Honest question about ankles.

Janus · « **on:** September 04, 2006, 12:19:28 AM »

I keep spraining mine, and they never seem to get better. It's gotten so bad that walk and running feel awkward and I'm tripping over myself. Every time I go to see a specialist, he just takes some X-rays, and says everything will be fine eventually. I've never broekn the bone, and my bones are a hell of a lot better than most other people. I can take damage to them like non other, but this ankle problem has got me pissed off as all hell...I can't run anymore, which was how I exercised. So it's driving me up a wall.

J- Does not like being overweight at the moment.

solvegas · « **Reply #1 on:** September 04, 2006, 07:20:37 AM »

What about the tendons or muscles nearby? Have you actually seen the podiatrist?

Juliekat · « **Reply #2 on:** September 05, 2006, 04:22:47 AM »

Because blood circulation in tendons is poor, they take a long time to heal and sometimes never fully return to their full strength and capacity. Once a tendon is sprained it can also be a target for future sprains because of it's weakened state. I would commend some type of low-impact excercise such as swimming for the time being. I would also recommend talking to your doctor and see what he/she says regarding your excercise regiment.

Good luck.
JK

Palomine · « **Reply #3 on:** September 05, 2006, 12:29:15 PM »

I suffered a horribly severe sprain a few years ago and it's been such an ongoing problem ever since (despite specialists, therapy, etc...) that I almost think I'd have been better off with an amputation.

pedonbio · « **Reply #4 on:** September 05, 2006, 02:07:55 PM »

Quote:

I suffered a horribly severe sprain a few years ago and it's been such an ongoing problem ever since (despite specialists, therapy, etc...) that I almost think I'd have been better off with an amputation.

Interesting situation, Pal. My daughter got a nasty sprain two years ago in karate and still wears a support boot sometimes to prevent re-damaging the tendon.

And doctors are very good sources of information, sometimes surprizing. A few years ago when I started working on the Roberta Pedon book, I mentioned to a dentist friend of mine something very odd about her teeth. He asked me what decade I was referring to, and he gave me some information that was both on target and revealing without me telling him anything except describing the condition.

Imaginos · « **Reply #5 on:** September 05, 2006, 03:51:48 PM »

Here are to sprain relanted incidents, perhaps they will be enlightening in some form.

1) I was getting ready for a job interview quite a few years ago and was placing something up on a top shelf just before leaving the house. As I stepped off the chair I slipped and landed full weight on the side of my left foot which buckled at the ankle with a loud pop. I thought I had broken my ankle and had to call the job site to tell them I would be late.

The whole side of my foot turned dark purple and the opposite side of the foot near the ankle bones turned dark purple too. I was unable to place any decent weight on the ankle for a week and could not put any pressure, such as using the clutch in a car for months. It took about a year for that to fully heal, though I did not use any ankle brace that I remember.

2) A semi eldery family friend was on a trip to India or China to see some of the temples and art there when she fell and sprained her ankle. She could not put any weight on it and it hurt terribly.

A chinese doctor who was in the crowd attended to her and said it was not broken after an initial examination. He then procceded to rub her ankle for about 30 min or 1 hour and then apologized that he could not spend more time helping her, yet rubbing the ankle for 30 min to 1 hour removed the lions share of the pain and allowed her to walk, her ankle healed pretty quickly too.

Rubbing something like that would not be a western medicine solution but did work for her. Perhaps some net research may help you out.

Palomine · « **Reply #6 on:** September 06, 2006, 10:31:07 AM »

Hi Imaginos... actually, my injury sounds very similar to yours... I was pulling a hand truck with a tall and heavy item of equipment on it up into a truck via a ramp and stepped on a moving blanket which immediately slipped on the smooth metal floor of the truck. I went down, my ankle folding beneath me (there may have been a pop, but I didn't notice) and the equipment landed on top of me (I was literally pinned for a few moments... it weighed a couple hundred pounds).

The whole thing turned huge and purple all the way around... unfortunately, I had to then drive the truck cross-country before I could see a doctor about it. Xrays showed no break (never got an MRI which might have showed more detail) and various exercises (physical therapist/HMO) or consultation/advice (fancy sports medicine clinic) haven't changed the fact that it still hurts daily now (more than 3 years later).

I don't limp anymore (I did for more than half a year) and I can and do walk/ride for miles and miles, but I'm always aware of the discomfort... even pain... whether I'm using the ankle or not.

I'd consider trying accupuncture, but unfortunately my HMO doesn't offer it.

Imaginos · « **Reply #7 on:** September 06, 2006, 04:28:00 PM »

Hey Palomine!

Sorry to hear that you still have pain in your ankle. How log ago was your injury?

Have you tried any of the suppliments that are out there that are supposed to help joint issues like umm shark cartilege and glucosimine<sp>? They are supposed to help the body rebuild/heal injured areas.

I know the glucosamine helps our older dog for his arthritis and maybe it would help you out too.

Imaginos · « **Reply #8 on:** September 06, 2006, 07:14:06 PM »

I was reminded by a friend that omega3? that is found in fish oil is good for bad joints / sprains. So perhaps adding some of that into your diet via gel caps or eating something like tunafish sandwitches or something would work for you too.

Palomine · « **Reply #9 on:** September 07, 2006, 12:26:22 AM »

Thanks... I've done extended bouts with glucosamine/chondroitin at the suggestion of others, only to find no noticable benefit anywhere (ankle, back, knees, fingers, etc...). While I don't take any dietary supplements, I'm fairly certain that I eat quite a bit more fish than the average Joe too.

Ah, to be 17 again, when nothing hurt!

Re: Honest question about ankles.