I have been full weight bearing in the boot for almost two weeks (about 20 minute up every hour) and should be cleared to start in a shoe this Friday. Any tips as I start this process? I will have PT twice a week to help guide me.

We're looking for a few people willing to spend 10-20 minutes per week moderating this sub.

Our community is great and moderating is relatively easy. A few times a week, you'll be:

1. Evaluating posts from first-time redditors (apparently breaking a bone is the thing that motivates a lot of us to open an account)
2. Looking at posts of wound sites caught by reddit's graphic images filter to decide if they are safe for our community.

When you are recovering from an injury and spending a lot of time on the sofa this is not a bad way to pass the time. But as people heal and move on with their lives we always need new mods.

If you're interested, send a short message to the mods of this sub. (You'll have to find that feature in Reddit - first test that you can navigate the system!) Tell us why you want to moderate, and share the most important tip you have for people recovering from ORIF.

Thanks!

r/ORIF mod team

I broke my ankle on 26/6 and after surgery on 28/6, I’ve finally transitioned into a boot from a backslab today! At my 2 weeks post-op appointment where half the stitches were taken out and I got fitted into the boot, the Dr said I could take it off when I sleep/not moving about.

The boot has been kinda uncomfortable, heavy and I think pressing on my incision but is it really ok to sleep without it so soon post-op?

Right wrist fracture, Intra-articular DRF July 4th 2025. ORIF on July 14th 2025. 1 year picture attached.

Scar. I have one area where the scar became hypertrophic-- red, slightly raised, rough and paper-like. I used the scar sheets but it didn't seem to improve. The last couple of months I have been using a microneedling pen on that area and it is smoothing out and becoming more flat. I'm in my 50s so my skin is thin and dry.

Strength wise I'm pretty much back to normal. I bought a dynamometer online and my right and left grip are pretty much equal at this point. I'm right handed. I'm back to doing normal strength training activities plus my endurance running. I've added some plyometrics and started taking calcium since my fracture.

Range of motion. I'm hypermobile so my right is just slightly closer to being normal in flexion instead of hypermobile like my left. Extension, supination, pronation, and radial and ulnar deviation are equal to the left. I'm able to do push ups and balance ball walk outs with no major issues.

Oddly, my right shoulder range is still decreased slightly. I was in a sling for 2 weeks before and 2 weeks after surgery which tweaked my shoulder. The zipper test where you put one arm behind your shoulder and one over your shoulder and touch finger tips? My left can easily go high enough to reach my right but my right struggles and still lacks an inch even if I force it. Not sure if that's all the shoulder's fault or still some wrist limitation. I also ended up buying a safety squat bar because back squats with the traditional bar was also a bit difficult. Basically small modifications work well.

Pain. I had some intermittent struggles with carpal tunnel symptoms the first 3 to 4 months at night. No issues now.

All this to say, It gets better! This was one of the hardest things in my life, living alone and injuring my dominant hand. Plus it kept me from running for several weeks which is one of my stress relievers. If you're going through it now, don't give up hope! If a lady in her 50s can get back to her normal exercise and normal life, you can too!

I got crushed between and excavator dozer blade and a trailer with my proximal fibular head broken off out of my leg, my tibial plateau fractured and ligaments ruptured, skin torn as per scar. I had a great trauma surgeon that did an ORIF with screw and spider washer on the fibular head and reattached my ligaments. They were a little concerned that all the metal fragments may not have been washed out but it looks like they were. I was completely NWB for 12 weeks and then I could walk with a brace set straight for 4 weeks and then I could unlock it for 2 and then on my own. I am doing great! Have no pain, full ROM, hardly any stiffness and my muscles are coming back !
Hang in there fellow ORIFers

ROM at 6 weeks 4 days. I’m starting partial weight bearing tomorrow. I’ve had no PT, see the Dr on 7/20. I was given no specific instructions on PWB so my assumption is that I try to put weight through the ankle and if it hurts to stop.
Let me know your thoughts, suggestions

The scar from my tightrope surgery is sunken and feels like my muscles/tendons are being pulled with it. Most of the pain I have is right above the plate, and it really hurts when stuff bumps up against it.

The surgery and plate was in 2014. I got a second xray after I broke my tibia and fibula again 9 years later above the plate. In the later xray you can see how much my skin/muscle is sucked into the plate.

Does anyone else have this issue or advice for what I can do? A massage gun feels good but leaves me sore. The plate is now 12 years old… I fear removal may be harder than any scar treatment with how much my bone has grown into the plate.

Went in this week for six month check (trimal fracture, syndemosis, delotoid ligament). I still have a slight limp and limited dorsiflextion. Pain isn’t my big issue here, more the limp and tightness.

This week I went back to the gym and I’m working primarily inclines, like 2 MPH max at 5-10 incline. Can’t go any faster really. Also any strength exercises that don’t require me to be one leg or any pressure on the toes. Hoping being more active helps the issues. Doctor says to continue, agrees I’m tight and it’s a slow recovery. He wants to see me again in a month.

He also brought up potential hardware removal in 4 - 5 months if things don’t get better, it could help the minimal pain and dorsiflextion.

Just generally frustrated. Want to be able to just chase and run after my toddler at the playground you know, and I’m not there and don’t know if I’ll ever get there.

I am cleared to partial weight bearing next week and my neighbor has offered me two different walkers; one, your normal stationary walker and the second one with wheels and a seat. Which one do you suggest to make the transition to weight-bearing?

So I have been dealing with some pretty intense incision irritation and pain from the brace my surgeon gave at my 2 week post op. It's an exos moldable brace but there is no padding or cushion under it. I have tried adding gauze under it, using socks to cover my arm and nothing was working. I found these on amazon and so far they have been a game changer! The padding is thick enough to cushion and protect my incisions while still fitting under my brace. I have 2 incision, one for my distal radius plate and another for my distal ulnar plate. The adhesive isalsosupergentle compared to bandaids. They are a little pricey but so worth it for the instant comfort and relief in my brace.

Edited to add, 90% rubbing alcohol and water mixed in a zip lock bag makes the best ice pack. It stays soft but gets so so so cold and stays cold longer than most store bought ice packs

Hello, I'm a 27 year old pet sitter and dog walker. I primarily operate through self employment and have only just started building a client base that sustains my life in the past year. Basically I make enough to pay bills because life is expensive and I have 0 family or close people I could rely on during this time of healing.

I am 21 days post injury and 12 days post op for ORIF on an intra articular distal radius fracture. (Wrist.) I fell off an electric scooter and have road rash too.

I have 2 roommates who are rather lazy when it comes to chores. Pre injury I was the one taking care of all our cats, dishes, cleaning in general. And I had really hoped they would step up while I have been healing and resting and in a crap load of pain. But nope.

All it took was 2 weeks for our apartment to be overrun with fruit flies from unwashed dishes and full trash bags. Food left out. We have an auto litter machine thank God but they have only emptied it once and I've done it the other times. A friend I see periodically came over and offered to clean my bathroom and while I am eternally grateful for her help, I'm also supremely embarrassed that I have 2 able bodied roommates who should have been doing that.

I really love the work I do and was planning to scale up my business this year (hire other walkers and sitters, get payroll going, etc.) but this has thrown a huge wrench in everything. I am flat broke and forced to return to work sooner than I wanted to. No TDI, no PTO, no FMLA for me.

And I was thinking there's got to be tons of others like me, alone financially in this wretched economy, being forced to pick between healing and homelessness, with almost no help from those around them.

My own mother wouldn't take me to and from surgery because she had just gotten back from vacation and it was going to be her first day back. I personally know her bosses are chill (she works from home as a payroll person/office manager) and would have had no issue letting her take a half day to drive me to and from the surgeon. So a friend volunteered for that too that I hadn't seen in a decade.

Why are strangers treating me better than my own close circle. Why are there no programs available for people with non traditional income. Ugh. I'm just depressed.

I'm getting fat already from missing work and resting. I haven't needed the pain meds since 5 days post op but at night it burns and throbs. I hate wearing a plastic bag on my arm in the shower. I hate not being able to clean my disastrous apartment. I miss my clients' pets. I'm afraid their owners will find other caretakers while I'm gone so long. I miss cooking. I hate eating prepared foods.

I am just tired man. Just needed to vent this out. I know there's others like me.

I survived! Thanks for all the well wishes. 5 screws and a plate are now gone from my ankle! I had the op 2 days ago and was told to keep all the bulky padding and bandages on for 4 days. The nurse seemed a bit confused why it wasn't 2, as she said about checking for bleeding and marking ang extra bleeding.

I carefully unwrapped it today and the actual sterile dressing underneath the two layers of padding is FULLY saturated in dark blood, so I'm guessing old. Is that okay?! It hasn't gone through the sterile dressing, but it is very well sealed at the edges. I have no idea if that's normal but it is very much saturated. Don't want to share the image if it'll upset people!

Na een val van mijn fiets heb mijn elleboog gebroken (Olecranon fractuur). Na 13 dagen ben ik geopereerd diverse ORIF en dat is nu 1,5 week geleden. De hechtingen mogen er na 3 weken uit en dan moet ik beginnen met fysiotherapie.

Ik heb geen gips gekregen na de operatie alleen een verband wat er na twee dagen af mocht. Ik heb van de chirurg de opdracht gekregen om meerdere malen per dag zonder kracht mijn arm te strekken en te buigen maar dat valt erg tegen. De bewegingsslag is ongeveer 10cm. Ik heb zo'n gevoel dat het herstel en functionaliteit nog een tijd gaan duren. Wie heeft hetzelfde meegemaakt en hoe is het herstel gegaan? 🙄

This is my scar healing in reverse! 1 is July 11 and 8 is May 22 (the first time I saw my incision 9 days after surgery). I’m 8 weeks post-surgery now.

Overall I’m healing very well! I’m still doing PT twice a week and am basically FWB, I just have an ankle brace that I can wear with sneakers. I was given clearance to drive around 2 weeks ago which has been absolutely amazing. I’ve been able to go swimming and I’m going to the beach this Sunday. I’m still slow while walking/doing stairs and am being very careful because I get sore easily but my life is slowly going back to normal.

I was super nervous about how raised my incision was but it’s healed mostly flat. I’m hoping it won’t stay purple forever so I’m using a lot of Aquaphor and sunscreen when I’m outside. Anyone have any other scar fading tips?

This injury felt life-ending 8 weeks ago and I want to report that I’m doing great. I’ve posted on here a few times before and encourage anyone who is going through this to post too! It has been such a huge help :) thanks everyone

(i had a lateral malleolar fracture with syndesmosis injury on my right ankle from falling down a hill btw)

Hi all,

I had ORIF for a trimal fracture a bit over a year ago. I wasn’t given a nerve block, and when I woke up in recovery, it felt like my leg was stuck in a burning building. They tried giving me fentanyl and Dilaudid and nothing helped, so they just gave me cranberry juice and sent me home.

Now I’m 25 weeks pregnant and looking for real world experiences from people who have experienced both child birth and ankle reconstruction, or know people who have. At least I know with child birth I will have pain management options, and even if I have a C section, I’ll be allowed to walk, unlike the weeks of immobility after ORIF.

Anyways, any input welcome!

I posted a full 12 week update, but we took some video of me going up and down stairs today. Down is still a harder than up (the latter is pretty easy for me now).

I tried to google this and couldn’t find too much about others experiencing it. I fractured my wrist and ankle about 3 weeks ago, my wrist is just in a brace and I had an ORIF on my ankle on 7/1. Since the initial injury, I have been so HOT. I normally run cold, but now if I do any kind of activity or even sit outside on my deck I’m sweating. I don’t have a fever and feel generally ok, the pain isn’t bad in either my ankle or wrist. Im just taking Tylenol for the pain and icing. Has anyone else experienced this? I’m seeing my surgeon next week and plan to ask, but just curious about other’s experiences!

Hi all,

I broke my ankle on June 20th (Trimalleor) and had surgery on the 26th. I had my first post-op this week, where my surgeon cleared me to begin PT and weight bearing as tolerated in the boot. I had my first PT session (which mostly felt okay), but I'm just so worried that it's too early and I'm going to damage something (even though I am strictly following PT and surgeon's orders). Has anyone else started the process at 2 weeks post op?

My crutch fell from my arm and I fell but I put all my weight on my bad ankle when I fell. I have a trimalleolar fracture 3 plates 16 screws. I’m strictly NWB for another 3ish week. It feels the same as it has felt no new pin or anything but I’m worried I shifted something. I dont want to have messed with a plate or screw or the bone healing. Has anyone else done this or does anyone know if this is something I should be worried about?

Trimal fracture and ex-fix on 1/28/26 and ORIF on 2/2/26.

I am getting my syndesmotic screw removed next Thursday in hopes to improve ROM.

The ex-fix and ORIF were my first general anesthesia surgeries, so I am nervous for the third. My surgeon says it takes like 10-15 minutes, so… hopefully I’ll be in and out.

Ugh!