Ankle ligament injury.....

[Brighton till i die]

.....wondered if any footballers out there can help me:

Last Oct i badly damaged my ankle ligaments when my left foot bent right over on the side of my ankle.

It swelled up like a golf ball... anyway 10 months on and there is still a small bit of swelling.

* I went to the docs and he gave me a steriod injection - nothing
* I then spent £80 odd quid getting acupuntcure and ultra sound done - not much good
* had it xrayed for a small bone growth - nothing
* been doing half hour every day on a wobble board - nothing


Played footie for the first time in about 5 weeks yesterday with a pro lace up ankle support (another £40), and now today its really aching again and feels sore.


any one got any experience in this sorta thing please

 

[Sajerz]

In my experience your more than likely to injure your ankle again like myself.
I did something simular to my ankle over a year ago and it still gives me trouble now.
Try not to put any excessive weight on it by doing any sharp turns whilst running.

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

I'm not a footballer, but a basketballer.

Iv'e heard a few people say the use of magnets has helped them with the healing process.

You will probably want to read up on it a bit more but you can get ankle supports that others seem to think have helped them.

Magnetic Ankle Support Magnetic Therapy Wrap - 1 Each

 

[fenech1elphick1]

it could be that when the ligament damage accured that it would have stretched and ripped them if that is the case i can reccomend a good phisio to help you out to get you a scan done and try and solve the problem just drop me a pm

 

[Brighton till i die]

I'm not a footballer, but a basketballer.

Iv'e heard a few people say the use of magnets has helped them with the healing process.

You will probably want to read up on it a bit more but you can get ankle supports that others seem to think have helped them.

Magnetic Ankle Support Magnetic Therapy Wrap - 1 Each

that looks pretty good.

i've just paid £40 for a lace up ankle support but its quite bulky.

really gutted as wanted to be fighting fit for the start of the new season on saturday!!

 

[Brighton till i die]

it could be that when the ligament damage accured that it would have stretched and ripped them if that is the case i can reccomend a good phisio to help you out to get you a scan done and try and solve the problem just drop me a pm

thanx mate - i went to a sprots physio that gave me the acupunture.....he said if it keeps swelling up after playing i have probably "torn" or ruptured" the ligaments rather than a sprain etc

if so its a bloody horrible op where they cut open your ankle and re attach the ligament - 6 weeks on crutches and out of footie for a year... - soo hope its not that!

 

[Dave the OAP]

thanx mate - i went to a sprots physio that gave me the acupunture.....he said if it keeps swelling up after playing i have probably "torn" or ruptured" the ligaments rather than a sprain etc

if so its a bloody horrible op where they cut open your ankle and re attach the ligament - 6 weeks on crutches and out of footie for a year... - soo hope its not that!

If its any consolation, I rolled my ankle badly about three years ago after being hit in the throat by a bouncer ( trying to get out of the way and landed badly). Anyway, it took about a year of physio to get it back to some sort of normality.

100% recommend physio, ultra sound and massage on it eventually worked but like you I played cricket the next season and after every game, it was RICE - you know Rest - Ice- Compression- Elevation. Eventually it will get better.

Just be thankful it wasnt your achilles - I spent 6 months in plaster and couldnt drive for 9 months!!!!

 

[Tyrone Biggums]

that looks pretty good.

i've just paid £40 for a lace up ankle support but its quite bulky.

really gutted as wanted to be fighting fit for the start of the new season on saturday!!

Iv'e had bad ankle injuries due to basketball and while it was a while back i'm sure after the first time I did mine there was some pain in it during the first few months of comming back from it.

The magnetic ankle braces aren't to be worn during sports though, not enough support, you wear them for a few hours each day to try and help with the pain.


Those lace up ankle supports with the metal inserts on the sides are ok, iv'e worn one for the last 7-8 years and never done another major ankle injury since.

But they are a bitch to wear when you have to try and get a football boot over the top of one.

 

[Brighton till i die]

Iv'e had bad ankle injuries due to basketball and while it was a while back i'm sure after the first time I did mine there was some pain in it during the first few months of comming back from it.

The magnetic ankle braces aren't to be worn during sports though, not enough support, you wear them for a few hours each day to try and help with the pain.


Those lace up ankle supports with the metal inserts on the sides are ok, iv'e worn one for the last 7-8 years and never done another major ankle injury since.

But they are a bitch to wear when you have to try and get a football boot over the top of one.

yeah i found it a bit wierd on saturday wearing it - loads of protection with the metal inserts and i guess i'll get used to it - luckily i've got a size 12 WIDE fit boots!!

thing is i did it in Oct and its still causing me grief now - i guess i should really get it checked to see if the ligament is ruptured - if so, no amount of physio etc will heal it i guess..... :worried:

 

[Brighton till i die]

If its any consolation, I rolled my ankle badly about three years ago after being hit in the throat by a bouncer ( trying to get out of the way and landed badly). Anyway, it took about a year of physio to get it back to some sort of normality.

100% recommend physio, ultra sound and massage on it eventually worked but like you I played cricket the next season and after every game, it was RICE - you know Rest - Ice- Compression- Elevation. Eventually it will get better.

Just be thankful it wasnt your achilles - I spent 6 months in plaster and couldnt drive for 9 months!!!!

cheers mate - am gonna keep doing the whole RICE thing - was also trying hot/cold packs for half hr a day - will re-start that again.

ankles are such a bloody complex body part - it even hurt a bit when driving to work today!!!!

(you gotta watch out for those bouncers dude!!!)

 

[mr cgull]

Sorry to hear about your injury. I had my ankle ligaments damaged last October by a rather 'enthusiastic' tackle from one of the Sussex Sunday League's more 'keen' sides. Was hobbling about for ages so went to a physio, got charged £30+ quid for her to say that she wasn't sure what it was, try a few exercises, come back and she'd have another look (for £50).

I wasn't overlly confident so my mate got me in contact with the physio from a well known local football team. He diagnosed the injury within the first minute (no joke), was able to tell from the way I stood that I had injured my other ankle (which was correct) and told me exactly what I needed to do, which (touch wood) has worked fine and I was back playing within 3 months.

Basically, I would thoroughly recommend him. Not only was he extrememly competent, but he charged less than the other physio, £25 per half hour, which was often, but not always, the length of the session. He also explained to me the theory behind the effective treatment, i.e. not only repairing the ligaments but re-educating the spindles - without this education, he said you are very likely to repeat the injury without proper treatment.

If you want his name and number, let me know your e.mail address and I'll forward it to you. I know he's since left the club but I'm sure he may have set up privately.

 

[Brighton till i die]

ahh cool thanx mate - yeah i would like his number please - be nice for a pro to look at it. I'm from H/Heath too mate, is that where he is?

my email address is
brightonandhovealbionfc@hotmail.com

cheers fella.

 

[Brighton till i die]

If you want his name and number, let me know your e.mail address and I'll forward it to you. I know he's since left the club but I'm sure he may have set up privately.

cheers fella - am going to see him tomorra!!

 

[Lady Whistledown]

Have done the same, over the course of time, to both ankles.

The problem with ligaments is that once you rupture or sprain them, they stay stretched to an extent, as opposed to a fracture which will normally just heal.

A physio could give you exercises to strengthen and tighten the ligament up again, as inevitably after an injury you tend to avoid putting too much weight on it for months afterwards, thus further causing it to waste.

 

[Stoichkov]

I hurt my ankle way back in 1996 bowling (cricket) - as I planted my foot at the end of my run up, it buckled over. Stupidly, I had a saturday job at the time and didn't want to lose a days wages so went to work the following morning with it swollen like a purple balloon and walked (well, hobbled) around for 13 hours. 12 years later, I'm not sure the £30 was worth the stiff, almost constant dull ache I have now.

I still do loads of running but have found that the mobility in the ankle that I damaged is far less than that in my ok ankle. I had two bouts of physio. Both times I had the fact pointed out to me that I needed to do specific strengthening excercises to it - something which I'm quite lazy about. I can just about muster the enthusiasm to run 4 times a week but struggle to find the time to do that bit extra for my foot.

When I have done it over a length of time, I do notice an improvement. Also, my foot became very stiff and some really good massage of the sole loosened it up nicely.

So, my unprofessional advice would be to work on strengthening it. It might never be quite 100% but I think for everybody who plays competitive sport over a period of years, there's always something thats not as good as it used to be!

 

[Brighton till i die]

Have done the same, over the course of time, to both ankles.

The problem with ligaments is that once you rupture or sprain them, they stay stretched to an extent, as opposed to a fracture which will normally just heal.

A physio could give you exercises to strengthen and tighten the ligament up again, as inevitably after an injury you tend to avoid putting too much weight on it for months afterwards, thus further causing it to waste.

thats true

however i'm now worried i've ripped it apart altogether thus meaning it wont re-attach without major surgery....

 

[Brighton till i die]

I hurt my ankle way back in 1996 bowling (cricket) - as I planted my foot at the end of my run up, it buckled over. Stupidly, I had a saturday job at the time and didn't want to lose a days wages so went to work the following morning with it swollen like a purple balloon and walked (well, hobbled) around for 13 hours. 12 years later, I'm not sure the £30 was worth the stiff, almost constant dull ache I have now.

I still do loads of running but have found that the mobility in the ankle that I damaged is far less than that in my ok ankle. I had two bouts of physio. Both times I had the fact pointed out to me that I needed to do specific strengthening excercises to it - something which I'm quite lazy about. I can just about muster the enthusiasm to run 4 times a week but struggle to find the time to do that bit extra for my foot.

When I have done it over a length of time, I do notice an improvement. Also, my foot became very stiff and some really good massage of the sole loosened it up nicely.

So, my unprofessional advice would be to work on strengthening it. It might never be quite 100% but I think for everybody who plays competitive sport over a period of years, there's always something thats not as good as it used to be!

thanx mate. must be quite common for bowlers to do the same.


my ankle is kinda aching right now - very wierd feeling that is pissing me right off.

thing is i cant even run properly without it flarring up and impinging (sp?) which is really frustrating now the footie season is about to start.
its fine during a game, its afterwards once i've got home it flairs up. :thud:

 

[Trigger]

its fine during a game, its afterwards once i've got home it flairs up. :thud:

Exactly the same as with my knee, which I've done the ligaments twice!... I gave up playing competitive sport because of it but I still have the odd jumpers for goalposts knock about.

 

[robbie c]

if any of you are based north of london try Dave Price in Leighton Buzzard

£30 for half hour

Back pain | Sports injuries | Massages in Leighton Buzzard | MyOSteo.com

this man is a magician and has got me back running after 3 years of injuries and I will complete the New York Marathon on Nov 2 thanks to him

rob

 

[Brighton till i die]

if any of you are based north of london try Dave Price in Leighton Buzzard

£30 for half hour

Back pain | Sports injuries | Massages in Leighton Buzzard | MyOSteo.com

this man is a magician and has got me back running after 3 years of injuries and I will complete the New York Marathon on Nov 2 thanks to him

rob

wow great going - good on yer mate