17 year old DD - chronic ankle pain due to past sprains

[Anonymous]

Lately, 17 year old DD has been having ankle pain where her ankle feels tight and it occasionally rolls randomly when she walks and hurts for a few minutes. And she’s an athlete so it’s affecting her playing. When she was 6, she did sprain her ankle pretty badly (moderately) after she tripped and fell while running while playing outside. She got a boot at the doctors that she had to wear for a few eeeks and the doctor said it was healed after she was done wearing the boot for a few weeks. There was no other issues after until a few years later when she was 9. She was at recess at school walking when all of a sudden she rolled her ankle and it really hurt, so we took her to get it checked out and they performed an x-ray and said it was a small sprain so they wrapped it. She hasn’t had any ankle sprains since but what she’s experiencing now is most likely due to the multiple sprains. I’ve made her an appointment with the orthopedics to get her ankle checked out but I’m a bit nervous for her and not sure what to expect. I don’t want her to have to brace surgery. What should I expect?

[Anonymous]

I would try PT before even considering surgery.

[Anonymous]

Is it swollen constantly? Any bruising? If so, surgery is likely. If not, then PT. I am not a doctor but have 2 athletes with years of ankle injuries.

[Anonymous]

You don’t want her to have surgery?

[Anonymous]

Get an mri. She probably has a bone bruise.

[Anonymous]

Most likely PT.