All things ankle related (turns, twists, sprains etc)

[paw]

Madmum the foot surgeon I worked for told patients that sometimes an injury to ligaments and tendons is harder to treat than broken bones because it takes them so long to heal. It all depends on the exact injury and if there is a severe tear that needs to be reattached in order to even have a chance at healing properly. Then you do have to consider that our collagen disorder makes us heal slowly and tear easily. I don't agree with much that this latest doctor told you. It seems like common sense that with a foot injury that hurts when you step on it that crutches and limited weight bearing would give it a chance to heal and for the patient to feel less pain. I ditched the crutches as soon as I was able to because I had small children and I needed to be able to get around even if it hurt.

It took me several years to heal from the ankle fracture and the tendon and ligament damage. Keep in mind that mine was fractured, torn, cut and attempted to be put back together with surgery and pins. It was 4 years till I could weight bear without pain on each step. I am NOT saying that it will be like that for your son. I hope his injury is much less severe and he starts healing soon. I am pointing out that your latest doctor's time frame was way off from my experience.

Since you can't get anyone to agree that there even is a problem much less how to treat it I would do what seems to work best for your son. Get a larger tubigrip support and see if he can manage to keep it on. On days I walked my foot would swell and by the end of the day I would have to take it off. It still was worthwhile though because it reduced how often I twisted my ankle when I did have it on. Your son could try wearing the support under the sock or try it over the sock to see what is more comfortable. Good luck to your son in sorting out what things make him more comfortable and let him heal.

[madmum]

Thanks for your help paw. He hates tubigrip as he hates restriction,he says the pressure on the injury is impossible to deal with. Even crepe annoys him. When he was younger he hated shoes and socks on and even as a tiny baby he would not have his feet covered. It is only since the injury he has kept socks on in doors as he says he foot gets too cold and really hurts. I was hoping the last doctor would consider a scan but instead could not wait to be rid of us and walked out leaving my son without his footwear on. How do I go back to the gp and ask for a further opinion? He has said tonight he really hurts at school,this I think is all the stairs. He does not want crutches at school as an older boy called him a cripple. With his insoles and boots I am limited as to what he can wear to support his foot and looking at supports they all seem ankle types apart from an aircast boot which he found hard to walk in. If anyone knows of a fore foot supportive support I would appreciate advice. I am waiting for an ankle ultrasound as the doctor I saw feels I may have a tendon injury. I have a night brace,it helps but the velcro makes my leg swell and I cannot walk in it as it digs into my foot. Scan in february so await results. This was an injury 3 years ago when I completely turned my ankle missing my step onto a steam train. It is also my right foot so I am suspicious that doctors think he is copying me as he also has a right foot and right knee problem.

[paw]

Madmum, any ankle support I have worn (not many because I didn't have the options they have now) was uncomfortable. Hard plastic can cause pain when you walk, elastic gets bunched up or tight, and velcro sticks to your clothing or straps can dig in. It is still better than a new injury or making an old one worse.

My daughter had metatarsal fractures and she wore a fiberglass cast then an air cast then she went into a Donjoy plastic, cloth and velcro support that she wore for another month. She then went down to the tubigrip support. None of them were especially comfortable but she is a Uni student who has to be able to get across campus quickly to get from one class to the next. She only used crutches when she was in the fiberglass cast. Being able to function was the most important and avoiding further injury was next. Comfort was somewhere further down the list. She wore either boots or trainers while she healed because she needed support. Her doctor told not to walk around barefoot or in flipflops.

Since your original injury was so long ago you understand what I was talking about that it can take a lot more than a few months for the soft tissue to heal. Just discuss with your son that by choosing not to wear any type of support he is taking chances that he will delay healing much longer. As far as doctors thinking your son is copying your injury, what on earth would make them think a teenage boy would want to fake that?? He doesn't want to be teased or to be different than the other kids. That's a strange thought to me.

I hope you both start feeling better soon.

[Green Thistle]

I have just got back from the chiropractor. I went because I'm getting problems with my neck and lower back again; something in them goes out of place (or that's how it feels to me), and then I get spasms in my hands and feet. Chiropractic has helped me so much in the past.

Well this was the first session with a new chiro, so he didn't actually do any work on me. He just checked reflexes, had a feel of my neck and spine, measured me and talked about health conditions. It was all fine, and I walked home as it was a nice day. It was about a 30 minute walk, which I have done many a time before.

But as soon as I got home, my ankle kind of collapsed. I stepped on it, and it went into a painful spasm, which keeps starting again when I try to stand on it. It feels like if I could just twist it in the right way I'd be able to click it out.... But I can't seem to do it. I don't know if you'd call this a sprain or a twisted ankle, but I've never had this before. It's not like the numbness I've been getting, this is both painful and kind of numb at the same time, and I'm thinking it might be quite debilitating if it doesn't resolve itself soon.

I've put a bandage on, and will see how it goes, but I'm really confused. Could the simple assessment the chiro did have caused this? Maybe combined with my walk? It really didn't seem that strenuous or taxing at the time. Are our joints really that fragile? Any ideas or suggestions most welcome.

[Kayzee]

It sounds like it could be partially dislocated, but I'm NOT a Dr, so if I was you I'd go to your nearest walk in centre, no pun intended! If your getting numbness your circulation maybe effected, so its important to rule out. \You'll probably be sent for an xray, or to A&E.

Hope your ok

Kay x

[Spireite]

It sounds like subluxed to me. If you could unjam it it would be OK.

My ankles used to sublux two dozen times a day and I unjammed them without thinking by doing a kind of quad stretch, except my ankle would go crack and everything would be OK again til next time! With lax ligaments, it is easy for muscles to pull the bones out of place.

[Green Thistle]

Thanks for your replies. My friend took her son to our local hospital a few times for ankle subluxations, and they didn't really know what to do.. I'd love to be able to click it back, and I usually can do that too, but it's never been so bad before, and never not let me put weight on it. It feels a bit better with a tight bandage. Will see how it feels tomorrow.. Thanx again.

[sheppeyescapee]

I've been getting a lot of pain in my heel again recently, I only "walk" (mostly leaning on furniture/walls etc) around the house and use the wheelchair for longer distances. When I go to walk I have a cracking/snapping feeling from my heels and it feels like something is popping in and out. It's rather painful and wondering what is gong on there. The internet isn't being particularly helpful in this case as many different things came up

[trekster]

Whens your next othortics appointment mate?

Almost fell over today when I got up from my cousins sofa.

Anyone else here find they're more bendy in the wetter weather even indoors?