ankle & leg discomfort

2 weeks ago I snapped over on my left ankle - foot fell inward.  My ankle felt very sore on both sides but soon subsided.  I continued to walk long distance and run on a slightly sprained ankle.  I now have fluctuating pain in ankle & calf, discomfort and swelling of most of my left leg below the knee.  Most days the swelling feels as if I'm wearing a tight long sock on the left leg.  At other times, my calf feels as if it's a dead leg - numb as if someone has just kicked it really hard.  I seem to have a sensation of numbness or wooden leg feeling below left knee with odd patches of pain. I am most worried about DVT or structural damage to blood vessels.

[JainMD]

Hi,
How are you feeling?
I think it is an ankle sprain with nerve injury.
Symptoms of pain, tingling and numbness are suggestive of nerve dysfunction.
Nerve dysfunction could be due to injury while sprain.
DVT is an emergency condition requiring initial evaluation with help of Doppler study.
I think it is neuropathy.
You can consult an orthopaedician and decide regarding further management.
What treatment you have started?
Are you following RICE protocol?
Keep me informed.
Bye.

[panther664]

Many thanks for your reply.  The cramp is easing off as I rest and my leg/ankle feels best if I keep it raised.  I find it weird that I'm having pain & discomfort from the knee down from an ankle injury.  Is this an unusual pattern?  I also seem to have a colder foot on the injured side.  The cramping & seizing up of the calf is still happening sometimes when I'm asleep but it's easing.  is it possible that I've injured the calf by walking flat footed to protect the ankle?

[JainMD]

Hi,
It is possible if you have injured any nerve. The nerve supply is same.
Your symptom of feeling cold also suggests that there would be some neuropathy causing such symptoms.
You could have strain the calf by walking flat foot.
I think earlier you see a orthopaedician better for you.
An imaging study is important to rule out all possibilities and diagnose the condition.
Keep me informed if you have any queries.
Bye.

[panther664]

Many thanks for your fast response.  Sorry to sound slow but I've typed orthopaedician into web with little result.  Do you suggest a sports injury clinic?  By imaging study, do you mean x rays? I've seen 2 doctors recently and was just told I had muscle strain & to rest it.  My appointments were barely 5 minutes each.  Should I go private and what should I request?  I live near Guildford, England.

[JainMD]

Hi Panther,
When I say orthopaedician I mean a doctor who specializes in bone disorder. I don't think you would benefit by visiting a sports injury clinic. But if you feel you have received as injury while playing any games and it appears to be sports related injury then you can visit the same.
If you have visited doctors, who upon examination told you that you have muscle strain, then I think you should follow there advice.
I think if the symptoms are annoying then you can see a doctor who specializes in bone and joint deformities and request for X-ray of your legs.
Keep me informed if you have any queries.
Bye.