Badly sprained ankle..... any tips/ advice? pain is really bad

[LuluisgoingtobeanAunty]

Had a fall last night, went to A&E this morning, been x-rayed. Not broken or fractured, but the pain is unbelievable. i can't put any weight on it, it is agony.managed to borrow some crutches from a friend.

have had some codydramol, got my leg elevated, but it is so painful.really throbbing, if i try to put my foot down, it makes my head spin with the pain

what can i do to improve things and how long can i expect the pain to last? nurse advised i put weight on it and use it,but i can't

thanks x

try alternating a cold compress with a hot one

you do need to try to put your weight on it as soon as you can

if you keep yourself topped up with painkillers you should find it easier to bear the pain when trying to stand
when i did mine it was a good week before I could go out of the house

RICE:

Rest
Ice
Compression (bandage)
Elevation

Anti inflammatories, such as ibuprofen, diclofenac.
I wont put weight on it until I could, but you need to keep it moving, like doing circles with your ankle whilst it is elevated

HTH

thanks hotcross.
i am in on my own at the mo, DH had stuff to do so has taken the chidren out, not sure i can get down the stairs again. will get a compress when he gets back.

tried to stand on it a few minutes ago but the pain is horrific.

thanks too lilly,think i have a tubigrip upstairs, sowill try to grab it

keep it moving and ice pack it.

I've done this a few times and it really hurts but try to bear weight or stretch the tendons on your ankle while resting it, otherwise you'll end up bearing all your weight on the ball of you foot for a while.

Gently exercise it as much as pain allows - write letters in the air with your feet flexing at the ankle. Then move on to weight bearing such as heel raises (supported then unsupported, 2 feet then just the injured one) over a period of days/weeks). Voltarol gel is good for pain relief and easing the tightened ligaments, arnica for bruising as are a number of others. Can you get referred to a physio or pay for an assessment yourself (mine was £30 a couple of years ago then I used health insurance ) to get some advice on exercises and deep massage to relieve stiffness and swelling. It took mine over 2 months to get near right even so.

thanks lis and diffID.

i am knocked sideways by the pain

i have bupa so can ask fro a referral

am circling my foot now

will send DH a text message list of meds

everytone asked if i was drunk when i fell

was it a staircase fall?

no, i was outside, did not see there was a step down and just went over on my ankle and hit the deck. was so

where you drunk then?

when I did mine it was at highforce waterfall co durham, mikes away from civilisation
I had an ambulance, a doctor, the police and ended up being carried up a big steep hill by the mountain rescue team as the ambulance people couldn;t reach me

, i was not drunk it probably would have hurt less all night if i had been trolleyed, and at least i did not need mountain rescue

it was dark and was not in a place i have been very often

you have my utmost sympathy. DH back yet with supplies?

thanks . no,he will be a couple of hours yet.

have they said how long you could be out of action for?

nope. hospital was a bit vague,gave me a leaflet and told me to walk on it as soon as possible. i have not got time to do this !!

Do you have any clients lined up?

yes, two,end of april time >

there's no need to panic yet. The sooner you can get bearing weight, the easier you will find it. Honestly.
Feel up to giving it a go?

have had a couple of little walks around,using the crutches to take most of my weight, can't get my foot flat down and still v v v painful, but will perservere with it

glad to hear it. Now I will hope and pray that neither of your clients start labour in the next week

thank you

I too did mine half way up a mountain and mountain rescue had to get me!!! The shame.

Cos I went from one NHS hospital to another (as on hols when did it) my x ray was lost but basically I tore ligaments. Which is what you probably have done. Stupid hospital didn't tell me to keep it moving, just stuck a cast on it So it seized up and when it came off it was a bloody mess. So self refered to private physio who had me moving and weight bearing after one visit - though had plenty of painful follow up.

So essentially what I am saying is, keep it moving. It will hurt but of course will get easier as the days go on.

pooor you!!

i am getting up every few minutes when i feel it seizing up. the first few steps are agony though. but definitely better than this morning. i could not put my foot on the floor,s am seeing an improvement already

pain is not constant agonising throbbing now

am worried though how i will get up in the morning ,keep seizing up