How to Quickly and Naturally Reduce Swelling Around a Broken Ankle

When you break a bone, you want to reduce the swelling fast. The swelling causes most of the pain, not the broken bone itself.

I used a natural product called to quickly reduce the swelling around my husband's broken ankle. It was so effective that the orthopedic surgeons operated within 24 hours of the accident, and my husband was home just two days later.

He was back home before other patients with similar injuries are even scheduled for surgery!

If your loved one has just broken an ankle, it might be too late for you to buy this product before surgery. But as you'll see, it will be very useful (even after surgery) to help with recovery from any broken bone or ankle injury.

Broken-Ankle Drama

Our broken-ankle drama began when my husband was on a ladder trimming branches from a tall tree.

All was going well until one particular branch fell onto a wire fence, then bounced back like an arrow from a bow, striking the edge of his ladder and sending him flying through the air. He husband fell 7 metres (23 feet).

I thought I was watching my husband die. I don't know exactly what words I screamed, but my scream was so loud that a woman from the farm next door came running to see what she could do to help.

"I Think I've Broken My Ankle"

To reach my phone and call for help would have required me to run in the opposite direction to where my husband lay. I ran to his side—but that took me further away from the phone.

Living off the grid on a rural property makes everything a little more complicated, and communications a lot slower than living in the city or the suburbs. I simply ran to his side instead of to the telephone because I'd rather my husband died in my arms than die with us both regretting not holding each other one more time.

I watched as he miraculously managed to land on his feet, and then crumple backwards, his head hitting the ground last. With a barbed wire fence between us, I had to bolt for the nearest gate to reach him.

"I think I've broken my ankle," my husband groaned.

I am surprised how calm I became when I heard his voice. Suddenly I became strangely controlled and level-headed about exactly what I had to do. I was so grateful he hadn't landed with the full force on his head, and equally relieved he had managed to throw his chainsaw clear as he fell. I feared the worst as I ran, yet was greeted by a dazed but conscious and, given the circumstances, surprisingly fit mound of man on the ground.

A broken ankle is a lot less frightening than a broken neck.

The Ankle Ballooned With Swelling

His ankle ballooned with swelling. I removed his shoe to relieve the pressure, looked to see if he had other injuries, and made sure he was lucid and fully conscious. Then I asked him to wait while I ran to the house to phone for help and to get some first aid supplies.

As I reached the gate, I saw my next door neighbour arriving so we returned to my husband so he wouldn't have to wait alone. Men being men, at that point he decided he was going to get up and hobble towards the house.

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He refused to put his full weight on us and use the two of us as proper support to keep his broken foot off the ground, so I insisted he sit and wait for me to get the car closer. I hated the thought of him increasing the damage.

Heading for the house, I heard my neighbour calling, "Get an ice pack."

But I wasn't going to get ice. I had something I knew was much better than ice for reducing swelling. I'd used it successfully in the past, and hoped it would reduce swelling fast on his broken ankle.

Mobicosa Is Much Faster Than Ice to Reduce Swelling

I know most people use ice to reduce swelling. I don't. It takes too long. Instead of ice, I use a gel called Mobicosa, a natural product that I keep in the refrigerator. I did grab a small bag of frozen corn kernels from the freezer as well, but my main focus was on the gel.

Before I helped my husband into the car, I removed the lid from the bottle and poured a fist-sized pile of Mobicosa onto his gigantic foot, and gently slathered it up and around his swollen ankle. I put the bottle in my pocket before beginning the drive to the hospital. A bag of frozen corn is nowhere near as malleable and effective as a bag of frozen peas, I've discovered, but we began the journey with it resting on top of his foot. As I turned the first corner, it fell to the floor and we didn't bother retrieving it.

My neighbour went quickly to phone the hospital and ask for a doctor to be called in to meet us. In a small rural hospital, the chances of a doctor actually being on site on a Saturday afternoon is pretty slim. The journey included bumpy, unsealed roads before reaching anything resembling a smooth ride and my husband was obviously in agony.

Unable to see his swollen ankle, I just had to hope the Mobicosa was reducing the swelling. In our past experience, this gel has reduced swelling fast, but the extreme swelling around my husband's broken ankle seemed like it might be asking a bit much to expect positive results quickly.

Reduced Swelling Surprises Doctors

I wish I'd taken a photo of the immediate swelling around my husband's broken ankle while he was still at the base of the tree.

By the time we reached the first hospital, the swelling was greatly reduced. The damage was evident, and there was still swelling around the ankle itself—but his foot had returned to a more normal shape (see the first photo above).

The rural hospital arranged for an ambulance to take him to a city hospital. I followed in my car. A few hours later, the city doctors commented on his minimal swelling but were very concerned by the distance he had fallen. They arranged X-rays and CT scans, and checked out his ankle and his spine.

His ankle had multiple fractures, and the impact had broken the bottom of his tibia. They warned us that it generally took three or four days for swelling to reduce enough to allow surgery. He would probably be taken into theatre on Tuesday, but would have to remain in hospital until then.

Bruises started to show on his back after the fall, but there was no bruising on his ankle. At least one doctor commented on how "unusual" that was, and I offered the explanation of Mobicosa. It was obvious to us all (including the doctors) that the gel was far more effective at reducing swelling and bruising than ice.

They put a standard white plaster cast on his leg, and transferred him from Emergency to a ward where he would wait for surgery.

Into Surgery for Ankle Operation Within 24 Hours of the Accident

My husband fractured multiple bones in his ankle at about 2.30pm on Saturday.

We accepted it would be a wait of three or four days before surgery. The orthopaedic specialist who came to assess him in Emergency had explained they would be inserting a metal plate, screws and wire to try to correct the damage.

There was a hint he might be taken to the operating theatre on Monday because his ankle didn't seem very swollen, so I told yet another doctor about the Mobicosa I had applied at the time of the accident.

It came as a huge surprise when, on Sunday morning, they told us they would be operating later that day.

Within 24 hours of falling a frightening 7 metres and shattering bones in his ankle, my husband was wheeled to the operating theatre.

Why was he operated on two or three days earlier than other patients with similar injuries? Because he had minimal swelling around the wound. All due to my hasty application of a handful of gel made from New Zealand's green-lipped mussels.

I Told Doctors and Surgeons About Mobicosa

Now I appreciate that most people might be reluctant to admit to mainstream medical practitioners that they dabble in alternative or traditional remedies. Many consider natural remedies to be an embarrassing topic in a doctor's office.

Not me. I'm happy to discuss the benefits of accessing nature's medicine chest with anyone when the opportunity arises. And that's precisely what happened.

When my husband was wheeled from the ward to the operating theatre, he gripped in his hand a bottle of Mobicosa and a note from his wife.

I had written a "Dear Doctors" letter, asking the surgeons to please add some more Mobicosa beneath his plaster cast if they had the chance after completing their operation. I signed it, as did my husband.

Back Home Two Days After Broken Ankle Surgery

Fortunately I was invited to walk beside his bed and wait with him during his consultation with the anaesthetist and other members of the surgical team before being wheeled through the doors into surgery. I took the opportunity to personally ask if it would be possible to apply more Mobicosa. I knew the chance was next to nil, but asked anyway.

Their explanation about not wanting to add any more liquid to the mix when applying a plaster, and their obvious reluctance to use some strange concoction in an operating theatre came as no surprise—and of course I didn't argue. But unless you ask, the answer is always going to be "no."

After the operation, much to our further amazement, we were advised that my husband could come home immediately after completing his obligatory 48 hours of intravenous antibiotics treatment. With the understanding that he would have to remain in bed and keep his toes elevated above his nose for the next two weeks before returning to the city hospital for a check up.

But because he had no problems or complications with swelling, and surgery had gone well, they discharged him early.

He was back home in bed with his newly repaired ankle before he was even due to be scheduled for surgery!

Doctors Asked More About Mobicosa

The hospital very kindly arranged for me to pick up the equipment that would allow him to shower at home. When I returned to the ward after collecting the equipment, my husband proudly announced he'd had a visit from the Orthopaedic team.

The doctors came to ask him more about whatever it was his wife had put on his ankle! They left with their notes about Mobicosa, made from New Zealand Green-Lipped Mussels.

Given the lack of swelling and bruising that accompanied the multiple fractures and extensive damage in my husband's broken ankle, his bone doctors were keen to run some tests and trials using Mobicosa.

(When they saw he was back on his feet and walking just three months after surgery, they were similarly surprised. Again we talked about the Mobicosa.)

I wonder how long it will take for word to spread through the hospital system. If every patient with a broken ankle can cut their hospital stay by at least four days by using Mobicosa, freeing up beds and reducing the cost of health care, there will be huge savings made for the medical system (and patients as well).

Mobicosa dramatically and quickly reduces swelling. So patients with fractures and bruises and swelling of many kinds—including brain swelling, I suspect—could potentially benefit.

Important Note: Gel vs. Capsules

Mobicosa comes in two forms: gel and capsules. They have proven so popular, they are now available internationally. I've seen Mobicosa products in stores in Australia and the UK. And last week I discovered that it is even available in America.

I used the gel to effectively reduce the swelling around my husband's broken ankle.

Plus my husband took capsules to help rebuild the cartilage in his ankle after surgery, and to help with pain relief.

He continued applying the gel (as well as comfrey) during his recovery - and was able to walk comfortably just a few months after his accident.

Both the gel and capsules are made by Mobicosa using New Zealand green-lipped mussels.

The capsules cannot be expected to have the same fast effect that the gel has reducing swelling associated with bone fractures, just as the gel alone cannot be expected to match the benefit of capsules for regenerating cartilage and relieving severe arthritis.

I have written about my own experience using Mobicosa gel and capsules to reduce arthritic swelling, eliminate pain, and restore my joints to perfect health. (I also explain in that article that some people should not take Mobicosa capsules.)

Please remember, I am not a doctor, just a long-time user of Mobicosa. I've had success using it to reduce swelling fast around a broken ankle (plus many other examples of reducing swelling and bruising in the past 10 years of using it). So I recommend everyone have some of this gel on hand for the next time one of your family members has an accident.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.

Comments

LongTimeMother (author) from Australia on October 05, 2017:

Abby Tweedy, I've just noticed your comment as well. Glad you had good results from the Mobicosa gel. Thanks for offering your feedback.

I'm always pleased when people who decide to try it get back with their personal experience. I think it is important for readers to see it works as well for others as it does for my family.

I was extremely touched by Margaret O'Hara's comment when she said "I was crying this morning but not in pain for a change but from relief." However, even the short notes like yours are good to see. People need to be aware how effective Mobicosa is so they can try it for themselves. So, thank you. :)

LongTimeMother (author) from Australia on October 05, 2017:

Thanks to the three latest commenters, Carolyn, Margaret and Yvonne. Sorry for not getting back to you more promptly.

@ Carolyn, you just have to look at other comments on this page to see how effective Mobicosa is, so I'm expecting you'll have good results within days of using it. Please write back to me here and let me know how it goes for you.

How often do I recommend you apply the Mobicosa? Well I guess that will be determined by just how easy (or inconvenient) it is to get to your bare leg. In an ideal world I'd suggest applying it a few times each day, particularly for the first few days. However if you have a bandage that needs replacing and need someone to help you with it, I guess you'll just apply it whenever it is convenient.

Remember, there's no need to 'rub it in'. Just spread the gel thinly over your swelling and let it absorb. Doesn't take long. :) Good luck, and please keep in touch.

@Margaret, I'm sorry I didn't notice your feedback earlier. Thanks for writing back. What a great result you had from the Mobicosa, given your problems and excruciating pain.

With the improvements you had after just 3 applications, I'm guessing you must be well on your way to recovery by now. Thanks again for contacting me with your feedback!

@Yvonne, I think it would be asking a bit much of Mobicosa gel to get rid of swelling caused by sitting down for too long. What causes that kind of swelling? Is it a build up of fluid? I'm not a doctor and I really don't know.

I know the Mobicosa gel helps swelling caused by injuries, and swelling from arthritis, but I really don't know if the anti-inflammatory properties would help with your type of ankle-swelling or not.

Might be worth trying. If there's no relief after a week or so of using it, I suggest you keep the bottle in the refrigerator for future use on any future bruising or swelling caused by trauma or arthritis.

If you decide to try the Mobicosa, please let me know what kind of results you get. Thanks, and good luck.

Carolyn on October 04, 2017:

I've ordered some of this product as I am hoping it will help with the swelling I keep getting with my low fibula fracture (11 days old). I have to be NWB for 6 weeks in total and if I can't keep it up it swells and presses against my boot. How often do you recommend using it in your experience?

Margaret O'Hara on September 12, 2017:

I unfortunately did not read your article until I was 3 weeks into my break (ankle & tibia with pins in) and still very swollen and elevating leg suffering excruciating pain. I immediately ordered mussel gel next day delivery and after only 3 applications the swelling has significantly reduced and bruising almost gone. I can even move my ankle joint slightly. I cannot thank you enough for posting your article. I was crying this morning but not in pain for a change but from relief. So grateful, thank you so much. It improves daily

Margaret O'Hara

Yvonne Curtis on June 06, 2017:

Hi there,

Can Mobicosa capsules or gel be used to get rid of swelling around the ankles

which is not caused by any medical problem, just by sitting down for long

periods of time. By the way I am a really big big fan of of drug free

medications because I have found to my dreadful experiences that ninety

nine times out of a hundred the cure turns out to be far worse than the

problem they are supposed to eliaviate, HOW RIDICULOUS IS THAT???

Kindest regards

Yvonne Curtis (Miss)