How long for a sprain to heal?

I sprained my left foot and ankle in a failure-to-unclip fall Monday a few weeks back (June 30?). At least, I think it was just a sprain. There was some bruising, though I didn't see it until the swelling was pretty much down. Now the bruises are nearly gone, but the foot still hurts. Even throbs sometimes. I can walk on it with a minimal limp, but have started noticing pains in my right hip and knee from shifting my weight away from the left for three weeks now. Should a mere sprain have been cleared up by now? Should I go get this checked out at the ER? Whadda you gals think?

In my experience, sprained ankles take forever to heal. But if you are worried about it, it doesn't hurt to get it checked by a doctor or a physiotherapist. I would try for the pt first I think. Going to the ER won't get you much besides an exray and told to come back in a week, then a new doctor will tell you to come back in a week, then a new one and a new one until finally somebody actually looks at your foot and your file and has a brainwave and does some proper investigating. Or maybe that was just me... But I think, if the swelling went down on its own and the bruising is gone, then a pt might help with ideas for how to let the ligaments heal properly.

I sprained my ankle (in a bike shop no less) on May 28th. With twice a week PT I still have a slight limp and can only walk up to two blocks without pain. In other words, it takes a long time for it to heal. Good luck.
Oh - but I can ride without much pain. Thank god for small favors!

Another vote for PT. Sprains take forever to heal, but a good physical therapist can get you walking with a normal stride again.

Seems more like a "this can wait to see your regular doctor/clinic" than an "I'm gonna die if I don't get this fixed NOW" sort of thing, doesn't it?

If it's been a couple weeks, it's probably not an emergency. Getting an appointment with your regular doctor/clinic may take a week, but the wait will be a whole lot more pleasant than 5 hours in the ER waiting room, I bet.

Some insurance has a huge co-pay if you use the ER but don't get admitted. And if you don't have insurance, then it's thousands just to walk in the door. The regular doctor/clinic usually isn't as expensive (but your mileage may vary).

I'm totally the wrong kind of doctor, but it sounds like a deep bruise maybe? Those always take a while to heal for me. But the right kind of doctor in person would be a much better bet.

+1 on the PT.

Hopefully you haven't done any damage by overusing it since the injury :( - you've been keeping it compressed and rested yes?

My right ankle is held together with Scotch tape, pretty much. I don't even remember how many times I've sprained it. But I usually figure 3 weeks before I attempt any type of impact/toeing-off/potentially twisting activities, then a slow strengthening program.

I had a sprain last year and went to a podiatrist I'd already been seeing. She got me a nylon boot type of thing to stabilize the area while I rode and had me do alternating epson salt hot and cold water soaks. My chiropractor was helpful too. There are some nifty foot and toe adjustments that help.

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Originally Posted by Aquila

Some insurance has a huge co-pay if you use the ER but don't get admitted. And if you don't have insurance, then it's thousands just to walk in the door. The regular doctor/clinic usually isn't as expensive (but your mileage may vary).

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Aquila, Duck's in Norway. No worries or cost to see any doctor. You need a doctor, go see a doctor. Nice, huh?

Duck is this the same side as the leg you broke orienteering?

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Originally Posted by Trek420

Aquila, Duck's in Norway. No worries or cost to see any doctor. You need a doctor, go see a doctor. Nice, huh?

Duck is this the same side as the leg you broke orienteering?

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Yep, so glad to be a Norwegian. I've already passed the co-pay limit of about $300, so ER or doc or PT is all free til next year. Makes me even happy to pay my taxes. :)

and Yep. Same side, but well below the old break point. Break was across both bones just above the ankle "knob"; this one's down at the outer edge of the foot, in the arch, plus out by the toes. The toes now seem ok. It's mostly that outer edge that's still sore, so yeah, maybe a deep bruise. There's also still a hard lump of a bruise on my right shin from the pedal hitting it as I went down (THAT foot came out of the clips, but not the one I was trying to get out :o), but that bruise never really hurt and is definitely not a break! I've stopped taping the foot, but I do try to elevate whenever possible and I avoid putting any torque on that area, cuz that really hurts. Maybe I should see if I can find the ace bandage-sock I vaguely remember we had lying around. The wind-on kind gets too thick for my shoes, but the sock kind might help some.

Thanks, ladies, for reassuring me that I haven't done anything stupid by not going to the ER right away with this.

I vote for you to visit a doctor. I injured myself on a run in January, it improved but didn't go away so I saw a podiatrist in June. Turns out I broke my ankle! (grrr) Fortunately he gave me a velcro boot and permission to take the boot off to ride.

Oops, sorry! I didn't realize!

Still, wouldn't there be a longer wait in an emergency room thing?

I hope it feels better fast :)

I really envy practitioners in the First World.

One of my more miserable experiences was watching patients be turned away from a clinic I worked in because they had the wrong insurance or didn't have cash in hand.

Some got angry. Most were so beaten down they just walked away. A couple of them cried.

Don't even try to tell me that's right.

Duck - I'm wild about feet and ankles, and I'd be getting that checked next week if it isn't vastly improved. Limping nearly 3 weeks post injury is not warming the cockles of my heart.