i "sprained" my own ankle about 20 years ago and it still hurts. unfortunately i waited too long to get a proper diagnosis assuming it was "just a sprain". i tore some ligaments and because of the delay in having an mri it could not be repaired. i suggest that you do not repeat my own mistake and have a proper examination either by an orthopedist or podiatrist that handles ankle disorders. you may need some imaging studies as well. i am a board-certified physical therapist with over 13 years of clinical experience. physical therapists are experts in assessing and treating problems with the neuromusculoskeletal system including ankle injuries and sprains. i highly recommend that you seek the professional opinion of a well-respected physical therapist in your area. physical therapists focus their practice on macro-biological movement sciences (as opposed to micro-biological pathology). what does that mean to you? not only will a pt help you determine if you have ‘loose’ or possibly ‘torn’ ankle ligaments but he or she will perform a thorough examination of your entire lower body to determine what is at the root of your continued pain – often a dysfunctional movement pattern that is due in part to the initial injury but perpetuated by a host of factors. if you see a physical therapist you will have an initial examination to determine a “differential diagnosis”. the pt will take a thorough history and screen you to determine if there is a medical condition that requires you to see a physician for further medical workup. second the physical therapist will determine a “movement impairment diagnosis” that will help direct physical therapy interventions. in your question you state that ankle dorsiflexion (moving the foot upwards) is limited and painful. otherwise you do not state why you are not “100%”. with limited dorsiflexion some common activities that might be painful are deep squatting running jumping and stairs. the great thing about seeing a physical therapist is that he or she will work with you to find the root causes that are driving this continued pain and limited motion (we will go beyond treating your symptoms). these causes may or may not include things such as: joint stiffness scar tissue flexibility restrictions decreased proprioception (balance ability and coordination/control) muscle weakness and altered biomechanics. these impairments can respond very well to conservative physical therapy treatments. regarding an earlier answer that was posted mris and surgery are rarely needed even with severe ankle sprains. if your injury was more recent and you were having trouble walking x-rays might be more highly indicated to rule out possible bony pathology. again a physical therapist can safely and effectively guide you in your treatment course even if you require referral for further medical workup. even in the case of severe ankle injuries such as fractures that are treated surgically or non-surgically i see that patients recover best when physician care is followed by physical therapy rehabilitation. in all 50 states you can directly consult with a physical therapist without a physician referral. many major insurance plans reimburse physical therapy care without a physician referral (medicare is a significant exception). a pt is the expert of choice to perform a thorough examination and treat this problem of yours that will not go away. if your insurance does not cover direct access and you would like for insurance to cover the visit then i suggest you see your physician and request a referral the physical therapist of your choice. if you need help finding a therapist you may find assistance through the american board of physical therapy specialties: <link> or the american physical therapy association: <link> i wish you the best as you seek to restore full functional use of your ankle! truly rich
i sprained my ankle 7 months ago and still am not 100%. 7 months ago i slipped on ice outside my driveway and heard a large pop sound when i fell. at present day i can walk comfortably. i have full range of motion in all directions except upwards. meaning if i grab my foot and pull it towards me. there is pain inside my ankle (in the ligaments that were damaged in the fall i assume). i'm trying to exercise it by putting half my foot on a raised object like a curb or books and gently push down. what can i do to improve the healing process?