Posts by Walter Smith8

Casey Palmer5 said:Look, you can ice it more often—like a few times a day for a couple of minutes at a time (just don't go overboard or you'll get frostbite, obviously). Best bet is to wrap that gel pack in a towel first, then hold it there until things feel nice and numb. As for the stretches—just stick to the basics: ankle pumps up and down, side-to-side, inward-outward, and some circles. You aren't going to break anything; honestly, icing it a bit before and after you move helps take the edge off the pain. Try to squeeze in a few minutes of movement 2-3 times a day. Those topical creams? They aren't a magic replacement for ice, but they're great lifesavers when you're stuck at the office and can't grab an ice pack. Regarding the brace—honestly, wear it as little as possible. It gives you support, sure, but if you lean on it too much, those stabilizer muscles just get lazy and weak because they aren't doing any work. Maybe use it while you're at work until things settle down, but don't wear it all day long. You can pick one up at any local CVS or medical supply shop. I wouldn't bother stressing over specific brands—they're mostly the same stuff—just tell them what's going on and they'll point you to something. Seriously, don't sweat it, it's fine 🙂

Hey, thanks so much. I'm gonna try to start the "exercises" today and definitely hit the 👍 tomorrow. Honestly, I'm counting down the minutes—I'm so stiff I can barely move 😲

And I'll grab a brace like you suggested, just for when I'm at work 👍 and some creams too.

Thanks a million 😘

Casey Palmer5 said:You could grab some Polar Ice gel or maybe some Deep Relief cream—they provide a nice cooling sensation and really take the edge off the pain. Also, looks like you're heading to the beach soon—that's awesome. Honestly, walking barefoot through the shallows is about the best rehab you can get.

Actually, picking up one of those creams or gels might be a smart move—I can't exactly lug my ice packs everywhere I go.

Thanks again! 😘

Casey Palmer5 said:I’d say about ten days of downtime should do it—I just don't get why you weren't rushed straight into physical therapy, since that’s what actually speeds things up. Anyway, hit it with the ice a few times a day and work on moving the joint, but try not to put too much weight on it until the pain dies down a bit. Also, if you have a desk job, you’ll probably feel it acting up after sitting for 8 hours, and if you’re on your feet all day at work, then yeah, you definitely aren't ready to head back yet.

Thanks a ton for the reply, Casey Palmer5 😘. Like I said, by next Tuesday it’ll be been two full weeks, so that sounds reasonable enough 👍

When I first showed up, the doctor asked if I was taking vacation or if I was in some kind of massive rush—because if I were, he would've sent me straight to physical therapy. When I told him "no thanks," he basically said it's better to just go the standard route. He mentioned that athletes go to that intensive PT and they're back on the field in like 5 to 8 days.

As for "ice," I've got those reusable gel packs you can chill in the fridge or heat up in the microwave for compresses; I usually use them twice a day. I'm still rubbing on Heparin and wearing an elastic wrap during the day, though I take it off at night. I've been keeping my leg elevated, but I actually ditched the pillow last night.

But how am I supposed to move it around? I tried a little bit, but it still hurts like hell whenever it hits a certain angle, so I’m too scared to push it. I mean, I can handle the pain, but I don't want to mess something up—I’m hardly an anatomy expert, you know?

Luckily, I have a desk job, though I do a fair amount of walking and climbing to get to and from work. My doctor suggested I pick up an ankle brace. Any specific recommendations?

Sorry, I am seriously drowning you in questions here, but hey, can't blame you for being the smartest 😍 😘 thanks so much, really 👍

Called my doctor yesterday, but honestly, they didn't give me much to go on...

So, let's try this one more time here:

What’s the absolute bare minimum amount of downtime I need? I'm supposed to be back at work this Monday, which would make it almost two weeks since everything went sideways.

Ugh, seriously? My thread just got kicked to another page before I even had a chance to talk to my doctor! 😲

amberheron62 said:Figured I’d chime in too—I’m basically a walking medical anomaly at this point when it comes to rolling my ankles. Honestly, if there were an award for most frequent ankle sprains, I’d have a trophy room full of them by now.😛 I only went to see the doctor because of one single thing...

It’s just some Kissing—but honestly, I’m guessing it’s more like that peripheral stuff near the bottom of your foot. It's just the bruising settling down, so seriously, don't let it get under your skin. It's nothing to worry about.

Yeah, that swelling finally hit the bottom of my foot around day two or three—total mess. But now this main bruise is doing that thing again where it’s shifting back to blue. Just one thing after another, I guess. 😲

amberheron62 said:Look, for the first two or three days, just stay off it as much as possible—total rest mode. Once that swelling finally starts to die down, you can begin putting some weight on that leg again. Start small, like just using your toes at first, then gradually work on dropping your heel down and doing some light stretching. Honestly, it’s gonna hurt like hell when you try to straighten it out initially, but after a few days, it becomes manageable, and from there, things should only go uphill.

Look, I only asked because standing on my heels feels way more comfortable than being up on my toes—so I was just wondering if that’s actually okay or if I'm totally messing something up.

amberheron62 said:Polar Ice—you know, that stuff with the crazy strong menthol smell? You can find it in basically any pharmacy under a different label if you look hard enough—honestly, it was a total lifesaver for me.

Man, I had no clue—I didn't know that. My doctor just put me on Heparin and called it a day.

amberheron62 said:Wait... you’re telling me this is actually normal? Seriously? 🤔 Look, if you’re an athlete or even just hit the gym regularly, just give that leg a rest for a month. Seriously—do nothing with it. If you actually follow that advice, you’ll be back to walking normally before you even realize what happened.

Look, I’m not trying to turn into some fitness influencer or anything—I just wanted to know when I can actually get back to my desk. And yeah, before you even ask... yes, it really happened. I actually want to work again. 🙂 So, I’m heading out to the coast in about three and a half weeks—finally—but honestly, I feel like I need to get some swimming in before then. Nothing crazy, just enough to not feel completely winded. Might throw a little yoga into the mix too, if I can actually find the motivation.

amberheron62 said:You’re always going to feel that joint—honestly, I’m already low-key terrified it’s just going to get more brutal as I get older..

I actually had this old injury involving a cast once, and I didn't even realize how much my wrist was actually messed up until I was stuck in the ER and couldn't even remember which one it was 🤔. Yeah, now that I'm getting older, I'm definitely a little spooked about how this is gonna play out.

Sam Hughes5 said:Honestly, I’m starting to get a little spooked about that corticosteroid injection if the swelling doesn't clear up 😬—you know, because of that "distortion" and all those months of wearing braces and grinding through physical therapy for a year after the injury

I’ve got a straight-up phobia of stairs now 😁

So, what happened? Did you take a tumble on the stairs? 😲

I live on the second floor of an apartment building with no elevator, and my job is on the third floor in a building where the elevator is basically a coin toss whether it actually works.

And after I wiped out (back at my place), they were helping me down, and my friend goes, "Just lean on me and hop on one leg"—and I’m just like, "Yeah, right, like you’d ever catch me hopping on one leg if I had any say in the matter," 😬 let alone trying to hop down a flight of stairs 😲

Thanks for the input, everyone, but jumping around is super awkward for me because:

a) I actually wiped out before because my leg just felt totally numb when I tried to stand up—now I’m low-key terrified of basically hopping around on one leg like a wounded bird.
b) Since my ankle isn't braced or anything, it just wobbles all over the place whenever I try to hop, which hurts like hell.😲

@fadedbear8/">@@fadedbear8, if I were you, I'd definitely head to an imaging center for an ultrasound. If there's even a tiny bit of damage there, you might be making things worse by pushing it. And even if everything looks fine, you should at least find out why that swelling won't budge. Just look at how Sam Hughes5 ended up completely wrecked.

I'm in no rush to get anywhere. I'm just trying to figure out what kind of stress my body can actually handle—doctors never bother with those kinds of specifics, and we usually forget to ask them anyway.

Angela Diaz11 said:Alright, I'll give Geokorton a shot. Hopefully it won't kill me... I'm still young enough...🤣 😬

Thanks for the advice, fingers crossed it works. It might react to white gold too, so maybe I'll test some silver or yellow gold instead... worth a try.

Best, 🙏

Personally, I don't think white gold should be an issue.🤔

Sorry for starting a new thread, but this is a totally different injury and a whole new set of questions—so please just merge this with my knee ligament post once I actually get some answers (or once I’m finally healed 😉), but let's keep this one separate for now. Thanks!

So, on Tuesday, I had a massive wipeout and landed really awkwardly on my left ankle. It swelled up instantly, but after getting X-rays at the ER and an ultrasound from a private clinic, it turns out it's "just" a sprain—specifically, a partial tear in one of the anterior ligaments. My doctor suggested ice, an ACE bandage, keeping it elevated, and slathering on some Heparin. He reckoned recovery should take about ten days.

The swelling went down after about 12 hours, but then this huge bruise popped up 😲 measuring roughly 10 x 20 cm 😲. I mean, I knew it was coming, but man, it looks gnarly.
Up until now, it’s gone through all the "rainbow colors"—blue, purple, green, yellow. I'm a little confused because I read online that yellow shows up at the end, but mine was already looking yellowish this morning, and now it's turned a weird shade of Kissing 😕.

Question #2: These days I'm basically glued to the couch, except for quick trips to the bathroom or grabbing something from the kitchen when my husband isn't hovering. Is that okay? Should I be trying to move around more even if it hurts, or should I keep resting it until it "heals"? Also, when I am standing, is it better to put my weight on my heel or more towards my toes?

And how will I know when it's actually time to start moving normally again? When the pain stops? Just by looking at it?

(Obviously, I didn't ask the doctor any of this because I realized halfway through the whole ordeal that I have absolutely no clue what I'm doing.)

My ears have basically gone on strike against anything that isn't gold—I’ve switched exclusively to gold because honestly, nothing else even fits in my piercings anymore.
The only exception is when I’m heading out for a quick bit, maybe just a couple of hours max, then I might dare to throw something else in.

Hey everyone, thanks for all the tips—I’m feeling way better overall, but man, this stupid cough is still absolutely wrecking me. It feels like there's this constant, frantic tickle in my throat that just won't quit; if I don't hack it up, I feel like I'm actually going to choke. It keeps me tossing and turning all night, and during the day, it’s just exhausting. I’ve tried everything under the sun—lozenges, honey, throat sprays, tea... even that slippery elm syrup the pharmacist at CVS suggested. A little sip of water or some tea helps for a second, but then boom—ten minutes later, it’s right back again. 😠

So, yeah, I'm still begging for recommendations for a decent cough syrup that actually works. 🙂

If you're dealing with those annoying little holes closing up—like if you haven't worn earrings in forever—your best bet is to go with some gold or maybe platinum studs first. It basically lowers the risk of an infection or some weird skin reaction kicking in.

ironsurfer8 said:the issue is the ephedrine

Hey Sandra Wood45, I'm seriously sorry you caught that bug👋

Maybe you should actually hit up a doctor though—that lingering cough isn't something to mess around with

Hey girl, thanks for checking in, it’s good to hear from you👋

That ephedrine stuff is supposedly "pseudo," which to me sounds like it's just playing pretend like an antibiotic. Since I rarely take it—like, maybe only when I'm feeling absolutely trashed—I never really pegged it as being super dangerous or anything

The cough hasn't been going on forever; things just really tanked starting Tuesday. Before that, it was more like a "warning shot" (man, if I'd known back then, I would've started taking precautions sooner😵). If it doesn't clear up, I'll definitely call my doctor (I thought about calling her last night because it was such a 😲 night, but I actually felt totally fine this morning). We'll see how it goes

Can someone please break it down for me—what’s actually so bad about Tylenol?

What makes it "trash"?

Grace Rodriguez10 said:what about vitamin C? just the stuff in Tylenol?

Whenever I feel a cold creeping up on me—or once it actually hits—I go hard on the tea (mostly chamomile), tons of vitamin C in every form imaginable (lemon slices, pills, whatever), and lately, some immune boosters—they’re those supplement tablets to beef up your defenses; I wouldn't bother buying them if they hadn't been handed to me, but they do the job. I also grab some acetaminophen to knock down a fever (Tylenol has it, but generic store brands are way cheaper), plus nasal spray, because honestly, keeping those airways clear is everything. Oh, and sleeping like a log!

I take some garlic, dissolve it in a bit of water mixed with honey.
I’ve also got some Twinlab immunity booster tablets—I totally forgot to take them before this cold started because I felt fine, but they’re 100mg. And yeah, tea with honey. I don't dump lemon into my tea because I don't want to kill off all the vitamins; I'd rather just squeeze it into some lemonade instead.

Nasal spray is a non-negotiable too, since I can definitely tell that the drainage from my sinuses is what triggers my coughing fits.

I haven't been able to sleep for three nights straight because of this cough... it's brutal.😢

Anyway, I totally ignored the early warning signs—I thought it was just a scratchy throat that would pass like it usually does. On day one at work, I was just sounding a little hoarse and didn't think much of it. Then, boom, it all hit me. 😲

Thanks for all the tips. It feels like things are generally looking up, except for this insane cough—honestly, I feel like I'm going to choke. 🙂

Forgot to mention, I'm also taking some Proimunal propolis mixed with angelica, echinacea, and St. John's wort.

Brandon Thomas89 said:Man, I’m right there with you—caught the same bug... a bit of rain here, too much AC there, and now I can't stop coughing either.
For me, nothing beats Honey syrup—the kind with honey, propolis, marshmallow root, and thyme. You can grab it at any local CVS.
👍

I’m still sticking to effervescent calcium with Vitamin C. The Pfizer stuff. That’s really it. None of that Advil nonsense for me.

Hey! I actually just read your post while I was out in Maui 👋, so sorry you're going through it.

But seriously, does that syrup actually work for that brutal, choking cough? You know the one—where it starts with this tickle in your throat and you feel like you're literally going to suffocate if you don't hack it up? The pharmacy gave me some Iceland Moss syrup and honestly, it hasn't done N-O-T-H-I-N-G for me. I couldn't sleep a wink last night because of the coughing; finally passed out right before dawn. I felt slightly better this morning, but then for the last half hour, I started choking again. A little water or a spoonful of honey helps for a second, but as soon as it hits my throat, it's back to square one.

Rebecca Walker32 said:Tylenol is honestly garbage—any doctor worth their salt will tell you to stay away from it because it’s packed with junk. And look, it doesn't even mean you're actually sick with a cold. It could totally be allergies. I was reading some news article earlier that mentioned how those initial allergy spikes can mimic a cold perfectly—think dry cough, a slight fever, watery eyes, a runny nose, all that good stuff. Personally, I'm allergic to grass and weeds, and I get the whole works, though I don't usually run a fever since my body basically just accepts the misery after dealing with allergies for 17 years.

I don't want to be gross, but the color of what I coughed up today pretty much confirms this isn't just allergies. Plus, my eyes feel super dry—which is exactly how they get whenever I'm actually running a fever.

thanks anyway!

I guess it’s just that seasonal shift hitting everyone lately. Since the weekend, my throat has been absolutely killing me, my nose won't stop running, my head is throbbing, and I can't stop coughing—it's that annoying dry kind, though I managed to clear some junk today; mostly it just feels like a constant scratch in my throat that forces a cough, which then just makes my throat hurt even worse 🙄 . To top it all off, I ran a bit of a fever today (hit 99.5 this afternoon and it's only getting worse).

I've been tossing Tylenol around, some honey syrup for the cough, gargling with sage, and drinking tea with honey, but honestly? It feels like I'm doing absolutely nothing. 😢

Anyone else got any bright ideas? 🙂 I haven't had a decent night's sleep in three days because of this damn cough 🙂

jadeskipper18 said:It’s almost like we’re talking about a completely different hospital here. 😲 My own experience was actually pretty great... after my car accident, they rushed me straight to the Mayo Clinic. Since it was an emergency, I didn't spend much time waiting downstairs; they checked me out immediately, and the staff even cracked jokes to calm me down because I was a complete nervous wreck. Up on the ward, the nurses were wonderful, and there was this one male nurse who really stuck in my mind. They did absolutely everything they could—whenever my cast was chafing, a nurse would be right there stuffing cotton in to soothe it, checking on me constantly, especially right after surgery. And honestly, I owe my life to the surgeon who operated on me (I don't know if they allow you to write names here), because my fracture was such a bizarre mess that I should have needed multiple surgeries. Instead, he handled it all in one go, and he did it so perfectly that I'll never have to deal with having a screw pulled out of my leg. I'm just eternally grateful to him. 🙏 🙏I’ll never forget that man... even during follow-up appointments later on, he always recognized me. He’s truly a remarkable human being.

The only real downside was the follow-up visits after I was discharged. The waiting lines downstairs are just a disaster. It’s fine while you're still on crutches—people are usually kind enough to let you sit—but once you ditch the crutches, people act like you’re perfectly healthy and leave you to fend for yourself... and then you end up waiting hours for an exam. I’ve sat there from 7 AM until 1 PM before. But look, it’s always packed, so I can’t really blame them; sometimes it feels like those folks are just spinning in circles trying to figure out which way is up.

Ugh, tell me about it. We were literally just joking about how insane it is that the ER intake and the follow-up clinic are basically sharing the same space. Like, seriously? Yesterday, like 80% of the crowd was just there for minor things—getting bandages changed, cast removals, pulling stitches, basic check-ins—and there I am, hobbling around with a wrecked leg, waiting almost three hours.😲