Spained Ankles

When I was a freshman in college I went to visit my high school friend for Spring Break.  I traveled to DC and while we were talking, I stepped off a curb badly and twisted my ankle.  Instead of taking care of it right away, I walked ALL OVER DC on it.  I was so foolish.  It was black and blue and swollen from my toes to my knee and required 4 months of physical therapy to recover. 

When I got to my 30s, little things started to 'fail' me, and my ankle started having little rolls, but nothing major.  The second week of kindergarten, when I was walking E to school, down the hill, I rolled it badly.  I limped home, happy to have J in the stroller so I could lean on it for support.  Den was of course out of town.  It has been a saga ever since and E just finished 2nd grade.  For 2 years on and off, I was in pain and couldn't walk.  I have had so many rounds of PT that at this point, I just call up and they squeeze me in.  This time I made it 5 months, which is almost a record since the whole ordeal began.  Before that it was Jan. of this year, then Oct. of 2012 and then I think May of 2012, when I had finally 'graduated' from PT.

I feel like I know a thing or two about how to care for an ankle.  RICE is the best thing.  As soon as I rolled my ankle today, I iced it immediately, got on the crutches and got the compression sock on, all the while elevating my foot.  Also took advil to address the pain and swelling.  I also start to do small mobility exercises.  To be honest, if I would just do my exercises more regularly, I would probably last longer.  EVERY.SINGLE.DAY of my life that I am not on crutches I am thankful.   I don't always try and get the closest parking spot when I'm well.  I am happy to be able to walk from the one that is halfway down the row. Being able to walk and stand on two feet is nothing I will ever take for granted.

We were on vacation over spring break I walked too much so soon after my January injury and I had to buy a set of crutches.  I now have 2 sets.  I have a collapsible cane that I keep in my car. Today's injury will impact our big family vacation later this summer, as I will not be recovered enough to walk and hike much.  I am hopeful I can last a mile and maybe with a crutch or cane I will.