Swollen ankle...one year..7 months..

Over a year ago I sprained my ankle. I went to the hospital got the xrays and they said it was a sprain. They said to do the normal ice it, keep elevated etc. If its not better come back.
A year later I went back to the hospital and they told me the same thing once again.

It will be 2 years in October and its is still hugely swollen and I can't even seen the veins along the side of my foot. What do I need to do to get rid of the swelling permanently!?

Comments for
Swollen ankle...one year..7 months..

Average Rating

Click here to add your own comments

Jul 09, 2008
Rating

Are you having any pain?
by: Bart - SII

Swelling after an ankle sprain can sometimes remain for many months, or even years, after the injury. Sometimes it comes and goes with activities, other times it looks swollen because of scar tissue buildup around the injury site. So, the fact that your ankle is still swollen is pretty normal and fairly common.

If you are still having pain and problems with your ankle, then you probably need to try some rehabilitation to get things back to normal. Your doctor can help set you up with this. If you aren't having pain, then the swelling is not something to worry about too much - and unfortunately, there isn't much that can be done to make it go away, especially if it has been there as long as yours has.

Hope this helps - comment back with other questions.

Bart

Sep 08, 2008
Rating

Swollen ankles - HELP
by: Anonymous

I also suffer from swollen ankles after tearing and injuring my ankles numerous times playing netball. I am so ashamed of my ankles because they look so gross. I have been told it is scar tissue because it is quite solid, but soft and swollen after each game or if I stand for too long. I have been told i need an operation but have also been warned against it by many victims of the operation. I was told that regular massaging can reduce the scar tissue, is this true?

Sep 09, 2008
Rating

Massage can help
by: Bart - SII

Massage may help to reduce scar tissue, however, it may not completely go away. Surgery to remove the scar tissue may also help, but then there is the recovery from the surgery, and the possibility of more scaring.

Bart

Jun 13, 2009
Rating

Me too.
by: Nan

I have the same problem. Been undergoing Physical therapy right now to remove scar tissues. Its been 3 months already, but the ankle still swells when I stand up long.

Its really frustrating. I will consult other doctors if the PT doesnt work.

Jul 07, 2009
Rating

Ankle Torn Ligament
by: Concern Ankle Man

I had an ankle injury at a basketball game. Doctor told me after xray that i have a torn ligament. Had a short rehab but no result. It has been a year and half since the incident. My ankle still swells when stand for too long(5-8 hrs) or after a 5k or 8k run, also have burning pain at times. I have witnessed scars, it a'nt pretty, dry and reddish.I still applys ice and elevate but thinking of visiting Doc again.

Jul 16, 2009
Rating

suffering almost two years of pain
by: Anonymous

I AM SO TIRED OF MY ANKLE PROBLEM. I HAD 3 TORN LIGAMENTS AND HAD SURGERY TO FIX THE PROBLEM. MY ANKLE HAS BEEN SWOLLEN 1 YEAR BEFORE SURGERY AND 6 MONTHS NOW SINCE I HAD SURGERY. I INJURED MY ANKLE FALLING IN MAY 2007. I HVE TRIED EVERYTHING, INCLUDING PT TWICE. I PUT ICE ON IT DAILY, AND TAKE MOBIC FOR PAIN. I JUST WANT MY FOOT BACK TO NORMAL. I HAVE TALKED TO ALOT OF PEOPLE WITH SAME PROBLEM, IT'S TAKEN YEARS TO HEAL. DO ES ANYONE HAVE ANY NEW IDEAS, SO I CAN STOP TAKEN MEDICINE,CAUSE IT REALLY DON'T HELP.

Aug 13, 2009
Rating

Nice to meet you.
by: Frenchi La.

Its so relieving to hear of other sporty people having this problem... i did a lot of running from a very young age, training with the british cross coutry team, and at 15 my left ankle was swollen after a training run, i was put on crutched for six weeks while they investigated and found no cause... im 26 now its still swollen! 11 years on!! its fine in the morning and swollen when i get home from work were im on my feet all day....i find it embarrassing too.. especially when i want to wear nice shoes dainty... i think its arthritic from the pounding road and track running when my body was developing fro 14 to 19 years when i stopped. CHIN UP FOLKS!!! at least its not our faces that are swollen. xxx

Aug 13, 2009
Rating

Sep 19, 2009
Rating

My ankle wont heal...Its already been 7 month!! PLZ HELP YALL!!
by: Anonymous

I broke my ankle 2 times over the past 4 years, and after my ankle healed , everything went back to normal, but 7 months ago i sprained it and I've been going through hell ever since, when ever i walk more than 20 minutes i start getting sharp pains near my ankle and up and down my leg !! i did everything from therapy to cortisone injections in the ankle , and i did all kind of X-rays and MRIs on my ankle but all the doctors seem to belive that there is nothing wrong with me, I'm confused and scared as hell and just want my leg back!! does any one have any advice for me ?? i would really appreciate it any sort of advice and thanks in advance...

p.s. Why has my leg kinda shrunk??

Sep 27, 2009
Rating

Ankle pain
by: Anonymous

It sounds like you may have scar tissue in the ankle...I had some problems with a strange pulling feeling in my leg that caused pain all the way to the hip..when the dr operated last feb to relieve what he thought would only be a chronic compartment syndrome of the lateral calf muscle, he found scar tissue in my ankle that was impinging the peroneal nerve possibly....I am doing PT right now to break up the scar tissue, since surgery...he removed it surgically but scar tissue creates another scar, so that is what I am working on now...I am feeling more relief in my ankle and calf as this therapy progresses, however, because of 6 yrs of this pulling, it has created problems in the back of the knee as well...it is a process of working the entire leg apparently....the scar tissue in the ankle did not show up on an MRI I had, so if the dr had not operated, he wouldn't have found it....I know that doctors can under anesthesia break up scar tissue that is stubborn....check it out with an ankle and foot reconstruction specialist or a good massage therapist if no one wants to do exploratory type surgery.....give it a few months to try the massage, see if it helps...I know it is frustrating..hang in there

Nov 03, 2009
Rating

SORT MY ANKLES OUT
by: im a broken man!

i first broke my left ankle back in 2006 and it has never recoverd, constant swelling and pain when walking or standing for to long, and to add insult to serious injury! i only went and fractured my right ankle 6 months ago and have the same problem! i was in line to make my debut for england under 19s and scored 87 goals in 3 seasons and was dubbed the next owen.... all the doctors said is its scar tissue built up! im fed up with it! when will it go!!!

Jan 21, 2010
Rating

Another ankle issue
by: Mari

I missed the last two stairs in my house 7 weeks ago. It swelled up so much I went to the ER and was told it was just a bad sprain. 2 days later I went to another Dr for a follow up and was told I had a grade 3 sprain. I was given an aircast but 2 days later my cat brushed up against my ankle and I wanted to die. I called the Dr and he sent me for an MRI. I tore 1 ligament completely, partial tore another one. I was sent for rehab but the pain and swelling after was worse. I have a follow up Monday to possible discuss surgery but I am not sure what to do. I have moderate pain but the swelling is just out of control.

Feb 04, 2010
Rating

going on 3yrs with mine
by: danny

i have the same swelling and my foot is literally deformed turning sideways i have a dr appt in duke next week if they cant fix it i will get a shotgun out and wear a prosthetic leg the rest of my life so any help will be great i think a prosthetic will be better than limping all the time on a sore foot

Feb 11, 2010
Rating

2 years since injury...
by: stubbornhooper

I rolled my ankle in march 08. Landed on someones foot coming down from a jumpshot in basketball...it sounded like a 2x4 snapped in half. It didnt break but im sure there are bone spurs in there along with tearing at least 2 ligaments. I have pics of it and the outside of my foot was the size of a grapefruit. It was unreal. I have had numerous injuries of both of my ankles from college basketball but this one takes the cake. I couldnt walk on it for 6 months and was on crutches for 4 months. I still have pain on the outside of my left ankle and feels like someone is sticking needles in there when i step wrong. Its still swollen from the scar tissue and my achilles tendon is still not back to normal size. I didnt go to the doctor like i should have b/c i have done this many times before so i assumed the typical rehab would work....bad idea. Im 100% against surgery b/c i have not heard one good thing from anyone who had surgery to tighten up their ligaments from this injury. Its one of those things that you can just do all the rehab to make the muscles stronger and try to make your ankle as stable as you can. Im stubborn and can NOT stop playing basketball. I tape it and wear a brace when i play now and that helps a lot. I always ice it immediately after and do 2 hours of rehab stuff at home daily to keep it strong. Im going to a sports medicine dr and he is doing things to break up the scar tissue and its starting to make a difference. I also HIGHLY recommend acupuncture!!!!! It helps a TON with the pain and helps get the muscles around the foot back to working properly. With a severe sprain like this, nerve damage is also a factor. So if any of you havent tried it, I would give it a shot! Its helped me and i never thought i would do something like that. Good luck to us all!

X Close Editor

Feb 11, 2010
Rating

Submitted by: stubbornhooper

Title

Comment
I rolled my ankle in march 08. Landed on someones foot coming down from a jumpshot in basketball...it sounded like a 2x4 snapped in half. It didnt break but im sure there are bone spurs in there along with tearing at least 2 ligaments. I have pics of it and the outside of my foot was the size of a grapefruit. It was unreal. I have had numerous injuries of both of my ankles from college basketball but this one takes the cake. I couldnt walk on it for 6 months and was on crutches for 4 months. I still have pain on the outside of my left ankle and feels like someone is sticking needles in there when i step wrong. Its still swollen from the scar tissue and my achilles tendon is still not back to normal size. I didnt go to the doctor like i should have b/c i have done this many times before so i assumed the typical rehab would work....bad idea. Im 100% against surgery b/c i have not heard one good thing from anyone who had surgery to tighten up their ligaments from this injury. Its one of those things that you can just do all the rehab to make the muscles stronger and try to make your ankle as stable as you can. Im stubborn and can NOT stop playing basketball. I tape it and wear a brace when i play now and that helps a lot. I always ice it immediately after and do 2 hours of rehab stuff at home daily to keep it strong. Im going to a sports medicine dr and he is doing things to break up the scar tissue and its starting to make a difference. I also HIGHLY recommend acupuncture!!!!! It helps a TON with the pain and helps get the muscles around the foot back to working properly. With a severe sprain like this, nerve damage is also a factor. So if any of you havent tried it, I would give it a shot! Its helped me and i never thought i would do something like that. Good luck to us all!

Cancel Delete Delete & Ban

throbber Updating Comments page...

Click here to add your own comments