any thoughts on riding with a problem ankle?

Very mysteriously, when I stood up after class today my ankle was totally, completely, horribly messed up. Don't remember having any issues when I sat down, or moving my ankle around in any odd positions or anything while I was sitting--very odd! It doesn't really feel like a sprain either. It was horrible this afternoon--couldn't really walk--but now, oddly too, it feels much much better.
The long and the short of it is, I missed the Thursday night TT because of this stupid ankle! I hopped on my bike and tried to backpedal gingerly while leaning on the wall but even that hurt. I'm hoping to be well enough tomorrow for a ride, but I was just wondering if anyone has ridden on bum ankles and if it has been a problem? I figure I will wrap it up well, a little support goes a long way...

see a health care provider? in the meantime, ice, elevate and don't put weight on it. Don't cycle on it if it hurts to do so. The ankle is one of those joints you don't want to screw up permanently.

Last year I had a grade 3 sprain (not cycling related). By staying off it and diligently icing for the first few days, I had a swift recovery and was back on my bike in just under two weeks. Admittedly I was careful (eg, not to touch down w that foot) until I was done with physical therapy.

Maryellen

yeah i've done lots of bad things to my ankle in the past but never wanted to get on a bike asap afterwards -- usually running instead!
i followed RICE like a good girl. and am wearing an air cast (boo)!!!

Maybe some IBpropen will help. I twisted mine a couple of weeks ago. I couldn't put my heel on the ground. So I elevated it with ice packs, took good ole Bayer asprin, but my husband said to take some IBpropen and that did the trick. I didn't feel a thing the next day and had an enjoyable ride.

~ JoAnn

I mildly sprained my ankle (in a bike crash, although I have no idea how, and didn't notice until several days later) a few months ago. When I finally went to the doctor, they said it was fine to ride if it didn't hurt to do so. If it DID hurt, then they said absolutely not. So really, DON'T ride if it hurts to ride.

That was in March and I still have some problems with fluid build up in that ankle on long rides. I wear an Ace ankle support to prevent this. Otherwise I've had enough edema in the ankle to cause bruising - yuck.

Take it easy, and make sure you pay close attention to it once you start riding again.

I had a similar experience some years ago. I had been developing a jogging habit (didn't cycle much at that point). Woke up one morning and my ankle hurt, mostly to walk on (like a sprain) - but I hadn't done anything. Figured I'd slept wrong and it would go away so I didn't do any jogging or biking for three days.
It didn't go away. My PT sister advised ice and taping it. I ended up taped for about 5 months - it wouldn't hurt, but then I'd try to jog and get about 100 yards before it started complaining - not shrieking, but definitely MESSED UP.
Eventually it *did* go away. And cycling isn't jogging so maybe I could have done that. I wasn't addicted yet :-)