Help for ankle injury please

Long story short........

My 14 year old fell off our porch last September and sprained her ankle badly but didn't break it. We had X rays done and they didn't find anything broken. But she is a very slim girl with tiny ankles and her injured one was the size of a softball for about two weeks. We iced it and she used crutches and a brace for a while.

She worked back up to dancing 4 times a week with some pain and limited movement but we seemed to be on the right track.

Then last night after dance she rolled on the same ankle and heard a pop and immediately the ankle swelled up to softball size again. We are icing it and she has it up but is there anything else we can do for it? Our doctor said to just ice it and give her Advil but is there anything else?

Obviously I should take her to a specialist, right?

[Llamafighter]

Originally Posted by DonnaMaria

Long story short........

My 14 year old fell off our porch last September and sprained her ankle badly but didn't break it. We had X rays done and they didn't find anything broken. But she is a very slim girl with tiny ankles and her injured one was the size of a softball for about two weeks. We iced it and she used crutches and a brace for a while.

She worked back up to dancing 4 times a week with some pain and limited movement but we seemed to be on the right track.

Then last night after dance she rolled on the same ankle and heard a pop and immediately the ankle swelled up to softball size again. We are icing it and she has it up but is there anything else we can do for it? Our doctor said to just ice it and give her Advil but is there anything else?

Obviously I should take her to a specialist, right?

alternate heat and cold (is what I always did)
5 minutes in ice bath
5 in warm water
The expanding and restricting of the blood vessels should aid in the repair.
if she's tiny then any swelling is going to appear larger than it would on someone of larger build.

My two cents if it persists I can ask my Muay Thai teacher who is a sports medicine rehab specialist.

Originally Posted by Llamafighter

alternate heat and cold (is what I always did)
5 minutes in ice bath
5 in warm water
The expanding and restricting of the blood vessels should aid in the repair.
if she's tiny then any swelling is going to appear larger than it would on someone of larger build.

My two cents if it persists I can ask my Muay Thai teacher who is a sports medicine rehab specialist.

I never thought of that but it makes complete sense. that actually makes me feel a bit better! Thanks!

I really appreciate the advice and I'll take ANY that you can give! If you wouldn't mind speaking to your teacher about it, I would be grateful for the help!

She is starting point classes next year, but she will never make it if we don't make her ankle stronger......... Her ballet teacher is not sure if she will be able to do it.

[TexasRN]

My mom just rolled her ankle a couple of days ago and went to a specialist because she broke that ankle a few years ago and had all kinds of surgery on it. Specialists advice was the same as mine:

Ice for the first 2 days then heat. Wrap it in a good ace bandage tight enough for support but don't cut the circulation off. Rest it and prop it up and take ibuprofen (advil) to help with pain and inflammation. It will be a little weaker at first due to the injury so she should wear a brace while she dances or does any physical activity.


~Amy

[Llamafighter]

Originally Posted by TexasRN

My mom just rolled her ankle a couple of days ago and went to a specialist because she broke that ankle a few years ago and had all kinds of surgery on it. Specialists advice was the same as mine:

Ice for the first 2 days then heat. Wrap it in a good ace bandage tight enough for support but don't cut the circulation off. Rest it and prop it up and take ibuprofen (advil) to help with pain and inflammation. It will be a little weaker at first due to the injury so she should wear a brace while she dances or does any physical activity.


~Amy

well I guess you could listen to the specialist and TexasRN...

[rockdawg21]

A chiropractor would be good.

[TexasRN]

Originally Posted by Llamafighter

well I guess you could listen to the specialist and TexasRN...

It's the same advice you gave. I guess maybe you know a little something, too.


~Amy

[Llamafighter]

Originally Posted by TexasRN

It's the same advice you gave. I guess maybe you know a little something, too.


~Amy

who knew?

[TexasRN]

Originally Posted by Llamafighter

who knew?

I know, right? And you can sing! Talent, brains, and a working knowledge of the NYC subway system.....what a guy!


~Amy

Bad time of year for ankle injuries I guess. My mom rolled hers the day after Christmas. It was snowing and she decided to sweep off her step. Twisted her ankle and fell coming back inside. She's just now getting around again.

Hope your daughter is feeling better. Strengthening ankles and wrists is a tough job. There's very little muscle in those areas so you can't just build them up like you can other parts of the body. It's almost something you're either born with or not. I'm cursed with skinny wrists. Makes heavy lifting hard sometimes. My wrists wear out before the muscles do.