Well, being the klutz that I am, I was trying to get on my bicycle last week and it fell over in the soft ground and I fell with it and my left ankle did a 90 degree turn and I heard and felt it pop as I fell to the ground. I writhed on the ground for a while, then hobbled to the house and wrapped my ankle in ice and took some ibuprofen. That was last Tuesday, the 1st.
There was very minimal swelling and just a tiny bit of bruising to the ankle area. I have been icing it and taking it easy and taking ibuprofen for 10 days now, and I still have a very sharp pain around my ankle bone that just doesn't want to get any better. I can walk without too much pain or limping, but when I touch the area around the ankle, it is extremely painful. Still no swelling or bruising.
I have medicaid insurance with a high spend down. The only way I can see a doctor without coming up with money out-of-pocket is to go to the emergency room. I called the emergency room nurse today and explained the situation, and he told me that he could not give out medical advise, but if I felt like I might have broken something or torn something, then I should go ahead and come in to the ER.
I guess my question is: shouldn't an ankle sprain start getting better with all the rest, elevation and ice since last week? Or should I go ahead and look silly by going to the ER and having them take a look at it.
The fact that you heard a pop and still are in so much pain would indicate that you should get checked out. You may have a fracture but you may also have trendon or ligament damage. Good luck
The Following User Says Thank You to roxygirl1 For This Useful Post: hybrid1961 (05-10-2012)
Just came from the ER. I have a closed fracture of the lateral malleolus. Doctor wasn't concerned that it was serious. Was advised to RICE, wear elastic splint, take ibuprofen and follow up with primary care physician.
Thanks to everyone who replied. It helped me make the decision to go and have my ankle checked out.
Just make sure you take it easy, and don't walk on it if it hurts. Glad you found out the source of the problem. If you're in pain for more than a week, it's never a bad idea to go to the ER.
The Following User Says Thank You to Succinite For This Useful Post: hybrid1961 (05-11-2012)
I'm glad it isn't serious, but glad you got it checked out. Yu don't want to make it worse by not getting it checked out when it isn't getting better. I second tinpot walk on it if it hurts. What kind of splint did they give you? If they didn't give you crutches and it hurts to walk, you can always get them at a drug store. Keep icing it and let us know how it does!
I picked up an elastic splint from Walmart--that's what the doctor recommended. And I do have aluminum crutches. My family never gets rid of anything, so I'm good to go if I need them. Funny thing is that I can walk OK, it's stopping, getting going, turning and touching the ankle that's painful. The doc gave me a CD of my x-rays to take to my family doctor. I looked at them on my computer, and couldn't see what she was talking about at all. Guess I'd never make a living reading x-rays.
Anyway, thanks for your reply. This is a great board.
Oh you could read them if you were trained to! Don't be too hard on yourself though! I missed some too and I saw them every day at work! Glad you don't have too much pain with walking. Hopefully it will stay that way. So the doctor just told you to go to WalMart and get an elastic pull-on brace for a fracture? Interesting!
If the elastic splint doesn't seem to be stabilizing your ankle enough, I'd ask the doctor for (or purchase on your own) an AirCast, lace-up brace, or a boot. The boot is the only thing that's worked for me, although mine was a sprain. The reason your ankle hurts more when you're starting and stopping is because it's locking up or getting stiff. Just give it time to heal, and don't push yourself too hard. Good luck!
The Following User Says Thank You to Succinite For This Useful Post: hybrid1961 (05-13-2012)
Ankle Sprain not healing very well 
