Problems from sprained ankles can last
A sprained ankle is usually treated by people as being the lesser of two injuries: the break and the sprain. But, if the break was clean and healed well, it usually doesn’t cause any more problems. Sprains, on the other hand, can last well past the time one would expect it to be healed.
In a recent review study, published in the American Journal of Medicine, researchers found that up to 1/3 of patients with sprained ankles had pain after 1 year, and up to 1/4 had chronic pain up to 3 years later - despite treatment when the injury happened.
Repeat sprains also were examined and they were found to be at a rate of 3 to 34% - with much of the difference being if the person was active in sports.
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POSTED IN: Ergonomics & Exercise, Ortho (bones, muscles, feet, etc) & osteoporosis
2 opinions for Problems from sprained ankles can last
Scott
May 16, 2008 at 4:54 pm
I’ve sprained both ankles numerous times and once in awhile I still have a little stiffness although I haven’t done it in quite some years. I actually had a strong phobia of rolling my ankle for a long time after that. I would sometimes think about it and I could almost feel the pain and hear the ligaments stretching and tearing. I had weak ankles for a long time after.
One problem I think people have with the healing process is that they don’t let themselves fully recorver as they should and make an effort to start walking on it again too quickly.They get this mindset that it is the good thing to do to make the ankle strong again and in turn it never really fully heals.
Marijke Durning, RN
May 17, 2008 at 11:23 am
Scott, I can really identify with that phobia. I’ve sprained both ankles a few times but my worst was when I was nine months pregnant with my first. He was actually due the next day. It took months before that ankle felt stable and I felt secure enough to not worry all the time.
All these years later, I still worry from time to time though, because I did another good sprain a few years later that seemed to take forever to heal.
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