Sprained Ankle - Foot Problems Message Board

missyou009 · 03-24-2007, 01:45 PM

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!

bonzer · 03-25-2007, 04:26 PM

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.

missyou009 · 03-25-2007, 08:51 PM

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!

Beekermlady · 03-26-2007, 03:25 PM

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?

missyou009 · 03-29-2007, 01:57 PM

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).