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Suggest Treatment For S[rained Painful Ankle

Posted on Tue, 25 Aug 2015

Question: 5 days ago, I was sitting cross legged on the floor in front of my couch, eating a sandwich and watching TV. It was in the evening. 6 hours earlier that day, I spent 30 minutes running on a treadmill (one that cycles through different inclines between 0 and 40 degrees if that is relevant) and swam some laps. No problems; no pain; business as usual. That evening, when I got up from the floor to get a drink from the refrigerator, it felt as though my ankle was locked in place. I couldn't point my toes OR bring them up toward my shin without intense pain in the joint. There was no muscle cramp associated. As I lay on the floor, my wife, trying to help, tried to gently stretch my Achilles and calf but the pain wouldn't allow it. Finally, after a few minutes of working with it, the mobility came back. However, my ankle has been swollen, stiff, and in pain for 5 days now - all from a spontaneous, random incident with no apparent precipitating cause. Any idea of what may cause such a thing would be greatly appreciated.

Answered by Dr. Dr. Sudhir Kumar (52 minutes later)

Brief Answer:
Most likely it is sprain due to over exercises.

Detailed Answer:

Hl
Thanks for your query

I'm Dr Sudhir Kumar

I have gone through your query and understand your concern. There is two important possibilities among many . First possibility is sprained ankle during your excercises. Its treatment is rest, icing and analgesic such as ibuprofen for pain relief.For rest splint can be used.
Second possibility is synovitis . It will require Orthopedic consultation and x ray and MRI of ankle joint. Initial treatment of it is analgesic such as ibuprofen . Sometimes biopsy ( tissue send for histopathological after a tissue taken after small operation) may be required to make the diagnosis.

You can discuss with your doctor about it.

Hope your query get answered. If you have any clarification then I will be happy to help you.

Wishing you a good health.
Take care.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar

Follow up: Dr. Dr. Sudhir Kumar (13 minutes later)

Is it possible for a sprain to exhibit no pain or symptoms until many hours later? I'm a personal trainer and have been an athlete for many years. I've had sprains and seen many more, but I've never heard of a sprain manifesting no symptoms until 6 hours after the activity.

Is it possible that it may be a bone spur or that I may have fractured a small piece of cartilage or bone that interfered with the smooth operation of the joint?

Answered by Dr. Dr. Sudhir Kumar (19 hours later)

Brief Answer:
Sprain may manifest several hours after the injury.

Detailed Answer:
Hi
Welcome back
Sprain often manifests as joint pain and swelling that is worse several hours after the injury ( when the joint had a chance to swell). So it may be possible minor sprain to be painless and having no swelling for hours after the injury then pain and swelling starting.
Your age doesn't suggest bone spur. Fracture is unlikely due to such exercises.
Everything else already discussed.
If you have any further query, I would be glad to help you.
If not, you may close the discussion and if possible you may rate the answer for me, so that I get a good feedback.

In future if you wish to contact me directly, you can use the below mentioned link:
https://www.bit.ly/askdrsudhirortho

Wishing you good health
Take care

Note: For further queries, consult a joint and bone specialist, an Orthopaedic surgeon. Book a Call now.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar