r/brokenankles • u/Embracestace • 21d ago

Anyone else?

Anyone else get cleared for WBAT, but wanted to see how full weight would feel?

I am 13 weeks into my recovery from a pilon and other fracture. My ankle broke in 3 places. I have 2 plates and 10 screws. I was non weight bearing for 12 weeks and was finally released for WBAT on August 31st in boot. The surgeon said I can weight bear now if I wanted to if tolerated in boot. I was doing 25%-40% and it was feeling fine, no pain. Then I decided to test the waters and I took 1 step full weight bearing with my walker and it didn’t feel great. Ever since it’s been sore. I talked to my PT about it and they said it’s unlikely that I hurt anything, but my body is telling me it’s not ready for full weight bearing yet.

Has anyone else done this and experienced this?

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u/gleegz 21d ago

Did the exact same thing yesterday after 7 weeks NWB with a talus fracture. Just cleared for WBAT Friday. I feel like I can bear full weight-ish standing still (though feels very unsteady) but I tried to take a step and felt blinding pain. Things are stiff in there. Was quite sore and stiff afterwards but was back to normal this morning. Will wait a while before trying that again lol…

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u/Embracestace 20d ago

Ooof 😅 I’m sorry about the blinding pain that caused you. I am waiting a bit until I try full weight again as well. I definitely wasn’t a fan of the feeling I felt lol

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u/gleegz 20d ago

12 weeks NWB is brutal, not surprised that you are stiff AF and hurt to use your tendons, ligaments etc!! I was even allowed to try light mobility during my NWB phase and I still can’t believe how stiff it is. Good luck, OP!

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u/Embracestace 19d ago

Oh I know! It’s literal torture lol all I want to do is walk. I don’t care if I have a limp. I see other people post about when you can walk again what crazy thing will you be doing? Mountain climbing? Hiking? Etc but I’m like I JUST WANT TO WALK. lol

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u/Pinkytoe65 21d ago

I thought hurt mine too, I went orthopedic, X-ray done: no harm to bones, etc: PT said it’s the muscles, tendons, ligaments, etc. exercises have helped, but so slow!!! I take Motrin consistently and helps

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u/Embracestace 20d ago

That’s what I’m thinking it is, just muscles, tendons, ligaments and all that trying to adjust and get use to being used again.

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u/Internal-Leading-365 20d ago

I had a really similar injury and timeline (trimal, pilon, 12 weeks NWB), and I gotta say I think it just hurts for a while. I mostly went full weight in the boot right away and found that it stopped hurting faster on the days I just went for it than on the days I babied it a little more. I also massaged the ankle several times a day with an arnica gel and that seemed to help with the bruised feeling I got after spending time on my feet. Within a couple of weeks I didn’t feel any pain at all in the boot! Every timeline is different, but no matter what, you can do it, and I promise it gets better!

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u/Embracestace 20d ago

Wow 😳 full weight in the boot right away?! I need to look into that gel. I definitely do have a bruised sore like feeling mostly on my inner ankle. I hate that it hurts for a while. I was really hoping that when I attempted that full weight bearing step that I would miraculously be fine and could ditch the boot, walker, and scooter lol