OOOOWWW Ok who has ridden with a sprained ankle?
#1
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OOOOWWW Ok who has ridden with a sprained ankle?
Well my wife is all over my ass for last night. The other sport I participate in othe rthan cycling is Volleyball and I am in a Tues/Thurs night power VB league. Well last night we had a match and in the middle of the second game I came down from a block on the hitter's foot and sprained my ankle.
This couldn't come at a worse time as on the 23rd I am riding in the LAF Ride for the Roses down in Austin and I am worried if I have to spend much time off the bike the 100 miles in TX are going to kill me.
So how bad is it going to be to ride with a sprained ankle (I drive to work today as my ankle still hurts and is VERY swollen)? I am thinking of trying to ride this weekend.
Thoughts?

So how bad is it going to be to ride with a sprained ankle (I drive to work today as my ankle still hurts and is VERY swollen)? I am thinking of trying to ride this weekend.
Thoughts?
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#3
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Hey, Grasschopper, sorry about the ankle. I don't have specific advice, but do have a warning. A couple of years ago I slipped on some gravel (see my description, afterall), and thought I sprained my ankle (lots of swelling at the ankle, only a little in the general area). Weeks go by, and I'm still hobbling about, so I finally go see a doctor and discover I broke the outermost bone in my foot. I was right as rain in a month/6 weeks.
A telltale sign (this is a common break) are discoloration up around your toes where various ligaments and whatnot get yanked. I hate to say this, but it might be worth a trip to the doctor's to get xrayed to confirm that it's just a sprain (if you haven't already), as that might affect your decision about the upcoming ride. Also, if stabilized/immobilized within the first few days (wearing the funny shoe, in other words), your healing time can be sped up (if broken) and you can make sure you don't end up with an imperfect mend (the look of a 6th toe ... just kidding, but I suppose it could happen -- just think about how hard it would be to find a good shoe fit after that
).
Again, sorry about the ankle. Hope it's just a sprain.
A telltale sign (this is a common break) are discoloration up around your toes where various ligaments and whatnot get yanked. I hate to say this, but it might be worth a trip to the doctor's to get xrayed to confirm that it's just a sprain (if you haven't already), as that might affect your decision about the upcoming ride. Also, if stabilized/immobilized within the first few days (wearing the funny shoe, in other words), your healing time can be sped up (if broken) and you can make sure you don't end up with an imperfect mend (the look of a 6th toe ... just kidding, but I suppose it could happen -- just think about how hard it would be to find a good shoe fit after that

Again, sorry about the ankle. Hope it's just a sprain.
#4
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Originally Posted by Bibi
Hey, Grasschopper, sorry about the ankle. I don't have specific advice, but do have a warning. A couple of years ago I slipped on some gravel (see my description, afterall), and thought I sprained my ankle (lots of swelling at the ankle, only a little in the general area). Weeks go by, and I'm still hobbling about, so I finally go see a doctor and discover I broke the outermost bone in my foot. I was right as rain in a month/6 weeks.
A telltale sign (this is a common break) are discoloration up around your toes where various ligaments and whatnot get yanked. I hate to say this, but it might be worth a trip to the doctor's to get xrayed to confirm that it's just a sprain (if you haven't already), as that might affect your decision about the upcoming ride. Also, if stabilized/immobilized within the first few days (wearing the funny shoe, in other words), your healing time can be sped up (if broken) and you can make sure you don't end up with an imperfect mend (the look of a 6th toe ... just kidding, but I suppose it could happen -- just think about how hard it would be to find a good shoe fit after that
).
Again, sorry about the ankle. Hope it's just a sprain.
A telltale sign (this is a common break) are discoloration up around your toes where various ligaments and whatnot get yanked. I hate to say this, but it might be worth a trip to the doctor's to get xrayed to confirm that it's just a sprain (if you haven't already), as that might affect your decision about the upcoming ride. Also, if stabilized/immobilized within the first few days (wearing the funny shoe, in other words), your healing time can be sped up (if broken) and you can make sure you don't end up with an imperfect mend (the look of a 6th toe ... just kidding, but I suppose it could happen -- just think about how hard it would be to find a good shoe fit after that

Again, sorry about the ankle. Hope it's just a sprain.
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#5
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I rode with a sprained ankle until it healed up on its own. The only thing I couldn't do was ride out of the saddle or push my cadence much over 90 rpm. Bibi's right - you should go to a doctor and get that checked out.
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Definitely get it checked out by a doc. RICE the heck out of it (hope you did last night). The doc can send you to a therapist who will tell you stuff you can do to accelerate the recovery and healing process.
I sprained my ankle in a major way playing basketball a few years back. I didn't feel close to normal for the "6-8 weeks" the doc mentioned. However, I was able to ride much sooner than I was able to play basketball.
I sprained my ankle in a major way playing basketball a few years back. I didn't feel close to normal for the "6-8 weeks" the doc mentioned. However, I was able to ride much sooner than I was able to play basketball.
#7
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Ok ok fine I called my doctor's office. Boy I am glad my old doc retired....NOT. I am now waiting for them to call me back. I know a PT and having coached VB (this is a VERY comon injury in VB) I know the PT routine.
Yea I iced for an hour last night.
Yea I iced for an hour last night.
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#8
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I wouldn't push it with a sprained ankle, you'll just extend the healing time, or worse, do more damage. Use an AirCast to keep its movement to a minimum and you should be fine within 2-weeks. If you ride this weekend, it may extend your hobbling/limping-around time to 3-weeks. I think the point where it's safe to ride is when you can walk around and it feels tight, but not painful.
I was taken out for 6-weeks with a badly-sprained ankle a couple months ago. It was from salsa-dancing... and with the wrong chics. I had to yank and toss them around since they couldn't follow a lead very well. Twisting and pivoting on my ankle while throwing a chic around... I woke up the next day and my ankle had swollen to the size of a softball.
Needless to say, I've lowered my regulation-weight to 115-lbs max for inexperienced dance-parners..
I was taken out for 6-weeks with a badly-sprained ankle a couple months ago. It was from salsa-dancing... and with the wrong chics. I had to yank and toss them around since they couldn't follow a lead very well. Twisting and pivoting on my ankle while throwing a chic around... I woke up the next day and my ankle had swollen to the size of a softball.


#9
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Originally Posted by DannoXYZ
I wouldn't push it with a sprained ankle, you'll just extend the healing time, or worse, do more damage. Use an AirCast to keep its movement to a minimum and you should be fine within 2-weeks. If you ride this weekend, it may extend your hobbling/limping-around time to 3-weeks. I think the point where it's safe to ride is when you can walk around and it feels tight, but not painful.
I was taken out for 6-weeks with a badly-sprained ankle a couple months ago. It was from salsa-dancing... and with the wrong chics. I had to yank and toss them around since they couldn't follow a lead very well. Twisting and pivoting on my ankle while throwing a chic around... I woke up the next day and my ankle had swollen to the size of a softball.
Needless to say, I've lowered my regulation-weight to 115-lbs max for inexperienced dance-parners.. 
I was taken out for 6-weeks with a badly-sprained ankle a couple months ago. It was from salsa-dancing... and with the wrong chics. I had to yank and toss them around since they couldn't follow a lead very well. Twisting and pivoting on my ankle while throwing a chic around... I woke up the next day and my ankle had swollen to the size of a softball.


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#10
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i tore my calf badly, cycling and swiming were part of my rehab and fitness maintaince. i was in the Army at the time.
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i did the same... but with flag football. i thought it was a bad sprain, so i hobbled around on it for a couple of days. it turned out to be a broke ankle. i was in a huge boot for 8 weeks
i hope things turn out better for you.

i hope things turn out better for you.
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Well after 4 hours I finally heard back from the doctor...they can see me tomorrow afternoon. Wonderful.
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Originally Posted by Grasschopper
Well after 4 hours I finally heard back from the doctor...they can see me tomorrow afternoon. Wonderful.
#16
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Just in case anyone wanted to see it:

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#17
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Ouch! You sure did it up right.
I used to sprain my right ankle regularly when I was in cross country or track, and I'd use my old Huffy 10-speed when I couldn't participate in practices to keep my cardio up. I'd tell Coach I would go home and lay down about 30 miles, and he'd say, "good enough," and so I'd do just that. About the first 5 miles would be pretty hard...my ankle would be quite stiff and painful, but at least the range of motion needed for cycling is fairly limited, and it would get limbered back up.
From my fairly vast experience of sprained ankles, I can tell you that you'll be pretty laid up for about a week, but by this time next week you should be able to walk fairly normally, but if you step on the side of your foot, your ankle is liable to flip you the bird and go out from under you. By the 23rd you should be pretty much healed up, though if you do anything rash, like jump off of a loading dock or a large stack of hay, it will sprain much more easily than it would if you hadn't sprained it three weeks earlier.
I used to sprain my right ankle regularly when I was in cross country or track, and I'd use my old Huffy 10-speed when I couldn't participate in practices to keep my cardio up. I'd tell Coach I would go home and lay down about 30 miles, and he'd say, "good enough," and so I'd do just that. About the first 5 miles would be pretty hard...my ankle would be quite stiff and painful, but at least the range of motion needed for cycling is fairly limited, and it would get limbered back up.
From my fairly vast experience of sprained ankles, I can tell you that you'll be pretty laid up for about a week, but by this time next week you should be able to walk fairly normally, but if you step on the side of your foot, your ankle is liable to flip you the bird and go out from under you. By the 23rd you should be pretty much healed up, though if you do anything rash, like jump off of a loading dock or a large stack of hay, it will sprain much more easily than it would if you hadn't sprained it three weeks earlier.
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Wheeeee!
Wheeeee!
#18
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As You Like It - yea having played VB for about 16 years now this isn't the first time I have done this...but it has been a long time...I have pretty good ankles and have landed on guys before and not turned them...this was a pretty good twist. I am doing the whole RICE thing (Rest, Ice, Compression, Elevation) as much as I can and bought an ankle support for when I start playing VB again. I am thinking I will ba taking next week's VB matches off (we have a bye tonight) so that I can get this thing where it needs to be for the ride. We are 12-0 in the league so a loss or two wont hurt us a lot, if I was a betting man I think we would be 16-2 through next week if I didn't play and might not be better than that even if I did.
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#19
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Well my new doctor said I am fine and thanked me for my money.
It is a sprain, keep doing what I am doing and I am fine to ride whenever I want...the longer I can hold off playing VB the better.

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#20
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Good. Now stay off the ankle... at least when it comes to volleyball. Heal that thing up and have a great Ride for the Roses.
#21
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so glad to hear it. sorry to have worried you ... and sorry for the bill. hmm. guess i'm off your buddy list now, huh? well, at least if something does happen now you'll have a doctor to call (there's always a bright side - hope that covers my butt).
#22
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Originally Posted by Bibi
so glad to hear it. sorry to have worried you ... and sorry for the bill. hmm. guess i'm off your buddy list now, huh? well, at least if something does happen now you'll have a doctor to call (there's always a bright side - hope that covers my butt).

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