Ankle Sprain Healing Very Slowly

noideaa on 30/10/2023 - 08:16
Last edited 30/10/2023 - 08:34

Hi everyone, I sprained my ankle at home last month and it’s healing very slowly.

I took 2 weeks off, went to gp, took scans then went to see an orthopaedic who said I had a ligament damage and there was a weakness that caused it (past injury). I will need to wear braces for 6 weeks and see a physio.

After that, I took 2 day off in 2 weeks (both Monday so 3 days rest, sounds suss to bosses right?) and going to doctor for medical certificate which is a pain. Working while standing up and feeling it for 8 hours is pissing me off and lifting with two legs is hard because it adds extra pressure on my sprained ankle so I have to raise one leg up.

Everything is so frustrating and I think my work probably think i’m making excuses taking off since they have not replied “no problem” like they would do or am I thinking too much??

Education & Work

Comments

  • BoltThrower on 30/10/2023 - 08:23
    +4

    Stay off your feet and don't lift anything. It's not worth making it worse. I don't know what your job is, but there's gotta be some admin work, driving, anything else but lifting that you can do. I'm sure your boss isn't completely unreasonable.
    Weeks off work is better than months.

    • noideaa on 30/10/2023 - 08:26
      +1

      I work in the warehouse.

      • ESEMCE on 30/10/2023 - 08:54
        +4

        Talk to your boss so you get more forklift or admin time during your recovery.
        Workplaces can and should adjust to employees capability.

        • jv on 30/10/2023 - 09:35
          -7

          Workplaces can and should adjust to employees capability.

          Or hire somebody else who is more capable of doing the job.

          • ESEMCE on 30/10/2023 - 12:36

            @jv: Definitely not in this employment environment assuming OP is a remotely capable employee.

            • jv on 30/10/2023 - 12:42

              @ESEMCE: Depends on the sector…

    • jv on 30/10/2023 - 09:35
      -4

      Stay off your feet and don't lift anything.

      I see what you did there… 🤣🤣🤣

  • EightImmortals on 30/10/2023 - 08:29
    +2

    Tendons take ages to heal, gets worse as you get older. Certain lineaments and heat work for me.

    • noideaa on 30/10/2023 - 08:30

      (profanity) me. I hope they understand, I really do. On my 2 weeks off, I sent them a copy of the orthopaedic full report.

      Taking day offs is affecting me mentally.

      • EightImmortals on 30/10/2023 - 09:22
        +3

        So tell them you want to come back to work on light duties until your ankle is healed.

        • [Deactivated] on 30/10/2023 - 11:34
          +2

          Get that in writing from your doctor - light duties only, stay off feet.
          The employer won't do anything without it in writing from a doctor.

  • HerpinDerp on 30/10/2023 - 08:39
    +1

    You should see a Podiatrist. At least the ortho cleared anything significant.

    Did you have an xray and ultrasound?

    If it's really painful and not following any normal course of healing consider MRI.

    • noideaa on 30/10/2023 - 08:45

      Yeah, had both xray and ultrasound. GP suggest a surgery to fix it after seeing the result so she refered me to an orthopaedic but he gave a different opinion and said it should heal after 6 weeks if you wear the braces (he gave me one) and a see physio.

      I’m doing ankle strengthening exercise daily following physio’s program.

      It’s only painful when i’m walking at fast pace, lifting and rotating it to test.

      • EightImmortals on 30/10/2023 - 09:26
        +9

        DO NOT DO SURGERY on it unless it that is completely the last resort, verified by 2-3 medical professionals from different fields (an ortho, a physio and an ostio etc). If I had a dollar for every time my osteo told me about patients who are way worse off after having unnecessary surgery instead of just being patient and doing the right exercises until the issues healed I would have a few dollars.

      • HerpinDerp on 30/10/2023 - 11:04

        Still, why not see a Podiatrist for a functional assessment?

        Everyone has different anatomical variation. Some foot types love to supinate, this puts you at higher risk of inversion sprains. Maybe hypermobility is excessive.

        A good recommendation of footwear will also greatly benefit.

        • noideaa on 30/10/2023 - 20:26

          Thanks, I’ll see them if it haven’t healed most of it in the next 3 months.

          The reason is because I spent close to $700 for 2x GP booking, scans, orthos and physio who I will be seeing fortnightly in the next 3 months. All orthotic shoes online appears to be $100+ so yeah, later if nothing changes.

          • HerpinDerp on 31/10/2023 - 10:39

            @noideaa: What is your priority? Healing the inury or ozbargain life?

            I'd also seek out Shockwave Therapy (ESWT)

    • jv on 30/10/2023 - 09:36
      -4

      You should see a Podiatrist.

      OP is already married.

  • dTer on 30/10/2023 - 09:14
    +7

    I fully tore my ATFL ligament and damaged a few surrounding ligaments a few years ago. I was working at colesworth at that time, took about 2 months off as my job was physical in the fresh produce department. It took about a month for me to be able to stand up, about a month and a half to comfortably walk. I was on crutches for a month and had physio to learn to walk correctly.

    I can sympathise, it did take a toll on my mental health. It really sucks. When I returned to work, I worked register for a while with a high-chair. I was grateful that I was accommodated.

    It took over a year to not have any residual pain after the injury.

    You are in for a long recovery, it takes ages to heal after these injuries. My best advice would be to get physio, and to push the flexibility limits of your joint as often as you can. You need to get blood flowing to heal it faster. The main thing though is to not do anything to cause uncomfortable pain.

    Good luck with the recovery, I am sorry this has happened to you.

  • jv on 30/10/2023 - 09:33
    -4

    Ankle Sprain Healing Very Slowly

    Same here…

    I put it down to Climate change… 😔

  • Trying2SaveABuck on 30/10/2023 - 09:48

    go see a physiotherapist

  • [Deactivated] on 30/10/2023 - 10:08

    There are heaps of Drs on here so at least one will be able to give you some pro bono advice seeing as they're rolling in money and can afford to do so.

  • Strykex on 30/10/2023 - 10:11
    +1

    Go and see a physio

  • Rear CreviceEruption on 30/10/2023 - 10:30

    Wear orthotics in your shoes. Wear comfortable shoes without a big heal. Don't do anything silly, but also don't freak out and stop walking. It will heal slowly.

  • 7ekn00 on 30/10/2023 - 10:41

    Statins and lack of high quality protein (red meat) will drastically reduce healing :/

  • screensaver on 30/10/2023 - 11:05
    -3

    I did a Sports Medicine course years ago and was recommended a Chinese liquid liniment Zeng Gu Shui. I always keep a bottle on hand. It helps to heal I buy it at Chinese medicine places like acupuncture clinics. Its not expensive

  • try2bhelpful on 30/10/2023 - 14:20

    https://theconversation.com/patrick-mahomes-injury-an-ankle-…

    This is a discussion about ankle sprains. Mahomes went on to play the Super Bowl with only one good ankle, and the Chiefs won. They are now playing the new NFL season and the Chiefs are still worried about his ankle when he gets tackled. With even the best medical attention available these things take time and rehabilitation.

  • iCandy on 30/10/2023 - 15:48
    +2

    I fell down the steps of the Stanford Plaza, drunk, and tore the ligaments on my ankle. My foot went black. I had it xrayed the next day and was given the all clear. Fast forward 14 years later, I had an MRI and I had actually fractured it but because the X-ray was taken so early, it didn’t show up. About 20 years ago, my right foot suddenly became painful. It swelled up and sometimes it was almost impossible to walk on it. X-rays showed nothing. It took 5 months of a lot of pain for it to go away. Ten years later, the same thing happened. Again, X-rays and ultrasound showed nothing but fluid. 2 months later I was sent for an MRI. At that time, I had a healed stress fracture of my heel and a current stress fracture of my heel. If you can afford it, MRIs are the way to go.

    • Emli on 31/10/2023 - 08:55

      Totally agree. I am currently recovering from surgery to my foot. After a year of physio, massage and podiatry, I was finally sent to an orthopaedic surgeon who sent me for an MRI. In his words, an x-ray is very cloudy whereas an MRI is clear.

  • garetz on 30/10/2023 - 15:48

    Its not that it is healing slowly, it is you are not giving it an opportunity to heal, because you are on your feet 8 hours a day.

    people think ankle injuries arent a big deal, but they can become a big deal if you do not allow time for them to heal completely.
    They can become niggling injuries that last decades. Also the recovery time can be much longer depending on your age, previous injuries on your ankle and other factors.

    • Sensiekatie on 31/10/2023 - 13:12

      Totally agree. Add that involvement of ligaments means it isn't going to be a quick recovery. Look after it. OP working a they are is not aiding recovery.

  • rr64 on 30/10/2023 - 19:50

    I sprained my ankle and injured a ligament a few years ago and it took about 6 months to heal to the point where I could walk an average day without pain. I hope you can push through it in better time than I did because it was frustrating to be sure.

  • noideaa on 30/10/2023 - 20:22

    Thanks for the advice everyone, it is distressing to hear that it takes 6 months to over a year for it to fully heal.

    Do you recommend going to the gym and do exercise that doesn’t impact ankles and legs? Like chin ups, dips, certain cable machines while raising foot up, medicine ball on floor, ankle strengthening and rowing/elliptical machines etc to stay in shape and avoid the risk of getting overweight? Or should I rest completely?

    • try2bhelpful on 30/10/2023 - 21:18

      You best idea is to ask a physio what is best to do. You will need rehabilitation exercises and they can tell you what exercises will avoid further injury.

      • noideaa on 30/10/2023 - 22:20

        OK thanks try and Garetz, I will try minimize standing up and ask my physio in my next appointment.

    • garetz on 30/10/2023 - 21:40

      Weight bearing exercises are a big nono, you need rehab specific exercises while healing. Other exercise could cause the injury to become worse.

      Walking on it 8 hrs a day will definitely make it worse even doctors do not really know how long it will take for an injury to heal, they make guestimates based on previous experience of other people with similar injuries.

      The older you are, the longer it takes. What could of taken 1-2 weeks in your early 20s, could take 3-6 months in your early 40s and make you a cripple in your 70s or 80s.

  • Luckyalways on 31/10/2023 - 07:43

    It can take 6 - 8 weeks for a sprained ankle to heal depending on the severity of the sprain. Have you seen a physio? They can show you how to tape or bandage your ankle for maximum support plus give you exercises to help with the healing. You don't want to be at work too soon in case it causes more permanent damage. It really is worth seeing a physio for advise and treatment so that you won't need the whole 6-8 weeks for your ankle to support you at work.

  • ramshead on 31/10/2023 - 08:34
    +1

    Did ligament damage to my ankle . After 6 weeks of Physio, was told nothing wrong, why aren't you jogging again?Implied I was faking pain. A rugby colleague said "mate, ligaments take 6-12 months" . He was right, took 12 months before I was good. Thankfully complete recovery.

  • Bob Svargis on 31/10/2023 - 08:35

    I would insist that the GP refer you to a specialist, and probably an MRI.

    Not a medico but I had surgery on my left ankle last year. Sprained/rolled it in mid 2021. Taped it/bound it for a while but still had this niggling pain. In typical male style i put it off. Finally saw the doctor early 2022 and it turns out that it was fractured. Ankles are so delicate. Well, mine are. Had surgery aand physio. I should also mention that i had the right ankle done in a similar manner about 17 years earlier, also with surgery. Wasn't as damaged as the second time, but as you get older it also takes longer to heal.

    If it were me, I'd get back to the doc and ask for a referral. Yes it's costly but you should fix this up while you're younger, I can vouch for how much longer it takes to heal as you age.

    Some of us are more susceptible to ankle sprains, I guess it's genetic as I inherited my Dad's chicken legs and Mum's thin ankles.

  • BeamMeUp on 31/10/2023 - 08:51

    Injured ankles can be very slow to heal. Stay off it. EOM.

  • RichB on 31/10/2023 - 11:14

    Ankle injuries should be treated very intentionally as it can easily be loaded up with normal duties and you can unintentionally slow or prevent recovery.

    If you think it can't get worse, think again, ankle injuries can easily go from 6week recovery to 6mths + if you don't do the recovery NOW.

  • CWJ on 01/11/2023 - 00:22
    +1

    Had torn ankle ligaments which was misdiagnosed by a quack who advised I'd be running in a few weeks. After a month or so gave up & saw a sports doctor who referred me for more scans & physio. Some improvement with a couple of months of physio before he referred me to a an Orthopaedic Surgeon who suspected excessive scar tissue & tiny floating bone fragments may be stalling the healing. Recommended & performed an arthroscope & clean up which had immediate improvements coupled with a bit more physio. Should have got the 2nd opinion earlier, more rest early days & started physio earlier to help avoid the scar tissue build up.

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