Ankle Injuries

[ambassador3]

I know many of you have had ligament injuries in your foot. Looking for anyone who has similar injury.
I was playing indoor soccer when I injured my foot. I jumped up to go after a high kicked ball and when I came down I rolled my ankle toward the outside of my foot. I felt a strange tear/pain immediately in my foot. I tried to walk it off but, the pain was to much to even put my foot down. I went to check my foot and it was swelling as soon as I took my socccer shoe off. The swelling started on the top/right side of my foot, and the pain was quite immense. A friend drove me home and I iced my foot right away. The next morning the pain and swelling (much bigger now) so I made an appointment with my doctor. At my appointment the doctor did a visual exam on my foot and told me the swelling and bruising were probably from a torn ligament(s) in my foot. He said to use the ICE method and gave me a support brace to wear latter because my foot was much to swollen to put it on. I had a very difficult time walking because it was so painful. The dr. said it probably wouldn't be as safe to use crutches because it was snowing out again and that if I could walk with it into the office that I would do ok with the ice method and the brace latter. Well it took me over three weeks to be able to put the brace he had given because of the swelling in my foot. I couldn't even get a shoe on to wear it with. It has now been six weeks and the swelling has gone down and most of the major bruising has gone but, I still have pain in my foot and a bump where the intial swelling started. It is still a tender area when touched on my foot and an aching/pain most of the time (whether sitiing or walking. my question is: is the pain normal for a torn ligament at this point? Also is the bump normal? I love sports and working out and want to know when it is "safe" to resume these activities. I just want to make sure that my foot is healing right. Any insight would very much be appreciated. I know that ligaments are suppose to take longer to heal but, how do I know if it is healing right? thanks for your help!

[footdoctor]

you have at the very least a significant tear, and likely, a partial rupture of the anterior talo-fibular ligament in the ankle...there is also a probable injury to the calcaneal fibular ligament...NO, this is not normal...you need an MRI with contrast of the lateral ankle with specific detail to these ligament structures asap...you are past the time that support, immobilization, rest, and ice will help...nsaids will offer temporary relief...physical therapy modalities may help as well but absolutely NO active range of motion to the area until a definitive diagnosis is achieved...if the diagnosis is as i suspect a repair or reconstruction of the ligament/s is the most prudent course in a young active patient...the ATF and other lateral ligaments are the cornerstone of stability of the ankle and must be aggressively treated or chronic ankle sprains may result...i hope this helps...
Dr. L