Rolled ankle past 90*
 

I was doing some off the beaten path ruck training when I rolled my ankle walking down a steep slope in the west virginia mountains. I was able to hop back to my car and get home. I currently take dilaudid for my back. I expected that would ease some of the pain when I took my next dosage but I have taken the prescribed dosage every four hours for the past twenty four hours and the pain has not subsided. I have been following the RICE method. Is there anything else you gentlemen can recommend until I can get in to see a doctor for an x-ray to see if theres anymore damage? I can not put any weight on it and it is turning colors I have never seen before.

I appreciate any responses.

Not really...

I would get to an urgent care center sooner than later. Especially if you TRULY are unable to put weight on it (vs put weight on it but it hurts).

Good luck -
Let us know how you make out.

eta-
My curiosity is peaked on you taking a drug as strong as Dilaudid for your back...and you are currently rucking as an SF Candidate. Back pain of that intensity and SFAS / SF Career are incompatible. If "pain is your fuel" (as listed in your profile) - Dilaudid isn't helping your gas tank any.

I am recovering from a back operation and should be off the meds within six weeks sir.

In terms of putting weight on my right foot, thats a no-go right now. I'm using some crutches to get around right now.

You may do yourself well by not rucking until your back is healed well enough to where you no longer require Hydromorphone for your pain. Pushing this aspect of your recovery is significantly dangerous and has a VERY high risk for making a weeks to months long recovery a months to years long recovery.

Continue with ice and elevation and head to an urgent care or ED sooner than later.

Ottowa ankle rules are pretty darned "spot on" when it comes to ankle badness. The inability to transfer weight 2 times after injury is one of those indicators for badness.

Good luck-

Thank you for the advice Sir. Will be going into the nearest urgent care center first thing in the morning. I am not fond of emergency rooms. In the mean time I will continue with the RICE. They open in 5.5 hours.

Ottawa ankle rules have been validated time and again - the other rules amount to point tenderness in the 3 inches of leg at the ankle.

Dilaudid is pure narotic pain medicine and thus has no anti-inflammatory component to it - you can take ibuprofen or naproxen (per packaging instructions) in parallel with dilaudid if there is swelling/inflammation. This may help with the pain, but it does not replace a thorough medical assessment.

Any updates?

Sorry I slept most of the day after I got home from the hospital. The Xrays showed a Bi-malleolar fracture and surgery was performed. In terms of pain relief, the hospital doctors left me on my own seeing as how I am already taking dilaudid for a back operation.

Glad you got checked...AND FIXED!
Bi mal fractures are nothing to sneeze at. Gotta love those Ottowa rules...
Heal quickly, don't skimp on your physical therapy, you'll be back on your feet before you know it.

I thought it was bad but I was hesitant to get it checked out. I'm glad I followed your advice. Its amazing what the body can do when it has to. My little hop back to my car was 15+ miles.