I sprained my ankle last month on a mtbing holiday in Spain – ironically having just come down a lovely descent, I was on a flat bit and suddenly spied someone about to take my photo, rode straight into a stump and came off. As I landed I heard a *snap* and thought my ankle had gone… Once I realised I could still stand, I then thought my carbon bars had snapped but that’s another story.
Anyway, my ankle hurt like hell that night and I was hobbling about like a loon. Couldn’t walk, and it was massively swollen. The next day still as bad and bruised, but managed to bandage it up well and stuffed it in my spd’s. Direct pressure was ok (but no twisting – fun unclipping!) so I could still ride. I guess it took about 2-3 weeks for it to look normal again, and it’s only feeling pretty much ok 5 or so weeks later.
It took longer than I expected to heal actually, and I usually fix-up pretty well.