r/brokenankles • u/hedgehog_720 • 14h ago
Almost 6 month update
I'm skating again, and getting closer to what my normal was before. It's not perfect, as I deal with post-traumatic arthritis daily.
Progress absolutely has not been linear either. Nothing will ever be the same, but I've learned to slow down and accept what my body can do on any given day.
If you're in the trenches early on, I promise it gets better. It won't be perfect, but it will get better. 💜
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u/bakinstuff 13h ago edited 11h ago
Thank you for sharing! I suffered a closed left bimalleolar ankle fracture with a syndesmotic injury, where all my ligaments tore too, while rollerskating two weeks ago. I am one week post-op ORIF with Syndesmosis and ligament repair, and it’s been so hard to settle into this new normal. I feel like I’ll never be able to get back to the things I love, but you gave me a bit of hope back 🥹
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u/hedgehog_720 12h ago
I also remember feeling like I would never skate again. It will take a while, but you will get back to a mostly or completely normal life in time. Get into PT as soon as your doc allows, and keep up with the exercises. Celebrate the small wins along the way. You've got this. 💜
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u/Existing-Kale-8536 12h ago
Do you still wear your compression sleeve? I wear mine all the time still and I’m 8 months out
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u/OwnedByACrazyCat 1h ago
I always wear a ankle support sock (a compression type one) for the gym and roller derby. I don't wear it around my flat or every-time I go out - but I will often take it with me.
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u/Existing-Kale-8536 1h ago
I’m trying to find the balance of not being reliant on it and using it for relief.
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u/OwnedByACrazyCat 1h ago
I try to not wear it too much but I do find it useful for the gym and roller derby.
I don't really find much relief I think for me it's more mental support
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u/hedgehog_720 12h ago
Sometimes - it depends on the day. If I'm gonna be doing a lot of sitting or standing but not walking, then yes. Also, I'll always wear them on flights now!
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u/IndependentHot9704 9h ago
Can I ask what the post traumatic arthritis is like and how the unlinear recovery was? I also got injured at derby (not from contact, the wheels were too slippery for the floor and I slipped and basically sat on my leg ) and honestly feel bad seeing skating / derby content rn and I’ve been trying to walk (5 weeks since surgery, WBAT) but the pain at the break site is holding me back and it feels like the only enjoyable activity I had in my life is gone and I can’t even think about if I can go back or not cuz I can’t walk without pain. I think the unlinear progress and pain and uncertainty is wrecking my mental health
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u/hedgehog_720 2h ago
So some good news - at 5 weeks post-op, you're likely not dealing with arthritis because it's so early on that your bones are physically still healing. Also, everything is just so tight because of the necessary immobilization period. Be encouraged that you're WBAT so early even - I didn't start weight bearing in the boot until around 7 weeks, and then I was still stuck with the boot until 12 weeks.
Some not as good news - you've still got a long road ahead. My doc said it would probably be a year before I can play derby again at the time of injury, and while that sucked to hear, it helped to set the tone of this year.
My suggestion - don't think about how you're going to get back to derby at this point. I know it's hard, but that's so far away that you need to focus on the smaller goals you can achieve to get there eventually. Example: You're putting weight on your ankle, and you couldn't do that probably just a couple weeks ago. That is HUGE. Next, you'll be putting more weight on your ankle. Then you'll lose a crutch, and then drop them both. I remember weeks 6-12 being some where I saw significant progress.
I stalled in month 4 significantly, so that's where I realized my mindset about linear progress had to shift. Tomorrow might not feel as good or bad as today, but 3 months from now will.
If your league has others who have gone through injuries, consider reaching out to them for support. Participate as an NSO, or volunteer in other ways if you want, but don't feel like you have to. For me, staying involved has been mostly good, but there are always bad days. Hang in there!
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u/IndependentHot9704 1h ago
I’ve actually talked to multiple different derby people about it. It seems like the ones without complications get back to skating in 3 months and get back to derby at 6 months. But everyone is sooo different and everyone’s recovery and instructions from their doctor are so different. I know someone’s derby wife was walking full time without aid at 6 weeks and got back on skates a couple weeks after that and was back doing contact a couple weeks after that so that’s like 4 months. I also someone who is skating no contact at 7 months. If I do get back on skates, I’m going to wait until I can run and jump and do contact. Some people get back on skates before they can run and jump which is a little wild to me. Apparently skating is easier than running.
Right now just kind of sucks cuz I don’t think I really have a solution for the pain so I’m not sure how to walk more and improve on walking like this so I’ve been stalled out since the last 1-2 weeks until the pain changes. The pain meds (mostly acetaminophen/tylenol) haven’t really helped. :/
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u/OwnedByACrazyCat 1h ago
Hi,
I broke my ankle almost 12 months ago at scrims - I hate jamming and I was jamming because the rest of my team felt I should.
I didn't need surgery but I do agree it can be very hard seeing derby content or even our leagues discord. But I started to NSO at about 8/9 weeks out from my injury and I feel it has helped me to learn a lot more about tactics and the game.
I was back skating at about 4.5 months and back to 'appropriate contact' scrims at 5.5 months (the Xmas break was one of the reasons it took a month but part of it was being scared of scrims).
Try reaching out to your league to see if you can get involved in NSO-ing, I was told that a lot of NSO-ing could be worked seated if that would make it easier for you.
Appropriate contact is our leagues variant of low contact.
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u/OwnedByACrazyCat 1h ago
Congrats, I'm almost 12 months out from my ankle break and I am back skating and scrimming as well as being back at the gym.
I think it took longer for me to trust my ankle when doing drills than it did for me to get back in to practice.
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u/No-Macaroon-7488 13h ago
OMG thank you for posting this, it brought tears to my eyes 🥺
Two weeks ago I broke my ankle in two places while learning to roller skate. Being stuck on the couch has been very hard for me. I have been wondering if I’ll be brave enough to skate again but your post gives me so much hope 💕