Sprained Ankle

[FiveFoxes]

I was on a run last Tuesday and suddenly my ankle felt sore although I didn't notice when it started. I continued running for a few minutes as it wasn't that bad and I thought it might just be aching and would pass. Afterwards when walking home, it was hurting more. I iced it and elevated it when I got home.

I probably didn't rest as much as I should have for the following few days - I walked around quite a bit as I had a lot on. I have been trying to rest a lot more the last few days, but the pain isn't going away.

The initial pain was on the inside of my ankle under the ankle bone towards my heel. It did feel bruised the first day although there was nothing to see and no swelling. It was only hurting when walking downstairs or when walking up the pavement (not around the house).

Now the pain seems to be through my ankle from one side to the other under my ankle bone towards my heel. It's also tingly/achy and hurts a bit when sitting still.

Should I worry? How can I make it better? I want to go back to running!

You need to rest. Anti-inflammatories like ibuprofen, either as a tablet or the gel directly on your ankle will help to reduce any swelling, ice for 10-15 minute periods a couple of times a day will also help with any swelling. But the main thing is to not aggravate it, gentle stretches to prevent it stiffening up, gently walks to keep it mobile, but no running till the pain has gone.

i say this not as a medical expert but as a clumsy person who seems to twist/pull/sprain/tweak/graze or otherwise injure ankles, wrists and every other body part on a weekly basis. I am basically a walking bruise.

Thank you. I have been doing the RICE thing. I think there is some slight improvement, but I had bad cramps in my calf last night so now I have a bad leg too!

I think it's a tendon connected to my big toe that I have hurt as I can't seem to point it properly - it's really weird like I lack control of it fully!

Just wait...... what doctors call "therapeutic use of time"!

The problem with hurting your ankle if that you still move around but you compensate, so you hold your leg differently, put more pressure on the other leg, place your foot down at a different angle, walk more on your toes etc which then causes you to use different muscles in different ways which makes them sore. That’s why rest is so important so you don’t do yourself more damage in different ways.

Hmm, are you sure it's a sprain? Could it be a stress fracture? Might be worth looking for a medical opinion.

In either case, you'll want to ensure it heals properly - I didn't get my badly sprained ankle looked at for weeks because I was too busy and important and ten years later with all the problems it's caused, I really regret it....

I’ve strained my ankles a few times, get an elastic bandage which helps, the no swelling is something I would be worried about, I think you are going to have to get it looked at as I’ve always had swelling and bruising when my ankles were sprained.

I am not sure it's a sprain, but I feel I'd be shouted at by the GP if I turned up with an ankle pain I'd had for a week and half ... I will definitely go if it doesn't start getting better soon.

Today I have noticed that the back of my ankle - the boney bit- is redder than the other side. And last night I had terrible cramp in my calf, but that might have been a coincidence!

I have been Googling a bit more and I am wondering if it's Achilles Tendonitis. No clear results, but the onset, big toe not being able to point, the current area of pain and the calf cramps last night all fit.

Google suggests if it is, I should be doing some exercises to help it get better. Now I don't know if I should be resting it or flexing it!!

Anyone know how I can tell the difference? I will make a GP appointment next week if no improvement over the weekend. If I have had pain that isn't improving for two weeks, I think that's an acceptable use of NHS time?