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General health

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Original poster

How long does it take for a sprained ankle to stop hurting?

25 replies

headfairy · 24/02/2012 17:16

Last wednesday I stumbled on a step and sprained my ankle. I didn't visit the doc as I could still walk on it, albeit with a bit of a limp, and I just took some nurofen for a couple of days until I could walk without limping. Over a week later and it's still quite uncomfortable. It's a little bit swollen in the hollow bit either side of the achillies tendon iyswim, and I find bending my big toe downwards quite uncomfortable (which means when I'm walking as I lift off with my foot and push against my toes it's painful).

Is this about normal for a week after this kind of injury or should I go to the GP and see if I've done something more than just a sprain?

OP posts:

ILoveToPost01 · 24/02/2012 18:00

Were you riding your bike?

DizzyDancing · 24/02/2012 18:02

I expect it's just a sprain as they can be bloody painful but if you're concerned you could always see your GP and if they think it's anything to worry about they could refer you for an x-ray.

Keep on taking the painkillers and walk on it as normally as possible - that's what I was advised to do with my ankle when I tore the ligament.

ednurse · 24/02/2012 18:05

Sounds like a sprain. They get worse before they get better. Take regular ibuprofen, ice packs, elevate when sitting and most importantly - WALK on it.

vitaminC · 24/02/2012 18:12

It can take several months to recover fully after a sprain! You need to rest is as much as possible!

I sprained mine badly last April, had an x-ray and, a few weeks later an MRI scan. The ligament was badly torn and I wasn't resting it enough, because I was in the middle of moving house!

I ended up wearing a splint for several weeks and having to go for 3 months of physio before I could walk without pain!
I still can't wear heels higher than 1" and it still aches if I overdo it, 10 months later :(

Original poster

headfairy · 24/02/2012 18:24

oops! I haven't been resting at all I've done two walks of at least an hour with the dcs in the park since then, and I haven't iced it since the initial incident. It's not terribly practical to ice it at work (no freezer here) so do I really still have to keep that up a week later?

Oh dear, I haven't been very sensible have I? I'm not even taking ibuprofen now, I only took it for a couple of days.

Ilovetopost I wasn't riding a bike, I didn't see a step as I was carrying the dcs down my friend's drive, I put my foot down half on the top step and half over the edge so my ankle bent sharply.

OP posts:

ILoveToPost01 · 24/02/2012 18:26

Go see GP, rest as much as you can See late night pharmacist tonight there is something you can wear on your fot. It really helps my friend who fell off her bike said.

Original poster

headfairy · 24/02/2012 18:29

Hmm, I'm at work until 10.30 so not sure I'll be able to get to a chemist. I do have some ibuprofen at home so I'll start taking it again when I get home. How on earth am I supposed to rest with two small children around?

I have got an ankle strap thing dh lent me. It's not a neoprene one, but it's a bit like a tighter, firmer tubigrip one. Would that be ok? Or do I need something a bit more... industrial?

OP posts:

startail · 24/02/2012 18:31

Anything from 3 days to 3 weeks when I'm not trying.
6 weeks+ when I stepped off a 2'6" ledge and landed with my foot twisted under me.
I'm good at twisting my ankle

DizzyDancing · 24/02/2012 18:44

I was teaching f/t when I did mine, didn't rest it! Wasn't advised too tbh, was told to keep walking on it, take painkillers and also had physio (but this was a nasty tear and I needed deep massage to break down the scar tissue).

ILoveToPost01 · 24/02/2012 18:48

If you drive someBoots are open until midnight :) Go tomorrow if you can, call the pharmacist and send Dh or someone else as you need to rest as much as possible.

ILoveToPost01 · 24/02/2012 18:49

Yes, rings a bell Dizzy i think the actual advice might be to keep moving :) and :(

Original poster

headfairy · 24/02/2012 19:04

Ha! Rest? I've got 12 people coming to lunch on Sunday, dh can't boil water without burning it isn't the best cook in the world.

OP posts:

annalovesmrbates · 24/02/2012 19:26

RestIceCompressionElevation (RICE) but it always takes mine ages to get better and I seem to do it a lot.

vitaminC · 24/02/2012 19:29

No! Don't mobilise until the tear has healed! Here is some good info .

You need to immobilise (rest) your ankle, until you can bear weight and walk on it without pain! This may take a few days, or a few weeks. You really need to see your doc (or go to casualty, but tell them you did it in the last 48h or they won't see you!), as you may need a splint or crutches for a while.

Original poster

headfairy · 24/02/2012 21:23

what do you mean by rest (or not mobilising)? Do you mean I shouldn't walk at all, or should I avoid walking longer than say 10 mins at a time. On my days off I literally don't sit down all day. On work days I have a 20 min walk to the station, and I probably walk for an hour at lunchtime (well I did today as I had to get some stuff from the shops). Should I stop all of that? Or do you mean I need to stop walking altogether?

OP posts:

vitaminC · 24/02/2012 21:41

Walk on it as little as possible! And whenever you get the chance, sit down with your feet up!

If you're a single mum working full-time, that may be difficult (but if you had the flu you'd see a doctor and take a few days off, no? This is not all that different!).

If you're married, your husband needs to be taking over for a while, so you can take the weight off your ankle as much as possible! The more you rest it now, the quicker it will heal, honestly :)

franke · 24/02/2012 21:46

At the very least, have it raised on a cushion when you go to bed - not easy I know but better than nothing. Poorly ankles are grim.

Jellykat · 24/02/2012 22:03

VitaminCs link is good, be careful.. i sprained my ankle 4 years ago, carried on as normal and the tendons/ligaments mended really badly, i can no longer move 2 of my toes and have to have regular physio as i'm having real problems in the joint.

DizzyDancing · 24/02/2012 22:05

Don't go to A&E - this is absolutely not an A&E issue this long after the event!

The doc in A&E when I went (ambulance as they thought I'd broken it, couldn't weight bear at all ) told me to take painkillers and walk on it normally. I used crutches for the first two weeks but I was never non-weight bearing.

Interesting that there is such conflicting advice!

Original poster

headfairy · 24/02/2012 22:08

yeah, it is interesting isn't it Dizzy? I wouldn't go to A&E just because I don't have a spare 4 hours... Its not exactly an emergency, but I might just book myself in to the GP if it's still not right on Monday. It'll be almost 2 weeks by the time I get to see the docs, so if it's still hurting as much it probably could do with a look at :(

OP posts:

DizzyDancing · 24/02/2012 22:12

Sorry, I just get a bit tetchy about people being told to visit an A&E when it's not an emergency - my brother is a Charge Nurse in A&E and is overworked enough as it is!

I think going to see the GP is absolutely right, and seeing if he feels you need an x-ray or referral for physio. I've just read the link and it's a little hazy on how much you should rest (it says elevation for 2-3 hrs a day for example which I did each evening, but then I didn't have kids then!).

I was told to take as many painkillers as I needed and keep walking normally as if you limp you can cause all sorts of other issues with your pelvis etc from not walking normally.

AitchTwoOhOneTwo · 24/02/2012 22:14

you should be able to get the gp to refer you for some physio, i really do recommend this if possible, they will manipulate your ankle and give you an idea of how bad it is. i sprained my ankle in october, rested it for a week in bed, was on crutches for a fortnight and went for physio... it's still not right.

vitaminC · 24/02/2012 22:18

Well, I'm not in the UK, but I do know that the NHS is notorious for its great emergency care, but difficulty in accessing routine care outside of an emergency - hence my A&E suggestion!

But seriously, if the pain lasts beyond a few days, you really do need to get it seen and start physio etc, asap!

Interesting that others have been told to mobilise normally - that's not what I learned in medical school (I'm a medic), not what my rheumatologist told me to do and yet that's what I did with my own sprained ankle as I had no choice... and I'm still living with the consequences :-(

OP, if there's any way at all you can rest it, please try!

Panadbois · 24/02/2012 22:23

I've hurt mine too, five weeks ago, doing couch to 5 k. It took me three weeks until it got so bad I needed to see GP, and I got some painkillers, a sexy sock and some gel.

It's better, but not right. Hurts more when I'm bed and my foot is relaxed tbh.

Hurts when I strech it or sit on the floor. It's put me right off running

AitchTwoOhOneTwo · 24/02/2012 22:26

yes, vitc. what i was told by the physio was to try to recover full movement by using the foot, so not tippy-toeing around etc, but not to walk as much as i might normally. in fact, not to over-do it in the slightest.
i tried to comply, but it's difficult with children, however at the beginning of the year i was laid up for a week with a chest infection and it made a REMARKABLE difference to my ankle.

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