Broken Ankle And Surgery Recovery (Page 22)

Swimming will help. I've heard that from numerous sources. Your doctor should recommend you for PT, it'll make you gain as much movement back as possible.

Good news for me...I managed to get down to only one crutch tonight. Huge limp, but it's more progress. Especially since I only started weight bearing yesterday afternoon.

nvincent- is your doctor allowing you to go to full weight baring with syndesmotic screws still in?

-im having surgery on the 22nd to have them removed, I'm currently 10 weeks post op and still non weight baring.

Actually my doctor explained that he did not do syndesmotic screws. He went with a newer method, buttons and tie wire. Apparently this is a new direction that does not require removal or breakage.

He explained that no hardware would be removed unless it proved to be a bother to me.

Regarding itchiness in the cast, try using a blow dryer to blow cool air into the cast. It might help.

I broke the tibia and fibula in my leg in late January. Surgery was about a week later. The surgeon, who came highly recommended, inserted plates and screws. He said recovery would take 8 to 10 weeks, with no weight bearing for at least 8 weeks. (BTW, I'm middle aged.) At the 2-week post-op appointment, the surgical cast was removed, the leg x-rayed, staples removed, and new fiberglass cast put on. The surgeon said everything seemed fine (bones aligned, no sign of infection, swelling down). My 6-week post-op appointment is in a few days. I was just wondering what to expect. Will he simply take another x-ray and send me on my way? Will the cast be replaced with something else? I haven't asked a lot of questions to this point. I was too traumatized! Thanks.

Hello Wyatt 33,

I just had my 5 week appointment last Thursday. They removed the cast, took x-rays and indicated everything was looking good and aligned. My doc prescribed a Townsend "black boot" and indicated I would find within three weeks or so that I was putting more weight on the boot and less on the crutches. He prescribed PT 3x/week beginning today.

Good luck to you.

I have a question, maybe someone can email me with some advice

Broke my Tib and Fib last May, had 8 screws and steel plate put in 01June. I've been walking fine with the hardware in, though, 3 days before Thanksgiving I went to an emergency clinic where they said I developed a Staph infection. The Doc cut it out on the spot and gave me antibiotics. Now, I have been running again regulary, mile and mile and a half runs which I'm doing good with.

My concern is, I often get a blister on my ankle right under the incision. It's bright red, looks like fluid is trapped under it, but won't pop. It sticks out pretty far too, but I've seen the surgeon twice since December about it and he says it's fine. Does that sound infected to anyone else? Should I get a second opinion?

I'm tired of paying the bills for nothing, and the surgeon told me I could get the hardware removed. Has anyone had similar issues like I have?

It looks like I will have to have more surgery to rebrake and reset the ankle. That makes 3 brakes same ankle, can't stop crying. 3 more months no weight bearing etc.

Goodluck moonunit. I can't even imagine. Keep us posted with how things come

Just a quick update. Had PT yesterday.. "Profound stiffness" is what I was told.. That is a given right? They have me working on stretching.

Good news..Lost the other crutch today. So no more crutches.. and it's only been 5 days.

The therapist said about 2 more weeks for the boot, the sooner gone, the better.

great news for you nvincent! off the crutches already, i can't even imagine how great that is! How did you get the courage to walk without the crutches? I'm scared and still weak. keep up the speedy recovery, you are an inspiration!

The courage was more the PT and the doctor motivating me. I was given the command that I'm free to go at a good pace. Soreness is part of it, but the more you stretch and use it, the better it gets. The first steps on 2 crutches is the MOST painful. Then you'll gain the courage(nerve) to move to one. Then you'll gradually start not putting the crutch down and you'll realize you can go without.

In PT today I was given command to ditch the boot. I have an ankle compression brace and I do have to be careful. BUT every step gets easier and less painful the more I use it. Trusting yourself is a major part of this.

Another note.. Apparently this morning I was very stiff. Everything eventually loosened up. But I hope things don't stay like this where the mornings are stiff.

Hello everyone - it has been a while since I last posted so I thought it time to give you an update.

I broke my right ankle (dislocation and bones on both sides) on December 12th and had ORIF surgery on the 13th. Had a cast for 6 weeks and expected to be given the go ahead to "weight bear" at the 6 week appointment. Unfortunately, at the 6 week appointment, the surgeon discovered a small fractured bone that he had missed earlier that had begun to heal on its on. Because of this, he put me on a further 4 weeks on NWB. At the 10 week appointment the surgeon discovered that the joint had not set/healed "perfectly" but nothing much could be done about it. He gave me the go ahead to being weight bearing as tolerated at this point. The first 2 weeks of WB have been a little frustrating as it does not seem I can put much weight on it. I took a vacation down south last week (Punta Cana, DR) for a change of scenery and at the recommendation of my PT who thought time in the pool would do wonders for my recovery. I returned yesterday a little down as it did not seem to me that I made much progress. But wonder of wonders, when I woke up today I tried walking on 1 crutch and it was no problem at all! Then I put the crutch down and took my first steps in 13 weeks without and other support! I am so excited. I am walking with a big limp but I think I have passed a big hurdle with the "fear" that so many of you talk about. I can vouch for what others have said - it does get better! The road is long and the ignorance of many people around you is great but the thing will eventually heal! Get a good PT if you can. Mine turned things around for me.

Keep your chins up! It could be a lot worse. You will get better.

I slipped on ice and fell down our front steps on Feb 26. I broke my fibia and apparently tore ligaments (?) between the 2 bones. I had surgery on Feb 28 and was sent home the next day without much instruction and without seeing the surgeon again. I was in a partial cast - like a plaster splint. I stayed pretty much sedentary for the first 9 days - keeping my foot elevated. The crutches were terrible for me because I have carpal tunnel. I also don't have very good upper body strength. Everything took so much effort and my hands shook the entire time.I was very active before the injury - I have 3 dogs that I walk, train and compete in agility with as well as running a household and working full time. The dependance, inactivity and isolation has been very depressing. I've also struggled with my husband - he tore ligaments in his ankle when he was 24 and how he remembers it is that "the crutches were a pain, but the whole thing wasn't that big a deal". We are 45 now - I think his memory is skewed. I feel guilty for not being able to get up and do more.

I had my first appt with the surgeon last Weds. He took off my splint, took an x-ray and took out my staples. It was the first of the x-rays I had seen - I have a plate holding my fibia together, and one of the big screws stabilizing the two bones so the ligaments can heal. He said 5 more weeks of NWB - so the ligaments heal before the screw breaks. He also said I will only need the screw out if its bothering me. Interestingly, he did not put me in a cast or a boot. He said if I had a boot on I might be tempted to step down. I start PT Weds for some passive range of motion for flexibility. My next appointment is April 13 and he'd better let me start walking!

I went this weekend and rented a knee scooter because I needed some mobility. It takes a little getting used to, but I love it! It makes you feel a little independant, and you have your arms free for things.

I still have a lot of swelling - especially when my foot is down (it turns a horrible dark red), but it hasn't really been going down when it's up. Any suggestions?

It has been awhile since I have been on here... I have been trying to put weight on my ankle and taking a couple of steps, and everytime that I do that it starts bleeding a little. Is that normal? I am so ready for this to be done and over with!

@waltersjen-have you also tried putting ice on it when it is up? That seems to help with swelling and it hurting, but as soon as I put my foot down it swells again. Doctor told me it was normal and could swell up to a year after it happened!

The bleeding while walking is something that I wouldn't say is normal. I would definitely see the doctor about that one.

I'd say the same about the bleeding - it sounds like your surgical incision isn't healing.

I've started icing again as of yesterday - I didn't have that much swelling when I was in the plaster splint, so I had stopped. In hindsight, I guess I wasn't up as much then either. Do you know if it damages anything or slows healing to have it swell?

From my understanding. Swelling is just part of it. It hasn't effected my healing or anything. I'm walking now and I still ice every night to ease the swelling / soreness from the torn tendon.

Well just an update.. I've been getting around okay. Still sore when I get up in the mornings. I usually take 600mg of ibuprofen and I'm good to go. PT is a big help. The limp has gotten less, but still there. When will this be gone?

My movement is recovering..slowly. It's quite a bother to not be able to go down stairs properly, but go up them just fine. The compression brace is a good savior for the day so I don't swell too much.

I wish I could help, but you're farther along than I am... what I've read on other sites is that you should make a conscious effort not to limp because it can become a habit.

I went to my first physio appointment today - she said I'm lucky I have an OS that didn't put me in a cast because we can work on my foot mobility so I'm not so locked up when I get cleared to walk again. She gave me foot pump and rotation exercises, used the ultrasound on an area where she thinks I pulled muscles and massages all the fluid out of my swollen foot. It only lasted about 3 minutes, but it was nice to see I still have a foot under the puff ball!