Sports Injury Info

Ankle Injury (lateral ankle sprain)

by HW
(Ohio)

Hi, I was running last week and I twisted my ankle pretty bad. I couldn't put any weight on it when it first happened. I could hobble home after a while though. The next day it looked as if there was a golf ball sitting on my ankle right above the little bone that you can see pop out on the outside of the ankle. ( If you have any idea what I'm talking about.)

It is painful to walk long distances like from class to class. It is bruised and still swollen a week later. I can't get the swelling to go down. I told my parents but they won't take me to the doctor. They think I will be fine.

What do you think could be wrong?
Could it be broken? Or just a sprain that will heal with time?

Thanks!

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Ankle Injury (lateral ankle sprain)

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Nov 06, 2008
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by: Bart - SII

From what you describe, it sounds like you have sprained your ankle. The swelling you have along the outside of the lateral malleolus (that bone that sticks out on the outside of the ankle), the pain, and twisting it are all common signs and symptoms of a sprain.

I always recommend to my patients and to site visitors to see a doctor after an ankle sprain, or any injury that involves pain for more than a week. There is a small chance that you could have a fracture in the ankle, and an X-ray is the only way to find out for sure.

Rest, ice, compression, and elevation are beneficial after an injury, and for ankle sprains, they will heal with time, but the best healing and recovery will happen if you have some rehabilitation - exercises to improve your motion, reduce your swelling, improve your strength, balance, and endurance.

There are some exercises listed on this site for ankle sprains - and if you go see your doctor, they should be able to give you some as well.

Bart

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