2 1/2 weeks ago, I sprained my ankle. I waited a few days to go see a doctor but when I finally did, he ordered x-rays. He said there are no broken bones. He told me to come back in a week. I did and my foot was still swollen and VERY tender in several places (I'm talking that it's so tender the water from the shower hurts it). He ordered more x-rays and said again that nothing is broken and foot looks perfectly normal. While I was at this visit, I also let him know that my big toe is numb, my second toe is numb, and below my ankle bone (inside right ) is also numb. I also have weird "tingling itching" sensation on the top of my foot over by my ankle bone on the outside. The skin there is a darker color than the rest of my foot. I pointed this out to the dr. but he didn't say anything. Now my foot is still swollen all over. It's not huge but looks odd compared to the other one. It still hurts when water from the shower sprays on it or if anything touches the top of it. The whole foot is now a different color than my other one. It's a reddish color I guess. The skin all over it is just darker than my other foot and it's not just one or two places so I don't think it's a bruise. Here's my main question I guess. Why do I have numbness in my toes and on my foot? Why is it still so painful after 2 1/2 weeks? And is this "off color" thing something to be worried about? The doctor didn't tell me wrap it or anything anymore. He just said he'd let me know how the x-rays turned out and he did but I wasn't given another appointment or anything. I don't know what to do now. Should I bother him some more? Or should I go somewhere else? Or am I not being patient with my body? Please help... I'm lost and afraid.:confused:

I'm sure it's an individual thing, but I've seen it take as long as 6 weeks.

I think the numbness is being caused by pressure on the nerve caused by swelling. This may require some intervention. He might have you take an anti-inflammatory drug (Ibuprofen, Naproxin, or another NSAID), or he might even give you a cortizone shot.

The dark color is most likely from a bad bruise -- possibly a deep one.

The itching/tingling is probably a sign of healing.

If I were you, I'd call the doctor's office and tell him your concerns. It seems to me that he may want to see you again.

In the middle of May last year I severely twisted my left ankle. It turned black and blue, swelled up, etc. Then when it was healing I had ligaments hurt like the all get out getting back into place. My left knee and calf hurt also. Same as my Achilles heel tendon hurting as well. My ankle still bothers me today some how many months later but it's now starting to hurt less and less each day. It just takes a lot of time for some people to heal. The more you stay off the ankle the better. Just don't rush it, OK?

How did you twist or injure it in the first place? If you fell ontop of the ankle it will take along time to properly heal. The more weight that was put on the ankle at the time of the injury - the more time it's going to take to heal.

You don't need to keep "bothering" your doctor as basically there is no magic wand he can waive that can make you heal any quicker than what you presently are doing. He's taken X-Rays and found no broken bones or hairline fractures. At this point all that is left is tendons and ligiments to heal up.

I think you should call your doctor back. While there is no magic wand there are things your doctor can do to help that you do not injure the ankle further while it is trying to heal. My doctor put me in a hard cast to my knee for 4 weeks and then we will reassess. He is hoping at that time to put me into a shorter cast for 4 more weeks. And maybe even some sort of brace after that. He said it will take 10-12 weeks to heal probably. Meanwhile he is keeping tabs on me every 4 weeks. I don't think with the prices we pay for doctors that we can call our questions "bothering" them. The cast is so my heal will stay very still and not further injure tendons and ligaments but give them rest to heal. Personally I would call your doctor back or seek another opinion.

Call your doctor again and if you aren't impress from the solutions of your doctor, fire him and get another doctor. Also, I sprained my ankle and about 2 weeks passed. However, yours is far worse than mine.

My got sprained when I was playing basketball in 2 1/2 days it felt fine.
What I did was over ice the ankle and try to put some weight on it.

You are not supposed to put weight on you ankle. I sprained my ankle too 2 weeks ago, until now it is still a little bit swollen. I went to the doctor and he told me that it would probably take 2-6 weeks to heal. Does that include the swelling? I thought swelling should be gone by now? I followed the RICE very well but I got to the point that I don't know what to do anymore.

I think you have to go to a foot specialist, he might be able to figure out what is really wrong with your ankle.

You should soak your foot in some warm water with epsom salts for about15 minutes twice a day as warm as you can take it. Try to wrap it snugly after soaking, try to massage it when you can tolerate it also. Keep it wrapped and elevate higher than your heart every chance you get and sleep with it elevated at night use books or whatever to help you elevate it. Do this everyday, worked for me I'm currently dealing with sprained ankle all the treatments I've mentioned have helped immensely my swelling has gone down and its just real sore right now. If your doctor has not mentioned any of these treatment you should find another one, because these are the basics, good luck.

I am at 7 weeks and still hurting, went to the ortho, he said nothing broken. Must take a really long time to heal.

Your foot has gangrene, it may be necessary to chop off your leg. Sorry.

Well I sprained my left ankle a week ago and it is still briused and tender. The er dr also told me that I could have a fracture in a week and sometimes it doesn't show if it's a hairline fracture. When I was younger I also was told I had a sprained ankle and turned out I had a hairline fracture and I walked on it for 3 months so its possible!

I only streched ligaments in the bottom of my foot Jan 4th and I am still out on Disability and its now March. I am now having issues with my ankle and they told me my ankle is now sprained. Very frustrating.. I have been in and out of an EQ boot for the past 8 weeks and now I'm back in it.. I wish that they would just fix it, I am tired of being on disability and Im tired of hurting. My dr, told me sometimes sprains, strains and tears can take a good year to completely heal are you kidding me.. Good luck everyone

I too am suffering the same scenario. Rolled my ankle on a sledgehammer. Went to dr, got ordered to get x-rays done. Nothings broken. Its been a week, still in a lot of pain but I only had swelling for the first two days have none now. But my toes are tingly and I have pain in calf and knee on that side too. I'm at a loss for what to do. . Sorry I can't be of assistance more but I think u should call him back. Get on his case about it. Your health and peace of mind is most important thing here

I dislocated/sprained my ankle and I went to a theraphist which just told me to sit down and then he put my bones back in place it didn't hurt then he told me to wrap it I have to have it wrapped for 4weeks then can't have and activer activaties such as running jogging jumping and playing sports because it can cause further damage

I barely sprained my ankle today and it hurts a lot I really don't want anything that happened to your ankle to happen to mine.. I wonder if its of to walk?? Ive been walking all along please help somebody. I have P.e and I need the points I can't be losing my chances the good thing is that school is about to end but finals are coming! I'm really scared. Somebody tell me how to treat my ankle fast!!

-Esmeralda Ayard:]

I sprain my ankle about 5 weeks ago playing basketball it was the same ankle I injured back in Feb. I would get back on the court after a week as long as I could walk on my ankle I thought anything is fine. However, the doctor informed me that my ankle never has a chance to heal properly and I should stay off my ankle for at least 6-8 weeks if not, I will continue to injury the same ankle each time. Currently, I am seeing a physical therapist for my ankle and they informed I can gradually start going back to playing whatever sport after 6 weeks. However, I will have to continue to strengthen my ankles and note that it really takes 8-12 weeks for an ankle to heal from a moderate to severe sprain.

Try wearing an ankle brace or support. After over 3 years now and my ankle still messed up I finally resorted to an ankle brace. I wear 2 different kinds. One has vehcro and the other laces up like a tennis shoe. Both allow me to go on daily walks without a lot of pain during and after the walks.

Ankles take a long time to heal properly. There isno easy cure for this.. Rest is about the best thing you can do for your ankle.

Hi. I sprained my ankle about a month ago. Like you when it first happened it hurt then after a few min. it went numb I couldn't feel the pain but the nerves in my leg knew it was there and my leg kept on shaking. It only sweeled rite on my ankle at that pont but I had it elivated till the paramedics came. It didn't really start swelling till about 5 hrs after it happened cause I kept it up till then. Then that night my hole foot and calf was swollen. Still had the hudge egg on my ankle to. Looked really gross. My hole foot also turned purple and I had some really bad burising around my ankle. After a few days it was still swollen and I now had this odd color bruise on the top of my toes. Wich will last a few day go away and come back. Most bruising has gone away but I seem to get new ones here and there. And after a month it still hurts. Just tuching it sends sharp pains up my leg. And its just a bit swollen right under the ankle bone and the back of my ankle. I wear a brace. But doesn't really do too much. I now have pain on the top of my foot near my toes. Its odd and they told me it was a sever sprain but now I wonder. But until you can get to a dr yes keep it up ice it for 15 min every hr I think they said. Your going to have to saty off it. I don't know if I just pushed mine to soon or what. But you don't want to hurt it more so be paitent with it and do little things to help streathin it slowly... good luck

I sprained my left ankle 11 days ago. The next day after the injury I could hardly walk. I went to the doctor and got some x-rays. They said my fibula was broken and put me in a splint. The doctor said that I would have to make an appointment with a orthopedic specialist to determine if a hard cast was needed. The next day after seeing the doctor they called me back and said that my leg wasn't broken. They said it was an old injury and it was broken at some point. If I did break my leg I never noticed. Anyway I will be seeing a specialist tomorrow to determine the extent of my injury. It has been eleven days and I'm still having pain and it's swelled up. I can walk on my bad foot, but I limp. It's still very swollen and bruised.

I rose from my table with a dead leg and fell to the floor as my leg went from under me. That was 7 days ago and my ankle is still sore. I am able to put my weight on it now but for 5 days could only hobble around, I went out yesterday as it felt much better and did some walking and today it aches again and remains tender to movement. I am going to see my doctor as soon as I can as am unsure whether it is broken as I thought it would be healed by now, but as I see from these other posts it is probably going to take a lot longer than I thought. Hope we all feel better soon. Anne.

They said I rolled my ankle that was about two weeks ago its not any better but I didn't go to the doctor which I regret because it really hurts also its so big I can't fit my shoes I just wrap it and suck it up but I am about ready to get a wheel chair just kidding I'm a big girl so its hard to get around I'm almost 200 lbs so if putting weight on it is a bad thing I should get some bed rest j/k but it hasn't heald and doesn't look or feel like its going to heal anytime soon I need some answers too

+You can have an MRI done. Also, I broke my leg/sprained my ankle (break was near the ankle) 10 years ago. My skin is still discolored, an egg circle sized darker color. One of my friends broke her leg with sprin and same thing. It could permanently discolor your skin, nothing to worry about, just looks different unless you are a foot model.

just fell off a table on sat night now its thurs night swelling went down it never hurt and I can walk on it as well.its just is a little black and blue a little tender.the doc told me that it didn't look broke and I never had x-rays she felt no need to unless it got worse and its getting better.I think it's a type 1 sprain question 4 you is I need to be in heels in 2 weeks 4 my job and dance around is this going to work what's your advice on heels...

5years ago, I snapped my growth plate on my right ankle in half; I was skating at the new years eve skate night and right before the baloon drop, they this the hokie pokie, when it was time to turn, my ate weels got interlocked with the other skate, I fell and hurd & felt the snap bt felt no pain. I laughed and got up to skate after noticing that there was no swelling. However, immediately after putting pressure on it, it swelled to the size of a softball. I fell to the floor and started screaming & crying, they had to carry me off the floor my ankel was so swelled, they had to unlace the hole skate just to get it off. However, my father is the one who picked me up& he had to carey me to the car, he said it was twisted so when my nana got there to pikk me up at about 5am ishh, she took me strate to the e.r. they did x-rays and said it wasn't broke bt it was fractured & I was lycky I didn't walk on it or I woud have been purmanetly disabled on that leg. They gave me crutches and a boot cast . The nxt day the ortho. Said it was a break of the growthplate in addition to a hairline feacture

**PLEASE READ WHOLE STORY!

6 or 7 years ago, I snapped my GROWTH plate IN HALF on my right ankle; I was skating at the new years eve skate night and right before the baloon drop, they this the hokie pokie, when it was time to turn, my ate weels got interlocked with the other skate, I fell and hurd & felt the snap bt felt no pain. I laughed and got up to skate after noticing that there was no swelling. However, immediately after putting pressure on it, it swelled to the size of a softball. I fell to the floor and started screaming & crying, they had to carry me off the floor my ankel was so swelled, they had to unlace the hole skate just to get it off. However, my father is the one who picked me up& he had to carey me to the car, he said it was twisted so when my nana got there to pikk me up at about 5am ishh, she took me strate to the e.r. they did x-rays and said it wasn't broke bt it was fractured & I was lycky I didn't walk on it or I woud have been purmanetly disabled on that leg. They gave me crutches and a boot cast . The nxt day the ortho. Said it was a break of the growthplate in addition to a hairline fracture and he but me in a cast; I wided up being in a cast for about 6 months. And then back in a bootcast for about 6 mor weeks and my ankle still never healed conpletely & I was spose to get another cast bt my ortho droppes my insurance so I still,have a crack in my ankle & I'm a cheerleader so I have to be careful. Since the brake, I have had to quit speed skating & gymnastix(I wasn't a very good gymnast anyway lol) but the incident happened in 5th grade; & nxt year I will be a senior; I graduate in may of 2013 & still have pain in my ankle; and also I will not get any taller; wich is fine with me cos I like being short(: but today, I twisted my left ankle; I don't bruise so there is no swelling, discoloration, or numbness, only pain when pressure is put on it. However I can still walk, and practice my flips on the trampoline bt not on the ground xos its too hard! Bt I nothis wasn't very helpful bt think, my ankle injury happened nearly 7 years ago and as caused permanet damage & still not properlt hilled;

I got a level 3 sprain (high ankle) about a month ago playing lacrosse. The swelling on my ankle stayed until about 2 and a half weeks after I sustained the injury. My leg is still very swollen and is also very tender but it seems to be normal for this kind of sprain. I was on crutches and a walking boot for 2 weeks and I started walking in the boot after 2 weeks. And now a month later I'm walking fine with little pain. It has taken some time but hopefully I will be able to run soon without pain. The bruising is a sign of healing so it is actually a good thing.

There are different types of ankle sprains and some simply take longer to heal. Each of them depends on how damaged the ligaments are. There are three grades and then something called a high ankle sprain. The less severe sprains can seem healed in a few days, whereas the more severe can take months and may. Never quite feel the same again. If different parts of your foot is tender to touch you may want to tell your doctor again. They usually check for more severe types by poking around your foot. Numbness of the toes usually indicates a more severe sprain where you have torn the ligaments. If you are feeling uneasy, see the doctor.

I've sprained my ankles various times and they've ranged from type I to type III (more severe), but I've never had a high ankle sprain. My type I sprains I got from taking a bad step and rolling my ankle. They took a couple days to feel better and I could 'walk it off'. My type II happened when I landed a jump funny. This one gave me a limp for a few days and I couldn't quite use it the same for a month or two, and it felt weakish for a year. I have a type three right now from sliding into a base funny. I couldn't 'walk' this one off. I fact, I couldn't even put much weight on it for 24 hours (and I probably shouldn't have put weight on it after that, but I was getting cabin fever). I was using crutches. I walked with a pretty funny limp for a few days. A week later I could walk OK, but I couldn't take long strides, run, twist, jump, or go up on my toes. I have a massive bruise that is slowly travelling down my foot, I'm swollen, and I get random pains every so often. I have a feeling that this one is going to take a few months to get back to normal motion, and will be weak for even longer.

just fell off a table on sat night now its thurs night swelling went down it never hurt and i can walk on it as well.its just is a little black and blue a little tender.the doc told me that it didnt look broke and i never had xrays she felt no need to unless it got worse and its getting better.i think its a type 1 sprain question 4 you is i need to be in heels in 2 weeks 4 my job and dance around is this going to work whats your advice on heels.....................

If its only a type 1, you should be fine. Just make sure you ice it after you're on it a lot

Your foot has gangrene, it may be necessary to chop off your leg. Sorry.

Lol. Not likely unless you sliced'your foot open as well

I came on this site after googling how long it take a sprain to heal. I sprained my ankle 3 weeks ago. It is still very swollen with pain and very tender to the touch. Had x-rays no fractures. It also itches very badly at times. The doc said nothing about wrapping it up or anything. It goes down a little while sleeping but by the time I get a shower and get dressed the swelling is worse. I sit all day and have no way to prop it up. Can't get normal shoes on so I have to wear slides. I've never had a sprain before and didn't know it could be this bad. The info here has been helpful. Thanks.

I sprained my ankle 8 weeks ago. I am now in PT. The swelling can take up to 6 months to go down. The swelling goes down at 3mm a week. I have tingling, it's the nerves that were squished from the swelling. I have itching peeling skin, it's a result of the sprain. I sprained my ankle as badly as you can. It takes longer to heal a sprain than a break. I wish I broke it...

Ankle sprains can take a very long time to heal.

I'd recommend getting a different doctor because it sounds like yours is unhelpful. When it comes to injuries, it's important for your doctor to tell you how to take care of it, and I'm shocked he did not tell you to wrap it or anything.

I've had quite a few ankle sprains, and the most important thing to do is the RICE method - rest, ice, compression, elevation. Stay off the ankle, ice it for 20 minute intervals with breaks in between, either wrap your ankle or get a compression wrap, and keep it above your heart as much as possible. This should bring down the swelling. Also take an anti inflammatory drug like ibuprofen. Avoid putting any weight on it for at least a few weeks, and keep doing so until until you can comfortably walk on it, but make sure you wrap it for at least 3 or 4 weeks, maybe longer. Also, make sure you do some exercises to rebuild the strength in your ankle once it is mostly healed to prevent further or future injury. You can probably find these exercises online, of a proper doctor would give you some.

globug40 — New Member
Jul 10, 2012 07:47 AM
I came on this site after googling how long it take a sprain to heal. I sprained my ankle 3 weeks ago. It is still very swollen with pain and very tender to the touch. Had x-rays no fractures. It also itches very badly at times. The doc said nothing about wrapping it up or anything. It goes down a little while sleeping but by the time I get a shower and get dressed the swelling is worse. I sit all day and have no way to prop it up. Can't get normal shoes on so I have to wear slides. I've never had a sprain before and didn't know it could be this bad. The info here has been helpful. Thanks.

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I'm having a bad sprain ankle too. 13days and it is still swollen and very tender. Getting out of bed everyday is painful due to the bloodrush to the foot. Had x rays twice, no broken bones. I can't bear weight on it, using crutches. Could the guy that posted this or the original post, tell a bit more details about what happened after the second week? When did you guys got to bear weight on the foot and when you leave the crutches. When the tenderness and pain went away? I'm not talking about full recovery but just being able to move on your own again take a shower standing up, walk up a simple stair , walk to the kitchen etc.
Thanks for the details, since I have no idea what to expect in order to measure my healing and how long is going to take.

If the injury seems to be getting worse rather than better, don't worry about "bothering" your doctor. It's his job to make sure you heal properly. If he acts annoyed, that's unprofessional and I'd find a new doctor who actually cares about his patients. If you're not satisfied with the answers you get from your doctor, go get a second opinion. If you're just seeing your regular doctor I'd suggest asking for a referral to an orthopedic specialist, and take your x-rays with you so that they can read them. They'd be more qualified than a general practitioner, because they are more educated about the bones and ligaments, etc.

Roll a bottle with your foot several times a day as a mild exercise.

I sprained my ankle over 4 weeks now, I still feel Numbing sensation in my big toe. My ankle only hurt to the touch, or when I Massage it. How long should I have this Numbing sensation to my big toe and the hurting feeling when I massage or move my ankle, Other than that I can walk perfectly in flats shoes or flip flop, but when I Try my heels on and walk it really hurts. Is this NORMAL Sprain>>>SR

How long did your doctor say it would take to heal? I assume you went ot a doctor because you know that it was a sprain and not a fracture, strain, torn ligament, nerve damage, or what not.

Looking up sprains, they shouldn't take too long to heal. I would talk to your doctor about this, it might take a little longer to heal.