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Boundary Waters Quetico Forum :: Listening Point - General Discussion :: Anyone take a trip after a recent ankle/foot sprain?
 
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Swampturtle
06/21/2018 08:39PM
  
Yes, I have & I was fine. I took a planned backpacking trip to the 5 Ponds Wilderness area in upstate NY 2 weeks after splitting a tendon in my left ankle. I had a small hard Velcro type brace on it with my normal mid height keen boots over it and a nice thick sock. More sock might mean less room in the boot making it very hard to get on. Put boots on carefully each time. I was careful with every placement of each step on stairs, beaver dams, uphills, downhills, log bridges. I did it all with purpose, I had a full pack. I was aware enough to come down on my good foot & not just go for it & use the injured one coming off of a downhill step. I put it in the cool water at camp & raised it up at night on clothes, free of the brace. I took ibuprofen too. By the end of the trip, I had taken it off because I was getting bruises where the support was hitting my calf. The soreness outweighed the injury & it felt strong in my sock & boot. I remained careful with my foot placement. Having that injury didn't lessen the trip one bit for me, I just took it slow & easy....and I had a great set of hiking poles to balance myself over small streams & corduroy & whatnot.


Good luck.
 
muddyfeet
06/21/2018 06:56PM
  
My wife entered mudro with us last year 1 week after a bad ankle sprain. She wet footed with teva sandals and a breg BOA brace: similar to what nofish and quietwaters mentioned. The first portage from the parking lot was flooded knee high due to recent rains and beavers. She charged through the muck, brace and all. She did fine that trip and managed her own pack but got out of carrying anything too heavy. The brace did its job, though was all but destroyed after a week of wet-footing.


After a few sprains like that, she Finally just started wearing one every time she plays softball.
 
Mocha
06/19/2018 10:57AM
  
he could do the portages but don't plan on giving him a lot of weight. he will really feel it after you get to camp and start relaxing. also, have him soak it in the lake a few times a day to help with any swelling. yes, wrap it! and wear good hiking boots to support the ankle.
 
nojobro
06/19/2018 10:14AM
  
Trip is soon, hubby sprains his foot (not his ankle...but it's a sprain in the same area). Was planning on having hubby carry the heavy loads. ;)

Our put-in date is 7 days from the time of the sprain. Dr. has okayed his doing a trip (but who knows if the doc really understands what a BW trip entails). Our trip is a family trip, so not too strenuous...but still. Doc said to wrap it really well and go. ;)

Anyone done this? How was it? I don't particularly relish getting to our intended destination and having a very hard time getting back out again because it's been re-injured. Also don't want him to have a totally crappy time.

Because of this last issue, I did check for alternate permits and found a Lake One permit available. I nabbed it up immediately...will decide later in the week which one to do and will cancel the other one. (I could not believe a Lake One permit was open for the same trip date!!! Someone must have recently canceled it or something)
 
Canoearoo
06/19/2018 10:56AM
  
I have done this before. I sprained my ankle falling off a ladder 4 days before a trip a long time ago. We just did base camping and it was still a great trip.
 
SevenofNine
06/19/2018 10:58AM
  
Lots of variables here that it's hard to say. Your husband should be able to tell you how he feels about carrying that much load. Is there a way to support the foot from further injury like an ACE bandage or neoprene support?


I did hike into Angleworm over the 2 mile portage about 2-3 days after a volleyball sprain. I just took it easy and had the ankle wrapped.
 
Michwall2
06/19/2018 11:10AM
  
Two ideas to help with the foot during travel:
1. Trekking or Hiking poles. The more stable base would reduce some of the torque the foot might encounter on uneven ground, rock, and roots. I always think the most dangerous time for my ankles is getting in and out of the canoe. Slippery, uneven rocks are murder on my calf muscles. The hiking poles could be used there to help establish more of a base for those times.
2. Add one or more packs to your gear and reduce the weight in all of them. You might have to take one more trip over the portages, but it sounds as if you are already looking for alternate routes with easier/shorter portages. And it would prevent injury of others in the party (like you) who might not be used to the full weight packs. Pack rental is not that expensive.

I am sure you won't forget the ibuprofen!
 
Savage Voyageur
06/19/2018 11:29AM
  
I would have him use some good ankle high hiking boots with wool socks. Wrap his foot with an ace bandage before putting on his sock. Take ibuprofen to control any pain and swelling. Might want to consider doing a base camp trip.
 
nofish
06/19/2018 11:35AM
  
I would look at some of the support braces on the market. I wear them on both ankles when playing any sports after years of collecting ankle sprains like they were trading cards.


The pair that I wear now have a rigid plastic support that runs up the side of the ankle. It also has crisscrossing straps that go over the top of the foot and another strap that wraps around the top of the ankle. I know for sure they've saved me from additional injuries a few times. They are also fairly comfortable and quick and easy to put on.


You could also wear it over an ace bandage. The ace bandage should help with swelling and the brace would add rigid support. Then a good pair of boots and the risk of further injury would be minimal. The likely worst case is the extra activity might leave him sore for a few days longer than if he just sat at home with it elevated for a few weeks.


On portages let him dictate what he can and cannot do. As long as he takes it slow and pays close attention to his footing I suspect he'll be just fine. You just won't set any speed records.


Soaking it in cold water is a good idea and also don't forget the ibuprofen.
 
nojobro
06/19/2018 11:51AM
  
Canoearoo: "I have done this before. I sprained my ankle falling off a ladder 4 days before a trip a long time ago. We just did base camping and it was still a great trip."


John's injury also involved a ladder! He was carrying a heavy ladder when it happened.


That's it: NO LADDERS STARTING ONE MONTH BEFORE ANY BWCA TRIP! ;)


I'm really leaning toward switching to a Lake One trip....
 
QuietWaters
06/19/2018 12:01PM
  
I second nofish's advice. I worked for a sports medicine orthopedist and he recommended a brace similar to this for the athletes. Don't get an all elastic one. It should have stabilizers and we found that the ones that laced were best for a good fit.


https://www.amazon.com/McDavid-Level-Protection-Straps-X-Large/dp/B000V41428/ref=sr_1_2_sspa?ie=UTF8&qid=1529427389&sr=8-2-spons&keywords=ankle+brace&psc=1
Be sure it's ok with his doctor if he decides to get a brace.


Also my niece did a trip with me after she had sprained her ankle very badly. She wore an ankle brace, soaked in the cold lake and elevated the ankle as often as she could. She was able to carry her pack and even the canoe at times. She did go slowly and carefully on the portages and was watchful of rocks and roots in camp.


Have a great trip no matter which one you do.

 
QuietWaters
06/19/2018 12:17PM
  
nojobro, I just reread your OP and see John's sprain is in the foot, not ankle. Not sure if an ankle brace will help. Which part of the foot is sprained? Is he wearing any type of support now?
 
nojobro
06/19/2018 12:59PM
  
QuietWaters: "nojobro, I just reread your OP and see John's sprain is in the foot, not ankle. Not sure if an ankle brace will help. Which part of the foot is sprained? Is he wearing any type of support now?"


It's a ligament that runs inside the foot from front to back. I don't really know anything else. Ha.


His doc did say wrapping it with an Ace bandage like you would for an ankle would help (because you wrap it around the foot, too). We do have one of those rigid ankle braces already (he's kind of prone to sprains); maybe I will bring it. I usually bring it just in case after he had a bad sprain on one trip (that one ended the trip early; I was not on that trip)


For boots he has a pair of Chotas, the ones that are very lightweight and have some ankle support. He has not worn them on a trip before (new Canoecopia purchase)
 
QuietWaters
06/19/2018 09:38PM
  
nojobro: "QuietWaters: "nojobro, I just reread your OP and see John's sprain is in the foot, not ankle. Not sure if an ankle brace will help. Which part of the foot is sprained? Is he wearing any type of support now?"



It's a ligament that runs inside the foot from front to back. I don't really know anything else. Ha.



His doc did say wrapping it with an Ace bandage like you would for an ankle would help (because you wrap it around the foot, too). We do have one of those rigid ankle braces already (he's kind of prone to sprains); maybe I will bring it. I usually bring it just in case after he had a bad sprain on one trip (that one ended the trip early; I was not on that trip)



For boots he has a pair of Chotas, the ones that are very lightweight and have some ankle support. He has not worn them on a trip before (new Canoecopia purchase)"


He should try them with the Ace on to see how it feels. I wear Chotas; they give me enough support for a weak ankle from a bad fracture. That's a good plan to take the ankle brace, too. I think the ankle brace would fit in the Chotas, but you might want to check.

 
nojobro
06/19/2018 01:06PM
  
nofish: "You just won't set any speed records. "


We already weren't going to get anywhere close to even seeing any speed records, so it's all good. :)
 
BlackSwanAdventures
06/20/2018 01:07PM
  
just got back from a trip where I went in (carrying heavier loads) on a sprained foot situation.. rolled my ankle a little on the initial huge portage but it seemed to actually fix it ...lol
methodical is the word that comes to mind.. and then everything works out on the trail


I found that in the canoe that is when the ankle would annoy me the most after most of the day in similar positions
 
nctry
06/20/2018 05:07PM
  
Tripping is how I sprained my ankle once. But using a brace worked. It all depends on how bad the sprain.
 
sns
06/20/2018 08:39PM
  
I played high level sports for almost 20 years on multiple continents, and my left ankle was and is trashed as a result.


Outside ligaments are fully detached, even after the Ortho surgeon's reconstruction attempts. "I've never had a failure!" Someone had to be his first.


I still backpack, canoe and portage only because of a hardshell, hinged brace. The Active Ankle. T2, I think is the model. I own 2 and they both still work after over 15 years of support in multiple countries.


I am in no way affiliated with Active Ankle, and there may be a better product out there. But that is what has kept me upright & on my pins.


Your mileage may vary.


Cheers.