lateral ankle sprain (CF?)

[IainR]

Around NY's I sprained my ankle. At first it wasn't too bad, but I lost stability and for about a week it would roll whenever I landed on uneven ground. For a week I went off the fells and just road ran.

Now after 6 weeks, it is still sore. If I really attack a down hill it goes again. As longas I take it easy the stability comes back but it goes again when I don't concentrate. The other night I landed in a pot hole and it went again.

Is this normal for a sprained ankle?

I've not rested it really, still kept up 40 - 50 mile weeks, done my ML course etc, but there's still a slight painjust below the ankle joint.

If I go out for 5 hrs or so it will get a bit sore towards the end, but not too bad that I don't enjoy the run. There still feels a lot of lateral instability. For example at football training doing star jumps across the pitch is very sore, and so is pushing off sidewards across the joint.

I tried an ankle bandage but the clever people sowed the seam below the ball of the foot, so a pain to run with.

Any tips?

[Stagger]

I had a sprain at Kinder Iain and followed the advice on this website.

http://www.epodiatry.com/ankle-sprain.htm

PS I also rubed in comfrey oil every night and also put a cling film round when sleeping.

[Danbert Nocurry]

Iain i'm no physio but from what you've described it sounds like the ligaments may have been damaged by the twist. Did you hear a 'pop' like sound in your ankle at the time of the twist?


It seems odd that you're still getting the symptoms you describe after so many weeks, as usually you'd expect something like that to have gone away after 3 or 4 weeks wouldn't you?

I guess the fact that you're still running on it though is slowing up the healing time. Maybe (as horrinble as it sounds) you need to give it a week or maybe 10 days complete rest.

[IainR]

No pop.

There was no really big sprain either, I think its more a build up of many sprains over a prolonged period.

Its (well was) definately getting stronger, but things like traversing hills where the injured ankle is down hill, is quite sore.

I thought I may have done damage, but you'd have thought I wouldn't be able to go out for 20 odd miles over rough terrain if there was something seriously damaged?

[Track Fairy]

When you say "went again" what do you mean?

Are you absolutely sure you heard no pop or didn't get some sort of snapping sensation in there? If you did then you will have torn ligaments to some degree. If not theres a chance you have just strained them and you may be getting problems with the ankle being stiff and not operating in the way it should (ie instinctive responses to instability not working). The ankle stiffens up to protect itself and if it still stiff then things won't work properly.
Either way, a physio will be able to help in terms of strengthening work and unstiffening the joint. Worth paying for - I've torn my ankle ligaments three times now!

[IainR]

No, definately no pop. There was no sharp pain either, just dull aches.

It is stiff though, especially after I've sat down after a run in the evening.

But it's my left foot and I'm kicking balls with no excessive pain.

I may well have to bite the bullet and see a physio. I've not been overly worried as I've still been running, walking and playing football. But it is a while now that this pain and instability has carried on for.

I know there's no chance I could do a fell race right now, as commiting on a big descent it would just give way again. Butruning at pace on roads, hill sprints etc it is fine.

[Widdy]

In my opinion the best advice is to go and see someone who knows what they are talking about! Book yourself into a physio and let him/her give you a proper exam and diagnosis which will followed by professional treatment. it took me months to get over my ankle injury so no quick fixes.

[NotOnUrHelly]

Just a quick one here, I went over on my ankle on Friday, heard it crack it really hurt. I was back running after two minutes and it was fine.

That night it was sore and swollen right on the bone that sticks out. I could walk on it with a limp and a bit of pain, but after 2 minutes of walking it was fine again, I iced it that night.

The next day I did a 9 hour walk up Helvellyn - Fairfield and St Sunday. It was fine except when I struck a rock a bit funny and I even managed to jog down off St Sunday.

Today its a bit sore when I start walking, but then loosens up. Its also sore to touch and prod.

I'm guessing that the best thing to do is keep the thing moving and keep going with the running.

Im entered into Coniston on Saturday, Im not sure what the decent is like, would it be a stupid move.

Jamie

[CribGoch]

There cant be much basically wrong with the ankle if you can do a long walk and jog on it. Probably a bit bruised. The descent off Coniston can be a bit of a clatter, depending on which line you take, and you might knock it again when the going gets loose. Great race though. Decisions decisions

[NotOnUrHelly]

Thanks for that Crib,

I was guessing that its not to badly damaged. Ill get the wobble board out of the cupboard and stand on one leg with my eyes shut for a week