Sprained Ankle Healing Issue.

[vickster]

I'm not that old I'm only 46!, yeah it would be quicker to see a private physio but you have to pay and I'm on a budget. I'll see next week what the waiting list is when I ring the Drs.

I got told by a GP that I wasn't getting any younger when my broken toe was healing slowly. I was in my early 30s!

 

[PhilDawson8270]

it could take upto a year etc to heal if it is a bad sprain. I explained this was no good as I'm very active etc.So I'll just have to wait and see.

Unfortunately, ligaments take a long time to heal. And in a lot of cases, they never really regain their full strength.

 

[ayceejay]

Once again we are assuming what the problem is.

 

[fossyant]

Private physio.

You'll not get NHS Physio for some time and at best they will give you a few exercises. It was a waste of time when I broke my spine and when I had a shoulder operation.

Even if it's just a couple of visits, the private physio will give you better advice. The NHS physios aren't given the resources to be of much help.

 

[vickster]

Unfortunately, ligaments take a long time to heal. And in a lot of cases, they never really regain their full strength.

Better to damage ligaments than articular joint cartilage

 

[PhilDawson8270]

Private physio.

You'll not get NHS Physio for some time and at best they will give you a few exercises. It was a waste of time when I broke my spine and when I had a shoulder operation.

Even if it's just a couple of visits, the private physio will give you better advice. The NHS physios aren't given the resources to be of much help.

Absolutely this.

I did 1 visit with the physio. Who gave me loads of exercises, and just gave me a few tests to make sure I wouldn't damage it continuing to play rugby.

Some great advice, that I followed, I still do the exercises now 18 months later, but it was quite a serious sprain.

You may think "It's only a sprained ankle", but remember that unless it's a mild one. It is actually, at the least, a partial tear of the ligament. It's quite a serious bit of damage.

 

[vickster]

Once again we are assuming what the problem is.

Sprained painful ankle, no better after 5 weeks. No obvious fracture. Ligaments seem a likely culprit?

 

[fossyant]

When I fell off my MTB in October I just went to a private physio. Only needed 3 visits to ensure I was doing the right things to improve healing.

 

[fossyant]

I avoided A&E and the GP as I knew I'd not broken my shoulder. It was very sore and I couldn't move my arm but the physio quite quickly knew what I had done. They checked for rotator cuff injury but I'd just whacked it hard bruising the bone and muscles.

Well worth seeing a sports physio.

 

[PK99]

I'm not that old I'm only 46!, yeah it would be quicker to see a private physio but you have to pay and I'm on a budget. I'll see next week what the waiting list is when I ring the Drs.

NHS physio has the simple aim of getting you back to normal life, anything out of the norm such as active sports is necessarily low on their priority list.

Plus, as @vickster says, the private physio has all the toys that the NHS does not for every day use. I'm using Compex electro-muscle stimulation, I will be using a Biodex balance system and in due course when I am cleared to begin running will start in a specialist aqua physio pool. Plus off course hands on soft tissue work as needed. All I ever got from our local, excellent HNS physio was sets of exercise sheet to do a t home.

When I had a smidsy a few years ago, I went to the nhs physio for a few months and my back did not improve. When I gave up on them and went to a sports physio a 30 minute session of deep tissue massage to mobilise damage products and ease muscle capsule adhesions has an almost miraculous instant effect..

Waiting time for the appointment is not the issue.

 

[dbeattie]

Liz
Sounds like you're coming along just fine. Does it seem plausible that increasing strength and power might help to delay the onset of pain in walking? I know lots of physios like to use balance boards but IMO they can be counterproductive.

Try this. Take of your socks and shoes and stand on an firm even surface (kitchen floor is good). Assuming your right ankle is the sore one, lift your right foot and balance on your left foot. Keep the knee of your left leg bent and reach down and touch your left big toe with the index finger of your right hand. Use your right leg as a counterbalance behind you. Try and keep it all under control and smooth.
Now try it standing on your right leg.
Which is better?
Duncan

 

[PhilDawson8270]

Like is for getting a result. Not a like for a broken ankle.

 

[Ed Phelan]

R.I.C.E Is what I was taught (rest, ice, compression, elevation) but yes - see a doctor, best to get these things checked out sooner rather than later.

 

[vickster]

I've just rung the Doctors for the results of the Xray and its come back as abnormal so I have to make an appointment with the DR to discuss it. It sounds like it most likely is broken because sprains/soft tissue damage dont show up the Radiographer said on a normal Xray.
Thank You all again for taking the time to help me out with this.

Sorry to hear it's broken, hopefully it'll be a straightforward rehab

 

[Ed Phelan]

Ahh I misread! Sorry to hear that, but glad you know what the issue is and can crack on with fixing yourself back up!