Pregnant & Sprained Ankle 3 Months Ago

Updated on October 02, 2013
S.P. asks from Fenton, MI
7 answers

I am 22 weeks pregnant & I sprained my ankle severely 3 months ago this week. I was in a splint for a week then a fracture book to protect it. I went to PT 3 times a week for 3 weeks and the PT told me to go back to my doc and request an MRI of my ankle. My doc told me to go to an orthopedic specialist, which I did, who told me that I need to stretch it 6 times a day & walk on it w/tennis shoes & I will be fine. Well ever since I have been walking on it (2 weeks now) I have a ton of swelling. It looks like my ankle is of softball. I don't feel a lot of pain, only tightness. Has anyone experienced swelling this long? I feel like I'm at a dead end with doctors & not sure what I can do for it other than try to elevate it when I'm at work & then keep ice on it after work. Any advice????

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G.♣.

answers from Springfield on

Have you talked to your OB about this? Sometimes other doctors are not completely aware of the changes the body goes through during pregnancy. It's really important to be in contact with your OB. He/she will be the best person to talk to you about the swelling.

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R.J.

answers from Seattle on

Totally normal.

Sprains take 3-6 months to fully heal, and are incredibly easy to reinjure time and again, taking up to a couple years, if you're not careful... As the tendons and ligaments have become stretched and weakened, if not torn and weakened.

Beaks are much faster recovery times. 6 weeks instead of 12-24 weeks.

That's even without being pregnant.

When you're pregnant there is fluid retention, lousy lymph circulation, and a general softening of tendons and ligaments (fallen arches are a byproduct of this).

So I'd be expecting a 6+ month timeframe.

2 moms found this helpful

T.F.

answers from Dallas on

Since you are pregnant, you could have issues that normally wouldn't occur. I'd ask my Ob for an opinion.

That said, I've been going through an ankle recovery over the last 3 months with ortho and have been in the boot about a year. I wear a day brace and a night brace now.

Part of my therapy after stretching, etc is to use my hot foot bath for 20 minutes them follow with ice 20 minutes. I still do this daily.

Of course, before you do anything mentioned on this thread, run it by your dr.

I cannot use anything that is anti-inflammatory. My repair had to do with an injection and stem cells so I have to be very careful.

Best wishes!! Let us know what you find out.

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S.B.

answers from Dallas on

Yep. I severely sprained by ankle and foot. Did the boot for 6 weeks followed by pt. It still looked a mess. It felt tight and it was irritating, but not extremely painful...more annoying. Evening time it felt the worst. Went in and they decided to put me back in the boot for 8 weeks followed by more pt. My ortho doctor told me that a severe sprain can sometimes take up to a year to heal. And a sprain often takes more time to fix than an broken bone. Apparently ankles and feet are especially difficult because it is hard to completely immobilize them and even in the boot, there is pressure and weight on it. The doc also explained why my ankle looked so swollen and awful all the time...although now I can't really remember that explanation. I was given meds for the swelling to take daily, ice and elevation when possible. It, just this month, stopped causing me so many issues. It's stiff in the morning, but no longer swells or hurts. I injured myself in November of last year, so it's been almost a year. I think your ankle just needs more time. ANd I imagine with the stretching of ligaments due to pregnancy, it's slowing down the healing. But I am no expert, it's just speculation.

1 mom found this helpful
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D..

answers from Miami on

You need some relief! Don't stop going to the doctor. And I'm sorry to say that you need to stay off your foot. Perhaps a wheelchair would be in your best interests.

Get back to the ortho specialist and have him dovetail your care with your OB. The ortho specialist can get you a wheelchair. You can't ignore this because all that swelling can damage the tissue in your ankle. Don't let this go.

1 mom found this helpful
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P.K.

answers from New York on

Normal. It is easier to break something than sprain it. A break heals quicker!!!!!

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D.B.

answers from Boston on

RICE - rest, ice, compression, elevation.

It seems like you're doing so much and maybe the ankle just needs time to heal - after 3 months, if they didn't miss anything with X-rays or MRI, then you are re-injuring it.

A friend of mine had a severely broken ankle and she had great relief from the new and safe anti-inflammatory supplement that is boosting immune systems and helping healing. They are amazed at her progress. I mention it because you are pregnant, and there is plenty of research showing a food-based product (not drugs) can be safely given to pregnant women. It's also given to children and babies. The clinical info coming in is very strong.

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