Quick question, a fews ago I sprained my ankle.
Its brusied like a beast ( blood thinners) but also seems to be taking ages to heal.
I've had knocks, sprains and bumps many a time in the past and recovered quickly, just wondering if thinners slow down recovery.
Can't do any excericses or walks etc so getting rather annoyed.
Hi Baly,
I am on dual platelet therapy and everything takes ages to heal. Bruises for me can take up to 4 times as long.
I come off aspirin and clopidogrel on July 28 and I can't wait.
I cut my finger not bad but it took nearly a month to heal.
Hi
Interesting that you are coming off Aspirin and Clopidogrel.
Are switching to something else?
The clopidogrel was only for 12 months and my surgeons words you have nothing to worry about you are fixed that was at 6 months. So will see if I can stop the aspirin as well. This will only leave me taking 20mg of Atoravastatin.
I have also come off bp meds so amlodopine and bisoporal.
I was also diabetic in 2020 but don't need medication either.
All is done through walking, cycling and reduced carb diet.
You might find you are recommended to continue to take low dose aspirin for life if you have had a heart attack or a stroke, or it has been found you have developed an increased risk of having either or both of these. And certainly clopidogrel is prescribed for 12 months after a heart attack, as was the case for me, in addition to low dose aspirin to reduce the risk of further heart attacks during the critical time following this event.
I never had a heart attack. I self diagnosed myself with coronary artery disease as it's heridetary. I had 90% blockage in my LAD which was sorted with cabgx2.So far this year I have cycled over 900kms.
Although being fit undoubtedly helps to reduce your heart health risk, for some people the risk is still there, it is not eliminated. And as you get older the ability to be highly active reduces as your body changes, as I have found out, and so progressively your heart health risk will increase because you are unable to do the things you were previously able to do. And so there is no guarantee you won't have a heart attack because you are an athlete, it doesn't make you immune, as evidenced by two very high profile professional football players who had heart attacks during matches within the last five years or so. So if you are known to have heart disease all you can do is to follow sensible precautions to reduce your risk, such as lifestyle measures, but importantly also take medication where you are advised to do so, having satisfied yourself that the risk of not taking it outweighs the risks from taking it, but if you enjoy exercise as a particular interest in life go for it.
can I ask how you managed to come off BP meds and diabetic meds?
I ask because I had a HA in Jan 2024 and I want to stop/reduce my meds by Jan 2025 and would be good to know how to do this. As no-one gives that advice.
March 2023, my BP was 190/105. I also had what I thought was back pain but in fact it was Angina. I went to visit a cardiologist and found that I had a 90% blockage in my LAD. I had a double bypass in July and was put on beta blockers following the op. My surgeon took me off beta blockers due to the cold hands and feet. Also between Feb 2023 and July 28 I dropped 27kg with a high fat low carb diet.
I stopped the BP meds on my own and after 2 months of taking readings my GP agreed to stop the tabs.
I also excercise a lot and cycle every day either indoor or outdoor.
So it's a combination of heart surgery, weight loss and excercise. My BP I took yesterday was 110/78.
All my bloods are in the optimum range with my triglycerides being 0.5.
I have changed my life around compared to a couple of years ago.
My motivation is not to end up being halved in two and no sugary treats are worth that risk.
Cheers Dave, I might as well chill out and recover for a fortnight and lay off the cakes lol have a good one 👍
i'm surprised you are on both aspirin and clopidogrel - one or the other is standard - i would check this with a pharmacist
Look up dual platelet therapy. It's the gold standard following CABG and only last 12 months. It's too help with patency of the grafts.
yes, but only for an initial period, after that it is usually reduced to one antiplatelet medication for maintenance
the poster does not mention what stage they are at or if they had relevant surgery
I fractured my ankle in Feb 2023. It doesn’t hurt but is still a bit swollen. I think it is to do with my blood thinners. I have been on Apixaban since my HA in 2020. Like some of the other posts the clopidogrel stopped12 months after the stent. I still take bisoprolol and atorvastatin as well as lansoprazole to line the stomach.
I’d agree re longer healing time. Been on Ticagrelor since June of last year and finish my course in a fortnight, can’t wait. Got low dose aspirin for life though.
Since on Apixaban I bruise easier and takes ages to go. Plus cuts bleed like anything. I keep plastic sutures in and spray plaster . Also after falls had cellulitis twice and needed antibiotics.
Are you sure you only sprained it? My husband thought he'd only sprained his ankle but when I managed to get him to agree to go to the Minor Injuries he had an x-ray and had actually pulled a bit of bone off!
hi. I sprained my ankle several years ago — long before heart attack and anticoagulants — and it turned deep purple and stayed that way for weeks. So hopefully yours will heal nicely as well. And yes, sprains hurt!
Hi, I would take Arnica (ointment & homoeopathic tablets) for bruising, and Ruta Graveolens ointment for sprains.
If your sprained ankle had severe swelling and evidence of much bleeding (which would be aggravated by blood thinners), I suspect you had torn ligaments. If so,you should have an evaluation & any appropriate treatment by an orthopedic specialist in order to prevent ending up with chronic, lifelong ankle miseries.
Coronavirus Vaccine when on blood thinners.
Blood thinner or not 
Colitis and blood thinners don't mix
HAVING A TOOTH REMOVED WHILST ON BLOOD THINNERS
