I know from personal experience that ligaments take a long time to heal. Mine was a morris dancing accident - the doctor wrote to the hospital, 'Morris dancer - excellent take-off, rotten landing!' which just about summed it up. Anyway I did the R.I.C.E. thing and a bag of frozen peas wraps itself nicely round the foot (covered as mentioned before)On crutches for several weeks but swimming and gentle little movements - rolling a small ball under the instep -worked well. I was told about the 'carbon repair'but didn't take that option and have been fine since. Take note of all that Bonecruncher says - he really knows his stuff.