Torn ligament in ankle?

[ajandjjmum]

Dd has just twisted her foot playing netball, and the nurse at school thinks she may have torn a ligament.

It's obviously pretty sore, and she has been told to rest it - although funnily enough, she has the energy to go and get some chocolate!

Just wondering if anyone has any experience of how long this might take to heal - she is going on a hockey tour in a couple of week, so I'm a little concerned.

Thanks.

I did this a few months back - healed very quickly, rest elevation ice for the first couple of days, but was better in a week or so.

Not sure about playing sport, she might need an ankle support for a while as they tend to go over again until they're back to full strength.

HTH

I did this a few years ago while pargliding.

I was told that I had two options - to put it in a cast or have an operation and put it in a cast. I had the op - I had torn 2 ligaments and stretched one, so it was quite severe. Was in a cast for 40 days afterwards. Not a nice experience but I have had no problems since.

Someone else I know was adviced to not have the op and just rest it. It healed but she still has pain occasionally years later and her ankle is not completely stable.

Also I was told that the op only works within 48 hours of the injury.

Sorry, I don't mean to scare you, she may not even have torn it if she is walking around - I was in terrible pain and could not bear any weight on that ankle.

My DD did this, aged 6.
She was told to rest up, not jump on it and it would take about 6 weeks to heal.
But when it appeared to be almost better she slipped on it again. In total it was probably causing her discomfort for about 3 or 4 months before completely healing.

I hope its sorted before hockey tour.

Oh dear! We've had tears all night as she was wanting to do lots of training before the tour. It's obviously very sore and swollen at the moment - I suppose we'll just have to see how it's looking tomorrow.

Hope she's as lucky as you WhatFreshHellIsThis!

It depends on whick way she's damaged it. If it's straight across then she'll have resticted movement and this does require some help to repair it, if it's a slight rip, not all the way through then this will heal in time.

It's best to pop to A&E with this so they can examine her. Sorry.

Thanks scrooged. She can walk on it albeit rather gingerly, so I'm hoping its a 'not so bad' one. The school nurse thought it was her ligament, but said to keep it rested and elevated and cold!

We'll have a re-think tomorrow morning.

She couldn't really have done this just to get out of handing in her PE coursework could she?!!!

Hmm. There's alot of ligaments in the foot, a ligament is the end of a muscle where it joins to the bone. If she's got full range of movement (feet and all toes) then it may not be completely torn but it's best a doctor checks this out. Treat with ibuprofen, rest and elevation. This will help with the pain and swelling. IIRC, if it is completly torn then she needs looking at tonight as it will need a repair under anaesthetic.
I would pop her to A&E, best to be sure.

I tore my ligament three years ago - no way I could walk, even gingerly.

I would rest and elevate and see how she is tomorrow.

I did this years ago and it was bloody agony, I didn't realise I'd done it and worked a shift in the pub before ending up in the hospital

agree with scrooged, get it seen if you can

It depends which one you did spongebrain. If it was one of the bigger ones then tis sounds right but there are some smaller ones that help the toes to move aswell as some underneath. It really does need a doctor to diagnose this. Sorry aj Better to have her checked.

Just back from spending a glorious morning in A & E. They xrayed to be sure it wasn't a break, and it isn't, so that's good!

I think it is pulled rather than torn - not that I know much really! - it's just that she can walk, although we have got her dosed up on ibuprofen and paracetamol.

She has been told to rest it for a few days, but still gently exercise so that it doesn't get stiff. We'll just have to wait and see how it goes.

Thank you all for your help and advice.

That sounds quite positive.

Hopefully she'll be fine for the hockey tour.

A torn liguament is officially worse than a break as it takes longer to heal. Mine was still troubling me after 4 years. Hopefully your Dd's is just a twist/sprain.

ligament