Ankle injury that has lasted for 5 months.

[Jessehouchens]

I am a distance runner.  About 5 months ago, when I was playing basketball with some friends, I went to save a ball out of bounds and landed normally on my right foot.  However, at impact, my ankle felt like it was compressed together and all of the sudden was in great pain.  I have sprained my left ankle many times, and the pain felt like a sprain; however, the way the pain was caused in my right foot did not resemble any of the ways I had previously sprained my left ankle.
I took 2 weeks off to let it rest and then began my normal running routine.  It was still in somewhat of pain, but I thought this was just part of the healing process.  I ran a season in cross country and often found myself in the ice bath trying to heal the ankle. I just finished my season about 3 weeks ago and am still finding a subsistence of pain in the ankle while doing any athletic activities.  Also, every step I take there is a very loud cracking noise as well as when i am sitting and just rotating it.  The cracking occurs right under my posterior tablofibular ligament.  There is also deformation of the ankle when I look in the mirror in comparison to my left ankle.  It appears as thought my right foot has become more "flat-footed" and that the leg and ankle come down on the interior side of the right foot instead of straight over it.

Is this a fracture or a sprain? and is there anyway that I can correct it without going to see a doctor?

[Jessehouchens]

Alright, thanks for your guidance.  The ankle is slightly swollen and then formed the way I described above.  No bruising though.

[jelen]

Hi, first of all you should go to the doctor, just to be sure what is wrong with your ankle. And then, how does your ankle look? Swollen, bruised? If not, it is probably ok and you just need to rest it for a while. If you are able to move with it normally it shouldnt be broken or maybe it is just a minor fracture. But it definitely could be sprained or you could have torn ligaments, which would require a brace or even a cast.