Should I see a doc for this sprain? Is there a Betteridge's law of Ask?
May 25, 2017 12:12 PM Subscribe
On Sunday evening I was playing with the four-year-old and slipped on a grassy slope. One leg goes forward, the other folds under me. I have done a high-speed yoga kneel with one leg out and the ankle of the leg tucked under me did not enjoy the experience. It's surely a sprain, not a break, but I'm conflicted about going for care.
That's mostly time & notable inconvenience driven; our insurance is good, and while there'll be a non-negligible specialist fee it's affordable for us. But I have above-mentioned active kiddo and am the primary caregiver/house manager and I'm skeptical there's anything much worth doing for me at this phase.
My inclination is to do the appropriate just-sprained things - try to minimize time spent on it, elevate it for some time every day - and go see someone when it's past the initial phases and there'd be some actual steps like physical therapy to undertake. But five days in I still have some swelling and the can't-avoid-em stairs are hard to go down, with the rarely occasional -pop- feeling when I move the ankle in certain ways. Mostly it's uncomfortable, not painful, unless its rotated in certain ways.
How big a dummy am I being, and am I likely opening myself up to long-term issues by not seeking care at this point? I have a sports medicine office I have seen in the past about a shoulder dysplasia and can probably get an appointment fairly quickly. But I'm not excited to be their ATM and my wife's work obligations can make kiddo coverage challenging.
That's mostly time & notable inconvenience driven; our insurance is good, and while there'll be a non-negligible specialist fee it's affordable for us. But I have above-mentioned active kiddo and am the primary caregiver/house manager and I'm skeptical there's anything much worth doing for me at this phase.
My inclination is to do the appropriate just-sprained things - try to minimize time spent on it, elevate it for some time every day - and go see someone when it's past the initial phases and there'd be some actual steps like physical therapy to undertake. But five days in I still have some swelling and the can't-avoid-em stairs are hard to go down, with the rarely occasional -pop- feeling when I move the ankle in certain ways. Mostly it's uncomfortable, not painful, unless its rotated in certain ways.
How big a dummy am I being, and am I likely opening myself up to long-term issues by not seeking care at this point? I have a sports medicine office I have seen in the past about a shoulder dysplasia and can probably get an appointment fairly quickly. But I'm not excited to be their ATM and my wife's work obligations can make kiddo coverage challenging.
Best answer: I usually go by the trajectory it's taking. Basically, is it getting worse or is it getting better? I kind of set myself a deadline - like in 3 days if it's not markedly improved, I'll make an appointment. Invariably in three days, I have completely forgotten about it and that becomes my answer. But if it's getting progressively worse then you have your answer. I think the deadline is good because it gives you a frame of reference. From hour to hour, it's hard to tell but over the course of a day or two, it's easier to compare with how it was when you hurt it.
posted by dawkins_7 at 12:43 PM on May 25, 2017
posted by dawkins_7 at 12:43 PM on May 25, 2017
...am the primary caregiver/house manager...
Which is why you need to see someone about this. It's been five days already and your knee is still wonky. The possible long-term issues you mention will make your day-to-day obligations a real hassle, so opt for the short-term hassle now.
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:04 PM on May 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Which is why you need to see someone about this. It's been five days already and your knee is still wonky. The possible long-term issues you mention will make your day-to-day obligations a real hassle, so opt for the short-term hassle now.
posted by Iris Gambol at 1:04 PM on May 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: You don't always know if it's a sprain and not a break. My wife slipped on some rocks a few years ago and fell on her outstretched hand (known in medical circles as "FOOSH"). She thought she'd sprained her wrist and didn't want to go to the ER because she figured it would mean too much time waiting around for something that there was little to do about other than the normal just-sprained things you mentioned. We did those things and she was in pain all night and then she caved and went to the doctor. He sent her right for an X-ray and sure enough, it was a fracture and she was in a cast for four weeks.
Go to the doctor.
posted by dlugoczaj at 1:06 PM on May 25, 2017
Go to the doctor.
posted by dlugoczaj at 1:06 PM on May 25, 2017
If you damaged it more badly than you think, and you end up needing PT as a result of not getting it looked at/tended to now, it could become a much bigger problem time-wise than a one-off doctor visit.
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 1:09 PM on May 25, 2017
posted by thegreatfleecircus at 1:09 PM on May 25, 2017
Based on your description, nobody here is going to say just wait and see. You need some medical attention, and that sports medicine practice sounds like the right place to start.
posted by beagle at 1:13 PM on May 25, 2017
posted by beagle at 1:13 PM on May 25, 2017
Response by poster: Basically, is it getting worse or is it getting better? I kind of set myself a deadline - like in 3 days if it's not markedly improved, I'll make an appointment. Invariably in three days, I have completely forgotten about it and that becomes my answer. But if it's getting progressively worse then you have your answer.
This was my thinking and the sort of ambiguity of it is what prompted me to post such a predictably-answerable question. It is a bit better, but I am surprised that there's still visible swelling. That may well be entirely reasonable; it has happily been a long time since my last sprain and I don't recall visible swelling going on that long... but I also likely wouldn't recall. That sprain, which was way worse (in part because it happened early on a trip and I didn't much have the option to keep off it), felt awful a long time. This one I've been able to baby and it absolutely feels better after long periods of rest and worse the longer I use it.
I was basically hoping for either some sort of "no that sounds totally typical" or a "based on x it's certainly in need of immediate attention." But regardless the sanity check from you all is well appreciated. Thanks.
posted by phearlez at 1:36 PM on May 25, 2017
This was my thinking and the sort of ambiguity of it is what prompted me to post such a predictably-answerable question. It is a bit better, but I am surprised that there's still visible swelling. That may well be entirely reasonable; it has happily been a long time since my last sprain and I don't recall visible swelling going on that long... but I also likely wouldn't recall. That sprain, which was way worse (in part because it happened early on a trip and I didn't much have the option to keep off it), felt awful a long time. This one I've been able to baby and it absolutely feels better after long periods of rest and worse the longer I use it.
I was basically hoping for either some sort of "no that sounds totally typical" or a "based on x it's certainly in need of immediate attention." But regardless the sanity check from you all is well appreciated. Thanks.
posted by phearlez at 1:36 PM on May 25, 2017
Best answer: I broke my finger and considered not going to get it seen because I was so sure it was just dislocated (it was visibly dislocated) and besides, who needs serious treatment for a broken finger? Most people just have those simple braces from the drug store.
It wound up needing surgery and 8 weeks in a full-forearm, very painful tension brace. I still can't fully use the finger, and what use I do have is because of early intervention by my plastic surgeon (my province doesn't have 'hand surgeons').
You can't really know if something is broken or just sprained without an X-ray unless it is visibly Very Bad.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 1:36 PM on May 25, 2017
It wound up needing surgery and 8 weeks in a full-forearm, very painful tension brace. I still can't fully use the finger, and what use I do have is because of early intervention by my plastic surgeon (my province doesn't have 'hand surgeons').
You can't really know if something is broken or just sprained without an X-ray unless it is visibly Very Bad.
posted by flibbertigibbet at 1:36 PM on May 25, 2017
One of my family members "sprained" an ankle and continued to walk around on it instead of going to a doctor because "there was no time." The specialist who eventually assessed it said that it could have been treated with full recovery, but because of the delay it needed surgery. It still occasionally swells up in pain 15 years later.
posted by zennie at 2:10 PM on May 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by zennie at 2:10 PM on May 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Anecdotal experience: I decided to try and get back in shape last summer, landed weird during a jumping jack doing Jillian Michaels, and probably sprained my ankle. I had a 2.5 year old who loved to be carried and about 5 days in, it was very swollen and painful still. I went to the doctor (brought my kid with a coloring book, because I couldn't get care) but because of an insurance mix-up, couldn't get x-rays done. Doc said it was almost definitely sprained and not broken, but that if it wasn't significantly improved in 6 weeks, to come back for x-rays. It was about 75% better six weeks in. I found swelling got worse every time I lugged my kid around, so she got a lot better at navigating stairs on her own, and that was the end to wearing her in an Ergo. A year later, my foot is pretty normal, unless I am walking a ton. I don't do jumping jacks anymore. Sometimes it feels weird in bad weather.
Maybe I made a mistake in not pushing for x-rays sooner, but my doctor said--and the internet seemed to agree--that swelling from sprains can take a long time to quit.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 2:13 PM on May 25, 2017
Maybe I made a mistake in not pushing for x-rays sooner, but my doctor said--and the internet seemed to agree--that swelling from sprains can take a long time to quit.
posted by PhoBWanKenobi at 2:13 PM on May 25, 2017
I was just treated for a sprained ankle and one question she asked me was if there was a popping noise. So, that seems relevant to your situation. They also took x-rays to make sure there was no damage to the bones. The internet will lead you to believe that a sprain should heal in under a week, but mine took more like 2 weeks even wearing an aircast. Are you icing it when you elevate?
posted by soelo at 2:54 PM on May 25, 2017
posted by soelo at 2:54 PM on May 25, 2017
About a decade ago I seriously sprained my ankle and didn't go to the ER because I didn't want to pay the co-pay. If I wear shoes with poor ankle support for too long, it still plays up. I seriously regret not getting treatment -- it really has had a lasting effect that, while not debilitating, is definitely freakin' annoying. I know it's a pain, but seriously, it's worth getting checked out.
posted by kalimac at 5:39 PM on May 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
posted by kalimac at 5:39 PM on May 25, 2017 [1 favorite]
I sprained my ankle in March. I did all the right things, and it seemed to be getting better, then a couple weeks in, I did it again. I went to the doctor and was diagnosed with a resprained ankle and told to rest it for real, elevate it for real, ice it for real, and expect it to be very slow to heal. 2 months later, this is the first week that I have not worn the brace, but I am still very wary of it.
Go to the doctor, for peace of mind, and in case something could be done to help it. I wish that I had gone sooner and taken it more seriously and maybe I wouldn't have been miserable for so long.
And seriously plan to take it easier for several weeks, however you can with the child-wrangling. I could definitely tell the difference between the days I was working and walked >10,000 steps and lazy Saturdays at home when it was more like 3,000, and I think it finally healed thanks to the semester being over and me having a couple of weeks with much less walking.
posted by hydropsyche at 5:50 PM on May 25, 2017
Go to the doctor, for peace of mind, and in case something could be done to help it. I wish that I had gone sooner and taken it more seriously and maybe I wouldn't have been miserable for so long.
And seriously plan to take it easier for several weeks, however you can with the child-wrangling. I could definitely tell the difference between the days I was working and walked >10,000 steps and lazy Saturdays at home when it was more like 3,000, and I think it finally healed thanks to the semester being over and me having a couple of weeks with much less walking.
posted by hydropsyche at 5:50 PM on May 25, 2017
Best answer: For whatever it's worth, I don't think you're being a dummy.
There are indeed a lot of people who don't get checked out because they think something is just a sprain and it turns out it was a broken bone/s, but the difference between those people's injuries and yours is that you say yours doesn't really hurt. Even a sprain usually hurts quite a bit. However, popping noises are usually associated with ligament injuries like tears, so that part raises concern.
The swelling definitely takes a week or more to go down, especially if you have a small child and can't keep it elevated much. How much it swells depends in part on how well you do with elevating and compression of the area.
I do think you need to get it checked out, but I don't think you are being stupid not to do so immediately, if it's only a small amount of discomfort you're feeling.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 9:24 AM on May 26, 2017
There are indeed a lot of people who don't get checked out because they think something is just a sprain and it turns out it was a broken bone/s, but the difference between those people's injuries and yours is that you say yours doesn't really hurt. Even a sprain usually hurts quite a bit. However, popping noises are usually associated with ligament injuries like tears, so that part raises concern.
The swelling definitely takes a week or more to go down, especially if you have a small child and can't keep it elevated much. How much it swells depends in part on how well you do with elevating and compression of the area.
I do think you need to get it checked out, but I don't think you are being stupid not to do so immediately, if it's only a small amount of discomfort you're feeling.
posted by treehorn+bunny at 9:24 AM on May 26, 2017
Response by poster: My wife returned from her business trip late Thursday night and I managed to get an appointment at my ortho provider for mid-day Friday. I love x-rays, maybe some of you do as well. Here's my no-breaks, diagnosed as second-order sprained ankle. The diagnosis was accompanied by reassurance that the level of swelling was not unreasonable and can often continue for a very long time. I am not sure I think seeing cool x-rays of my foot was worth the $50 out of pocket it cost but I'd say the peace of mind was well worth it.
I also got a nice little slip-on brace-like contraption that goes over my ankle and the back of my foot and laces up, to help prevent rolling my ankle during the recuperation time when stability is reduced. What that will end up costing - $80 is billed to the insurance company - remains to be seen, but I'm finding it helpful.
In case anyone finds this post in the future and does not have the (it's pathetic that in out country this is a) luxury of being able to go to the doc, in addition to the x-ray the doc manipulated my ankle and probed a few places that match up with the diagrams I found of the three most common ankle sprain locations. In mine, which was the most common sort, even a light push around the little nub of bone poking out of the side of your ankle would turn an okay-at-rest co edition into a shooting pain.
I also have a nice sheet of exercises to do as the weeks continue; kalimac, it may be well worth your while to find them. In my experience they're all over the google even though they're copyrighted materials. I intend to do the more advanced ones on my right ankle which I injured long ago and which, like yours, still has the occasional twinge. Getting old is not for the timid.
You all qualify as best answers but I'll pick a couple for completeness. Even if you're not one of them I still say you're awesome.
posted by phearlez at 9:38 AM on May 27, 2017 [3 favorites]
I also got a nice little slip-on brace-like contraption that goes over my ankle and the back of my foot and laces up, to help prevent rolling my ankle during the recuperation time when stability is reduced. What that will end up costing - $80 is billed to the insurance company - remains to be seen, but I'm finding it helpful.
In case anyone finds this post in the future and does not have the (it's pathetic that in out country this is a) luxury of being able to go to the doc, in addition to the x-ray the doc manipulated my ankle and probed a few places that match up with the diagrams I found of the three most common ankle sprain locations. In mine, which was the most common sort, even a light push around the little nub of bone poking out of the side of your ankle would turn an okay-at-rest co edition into a shooting pain.
I also have a nice sheet of exercises to do as the weeks continue; kalimac, it may be well worth your while to find them. In my experience they're all over the google even though they're copyrighted materials. I intend to do the more advanced ones on my right ankle which I injured long ago and which, like yours, still has the occasional twinge. Getting old is not for the timid.
You all qualify as best answers but I'll pick a couple for completeness. Even if you're not one of them I still say you're awesome.
posted by phearlez at 9:38 AM on May 27, 2017 [3 favorites]
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