You know, thats actually good news! A simple fracture heals much faster (and generally, more completely) than a bad sprain.
And Dennis... while its nice to "know for sure", the treatment for a bad sprain or a simple fracture (not displaced, no splinters or broken skin) is *exactly the same*. And you are more likely to run into long term problems trying to ignore a bad sprain than you are a simple fracture. For both, you want support (a boot, cast or properly done support wrap), total rest (NO weight bearing for at least the first couple weeks) and ice on and off for the first 48 hours. After that, if you are wearing a removable boot or support wrap, soaking in warm Epsom salts water can help reduce swelling and speed healing.
When I was a young teen, I badly sprained my ankle about every 6 months. Every time, my parents took me to the ER, Xrays were negative, and they'd say, "that's a really bad sprain! If it happens again, you might want to see an orthopedic surgeon and have a cast out on so it heals properly." And every time it happened again, rinse and repeat.
Shortly after we got married, I did it again. Hubby insisted I go to the ER (able was black and blue halfway up the leg, and the whole foot was too swollen to fit into a shoe). Same story. So, this time, I came home. Got out the Veteran and fashioned a soft cast. I stayed completely off it for 6 weeks. Healed perfectly. And I never sprained it again.
Summerthyme
And Dennis... while its nice to "know for sure", the treatment for a bad sprain or a simple fracture (not displaced, no splinters or broken skin) is *exactly the same*. And you are more likely to run into long term problems trying to ignore a bad sprain than you are a simple fracture. For both, you want support (a boot, cast or properly done support wrap), total rest (NO weight bearing for at least the first couple weeks) and ice on and off for the first 48 hours. After that, if you are wearing a removable boot or support wrap, soaking in warm Epsom salts water can help reduce swelling and speed healing.
When I was a young teen, I badly sprained my ankle about every 6 months. Every time, my parents took me to the ER, Xrays were negative, and they'd say, "that's a really bad sprain! If it happens again, you might want to see an orthopedic surgeon and have a cast out on so it heals properly." And every time it happened again, rinse and repeat.
Shortly after we got married, I did it again. Hubby insisted I go to the ER (able was black and blue halfway up the leg, and the whole foot was too swollen to fit into a shoe). Same story. So, this time, I came home. Got out the Veteran and fashioned a soft cast. I stayed completely off it for 6 weeks. Healed perfectly. And I never sprained it again.
Summerthyme
