Has anyone ever Sprained their foot? (NOT ankle)

zippybungle

Hi,

On Chrstmas day last year, I fell down the stairs at home (not all the way down, just down the last 3 or 4 steps) and hurt my foot. I went to A&E the day after and had Xrays, but nothing was found.

7 months and 3 visits to the GP later, my foot is still causing me some discomfort and I feel I am being fobbed off, but unsure how long realistically recovery should take or if the GP should be referring me anywhere.

My GP initially told me it should be better within 6-8 weeks, then on the previous 2 visits they have told me it could take months!

Zippy x

jenniewb

Hi,
I can't say I've had a sprained foot but can talk about sprains as I've had a few on my ankle, apparently due to being hypermobile and also having sprained my ankle the first time its very easy to do the same thing again thereafter. Be very careful with a sprained joint for that reason; you can sprain it again with dramatic ease.

I had a grade 2 sprain, it swelled up like a golf ball within hours and took several weeks to go down and a few months to vanish completely...just in time for me to sprain it again!

When you get a sprain, the ligaments are stretched or torn to some degree. Just how bad the sprain is depends on how damaged these ligaments are. When a ligament is torn, collegen seeps out and causes some of the swelling, the pain itself and damage also cause inflammation, end result is a swelling which looks serious.


Most of the swelling goes down within days if not weeks (and if its quite a minor sprain, within hours) but it does take a while. Your circulation is what helps to get rid of the swelling but with your limbs there is a reduced amount of circulation due to your feet for example being furthest away from your heart and also with no major organs in them. Massage and simple exercises (get advice on these) will help but be prepared for things taking a bit longer then normal because of this.

Ligaments take a while to heal. If they are torn fully they need to mend with the aid of a bandage or cast, if they are only partially torn they will need to mend but keep in mind that as the ligaments are there to aid flexibility it is important that whilst they heal they are kept working and your foot is moving. This is because when things heal they get a scar tissue which grows over the break- this is normal and how your body heals. Given too long that scar tissue becomes brittle and can itself break easily. It also can cause problems if it joins onto surrounding muscles. You go to move your joints and the muscles around the area are pulled out of sorts due to this scar tissue and you get a knock on injury. The best way around this is to keep the joint working so any scar tissue that forms is continually broken up. Yes it is in effect slowing down your healing time but its also the advised thing to do because having a joint healed over with brittle scar tissue will only cause you problems.

My ankle healed after about 10 months and still at times does ache when I move in certain positions where it didn't used to hurt. Its a weakness I have now because there is only so much my body can and will do but to all intents and purposes, its as healed as it will be though I'd anticipate it healing even more if I manage to keep it injury free.

Don't forget, in comparison to how old the previous joint was before you sprained it, your newly healed joint (in your foot- yes it is a joint) wont be as strong and hence more liable to injury. Don't expect it to be as strong for quite a while especially in an area which is so easily over-used and stressed.

If your unhappy with the diagnosis and want to question the diagnosis or care your getting you can get a second opinion or even talk to your GP about a referral to a physio or even ask to speak about the x-rays you've had (if you've had any). Maybe state your not happy with the way things have gone and are doubting the care and advice your getting before asking for more help.

pollypenny

Yep, I once fell off the edge of a patio, only a paving stone high, holding plants that I was trying to protect.

I ended up flat on my back and visiting AE the next day. My foot was not broken but sprained.

I spend a couple of weeks on cruches and a few more with one stick. But it was better in about 6 weeks.

boots_babe

I haven't myself, but my Mum did something to her foot. Same as you, visits to doctor's and hospital and was just told a sprain and would go of its own accord.

About a year later they finally found it was a broken bone, and due to having been left for so long, the broken ends had been rubbing one another causing lots of debris, which in turn caused further issues.

So I'd suggest going to see someone else for a second opinion, to be absolutely sure there is no break.

zippybungle

Thanks for the replies guys.

Zippy x

hazyjo

Yes, on Boxing Day (obviously an eventful Christmas for us two last year!).

Fell over in stoopid-heeled platform boots down a hill (a few 'shandies' were involed too, and an argument, and lots of stroppy footsteps). Came close to whacking my chin on the pavement and just missed that thank God. Managed to walk and get into bed, but the pain all night was excrutiating. When I got up early the next morning, I couldn't put my foot to the floor. Absolutely no weight on it at all. Couldn't move anything, even toes. Got a cab to hospital, they x-rayed it and said nothing was broken. I didn't believe a word as I was in absolute agony. They sent me home with crutches and paracetamol.

I thought it would take months and months to get better, but within several days, I could use it again. Was fine for months, but it did really start hurting again last week. I'd worn new shoes (wedges), bit higher than usual with a bar across the front, and I think that had dug in where the damage had been done at Christmas. Caused a great deal of pain.

Are you maybe wearing shoes which cut across the bit that was damaged?

Hope it improves soon. Not nice.

Jx