Lower leg pain

Hi

I was doing contact sports 9 days ago and a few hours later felt a slight pain in the side of my left lower leg. I assumed I’d taken a kick to the leg and thought nothing of it. However, a couple of days later it got a lot worse, particularly after driving one day for work. Since then it hasn’t got much better.

There hasn’t been much swelling or bruising, but movement is very restricted and I get a sharp pain down the outer side of my lower leg when moving (not the calf muscle) and also a bit around the front of the ankle. When static it doesn’t hurt. I’m limping, but can put some weight on it as long as I don’t move too quickly. I can stand on tiptoe without too much pain, but notice that when I have my foot flat on the ground and try to lift my big toe I feel pain around the front of the ankle and up the outside of the leg. I'm quite ignorant of this sort of thing, so not sure if it can be ligament or muscle damage (still not entirely sure how it happened).

Obviously I should rest the leg, but at the same time should I keep some mobility, or literally try to move on it as little as possible? I know things like this often simply just need a few weeks rest to recover, but I’m worried as I’m supposed to be going snowboarding in 5 weeks, so wondering what I can do to accelerate recovery? So far I've just been munching ibuprofen, but are there any tips on diet - I imagine protein-rich food helps? Should I be stretching anything at all?

Thanks
<O:p

Given it got worse when you drove theres the possibility its coming on from your back... Just so you are aware that if it doesn't get better - musculoskeletal pains from contact sport - sprains/strains/bruises - tend to heal and get better from injury date. So if it isn't healing I would visit a physio to get it properly assessed and ensure that it is not a reffered pain.

Initial injury prevention is RICE (rest ice compression elevation) and encouraging early movement. So stay mobile.

Your pains are elusive and not blatantly obvious to me the mechanical cause - would need to see you to assess physically the area. Sorry about that but I think you need to go see a physio for a diagnosis so you can work from there.
Good luck

Thanks - weird how the body interconnects and can throw up different problems from all over! Movement is a bit better but the pain is the same. A colleague's partner wondered if it might be nerve-related. I'll go to a physio and get it checked out.

In hindsight entering a competition shortly before going on holiday probably wasn't wise.....

Hello All
I looking some guide for my leg injury if any one have some idea so please tell me truth..I am Very Nerves.I was playing cricket at that time i was sleep down and injured from my right leg knee after this i contact the doctor and take some Tablets but it's not to good and my pain is increase day to day so ia m in tense..Is it very serious?
Thanks..

If your problem is progressively worsening then you should consider it serious and get investigations and a specialists opinion. No idea what you've done from the information you'v given, could be your knee, could be your back.