Broken Ankle Recovery Help Needed
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1st Jun '09, 10:22am
Hi there,
I broke my ankle in 3 places playing football on 23/3/09, it is now 1/6/09.
I had 2 screws and a pin put in. I was in a back cast (slab) for 2 weeks and a full cast for 6 weeks. The cast has been off for over 3 weeks now and the pin was removed last week. The doctor and surgeon both told me I can put partial weight on my foot straight away progessing to full weight bearing over the next 2 weeks. I have started partial weight bearing but my ankle is so stiff and it is very uncomfortable, I can't put my foot flat on the floor with my leg straightened. I have physio tomorrow so hopefully this should answer some questions. The other thing I am concerned about is my foot still gets very swollen when kept down which doesnt help with weight bearing excercises. It is fine when elevated but at work it's hard to do that (I work in an office). It is elevated but I do need to keep moving around and it gets very swollen.
Can anyone give me some guidance? Is 2 weeks a bit optimistic? Also what about driving?
Thanks in advance.
Broken ankle recovery
1st Jun '09, 11:07pm
Hello,
Let me just say that your recovery will be more of a process than an event. It will take time. Your foot will likely be swollen, or more swollen, than your other foot for a long time. This is normal and neccessary for the blood to make all of the small pathways or capillaries? it needs to. I broke my ankle on Feb 13/09 and had 3 plates and 16 screws put in, I started weight bearing about 4 weeks ago and just this past Saturday put full weight without crutches. I have an air filled walking cast for my foot which I have to have on for weight bearing of any kind. My ankle has been very painful with weight on it, but I think it's more of a soft tissue pain instead of a bone pain. Your physiotherapist will have the best advice for your recovery but it will be painful, you just have to work through it.
Tony
Hi Poetsofthefall
3rd Jun '09, 6:22am
From reading the posts on this site, it seems doctors have conflicting advice. I know it depends on you age, weight, and of course the injury but I was given different advice to you. I broke my fibula and had 3 pins and a plate put in it. I had a cast on for 6 weeks. This was taken off last Friday. I was given a boot to wear just for walking and told to use it for support but that I should try to walk as normal and just be dictated by how I feel ie. if it hurts, I am overdoing it. I was told I can put my weight on it if I feel able to. I am so impatient I have been doing quite a bit. Couldn't walk without the boot and 2 crutches on Friday. By Saturday i could walk with one crutch and the boot. Today I have taken a few steps without the crutches but not stable. I went on the treadmill on the Slowest setting in my trainers for 20 mins and my foot is fine. It swells up and the skin is tight round the ankle butI am moving it as much as I can, even when sitting down with it elevated, i wiggle my toes and try to rotate it. I desperately need to drive and am hoping to do so in a couple of weeks - need to be able to put more weight on it before i do ...but I am so impatient...lol!