OT- Ankle Rehab

[Philly Fresh]

Since the OTB is filled with immature 10-year olds, I had to bring this here.

So 2 week ago, I was playing basketball and went up for a lay-up. I came down and my foot landed sideways and my body then fell on it and further sprained it. I heard it crack a few times so i thought it broke, and went to the hospital. X-rays showed it wasn't broken, but the doc said I ripped a ligament and tore a lot of soft tissue. All heh told me to do was ice it and use tensor bandage.

So my quesetion is, what's the best thing to do for me to fully and properly heal? I been icing it a lot, but a lot of people are telling me it's not good to over-ice it. I can walk on it now, but I can't push off it at all. I can't jump, I can't run, can't jog, I can't even step up the stairs faster than normal. I was thinking of buying an ankle brace once it gets better.

Any ideas and suggestions as to how to fully/properly heal?

[bigballa3jj]

definitely don't try to rush back too soon and play on it, or even just messing around like wrestling etc.....

[Rive]

A brace would be good to promote faster healing temporarily, but it won't solve the long term issue. Seeing how it has already been two weeks and is still bothering you, I would keep resting it and then visit your doctor again. Ask him what his approach would be to it, first of all. Then go from there.

A couple of years ago, I came down on my ankle in a pickup game. It was the first time in my entire life I had ever hurt anything in a basketball game and it scared the **** out of me. I didn't break anything either, but tore some ligaments -- so sort of a similar situation to yours I am guessing. The ligaments I tore actually ripped so hard that they broke off a piece of the bone in my ankle. I was in bad shape for about 2 weeks. Anyways.... I saw a doctor, then never did anything about it for a year. It never fully-healed and was always a little bit more swollen than the other foot.

So after a while, I went back to another family doctor. He sent me up to the University by my house to see a physical therapist. It helped a lot and I started doing things that made the ankle stronger and took away some pain. I didn't stick with the therapy as long as I should have, but the stuff I did do helped it.

So... see a physical therapist and dedicate yourself to their program. Trust me, it will help. Don't do what I did and wait around forever and wait for the pain to go away. It won't unless you do something about it.

[DelaneyRudd]

Putting it on multiple forums, huh? What are we gonna say that's better than your freaking doctor? Tiger semen is an ancient Chinese remedy. Apply it liberally.

[bigballa3jj]

Putting it on multiple forums, huh? What are we gonna say that's better than your freaking doctor? Tiger semen is an ancient Chinese remedy. Apply it liberally.

goes great with fish sticks

[JoshB914]

Gotta go with the brace and let it heal. I played through a lot of injuries to my ankle and it is basically messed up for life. It really depends what you have to play for, I think messing up my ankle to play a little more was worth it (not like I was going to play in college).

[Wade2k6]

I've damaged ligaments and tendons before spraining my ankle. The doctor gave me a few excercises. First, I had a bowling ball and would move it side to side, front to back, and clock-wise and counter clock wise with my sprained ankle. This helps strengthen the ligaments and tendons.

The other excercises I had to do worked as well. It might sound dumb and stupid, but it did work. He had me doing some kind of karate or martial arts balance excercises where I would stand on my sprained ankle and lift my opposite foot up and down, side to side, clockwise and counter clock-wise. Balancing your body had a lot to do with your ankles and I'm guessing this is why he instructed me to do these.

And of course, stay off your ankle as much as possible, and minimize the amount of work you put on it. Ice it everynight, and don't think just because it feels good that it's fully healed. Mine felt about 200% better about 3 weeks later from when I orginally hurt it, and decided to go to an ankle specialist one last night before going back to normal activities, and he said to wait and give it another month or two for the ligaments and tendons to fully heal, or else get used to having chronic ankle problems. Lastly, use a brace while walking around. A tweak of the ankle from tripping or something can really do more damage then you would think.

Hope this helps..

[Vindicater]

Swimming is a great thing to do, elementry backstroke and just move your ankle around in the water

[DarkoMilicic]

Just so you know...if you tore all 3 ligaments, you will NEVER be able to jump as high as before the injury. Especially off 2 feet. Anytime you jump off 2, you will feel a very awful pain. It's been over a year, and the bone was moved out of place, so my ankle looks awkward from side viewpoint.

Also, I sprained my other foot about 2 months ago and that bone has also been moved out of place and the front of the ankle gets swollen everytime you do any exercise.

The second ankle injury was from me being a jackass. I drove past my friend and I have this thing were I taunt people after blowing by. I looked back and laughed, then my ankle twisted.

As for treatment, electro shock therapy might help. Hurts, but it works (form me)

[snaquille oatmeal]

stay away from the Lakers medical staff.

[Farsi Man]

Hey guys someone posted about chronic ankle problems.

I'm only 17 but whenever I rotate my ankle around it cracks like when you crack your knuckles. I've probably sprained my ankle before and never did anything special and I think I may have problems now what do you guys think?

[DariusRickyMilesDavis]

Go to a physical therapist and get a rubber band and do a ton of stretches with your ankle.

Put a towel down and scrunch it up using your hurt foot.

Do the ABCs 3 times a day.

Rest. Rest. Rest. And DO NOT do anything remotely athletic without a brace. Nothing. In fact I wouldn't recommend taking your shoes off in the house. The only time your ankle should not be supported is in the shower and while in bed. If you want it to heal properly you cannot let the muscle stretch further. If it does, your sprained ankles will become chronic and might require surgery. Trust me-it sucks.

[Philly Fresh]

Well, I have a doctors appointment on Monday and Im gonna ask him to send me to a therapist. Since my injury, I havent done any athletic activities, I've always kept tensor bandage on my ankle outside of my house, rested myself with ice on my ankle inside the house, and have been walking around school with a cane.

[Philly Fresh]

Well, I have a doctors appointment on Monday and Im gonna ask him to send me to a therapist. Since my injury, I havent done any athletic activities, I've always kept tensor bandage on my ankle outside of my house, rested myself with ice on my ankle inside the house, and have been walking around school with a cane.

[LakerFanMan]

Hey guys someone posted about chronic ankle problems.

I'm only 17 but whenever I rotate my ankle around it cracks like when you crack your knuckles. I've probably sprained my ankle before and never did anything special and I think I may have problems now what do you guys think?

Remove the ankle. I have a few samuri swords if you want a quick way to get the job done.

[Philly Fresh]

Are there different kinds of ankle braces that can be bought?

[mistatwo mayn]

i was on crutches for 3 weeks with similar sounding injury (not a result bball though).