Medical Question

[westcoaststrokin]

Ok so here is the deal. Shannon slipped getting into the shower on Saturday and torqued the crap out of her ankle. She said no on the ER so I didn't think it was that bad. Well yesterday she texts me saying the pain is so bad it is making her nauseous and that she had made an appointment with medical today. So we go to the appointment and the Nurse Practitioner does some stuff to her ankle and foot that made Shan about cry then she sends her to X-ray and says come back in an hour and we will see what the pictures say.

We get back in the prescribed hour and she says not broken which is the bad news. A break would actually be easier. They think she has a severe sprain of her ankle and or foot.

Ok so here is where I want the advice. The NP said wrap it, ice it, elevate it, and walk on it. Check, check, check, and WTF! I have had to EMT guys tell me that she shouldn't be on it at all because that will lead to more problems in the future. I am not saying the NP was wrong but have they changed the treatment for sprains since the last time I did it. When I sprained my ankle last time I was on crutches for a couple weeks to protect it. They are telling her to walk on it. So what say you folks in the medical field?

[Dave]

Wrap it ice it, keep it elevated for a few days.

Walking on it right away is gonna aggrevate the crap out of it.

Ibuprofen for pain if the NP didnt give you anything.

[westcoaststrokin]

They gave Shan Naproxen. I also have an unlimited supply of 800mg Motrins thanks to my back.

It just is real weird to me that they didn't put her on crutches.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by westcoaststrokin

They gave Shan Naproxen. I also have an unlimited supply of 800mg Motrins thanks to my back.

It just is real weird to me that they didn't put her on crutches.

Some docs use crutches Some dont depending on the injury.

NP's are great for colds and flu and the like. Im not a fan of them in injury cases though

[westcoaststrokin]

NP's are all that they have at the Family practice clinic at the Naval Hospital.

[Dave]

Originally Posted by westcoaststrokin

NP's are all that they have at the Family practice clinic at the Naval Hospital.

Do you have access to an orthopedist or sports medicine type doc anywhere?

[westcoaststrokin]

yeah probably under Shan's medical. I am not real sure i have to play through the Navy for me. I will ask her when she gets home from work.

[westcoaststrokin]

She said that she should it would just require a copay which I am good with. I think she has tendon damage.

[Tyler]

A Sprain is injured ligaments that could be torn. So when they said breaking it would be easier is kinda BS, because usually if you break your ankle by twisting it, you tear some ligaments or stretch them as well.

Wrap it with ice and heat like Dave said, but DO NOT have her walk on it. That will make things worse. I wouldn't walk on it for at least 5-8 days.

[08pwrstrokr6.4]

well she is right in the breaking is easier.bones heal tendons and ligaments not so much.they have to do surgery to repair it and then it still isnt all that great.a lot of times they will just tell you that from now on you are gonna roll it every time you step on something or running.but definitely keep her off it til the swelling goes down.