Louise & Her Twisted Ankle

Nothing was better than a hike in the fall for Louise. Louise felt like she was in heaven when she was able to hike in the Great Smoky Mountains. She always carried her hiking stick and was careful where she placed her feet. On this beautiful fall morning, however, a distant sight captivated her and, as her feet touched the slippery rock, she suddenly lost her balance. Her left ankle was suddenly in excruciating pain. Her husband helped her back to the car and they visited the local emergency room. The emergency room physician examined her and x-rayed her ankle, giving the reassuring news that her ankle was not broken. She was told that she had suffered a sprain in her ankle and that all would be well in about a month. All she had to do was put ice on it, keep it elevated to reduce the swelling, and just rest. In case you do not know, this is the infamous RICE treatment. Relieved, Louise and her husband left for home with a prescription for pain medication (anti-inflammatory, of course) and elastic bandages (the compression part of RICE). Louise used the elastic bandages, the pain pills, and put the ice on her ankle. She was saddened that she was unable to hike, but she knew that the season was early and that by next month she would be back on the trails again.

The next month came and left, and Louise was still unable to walk without excruciating pain in her left ankle. Just the act of putting on shoes and going to church was more than she could tolerate. The ankle would swell, and by the end of the day it was twice the size of the right ankle. When she saw her doctor again, he explained that sometimes it takes longer for a ligament to heal than it does for the bone, since the blood supply is not quite as good. He told her to be patient and that things would get better. To help the swelling decrease, he suggested she increase her anti-inflammatory medication. She gladly complied.

By springtime her left ankle was no better. Because she was taking the increased dose of her anti-inflammatory medications every day, she developed stomach pain, and her family doctor gave her ulcer medication. Prior to this, Louise had never had to take any medication and now she was putting pills in her mouth three times a day. Hiking was not even an option. Merely going to the grocery store left her feeling worse than she had ever felt on even the longest hike. By nighttime, the ankle would be throbbing and pulsating, and her sleep was restless and fitful. She did not know what to do, except lie in misery day and night! This is in a formerly active woman. Unfortunately, it is a sad story that is seen far too often in my office and around the country.

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