Rehabbing a Sprained Ankle

[bradStyle]

Hello All,

Sprained my left ankle six weeks ago and I've got six more weeks until I'm supposed to be down in Cozumel and Tulum, preparing for and completing a tech diving course (GUE Tech 1). Fortunately I didn't separate any ligaments or break any bones, but it's pretty bad otherwise (probably partly due to age, I'm 54).

I can walk on it normally with little discomfort, but I can't walk down stairs on it yet without the handrail. I'm worried that a couple hours of finning a day will be a lot for it to handle, so I need to use my next six weeks wisely and I'm looking for advice on the best ways to rehab it.

I've been getting monthly PRF (platelet rich fibrin) injections, and going to acupuncture twice a week for it. I keep it in a compression sock for ankles to help with the swelling. I soak it in hot epsom salts once a day. I spell the alphabet with the ankle multiple times each day. I've got some therabands coming today to help stretch and strengthen it. I'm hoping to start swimming with it at my gym pool this week. Maybe add fins in another couple of weeks.

Anything else that I'd be smart to add...?

Thanks for the help!

 

[rmorgan]

You might try cold laser therapy, offered by many chiropractors. I'm just wrapping up (I hope) rehab of some peroneal tendinitis, and credit sporadic laser treatments with helping a lot. Also, until recently, I used a sock-style brace, which gives a bit of lateral stability.

 

[bradStyle]

You might try cold laser therapy, offered by many chiropractors. I'm just wrapping up (I hope) rehab of some peroneal tendinitis, and credit sporadic laser treatments with helping a lot. Also, until recently, I used a sock-style brace, which gives a bit of lateral stability.

Thanks. I had forgotten to add three other things I've been doing for it. Now included. Will look into cold laser therapy.

 

[rmorgan]

An upcoming dive trip is a powerful motivator! I gather you think the PRF is worthwhile?

 

[bradStyle]

An upcoming dive trip is a powerful motivator! I gather you think the PRF is worthwhile?

PRF is remarkable. I first became acquainted with PRP & PRF when I had stem cell injections to repair a fully torn labrum in my left shoulder, and went back in for PRP followups every five weeks. I do not exaggerate when I say I had a 100% recovery from an injury that had severely limited the use of my left arm for years. Platelet injections can work wonders, but only having six more weeks until I need my ankle back for serious full time duty has me a bit nervous. Fingers and toes crossed.

 

[rmorgan]

Have a great trip!

 

[bradStyle]

I just wanted to report back that two weeks after I made this post I added peptide injections into my healing regime and them were a game changer. I first started with a combination of BPC-157 and TB-500, subcutaneous injections into my stomach 5x/week. I noticed results in the first few days. My healing accelerated to a point where I felt like a week's worth was happening in two days.

After a month of that I flew to Mexico, and after a week of fun diving to shake the cobwebs off, I completed GUE Tech 1. Was able to walk through the jungle with 80lbs of gear on, over uneven ground and up and down stairs. It was interesting to note that finning, which I had been most concerned about was not a problem at all for my ankle, as not much ankle articulation is required, the movement coming largely from the upper and lower leg.

I continued with the peptide injections for a month after the course, adding CJC-1295 and Ipamorelin to my nightly injections, and was blown away by the quality of my ankle recovery. Total game changer.

 

[gschaut]

DPV certification course?

 

[bradStyle]

Sorry, not sure I understand the question. I am scheduled to do GUE's DPV course in February.

 

[kinoons]

Just to be clear, BPC-157 to my knowledge is not FDA approved and the research studies to this point have had mixed results.

This is also true for platelet rich plasma treatments - while FDA approved, the evidence is widely variable with greatly mixed results.

Orthopedic Applications of Platelet-Rich Plasma

www.southcarolinablues.com

My point is that while you did feel improvement after the treatments, which I have no doubt you were grateful for, from an evidence based medicine perspective I wouldn’t routinely recommend the use of PRP or BPC injections to treat orthopedic injuries.