I got a sprained ankle as a result of accidentally tripping while running on an uneven trail.
I immediately put some ice on the affected area and elevated it, but I wasn’t able to take care of it as I was supposed to the next few days.
It got incredibly swollen and the area around the entire foot became bruised so I went to the doctor 5 days later and got X-rays.
The doctor told me that it was just a bad sprain and that I would be able to slowly resume my running program within a week.
The accident happened 2 months ago.
I slowly got back to running 2-3 miles every other day, and eventually to every 2 days.
I am worried to find my sprained ankle still swollen after 2 months even though I am extra careful with my running.
I wear an ankle support every time I run and ice my sprained ankle as much as possible, but I sometimes feel throbbing pains on my foot.
How long does a sprained ankle stay swollen? I am worried.
Is this normal, or should I go to the doctor?
Answer by Dominique:
Hi there,
Thank you for your running injury question.
Pain and swelling can go on for a long time in the case of sprained ankles and pulled muscles. Walking and running puts constant pressure on your ankle and they are not helpful in its healing process.
I understand that you’re worried to have found your sprained ankle still swollen after two months. As you have already done the X-ray, you should not have to worry about broken bones, but it is also possible that the doctor may have overlooked a very small detail, or that the problem failed to show up on the X-ray films.
When in doubt or when you experience prolonged periods of pain always go see a doctor.
In your case, I recommend you take some extra weeks to let your ankle rest. You need to let it rest to make sure it gets better. Running 2-3 miles every other day is clearly not working. It is always frustrating when you have to take a break from running.
But even if you have to take 3-4 weeks off now, at least when you are completely healed you can run longer distances again and be pain free.
To stay fit, do some cross training in the mean time which is not weight bearing. E.g. swimming, biking, anything, as long as it does not put pressure on the ankle. I reckon at this stage it is also a good moment to go back to the doctor.
A doctor may be able to give you some stranger anti-inflammotories that help bring the swelling down quicker or provide a cortisone injection that may remove the problem.
Hope this helps and that your ankle will heal soon.
Kind regards, Dominique
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I got a sprained ankle as a result of accidentally tripping while running on an uneven trail.
