healthnut

About two weeks ago, I sprang my angle during a routine hike. I had lost control when a loose rock dragged me down the canyon. When I finally landed, I felt a sharp pain in my left ankle. OUCH! OUCH! OUCH!

When I got home 45 minutes later, I removed my shoes and socks and found my left foot to be very swollen. For whatever reason, I just stood there in shock wondering whether it was time to go to ER or not. Back and forth thinking what I should do, I finally chose not to because I did not want to wait 10 hours to get a bottle of ibuprofen. I knew my foot was not going to get x-rayed because I did not suffer any broken bones.

I am better now. Surprisely, I suffered no broken bones nor bruises, not even a small bruise. The edema has subsided, and I am on my way to a full recovery. A few things I learned:

1) Never go hiking without properly fitted boots. The boots should have cuffs around the ankles and look more like basketball shoes than running shoes. They should fit snuggly, not too loose or too tight. Add insoles if the shoes are not well cushioned.

2) Never go hiking close to dust. Snakes and lizards come out after dust.

3) Never use sports tape on a sprang angle unless you use them for sleeping purposes. They are not strong enough to support the frequent movements of the ankle.

4) Have an ankle brace on hand in case of an emergency. An ankle brace is difficult to slip on and off, but once it is on, I can walk without the limping. The only drawback is that an ankle brace is not comfortable to sleep in, and so I use sports tape at night.