, when I was being signed out from the hospital after physio was done, the consultant said ankle looked really good, no swelling etc. I suggested he might want to compare it to my good ankle before he made that remark! Was still quite swollen, I just have skinny ankles.

Oops, that's a bit all about me. I'd either try and get in touch with the hospital, or visit your own GP and see if he can find out anything further or advise. Sounds pretty shoddy

Can't get a GP appt till middle of next week - not an emergency, you see. (They are very good when it is an emergency appt thats needed.) Hospital seem to think that the physio appt in 2 weeks will sort everything.

I've booked a private physio appt for Monday in the hope that they can give me some immediate advice. My ankle feels more painful than ever, but the bruising is starting to calm down a bit.