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Ankle Cracked, Swollen And Bruised, Using Ice. When Will The Swelling Go Down?
So I was walking a dog downhill on a rocky path and i stepped wrong. My ankle cracked and I tumbled a little bit down the hill. I was immobilized from the pain for a short while, but I managed to limp home. Now it has swollen and bruised a little but i can limp around with very little pain. It usually doesn t hurt as long as there is ice and i m not moving it a certain way. It is also very tender to the touch. I have been using ice and elevating it. When will the swelling go down? What was the crack?
Wed, 23 Oct 2013
Hi, thanks for writing to HCM.
Based on the description and your symptoms, I suspect that you could have suffered an Ankle sprain resulting in soft tissue hematoma.
The crack you felt could be due to an avulsion injury of a ligament from the attached bone.
An Xray of the injured area will rule out any fracture. If the Xrays are negative , you need an MRI scan to know the status of the ligaments in the ankle joint.
The initial management of your condition is as follows -
• Protection – protect the injured area from further injury, by using a support or, in the case of an ankle injury, wearing shoes that enclose and support your feet, such as lace-ups.
• Rest – stop the activity that caused the injury, and rest the injured joint or muscle. Avoid activity for the first 48 to 72 hours after injuring yourself.
• Ice – for the first 48 to 72 hours after the injury, apply ice wrapped in a damp towel to the injured area for 15 to 20 minutes every two to three hours during the day.
• Compression – compress or bandage the injured area to limit any swelling and movement that could damage it further. You can use a crepe bandage . It should be wrapped snugly around the affected area but not so tightly that it restricts blood flow. Remove the bandage before you go to sleep.
• Elevation – keep the injured area raised and supported on a pillow to help reduce swelling.
I suggest you to consult an orthopedic surgeon for further management.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
Based on the description and your symptoms, I suspect that you could have suffered an Ankle sprain resulting in soft tissue hematoma.
The crack you felt could be due to an avulsion injury of a ligament from the attached bone.
An Xray of the injured area will rule out any fracture. If the Xrays are negative , you need an MRI scan to know the status of the ligaments in the ankle joint.
The initial management of your condition is as follows -
• Protection – protect the injured area from further injury, by using a support or, in the case of an ankle injury, wearing shoes that enclose and support your feet, such as lace-ups.
• Rest – stop the activity that caused the injury, and rest the injured joint or muscle. Avoid activity for the first 48 to 72 hours after injuring yourself.
• Ice – for the first 48 to 72 hours after the injury, apply ice wrapped in a damp towel to the injured area for 15 to 20 minutes every two to three hours during the day.
• Compression – compress or bandage the injured area to limit any swelling and movement that could damage it further. You can use a crepe bandage . It should be wrapped snugly around the affected area but not so tightly that it restricts blood flow. Remove the bandage before you go to sleep.
• Elevation – keep the injured area raised and supported on a pillow to help reduce swelling.
I suggest you to consult an orthopedic surgeon for further management.
Hope this information is helpful. Good day
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