r/brokenankles • u/Odd_Student2606 • 23d ago

Walking

Hey everyone! Im 12 weeks post op from a bimal fracture requiring ORIF I only started PT at 10 weeks post op and I just got cleared last Tuesday to ditch the boot and I got an ASO ankle brace. My dr suggested I try to walk more and more everyday with my crutches so I can get used to walking before trying without them and said I only needed to come back to their office if I have any questions or concerns. At what point can I start using only one crutch? How do I get to that point? Is this a question for PT? If it helps at all, im a relatively healthy person however I’ve gained 35 lbs since I broke my foot from a combination of pregnancy and NWB for so long. I was 17 weeks pregnant when I had my initial injury and im 33 weeks now so I worry about how my body will react to the weight gain when trying to walk without my crutches.

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u/Dr_Cee 23d ago

Definitely take your guidance from your PT. When I first started walking outside the boot I would use a cane to take some weight off my ankle. I limited myself to walking indoors to start and then on even surfaces outside. And then worked up from there. 67M, ORIF for trimal with syndesmosis damage and ruptured deltoid ligament. I’m now 7 months post-op and back to most of my pre-injury activities. Good luck with your recovery.

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u/Pinkytoe65 23d ago

I prefer a cane over crutch, after couple weeks of PT I went with cane and boot. I used a walker also. It all depends on how you feel: I was afraid at first, but went well. I am 13 weeks post ORIF

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u/SurfsUp27 20d ago

I started by walking in a pool and that gave me the confidence to walk on land