How long does it take for a bad sprain to heal?

[Celestial]

Its been a month today since I wiped out snowboarding and my ankle is still a lil swollen and hurting. I didnt see a doc because I wasn't home and I dont have a ton of cash to spend on one. But my doc said in two weeks if it doesnt feel better that he wants me to get an X ray...how long does it usually take to heal? I am worried:( My friend had a fracture and didnt know till 3 months after the insedent and has a cast now....man i would die if I had to get one for 3 months:(

[Princess]

I think it's more than a "bad sprain".... Sprains don't take more than 3 months to heal, at least not fromy my experience.

[Goin_Big]

Actually sprains take a lot longer to heal than fractures. On the other hand, the swelling from a sprain usually goes away within in a week. Shoulda got it looked at, a fracture coulda healed by now if you had gotten it taken care of :)

Oh, and if he finds out it's a sprain, don't worry, they hurt for a long time, but you still have full use.

[Manveet]

Sprains can sometimes take several months to compeletly heal. I have heard that it is difficult to break or fracture the ankle, since it is used to heavy strain because it helps to support body weight during running and walking. How long did it take for your ankle to swell up, if it took less than 60 minutes, your looking at a pretty serious sprain

[Celestial]

Originally posted by Manveet
Sprains can sometimes take several months to compeletly heal. I have heard that it is difficult to break or fracture the ankle, since it is used to heavy strain because it helps to support body weight during running and walking. How long did it take for your ankle to swell up, if it took less than 60 minutes, your looking at a pretty serious sprain I dont know I had snowboarding boots on.

[Princess]

Originally posted by Celestial
I dont know I had snowboarding boots on.


Well, you would know if your ankle was swelling up regardless of whether or not you had boots on.

[Celestial]

Originally posted by Princess



Well, you would know if your ankle was swelling up regardless of whether or not you had boots on. It was swollen when I took the boots off...but I have no clue if it did in the first 60 seconds. I was to busy crying hysterically trying to get my binders undone.

[Manveet]

I genrally wouldn't worry about the sprain too much. I mean I sprained my ankle so bad playing basketball it puffed up like ballon in 5 seconds, I seriously thought I had broken it. I went to the doctor and all it was, was a bad sprain. It took a while for it to heal completley, some where around 3 months.

[The Guru]

I agree, it's worth the price to see a sports doc no matter the price (within reason).

Depending on sprain severity (obviously not including the worst kind of sprains which involve ligament rupture) most kinds of mild to moderate sprains can be treated by a sports doc with combinations certain therapeutic modalities. Personally, regarding athletes, with a therapeutic ultrasound unit, plenty of ice, a bucket of water and a few select salves, I can have a good percent walking upright without much pain within a very short period of time.

It's worth it to get help.