Twisted, Hyperextended Ankle & Foot

[Wrong Turn]

I had a very minor motorcycle misshap going about 5 MPH. I brushed against another motrocycle and my right foot foot caught on something and it twisted quickly. Maybe it hyper-extended it because my Achilles tendon was swollen and sore for a couple of days, as was my ankle.

After a couple days, the pain and swelling disappeared.

Then after a couple of days, it returned, and it's been a problem for more than 11 days.

When I sit, my right foot seems to swell up. The right side of the ankle, and the top of the foot itself.

When I get up in the morning (laying horizontal for 8 hours) there is none, or hardly any swelling.

When the misshap happened I had minor gout, so mabe this caused more damage to my tendons, if it' about tendons.

Anyone have any experience like this?

TIA.

[cathyy]

You ought to go get it checked; an x-ray is a good idea. If that rules out any fractures, then you know it's soft tissue damage of some kind. Call it a sprained ankle although it may or may not be that. In the US the treatment for that is a cast for about 6 weeks. With my weak ankles I've had my share of sprains both before and after they started casting them. The casting definitely helps them heal.

People say you can't walk on a broken foot. Bull. My sister did, for several days, with only a minor limp. The longer you wait the more likely it is that you'll have permanent trouble with it whether it's a fracture or a sprain or something else.

[Wrong Turn]

You ought to go get it checked; an x-ray is a good idea. If that rules out any fractures, then you know it's soft tissue damage of some kind. Call it a sprained ankle although it may or may not be that. In the US the treatment for that is a cast for about 6 weeks. With my weak ankles I've had my share of sprains both before and after they started casting them. The casting definitely helps them heal.

People say you can't walk on a broken foot. Bull. My sister did, for several days, with only a minor limp. The longer you wait the more likely it is that you'll have permanent trouble with it whether it's a fracture or a sprain or something else.

Thanks for the reply and info cathyy. I appreciate it.

I will get an x-ray and go to the doctors is this continues for more than a couple of weeks.

I hear you on the "permanent" angle. I will watch my improvement, or lack of, carefully this week.

Also, it seems that when I sit for a long time, my right ankle and top of my foot swells up.

I don't understand the swelling, from sitting.

Edited March 2, 2008 by Wrong Turn

[FBN]

The key to the swelling is the "minor gout" you have had at the time. The achilles tendon is a "soft spot" for gout and this is your most likely explanation.

An X-ray to rule out a fracture is not a bad idea. Hairline fractures or cracks sometimes do not show up on an X-ray till about 10 days after the injury so keep this in mind. Have a blood check on uric acid levels as well. Sit with the foot elevated.

Feet/Ankles sometimes are slow to respond to treatment after injury; they are the "weight bearing" parts of the body so swelling and pain may persist for some weeks.

Make sure (have a doc exam the ankle) to rule out ligament injury on that side as well. This will lead to swelling that can continue for some time and, if not treated properly, may leave you with an "unstable" ankle, more prone to injury over time.

[Wrong Turn]

The key to the swelling is the "minor gout" you have had at the time. The achilles tendon is a "soft spot" for gout and this is your most likely explanation.

An X-ray to rule out a fracture is not a bad idea. Hairline fractures or cracks sometimes do not show up on an X-ray till about 10 days after the injury so keep this in mind. Have a blood check on uric acid levels as well. Sit with the foot elevated.

Feet/Ankles sometimes are slow to respond to treatment after injury; they are the "weight bearing" parts of the body so swelling and pain may persist for some weeks.

Make sure (have a doc exam the ankle) to rule out ligament injury on that side as well. This will lead to swelling that can continue for some time and, if not treated properly, may leave you with an "unstable" ankle, more prone to injury over time.

Yes, FBN. Thanks for the response.

The gout was the main culprit. It is slowly healing.

I honestly think I'll have foot problems for some time. I'm going to ask a doctor in the US for me to get on Allopurin in 4 months, when I visit the US.

By walking improperly, I have am stressing my Achilles tendon in my other foot. I am trying not to walk much, but when I do walk, I'm walking improperly, putting unnatural stress on my muscles, joints and ligaments on my knees of both legs and on my "good" foot.

I'm getting so sick of this.