Has anyone had an ankle sprain and still had problems with swelling after 7 weeks?
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Hi, sorry you are having trouble, but ankle sprains are notoriously persistent. The ankle carries the full body weight while the foot arch allows wobble due to the arch structure. A sprain is much more than a strain... strains can resolve within a few weeks, but a sprain can be involved on the level of a fracture, and can cause lifelong weakness. The swelling indicates inflammation and you must suspect the ligaments are partially torn or more. Redness and heat should be of concern, if present.
It would be wise to get the ankle examined. At least, get an ankle support or wear high-top boots or tennis shoes to firmly support the area. Limit walking, apply ice packs for 20 minutes three or four times a day with the leg elevated to reduce swelling. Ibuprofen (motrin) or Naproxen (aleve) may ease the pain and help manage the swelling in part.
If things do not improve over the next few weeks, consider a scan of the ankle to rule out need for surgical intervention.
Recovery will require steady gentle exercise over a period of time to allow muscle-tendon function to stabilize the weakened ankle.
Pool exercises are great, and summer is here, try running in place in the water at low chest level, swimming steadily and treading water.
Good luck and best wishes,
Paul Leonard, MD
You can look for swelling and some type of pain for up to a year. Alot of times an ankle sprain can hurt worse and longer than a break because all of the ligaments and tendons are somewhat torn and they have to heal. What you are having is normal, and alot of people take a long time to heal.
the two answer are very true.
I broken both tibia and fiblia and shattered my foot a year ago and I still have problems with swelling.
PaulMD has the best answer.
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