Please give me hope - sprained ankle!

chesnutty

chesnutty

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I sprained my ankle falling off the big monster 2 weeks ago in a jumping lesson (my own fault, wasn't committed enough and he ducked out the 2nd part of a double), and it seems to be getting worse! I know it's not a serious injury, and I should be thankful... but... it's driving me mad and I want to get back in the saddle!!!

I missed the last meet of the hunting season, which I can deal with (after tears!), but I want to get out and start some training so I can start competing before everyone gets too good! I went to the hospital a week ago, nothing broken just ligament and soft tissue damage. Still taking the strong ibuprofen, but I still can't put any weight on it most of the time. Using frozen peas, and it's always elevated when I'm sat down. Any ideas on faster healing?? PLEASE!!!!
 
chesnutty said:
I sprained my ankle falling off the big monster 2 weeks ago in a jumping lesson (my own fault, wasn't committed enough and he ducked out the 2nd part of a double), and it seems to be getting worse! I know it's not a serious injury, and I should be thankful... but... it's driving me mad and I want to get back in the saddle!!!

I missed the last meet of the hunting season, which I can deal with (after tears!), but I want to get out and start some training so I can start competing before everyone gets too good! I went to the hospital a week ago, nothing broken just ligament and soft tissue damage. Still taking the strong ibuprofen, but I still can't put any weight on it most of the time. Using frozen peas, and it's always elevated when I'm sat down. Any ideas on faster healing?? PLEASE!!!!
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I sprained my ankle when it turned over and I came down on top of it - cue enormous crack from ankle and much swearing from me. I'm afraid I'm not one for doctors and even walked nearly a mile on it a few hours later (not much choice) and it swelled up to an eye watering degree. I kept it elevated during the day, used lots of arnica cream (from my vet box of course), antiinflammatories and an ankle support at night. It went absolutely black, then purple, then yellow over a period of about 4 weeks. I can truthfully say I couldn't turn my foot outwards very much for 12 months and even 2 years later could still feel it. In hindsight I think I should have gone to hospital because I suspect I tore some ligaments, but there we go,and I survived.
 
it takes ages with a really good sprain! i couldn't bend mine for months and can no longer get long leather boots on as it is permanently swollen.
I didn't got to the hospital or doctors either, it too went black blue, green, yellow and was very sore.
mine was particularly painful in a stirrup when riding - i think because you put weight down through the heel - much better with no stirrups - if your horse is well behaved.
 
It will take as long as it takes I'm afraid!

I went over on my ankle once (in heels) and badly sprained the ligaments. Took about 3 weeks before I could walk slightly more normally. The only thing I could suggest in addition to what you are doing is to wear a support tubigrip type thing. May make things a bit more comfortable
 
mjcssjw2 said:
mine was particularly painful in a stirrup when riding - i think because you put weight down through the heel - much better with no stirrups - if your horse is well behaved.
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He is, but last time I tried no stirrups a pheasant flew out of the hedge and I ended up on my back.. so not brave enough for that again!

Elbie said:
It will take as long as it takes I'm afraid!
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Patience is not a virtue I am lucky enough to have unfortunately. Dying to get out in the sun this evening - will have to console myself with painting jumps instead... snore!
 
Our RI always says soft tissue injury takes 6 weeks - exactly the same as when I actually broke my ankle. And once the swelling goes down, some physio is good too.
The hospital put me in a tube bandage - elastic - but I was told when I sprained my ankle in a fall that those tube bandages were no longer recommended, (may be interfering with circulation?) so suggest you check with NHS direct.
But I do feel very sorry for anyone not riding just now with the Spring weather.
 
Try alternating cold and heat. Always start and finish with cold though. (I learned this on my 1st Aid course last week - although it's not technically 1st Aid as it's not immediate treatment!)

Ice for 10 minutes, then hot water bottle for 10 minutes and repeat 3 times before finishing with a further icing for 10 minutes. If possible, do that 3 times a day - you could do it twice at your desk in work if you have one and then once before bed.

The ice reduces the swelling and the heat boosts the blood supply to the area which promotes healing.
 
annagain said:
Try alternating cold and heat. Always start and finish with cold though. (I learned this on my 1st Aid course last week - although it's not technically 1st Aid as it's not immediate treatment!)

Ice for 10 minutes, then hot water bottle for 10 minutes and repeat 3 times before finishing with a further icing for 10 minutes. If possible, do that 3 times a day - you could do it twice at your desk in work if you have one and then once before bed.

The ice reduces the swelling and the heat boosts the blood supply to the area which promotes healing.
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Thank you for this info - everyone has just said ice packs, will start this now!
 
I got my stirrup caught in a fallen tree and got dragged off, the pressure of the stirrup across the top of my foot before the leather came off the saddle has caused a dent and a permanent mark. The swelling was impressive, sadly the bruising less so, but 6 weeks on and it's still sore. I can ride, and did 2 weeks after with great difficulty, but feel it every time. The GP has said that it can take up to 3 months before the pain goes, that there is likely to be long term weakness there, and there may always be a minor residual pain. I'm afraid you are just going to have to patient, and rest it as much as you can.
 
When I did my ankle last year I found arnica & laser treatment on it really helped the healing , once it had started feeling better I also had a phyio massage it , hurt like hell but felt better after.
Mine also went many different colours !
 
You need to get physio ASAP.

Go to your gp and INSIST on an urgent referral.
I did mine last year, tore 2 ligaments. I was in physio the next week and had shock wave therapy twice a week plus other treatments for a couple of months. All on the nhs.
It's good as new now, but all the doctors who've seen it have agreed that it wouldn't have healed anywhere like as well if I hadn't sorted it as fast as I did.

Don't wait - ring now! :)
 
echo all the above, especial ice-heat-ice. and physio.

i did mine 7 weeks ago although actually think i broke a small bone in my foot. couldn't weightbear fully for about 2-3 weeks. i taped it up properly for abouta week then used a tubigrip on it when up and about for support for about 4 weeks. then i did lots of exercises- Im a physio so self treated but i got full movement back within 6 weeks although it does still swell up if i do too much.
riding wise i didn't ride for 4 weeks and since then only hacked walk and trot but could school- i wasn't allowed as i get married next week so banned from real riding! ha ha
get well soon.
 
I would also recommend physio. It can take a while to get it through NHS so you are better to try and get it organised now.

I have sprained my ankle badly twice. Both times I was recommended to try and walk on it which as with you was incredibly painful. However I was quite young when I did it and wanting to get out and about I got myself a crutch and was away. I credit this for giving me a faster recovery as I was riding again (albeit a quiet horse) in a couple of weeks. As far as I remember I used the crutch for about a week but was on all my feet all day and then just limped for quite a while! Obviously if you have been told to rest it this maybe isn't the best option, but in my experience I have had two bad sprains and both times was told to keep it up when I could, but use it as well.
 
Ditto seeing a good physio, my OH 'sprained' his ankle in November last year (not horse related) had three X-rays all of which showed no break and four weeks ago he found out after an MRI that it was broken. He's now on week four of six in a cast and crutches.

His wouldn't improve either :-(
 
I fell over the in the park with a dog and heard a horrible crack in my foot. I hobbled for a good few days and it ballooned and also went black and blue. I had to wear an ugg boot on that foot in the house as I couldn't walk barefoot as it was so painful. I did this in December last year and I'm still suffering! I put frozen peas on it and in bed kept it elevated. I found the tube supports were helpful during the day when I was walking. Hope yours heals quicker than mine!
 
I sprained my ankle getting off a horse and was in misery for 10 months. I had trouble driving, riding and even walking around. See a good physio asap, he needs to give you exercises to do to help the healing process. I got the wrong advice at the start, imobility for too long, and it made the injury ten times worse. RICE only helps for the first 48 hours.
 
Definitely worth getting it checked out.
I did my ankle in a couple of years ago when I took and fall and went over my horse's shoulder, with my ankle staying perfectly in the stirrup. Was hobbling for weeks! Didn't go to the doctors for 5 weeks has I was "busy" (camping trip that entailed me hobbling along and not doing much as I couldn't!). When I eventually did go to the GP he sent me home to rest. Was back a week later so ff to A&E I was sent. Doctor was slightly bewildered, took Xrays and said I possibly picked up a hairline fracture but it was hard to say and reckoned I'd torn 2 ligaments. Lots of physio as I couldn't put my heal down and I was back in the saddle 9 weeks after the initial injury. Still gives me grieve now and then (though less since I gave up on athletics and ballet - pointe work was a bad idea for the get go!). My ankles defintely are no longer a pair though as the one I sprained as a suspicious dent in it when I flex/extent it!
 
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