Three months ago, I seriously injured my right ankle with an inversion and tore my ligaments from an accidental fall from a less than 1m high platform on a trip, which led to three MRIs, one CT, immobilization, countless hospital visits and mental torture and possibly need for surgery within a year. I have already accepted the fate that I have to say goodbye to strenuous physical activities like competitive sports. I used to be able to just jump from much higher place, which I'll never dare to do today.

Yesterday per physiotherapy recommendations, I tried to excercise my ankle joint by raising my calf at home with my injured right foot which went well. Then, I made the stupidest decision to do the same on my otherwise healthy left foot and the moment I raised my foot to the highest point, I heard an audible pop as if something was ruptured inside, but I finished the 20 sets of calf raise. Afterwards my left foot started to mildly swell and feel a mild heat. I iced it immediately and elevated my left foot and went to sleep only to find out the feeling of swollenness and inflammation became even more serious the next morning, and my left ankle joint will emit out temporary pain, exactly like how my right ankle gradually hurt up days after that seriously sprain…. If I can easily injured myself with a simple calf raise, I probably shouldn't hit the gym…

I didn't even sprained it or felt any acute pain at the moment. All I did was a simple calf raise at home…. I'm on the brink of breaking down because I really don't want what I've gone through in the last 100 days happen again and to my other supposedly healthy foot. I really don't want to go to the hospital and do an MRI once again and again.

Just when I finally started to feel better with my injured right ankle, my left foot starts to mess with me…..

I don't have an active lifestyle, I'm not at all an physically active person yet these kinds of sports injury can always be found on my body…..

Other than that I have hip pain (with effusion from possible impingement), partial hearing loss in my one ear, hereditary myopia (that requires half-a-year fundus check and goodbye to roller coaster or certain gym activities like weightlifting) and other countless minor health issues… I feel like I have to be extra careful for the rest of my life like a senior person.


7 comments

  1. Here’s an original copy of /u/laauloubitseoilaan’s post (if available):

    Seriously injured my right ankle with an inversion and tore my ligaments from an accidental fall from a less than 1m high platform on a trip that led to three MRIs, one CT, immobilization for a whole month, countless hospital visits and mental torture in the next three months, possibly waiting for surgery within a year and I have to goodbye to strenuous physical activities. I used to be able to jump from much higher place.

    Yesterday per physiotherapy recommendations, I tried to excercise my ankle joint by raising my calf at home with my injured leg which went well. Then, I tried the same on my healthy left foot and the moment I raised my foot to the highest point, I heard an audible pop as if something was ruptured inside, but I finished the 20 sets of calf raise. Afterwards my otherwise healthy left foot started to mildly swell and feel a mild heat. I iced it immediately and elevated my left foot and went to sleep only to find out the feeling of swollenness became more serious the next morning, and my left ankle joint will emit out temporary pain and inflammation, just like how my right ankle was days after my sprain…. I didn’t even sprained it or felt any acute pain at the moment. All I did was a simple calf raise…. I’m on the brink of breaking down because I really don’t want what I’ve gone through in the last 100 days happen again and to my other supposedly healthy foot.

    Just when I finally started to feel better with my injured right ankle, my left foot is messing with me, again…..

    Other than that I have hip pain (with effusion from possible impingement), hearing loss in my one ear, myopia and other countless minor health issues… I feel like I have to be extra careful for the rest of my life like a senior person.

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  2. What is the advice that you are asking for, here? In my experience, pain can be a great teacher. Humility, patience, kindness, understanding and mercy, and more can grow from the experiences that pain brings. It just hurts and we like to avoid what hurts. But if you cannot avoid it, learn from it. Be wise, as best as you can. Growth is a choice and to me, at least, it seems you have been given a great opportunity to choose. Cheers!

  5. I shattered my ankle once into many pieces, had a soft cast for 14 weeks and wasn‘t even allowed to get up.
    I had to fight for many years to be able to do again what i was used to do.
    The most happens in your mind.

  6. That sounds really tough🫂, like every time things start improving, something else hits. But this doesn’t mean they’re “finished” at 25. Bodies can be unpredictable, especially during recovery. They need to slow down, follow proper guidance, and not assume the worst before getting a clear diagnosis.

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