After a week of limping around and proudly showing off the swelling and brusing, I decided to take the advice of several friends and visit the doctor. Who diagnosed a torn ligament. His words were "Oh yeah, it's torn. Flapping away in the wind." He did seem surprised that I was walking around as good as I was - hardly any limp, and could go up and down on toes with no problems. Side to side, however, was an issue, as after a week, I still couldn't rotate it completely. And the bruising is epic (his words, not mine, but I like them). Based on that, and the condition of the OTHER ankle, he seems to think I've done this before, and this was "just" a reinjury. So two weeks of wearing a brace and doing whatever I want, non-impact, and then 4-6 weeks of rehab. So no backflips, 720 aerials, butterflys, or kicking the bag for a while. (Rats. I almost had the 720 down. The backflip was right behind it!)
Which will be interesting, as at the two week mark, I'll be competing at Worlds. :D This is why doctors love me - I'm a guaranteed source of income, lol. Walking annuity, even.
However, I did come away from this experience with at least one lesson. If you have insurance - don't delay getting to the doctor. It might not have made a difference in recovery time this time around, but it could've. IF I had gotten into the proper brace just a week earlier, the swelling might have gone down sooner. Maybe. But if you're paying for it - use it. That's what it's there fore.
The best news out of the injury - the balance on my right leg has improved by leaps and bounds! Of course, that was already my good side...but that's okay, I'll take any gain, lol.
