I seem to have very bad luck with this...I've sprained my ankle 3 times in the past year and a half.The first was really bad,the second wasn't too good,and this one is minor (a grade 1),but happened at a very inconvenient time (the school musical opens in 6 days,and I have to dance in it).So,for now I'm wearing an aircast,resting as much as possible,going to PT,taking Naprosyn for swelling,and Tylenol for pain,and hoping that it gets to the point so that I can actually perform (with it taped)...Then in 4 weeks I'm going back to the sports doctor so we can figure out what we've got to do so that I'll stop spraining my ankle because we don't want it to get to the point that I'll need surgery (especially since I'm only 16,and I'm pretty active so that would be bad)!

Anyone else in the same (or similar) boat as me? This is very frustrating!

i have sprained my left ankle numerous times until i did balance exercises such as standing on one foot then the other and standing on my toes up and down. then when something would happen that would normally cause an ankle sprain my balance offset the problem. good luck in future.:angel:

Although I have done MANY balance exercises,that hasn't prevented me from spraining my ankle.

I'm just a person with naturally extraordinarily bad balance.I'm a dancer (mainly ballet),yet my physical therapist says that I have some of the worst balance she's ever seen!

My story is very similiar to yours. After spraining my ankle a number of times in a short period of time it came to the point that I could not even walk my dog without spraining my ankle. That's when I went to my doc who ordered a MRI (although he found nothing, argh! That's a whole new story). I went to an OS who referred me to an Ankle Specialist because the MRI said that I had a partial tear of one of my tendons and some pulled ligaments. We tried some things including a CAM-Walker and rest, but nothing worked. I wound up having surgery to repair the problems back in June. I am only 20 yrs old, and I really hated the idea of surgery, before this. Even though the road to recovery was a little long and I missed most of the summer, now that I am almost 10 months post-op I have realized that it was probably the best decision I have ever made.
I am not trying to push surgery, although re-reading this it really seems that way. Every situation is different and spending some time talking about your options with your doctor is probably the best thing you can do a this point. Listen carefully to all of his advice and ask questions. Another piece of advice would be to get a second opinion.
Hopefully your dancing on it will not re-injure it. Take as many precautions as you possibly can right now. They sell these elastic sock like things at most sports stores, they are what got me through the times between sprains. Anyways, I wish you the best of luck. I hope you find the treatment that best matches your lifestyle.

-Brittani

P.S. Have you had a MRI done yet?

I am trying my best not to injure myself more while dancing...And so far I'm OK as I've been taping my ankle for all rehearsals (which is much more supportive than any elastic brace).

I have not gotten an MRI done,and I'm not sure if I will.It depends on how my ankle is at the re-check that's in a couple of weeks.

...And as for a second opinion,there's not really anybody else to go to.The sports doctor I see is the best in the area,which is why I see him.Everyone else is just so so.Plus,this sports doctor knows my complete history,everything from my patello-femoral syndrome to the problem with my lower leg,to my multiple ankle sprains (as has my physical therapist).

I am glad to hear that you are being careful while dancing. I have a very good friend that is a dancer, so I know the toll that it can take on your body. If taping is working for you, I am glad. We all have our own methods and know what works best for ourselves. As for me taping was always a little to constrictive, and the elastic is very supportive. The brace I am speaking of is one used by all the high school sports teams around here, I'm not sure if I am remembering this right, but I think it was my ex-softball coach that told me about these braces.
As far as MRI's go, I suggested it because before I had mine I kept being told that there was not a real problem, that my sprains were just accidents. I would have accepted that except that they started to happen more frequently and I could not stand being layed up each time it happened. Mine were occurring during routine activities, which made me even more concerned because I was not doing anything strenuous. By the last time it had happened I had already had 4 x-rays done that showed nothing, that's when my doc wrote the script for the MRI. Had I never had it done I probably would have sprained my ankle several more times without ever having it fixed. I also suffered from severe bone contusion as a result of my sprains, and the pain from that (my doctor tells me) may never go away. I am just a firm believer in getting as many tests done to get to the root of the problem, so I guess that is why I am advocating the MRI. It really made a big difference in my life, and if your sprains are happening frequently, it may make a big difference in your life too.
Finally, on the topic of a second opinion. Doctors, no matter how experienced or "the best" they are, have not seen everything. I had one doctor tell me there was nothing wrong, and two more tell me that I would need to have surgery. Whether it is getting surgery or not getting surgery, you should always have a second opinion to back up the first. Your doctor may be the best, but he/she is mostlikely not the only Sports Injure/Orthopedic Surgeon in your area, and if you are asked to make such a big decision (such as surgery) don't you want to know that it is neccessary? Maybe that is just my opinion. I tend to be a little distrustful of doctors in general, for personal reasons.

Anyway, best of luck in recovery, dancing, and life. I wish you health and speedy healing.

-Britt

I agree about taping being sort of constrictive,but it's the best option for me right now,because I need that support.Without it,I wouldn't be able to do any of my dancing in the musical because my ankle isn't actually strong enough to withstand demi-pointe (standing on my toes).

With the MRI - If I get one or not completely depends on how my ankle is in a couple weeks when I go in again for the re-check.

...I also don't know who else I could see.I know of one orthopedic surgeon in the area,but I wouldn't want to go see him because my friend who has had a lot of trouble with her knees was seeing him,and the things that he suggested only made her worse,so now she sees the sports doctor that I see.

Ouch!

My ankle is killing me!!!

During the actual show it wasn't too painful because of all the adrenaline from performing,but as soon as I got home (about 45 minutes after the show ended) my ankle started hurting really badly...So now I'm icing it like crazy and not doing anything for awhile.

Ouch!

So now I'm icing it like crazy and not doing anything for awhile.


:eek: Sounds like a good idea.. sorry you are in so much pain.

Painless vibes being sent ur way.

-Britt

But... you got thru your performance!:D

Try serious elevation (think 3 or more pillows), pain and inflammation relievers and ice off/on every 15 minutes. Hope all is getting a bit better.

Now you can "solve" the ankle spraining issue hopefully once and for all.
jane

But... you got thru your performance!:D

Yeah,the adrenaline put me through that...Not actually being better.

Well,today my ankle popped (like a ligament or something) - I felt it,and then felt immediate pain...So my dad called the sports doctor who said rest,aircast,Naproxen,and ice for a couple of days,and if it's not better then to come in and see him.

So my ankle isn't really any better today,and that's after staying home from school and resting it all day.It's also somewhat swollen (although not that much because it barely swells anymore),and my range of motion is less than half of what my non-injured ankle's is.

The doctor said give it a couple of days...So when should I have my parents call again?

Part One

I've sprained my ankle 3 times in the past year and a half.The first was really bad,the second wasn't too good,and this one is minor (a grade 1),but happened at a very inconvenient time (the school musical opens in 6 days,and I have to dance in it).So,for now I'm wearing an aircast,resting as much as possible,going to PT,taking Naprosyn for swelling,and Tylenol for pain,and hoping that it gets to the point so that I can actually perform (with it taped)...Then in 4 weeks I'm going back to the sports doctor so we can figure out what we've got to do so that I'll stop spraining my ankle because we don't want it to get to the point that I'll need surgery (especially since I'm only 16,and I'm pretty active so that would be bad)!

Part Two

I mostly rested my ankle for about 4 days (I held it off as long as possible),wore an Aircast,took Tylenol and Naproxen,and taped it for rehearsals and performances.I had some pain,but it wasn't horrible,especially since I was chock full of adrenaline during the performances themselves!

Part Three

Yesterday I was sitting in math class and something in my ankle popped (like a ligament or something) - I felt it,and then felt immediate pain...So after going to the nurse and having my dad come pick me up,my dad called the sports doctor after the suggestion of the nurse,and he said rest,aircast,Naproxen,and ice for a couple of days,and if it's not better then to come in and see him.Weight bearing was very,very painful (just sitting was for that matter!),so the nurse also gave me crutches.Well,my ankle isn't really any better today,and that's after staying home from school and resting it all day.It's also somewhat swollen (although not that much because it barely swells anymore),and my range of motion is less than half of what my non-injured ankle's is.The doctor said give it a couple of days...So when should I have my parents call again?

Does anyone have anything to say?

In my opinion when anyone says "a couple" that usually means about 2 days. With the holiday coming up you may want to see if your doctor can see you, if you are still having pain and swelling, before the weekend.

I hope you feel better!
-Britt

Okay...Well then since we called on Monday,having my parents call tomorrow is fine?

We were thinking the same thing about the holiday weekend,so my mom said that she'd try to get me an appointment for either tomorrow or Friday.

I just thought of another question:

I was looking up the hours for the sports doctor,and I found out that he hired another sports doctor so the practice is extended.If I can't get an appointment with the one I've seen already,should I get one with the other one?

My mom called and no appointments were available until Monday :(

...I have another question:

I have one of those big black walking boots from last year's ankle fiasco,do you think that is an appropriate substitute for an Aircast and crutches?I am really hating the crutches right about now partly because I have no upper body strength,so my arms are so,and partly because it gives me no free hands!
* Remember the the sports doctor said to wear my Aircast and try to keep off my ankle

So I went to the sports doctor today (again,it's the second time in 2 1/2 weeks) after spraining my ankle a week before my school's musical,and performing which made it worse.

He examined it: Couldn't figure out what's going on to make it so that it doesn't stay better (I've been having tons of trouble with this ankle for the past year and a half,and we've tried everything from PT to cortisone shots).
He took x-rays: Nothing (that's good).

The diagnosis?: Recurrent ankle sprain,and he thinks that maybe my ankle popped out of joint causing all the pain.

What are we doing about it?: Rest (no gym for a month),ice,walking boot/crutches,and I'm being referred to an orthopedic surgeon...Hopefully it'll go away,and I won't have to have surgery done,but the sports doctor thinks that it's a possibility.

Question:

What should I expect from the OS?My sports doctor said that she's generally pretty conservative in treatment...

My first appointment with my OS, I went into his office, sat on the table, he put my heel in his palm and popped my ankle out of the socket. I had no pain, he popped it back in and frowned. He was concerned that he was physically able to move my ankle like that and double-y concerned because I didn't feel a thing. He told me that (because I am deathly afraid of surgery) we would try concervative treatment first. I was put into a CAM-Walker, RICE, and crutches if I needed them. This went on for 6 weeks, with appointments every couple of weeks. The first appointment I was feeling a little better but I still had pain in the outer side of my ankle and minor swelling. The next appointment the swelling had gone down but the pain was still there. The last appointment (I went alone, without my mom) I went and I was still in a lot of pain, same area, and my ankle kpet getting stiff. That's when the doctor said he was pretty sure that I would need surgery because the pain was always in the same spot and the stiffness was worrying him. Before I saw him my primary send me to get an MRI, so my doc right of the bat knew the problem with my ankle.
At the beginning he was doubtful anything but surgery would help because of the partial tear of my tendon (as I remember him saying ligaments repair themselves fairly quickly but tendons seldom do). He became very hopeful when I saw him the second time because the swelling was gone and I was able to move my foot a little further without pain. But when things were not really any better by the 6 week mark, we started discussing surgery. I was nervous and didn't want to do it. He scheduled to keep me in the CAM-Walker for another 2 weeks while I talked to my parents about my options. If I agreed to the surgery it would have been scheduled for mid to the end of June. When I talked about it with my parents we decided if I really needed the surgery there is nothing I could do about it and we also asked the doc if he would move the date up so that I would not be on crutches when school started again. I had my surgery on June 9th.

I feel sooo much better now, I am thankful that the surgery was able to help me as much as it did. I can do everything like I did before I hurt myself and without pain! I hope that whatever conclusion your doctor comes to really helps you to live painfree again.

-Britt

Thanks for sharing your experience!

My appointment with the OS isn't until May 8 (the soonest we could get it scheduled),and until then I'm pretty much on my own unless my ankle gets worse,then I'll see the sports doctor again.

...Unfortunately,my ankle is absolutely ruining my Spring Break because I can't do anything due to the pain.

UPDATE:

I can walk a very limited distance now in my boot...But not too much - walking up and down the stairs twice was too much (there was reason..the first time was to see my friend out,and the second time was to go back downstairs to clean up).

EDIT:

Yeah...So apparently that was a really bad idea!I've been in pretty much constant pain since I tried that,so I don't think I'm going to anymore.

Does anybody have any pain remedies that don't include ice or medicines?

I'm already icing my ankle a lot,and I'm taking Naproxen prescribed by my doctor,and Tylenol also,so I can't take any more meds.

...And my ankle really hurts!

try switching to Ibuprofen insteqad of the Naproxin and Tylenol. Some folks do beter on one than another. Also do lots of elevation.
jane

I'm already elevating a lot...And my doctor prescribed me the Naproxen,I'm guessing for a reason.

OK,so now I can walk with my boot on and without too much pain,but I'm afraid to go very far...How much should I be walking and how much should I use my crutches?

*It's not really walking,it's still limping because I am definitely no putting all my weight on it and walking normally.

Is it normal that my left calf (same leg as my bad ankle) is smaller than my right?I mean,I have been on crutches for 2 weeks,but it's kind of scary...

^ Nevermind that post.I have found out the answer.

Whatever.I sure am gaining some upper body strength!Especially on gym days when I have to go to the gym (which isn't exactly close by to my class before),get a pass from my teacher,and then go all the way to the library which is all the way across the school!Boy am I tired/hot/sweaty after that!Still though,I can't wait to get off crutches...And even though it probably won't be the best idea,as soon as I can walk close to normal,I am ditching the crutches!

Well apparently I'm now moving pretty well on crutches...My math teacher noticed that I was faster and more agile than I was like last week.I attribute it to all the arm muscle I've gained from being on crutches for almost 3 weeks.