Ankle injuries: What's your experience?
in Health ·
Hi everyone. So, back on Saturday the 18th, I twisted my left ankle during a game and kept playing. About ten minutes later, someone accidentally stepped right on it. I headed out immediately, iced it, and dealt with the swelling, but by the next morning, I couldn't even stand up from the pain. I went to the ER, they took an X-ray, and the doctor told me I had a fracture. He insisted it looked like an old injury and asked if I'd hurt it before. Even though I told him no, he stuck to his guns, put me in a splint, and sent me on my way. A week later, I saw a specialist for a follow-up. He disagreed with the first guy and said this was definitely a fresh break—specifically the tip of the tibial malleolus. He put me back in a splint and scheduled another check-up for next week. When I showed up for that follow-up, I got a different doctor who just took the splint off. He told me everything looked fine, that young people heal fast, and that I could start walking slowly. He suggested using compresses and an elastic bandage, saying I could probably start light jogging in two weeks. It felt okay; I could walk normally after about ten days. Then, this past Wednesday, I went to a friend's birthday party. We had a few drinks, and then some guys started playing soccer. Being an idiot, I decided to join in despite the alcohol. I landed wrong—I don't even know how—and my ankle just buckled. It swelled up instantly, and I couldn't walk properly like I had been doing. I iced it at home and used the wrap, but the pain didn't let up; I was limping badly. I went to the hospital today, explained that I landed awkwardly and can't walk right, and they sent me for more imaging. After looking at the results, the doctor says this X-ray looks identical to the first one from when I originally broke it. Basically, I've messed up the bone again. Despite me telling him I can't walk normally, he insists I am walking fine. He just told me to keep wearing the wrap, keep icing it, avoid running or jumping, and come back in a month. His report says: "X-rays of the left ankle show a fracture of the tip of the tibial malleolus, with no visible displacement of the fragments. Soft tissues are swollen. Joint alignment is normal, and bone mineralization is good." The conclusion states: "Follow-up X-rays show no change in the position of the medial malleolus." If the bone broke again, shouldn't I be back in a splint or something? I’d really appreciate any advice if anyone has been through something similar or knows what I should do. I'm lost, my ankle is swollen, and I can only limp. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. Cheers. 😁