Why won't my sprained ankle heal?

Question

I am a 50-year-old white female, about 40 pounds overweight, but otherwise in very good health. 7.5 weeks ago, my right foot slipped in the mud and I fell down an embankment into a ditch, spraining my ankle. At first, the dr. and I didn't think it was that bad so he told me to walk on it to help strengthen it even if it hurt. Two weeks later, I felt something "give" and the pain got worse. I think I tore a ligament or tendon. At that time, I was put in an air walker boot, which I wear to work in an office setting every day. I take the boot off when I get home from work and wrap up the ankle. By the end of the day, it is hurting pretty bad, but is always better in the morning. I can put weight on it, but can't flex it enough to walk on it without limping, and at night, it is much more painful. Why isn't it healing? I've been in the boot 5.5 weeks now. Is it because I'm supposed to be wearing the boot all the time and not walking on it at all? I haven't started physical therapy yet because I am waiting for it to stop hurting. Please, serious answers only. I'm getting scared it's not going to heal.

Answer 1

Sprains, especially bad ones, take a noctoriously long time to heal.  Certainly, if you were not wearing the boot as directed, this might have delayed healing.  Yet, i would not wait until you are painfree until you start physical therapy.  Remodeling of the ligaments and tendons is going to take place over several weeks to months and it's not unusual to still have pain at this point.  Pain does not always mean damage, and the physical therapist can teach you what is an appropriate amount of pain to feel and when you need to "lay off."  If you wait until it's pain free to begin PT, you'll be waiting a long time...because movement within parameters is necessary for recovery.  

Answer 2

just go to the doctor you probaly broke or tore something.  

Answer 3

When you went to the doctor did they do xrays?  If they did and found no fracture, then they would of put you in a walking boot.  The usual treatment is wear a boot ALL the time, except when sleeping.  Anytime you are walking and put weight on your ankle.  This keeps the ankle in its natural position and lets all the ligaments and tendons heal right.  What you should have done is only wear the boot for 7-10 days and if you didn't have improvement then you should have been instructed to go back to your doctor and get an order for an ankle MRI.  If their is a ligament or tendon tear and it is not corrected properly, scar tissue can develop around the injured site and your range of motion and flexion and extension will never be the same.  It will be limited.   5.5 weeks is about 4 weeks to long to be suffering from a simple sprain.  Wear your boot all the time, elevate, limit weightbearing but dont totally stay off it, some weight bearing will help strenghthen your joints, and go get an MRI on it before scar tissue completely develops, start your physical therapy and go from there.