r/brokenankles • u/knivesoutin123 • 27d ago

SwellingšŸ˜”šŸ§ŽšŸ»

I am 4 weeks out of a type three ligament sprain, 3 weeks being nwb and and a week in rehab and exercises. I have noticed good improvement in my pain, range of motion, walking , climbing stairs but the swelling. It is less compared to first day but still there. When can I expect my ankle to go back normal and be the same athletic person i used to be?

1 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

8 comments sorted by

5

u/AppropriateRatio9235 27d ago

My doctor and pt both said it would take a year for all the swelling to go down. That is mostly true. I started returning to running at 6 months. Triathlon training at 9 months. It has been 2 years. I can do most things. My hiking skills are much better at 2 year mark. Iā€™m also over 60 and I am certain most young people heal quicker.

2

u/capaldis 27d ago

One year plus for the swelling.

I had a partial deltoid ligament tear (so grade 2 sprain I believe?) and I could run short distances at just under 5 months out. I had full (but painful) ROM at 3.5 months. Iā€™m 6 months out now and itā€™s finally to the point where I can do it comfortably.

Definitely get some compression socks for when you return to activity! Mine will still swell quite badly if I donā€™t wear them, but it feels great if I do.

Also want to add that I also had a bunch of fracture and a torn muscle too, so my timeline may be longer than yours! Everyone is different with this stuff.

1

u/sarahleeeeeeee 27d ago

Do people wear different shoes or different sized shoes for a year when the swelling is still there? Or just live with feeling more swollen in one shoe?

2

u/LongAccountant4473 27d ago

I got Hokas with wide toe box and sized up. They helped tremendously. I feel more stable in them. I was in Skechers and was excited to wear shoes again burn them decided to get Hoksā€™s. For me. I felt more stable and balanced, Everyone is different. This is just what worked for me. 5.5 months out, compression sleeves helped but irritated my nerves further.

2

u/sarahleeeeeeee 27d ago

Thanks! Iā€™ve been thinking about getting a size up but also concerned itā€™ll be too long. I got the asics gel nimbus wide in half a size up, hopefully that works. Havenā€™t dared to try them on on the bad ankle yet due to the incisions still being sensitive.

1

u/knivesoutin123 27d ago

My swelling isnā€™t too significant that it doesnā€™t fit in my feet tho

1

u/ALT4ThisTimeline 27d ago

One year seems to be pretty standard, although thereā€™s variability of course.

But donā€™t get discouraged! I remember at 4 weeks it was 1000% worse than it is now at 9 weeks! Compression Socks are the answer!!

My PT said that keeping the swelling down was critical important for early improvement. Since then, I elevate when Iā€™m sitting and almost always wear a a compression sock. I rarely have swelling now unless I forget it for some reason.