Leg injuries: fractures, dislocations, strains, and more...

So, I was playing basketball and rolled my left ankle. Usually, the pain lasts maybe two or three minutes and then I'm fine, but this time, I actually heard a pop when it happened... and the pain didn't start until this morning. I can stand on it, and I can even jog, but if I try to move it in the direction of the twist, the pain is absolutely brutal.

Right now, I'm just slathering on some cold gel and using whatever bandages the pharmacist handed me.

Anyone have any idea what might be going on here?

Look, you’re still pretty young and clearly haven't dealt with this before....
I'm betting it's a joint sprain... maybe some torn ligaments...
Personally, I've absolutely trashed both my legs—seven times total, to be exact...
My advice? Stay off the basketball court for at least a month.... It’s a dangerous game because once a ligament snaps, things are never quite the same again...
AND FOR HEAVEN'S SAKE, forget about running until that leg stops hurting entirely!!!!

God. 🙂
There’s this old-school remedy that works best if you slap it on the joint right after you get hurt. I don't know if it's too late for you now, but... maybe give it a shot.
Whisk an egg white with a pinch of salt, soak a bandage in some whiskey, then spread that whisked egg white over the soaked wrap. Just, uh, make sure you don't wrap it too tight, because this mixture is gonna turn into a hard cast, kind of like plaster. Keep it on for a few hours while you rest, then swap it out. Do that maybe 2 or 3 times. Oh, and you could probably whip up a little sauce using a yolk, some sugar, and a splash of rum—that should definitely cheer you up. Good luck.

urbanjackal14 said:So, I was playing basketball and rolled my left ankle. Usually, the pain lasts maybe two or three minutes and then I'm fine, but this time, I actually heard a pop when it happened... and the pain didn't start until this morning. I can stand on it, and I can even jog, but if I try to move it in the direction of the twist, the pain is absolutely brutal.

Right now, I'm just slathering on some cold gel and using whatever bandages the pharmacist handed me.

Anyone have any idea what might be going on here?

The same thing happened to me while playing tennis. I was walking to school with a cane and ended up earning the nickname Herflick.🤣
A whole lot of ice. Back then, I used to make popsicles by pouring water into little plastic cups with wooden skewers. Once they froze, I'd use them to massage the swelling. The pain gradually subsided, but I was still dealing with discomfort for a couple of months.

So you're telling me there's actually no need for leg braces or casts?

urbanjackal14 said:So you're telling me there's actually no need for leg braces or casts?

Not in my case. You take any photos?

I haven't gone to get the tattoo yet. If the weather clears up tomorrow, I'll head in, but honestly, I'm a little paranoid they might hit me with some long, awkward lines... I've got my trip to Vegas in five days. 😢 😢

Did you sprain your wrist?
If so, just take it easy—use some ice packs and you should be fine in about ten days or so. Just try to avoid any sudden movements, running, jumping, and all that nonsense...
Maybe try some Deep Relief gel, and you could always pop some Advil if it gets annoying..

Yeah, it’s a bit swollen today, but there isn't any pain. Just sticking to cold compresses for now...

So, last Saturday around 8 PM, I took a nasty fall and wrecked my left ankle. It hurt, sure, but nothing crazy at first. Then around 3 AM, the pain hit me like a truck and the swelling got so bad I didn't know what to do with myself. I went to the ER and they did some scans—nothing broken, apparently. The doctor seemed half-asleep and barely said two words to me. Long story short, they slapped me in a splint and told me to come back in two days. Well, I showed up on Tuesday, they opened the splint, and then they tell me I can't take it off yet and have to wear it for another 8 days. Now there’s some note about an "ex-splint" and physical therapy. My ankle is still swollen on the outside, and if I understood them right (they talk so fast it's impossible), it's a torn tendon. So now what? What the hell is an "ex-splint," how long is this recovery actually going to take, because it's been 6 days and it still hurts like crazy and won't go down? And what does "physical therapy" even mean here? Is that something I do at home or do I need to head over to a clinic near where I live? HELP me out here.

neonwalker19 said:So, last Saturday around 8 PM, I took a nasty fall and wrecked my left ankle. It hurt, sure, but nothing crazy at first. Then around 3 AM, the pain hit me like a truck and the swelling got so bad I didn't know what to do with myself. I went to the ER and they did some scans—nothing broken, apparently. The doctor seemed half-asleep and barely said two words to me. Long story short, they slapped me in a splint and told me to come back in two days. Well, I showed up on Tuesday, they opened the splint, and then they tell me I can't take it off yet and have to wear it for another 8 days. Now there’s some note about an "ex-splint" and physical therapy. My ankle is still swollen on the outside, and if I understood them right (they talk so fast it's impossible), it's a torn tendon. So now what? What the hell is an "ex-splint," how long is this recovery actually going to take, because it's been 6 days and it still hurts like crazy and won't go down? And what does "physical therapy" even mean here? Is that something I do at home or do I need to head over to a clinic near where I live? HELP me out here.

I'm no doctor, but I've dealt with injuries like this plenty of times. You're looking at at least a month before you're fully recovered. That doesn't mean you won't be walking, just that you shouldn't go running or do any heavy sports. I assume the therapy just means doing some light range-of-motion exercises once the splint finally comes off. If you aren't an athlete, it’s really not that big of a deal.

Daniel Chavez66 said:I'm no doctor, but I've dealt with injuries like this plenty of times. You're looking at at least a month before you're fully recovered. That doesn't mean you won't be walking, just that you shouldn't go running or do any heavy sports. I assume the therapy just means doing some light range-of-motion exercises once the splint finally comes off. If you aren't an athlete, it’s really not that big of a deal.

Yeah, but he doesn't get why they swap a standard cast for some "EX" version after just ten days. What even is that? I've been scouring the web and finding absolutely nothing... And why did they mark it down like it was some major emergency when I went to the ER? Also, why does my leg go totally numb from the foot all the way up whenever I try to point it down? It happens so fast I can't even hold my leg down for five minutes... ugh, it's driving me crazy.

neonwalker19 said:Yeah, but he doesn't get why they swap a standard cast for some "EX" version after just ten days. What even is that? I've been scouring the web and finding absolutely nothing... And why did they mark it down like it was some major emergency when I went to the ER? Also, why does my leg go totally numb from the foot all the way up whenever I try to point it down? It happens so fast I can't even hold my leg down for five minutes... ugh, it's driving me crazy.

Honestly, if I were you, I’d find a solid chiropractor or someone who actually knows how to adjust joints as fast as possible... it sounds like one of your joint bones shifted out of place and probably pinched a tendon, which is likely cutting off your circulation and causing all that intense pain and swelling.
You might feel some relief in about a month or so, but you'll always be dealing with these little issues that eventually lead to much bigger problems down the road. It’s really best to get adjusted properly and then alternate between hot and cold compresses for a few minutes at a time. Hot compresses usually work wonders, and maybe try a diluted apple cider vinegar soak to help pull that swelling down.
I hope this helps at least a little bit, even if it's just through a screen....

So, something pretty stupid happened to me yesterday. I misjudged a jump and completely wrecked my ankle.
I rushed straight to the ER, they gave me a referral for surgery, sent me off for imaging, and then I headed back to the surgical department. Once they finally looked at everything, they told me I’d really done a number on it...
But hey, no fractures showed up on the scans. They slapped me in a splint immediately and told me I need to stay off it (which is funny, because I actually thought I could just roll out onto the soccer field with the splint on 😁), and now I have to go back to the trauma ward in a week for a follow-up.
It hurts like hell, though; this splint is squeezing my ankle and the pain right around the joint is intense, but I guess that’s probably "normal."
This is actually the first time I've ever injured my leg or any part of my body, so I'm basically clueless here.
I've been taking Ibuprofen—just one last night and one this morning.
I'm only writing all this because a comment from Alex Chavez4 spooked me a little bit... "Your leg might give out after a month or so, but you'll always deal with the issues that lead to even bigger problems later on."
For now, I assume I just have to wait for the appointment and suffer through the pain since I'm stuck in this splint and can't exactly apply any ointments or anything... or can I?

Alright, here’s the deal... about 8 days ago I landed wrong during a soccer game and totally wrecked my ankle.
I went to the ER and they put me in a splint. For the first 5 or 6 days, I didn't feel a thing.
Then, out of nowhere, the pain started—but it wasn't even in the ankle. It’s in the muscle, maybe 10-15 cm above the ankle heading toward my knee.
So, I took the splint off just to see what was going on... it's bruised purple and the ankle is still a little swollen.
Now I'm wondering why this pain showed up. Is this actually normal??
Also, if I keep my leg elevated, the pain dies down, but once I put it on the floor, it's absolutely unbearable.

Jonathan White78 said:Alright, here’s the deal... about 8 days ago I landed wrong during a soccer game and totally wrecked my ankle.
I went to the ER and they put me in a splint. For the first 5 or 6 days, I didn't feel a thing.
Then, out of nowhere, the pain started—but it wasn't even in the ankle. It’s in the muscle, maybe 10-15 cm above the ankle heading toward my knee.
So, I took the splint off just to see what was going on... it's bruised purple and the ankle is still a little swollen.
Now I'm wondering why this pain showed up. Is this actually normal??
Also, if I keep my leg elevated, the pain dies down, but once I put it on the floor, it's absolutely unbearable.

I'd definitely suggest getting those ligaments checked out. Might sound silly or extra, but back in the day—like five years ago—I tore a ligament and it never actually healed because the docs missed it... ended up dealing with insane pain and now I have to wear a brace for life. Maybe an extra wrap would help you. Good luck!

I was at the imaging appointment too... an MRI or whatever they call it..
They told me there were no fractures and the ligament wasn't totally torn, just a partial rupture of the tibiofibular ligament. That's why they put me in this brace.
But now, eight days later, I've got this horrible pain starting from my ankle and going up about four inches... I can't tell if it's muscle or bone or what. Bottom line is, it hurts.
Maybe it's just because I've been stuck in this thing being too stiff? Honestly, I have no clue.
If anyone out there has dealt with something similar, let me know. Thanks.

Jonathan White78 said:I was at the imaging appointment too... an MRI or whatever they call it..
They told me there were no fractures and the ligament wasn't totally torn, just a partial rupture of the tibiofibular ligament. That's why they put me in this brace.
But now, eight days later, I've got this horrible pain starting from my ankle and going up about four inches... I can't tell if it's muscle or bone or what. Bottom line is, it hurts.
Maybe it's just because I've been stuck in this thing being too stiff? Honestly, I have no clue.
If anyone out there has dealt with something similar, let me know. Thanks.

First off, you’ve basically wrecked your joint and stretched or partially torn the ligaments—based on what you're saying, that sounds about right. You really need to find a solid chiropractor or someone who actually knows how to align joints, otherwise, you're going to be dealing with this for a long, long time. Try using warm compresses made of half apple cider vinegar and half water; keep it warm while applying it, but once it starts to cool down, take it off, because at least that should help draw out the bruising.
I really hope you can find someone nearby who knows what they're doing, because if not, your leg might never fully cooperate with you again.

I’m also dealing with some ankle issues, so I would really appreciate any help or advice you all might have.
Basically, about two years ago, I had a nasty fall and badly sprained my ankle. I ended up tearing my ligaments and damaging the joint capsule, even though there wasn't any actual bone trauma. However, my doctor felt that just applying ice and using an elastic bandage would be enough to let it heal on its own. Since then, that ankle has been a constant source of trouble. Every single time I stand slightly awkwardly, it swells up and starts hurting. My doctor still insists that an elastic wrap is perfectly sufficient. But over the last few weeks, something really strange has started happening. Even though I haven't fallen or even stepped on it wrong, it has swollen up, turned red, and this soft tissue has started forming around the joint. I can walk just fine and don't feel any pain during physical activity, but it is quite painful to the touch. To make matters worse, a bruise appeared right over the spot today. If I go back to my doctor, I am certain she will just tell me to stick to the ice and the compression wrap again, so please, I’m looking for some real advice.

So... what now?
I just want to know how the leg is doing. Timothy Fowler39I can't even begin to process this. I’m staring at the screen and I honestly have no idea what you're trying to say. Is this some kind of joke? Because if it is, it’s not landing. Just give me something real to work with next time.
I went through something pretty similar recently, so now I'm just sitting here wondering how this whole mess is going to play out for me in the near future.
I really hope Timothy Fowler39 sees this post.