My Friggen Ankle

TenebraeBloodwake

Since the start of the year, I have been trying to squeeze in more cardio. I started by going to the track at my college and walking around that. I picked up my speed and pushed myself. My first major mistake was doing this in a worn pair of walking shoes. Got a callous across pretty much the entire ball of my right foot and what looked like a deep bruise across the left one. Could barely walk for a week. Broke down and stopped by New Balance and dropped $200.00 on a fitted pair of running shoes. Problem solved.

Next I started doing 30/90 intervals pushing myself as hard as I could and that's where the second problem occurred. After a particularly hard run I noticed a twinge in my left ankle. I thought it was trouble and I was right because though I didn't feel it that night the next day I felt it big time. I'd twisted the sucker. Now I figured this be three days of soaking, wrapping, and staying off of it however it stung for a month. I did no running or walking at the track during this time. Two weeks after I felt no pain I decided to try the track again. Slowly. Didn't push hard. No running. Just walked brisk for 4 miles. Next day I felt a twinge. Its STILL injured. What do I have to do to make this thing heal proper? I've never had an injury linger this long before.

mortalkowgirl

You said you soaked and wrapped it. Have you tried heat and cold in intervals? I have heard that is actually better for injuries. With it lasting this long though it might be to late for that. In this instance I suggest going to see your doctor... You don't want to mess around with stuff like this.

CoachDanJudge

Read this article on Injury and especially ankle problems.


http://madbody.com/articles/?p=143

TenebraeBloodwake

Going to try that stuff but after this many weeks will icing and heating still be effective? And should I be working it out at all while its still twinging?

HerkMeOff

I would start with a doctor.

TenebraeBloodwake

My insurance from my new job kicks in on the 17th. Until then what, if anything, can I do?

HerkMeOff

My insurance from my new job kicks in on the 17th. Until then what, if anything, can I do?

Rest.

ThinkInOregon

Going to try that stuff but after this many weeks will icing and heating still be effective?

Yes it will still be beneficial. The alternating heat/cold cycles help to stimulate blood flow which in turn help healing.

Look at it this way, this far out it can't hurt and very well may help.

Good luck!

bwogilvie

Rest.

I'll second that. I had a running injury about 3 weeks ago. I rested for a week, then tried running again. It still hurt. I took another week off, and tried again. It still hurt. I'm now taking 2 weeks off, and if it hurts when I try again next Monday, I'm going to the doctor.

2 weeks off until your insurance kicks in is a lot better than a permanent injury. In the meantime, try walking, cycling (if you have a bike), swimming (if you have access to a pool), rowing - anything that's kind to your ankle.

bwogilvie

Oh, one more thing: if your insurance covers referrals to specialists, ask for a referral to an MD with a sports medicine specialty. (In a perfect world, that would also be your GP.) My regular doctor seems horrified by the kind of exercise I do; I'd prefer to have one who realizes that being physically active isn't pathological....

jassnip

According to Kelley Starrett you should NOT be icing injuries.

You can watch this youtube video where some of the foremost athletes and trainers discuss why.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UmJVgEWZu4

Hope you heal soon.