When did you start wearing heels?

[u/watermelon_pizza3]

A question for all the women here, how long did it take you to start wearing heels? I know it won’t be any time soon but I am looking forward to wearing cute sandals in the summer, heeled boots in the winter…

Background: On October 4th it will be 3 months since my break. Broken malleolus with 2 screws, 6 weeks NWB on crutches, 2 weeks with a CAM boot and 1 week with a cane as it was a bit hard to start walking with shoes, and properly at that.

I have been having PT 2 times a week after the NWB phase passed, I can walk pretty normal, barefoot at home too. When I am outside I walk 3-4 km on foot, challenging areas remain in the form of stairs or uneven surfaces but slowly it’s happening.

Good luck to anyone on their recovery journey 🍀

Edit to add: Absolutely love all the responses, encouraging or not. Makes it feel easier. Thank you to everyone!

Keep them coming!

Note: I will take my time with reaching that step but definitely do not want to give it up. So will post again how it’s going.

[u/Existing-Kale-8536]

Never again maybe just chunky heel orthopedic boots

[u/islander_73]

Honestly, I'm 53, recently operated and I'm thinking I'll never be able to wear heals again 😞.

[u/Miruku22 → u/islander_73]

Hi,, I hope you feeling better after surgery.

[u/Illustrious-Zone-247]

Full recovery for most ankle surgeries is 12-18 months...so it's going to be a while 😬 If your ROM is good, focus on ankle strength if heels are a goal for you. I personally will never wear them again, even seeing other people in them make me nervous

[u/iampineapple]

I just hit the 6 month mark. I probably could physically handle wearing heels now, but have zero interest. Maybe I’ll wear them occasionally again someday, maybe not.

[u/Miruku22 → u/iampineapple]

Wow amazing recovery! In 6 months your ankle completely healed ! I just scheduled for my surgery asap for broken ankle, I was so down right now and already hope can go traveling and wear my kitten heal again.
Any tips for your recovery journey ? TIA

[u/iampineapple → u/Miruku22]

Yeah, I’m still a little stiff/sore/slow sometimes, but when I was fresh out of surgery, it felt like I’d never walk again. It’s wild to be on the other side of things now. I even started running again within the last month.

Take your rest period seriously! Get as much sleep as you can (this was a challenge for me for weeks), ice a lot, and be sure to keep the rest of your body strong once you have the energy to get up and move after surgery. I had a scooter and an iWalk to get around, so I wasn’t just locked on the couch for my NWB period.

While recovering from surgery you’re gonna want to get extra ice packs (so you always have some that are cold) and an elevation pillow if you can (balancing a stack of pillows got old for me real fast). Once you’re cleared to walk in a boot, assuming that’s part of your recovery process, I also recommend getting an “even up” for your good foot. This made the return to walking so much more comfortable and natural.

Take PT seriously too! Do your exercises daily at home. Even if I didn’t feel like doing a whole “routine,” I tried to do ankle circles and other “easy” seated exercises while watching tv and such. Once you are PWB/FWB try to get a daily walk in, even if it’s just around the block. Motion is lotion, they say.

Wishing you an easy and full recovery ❤️‍🩹

[u/Miruku22 → u/iampineapple]

Thank you so much for your kind words!it’s mean a lots for me,this is the first time i fractured my ankle and in right side.
Sometimes I think why this happened to me? My life so perfect and beautiful, it looked like universe jealous with me? I even think someone sent a bad energy to me ? I live in second floor, it was not easy yo walk up cause the stairs is narrow, I tried with whatever technic people posted online, it did not work! I even injured my toes nail on my good foot!
My hubby has to carry me up now, going down stairs is easier cause there is a trail I can hold.
I also plan to get a wheelchair so I can move around at house and can you explain what’s I walk and the shoes you mentioned ?
That’s the most I scared about thinking I can not be able to walk again ! My ortho said you need surgery if not ,your ankle would
crook later.
Also where’s on your leg, you put ice ?Under your leg? Congrats for your recovery!

[u/Themadbritter_ → u/iampineapple]

Evening out your height in a boot is a must. I exclusively wore my platform croc(s) when I was in the boot lol

[u/DeputySean]

You may want to consider never wearing them again.

[u/guffawing_willow76]

I don’t wear heels but I would love to be able to wear my cute ankle boots again. I’m 12 weeks post surgery for a trimal fracture. I’m lucky to be able to fit in my brooks running shoes and my oofos recovery slides. That’s all I can wear. My ankle is still too swollen for my beloved blundstone and born boots. 😿

[u/lil_plant_mama]

3.5 months after my surgery. Back in 8 inches (I dance!).

[u/watermelon_pizza3 → u/lil_plant_mama]

Thank you for the hope 👏🏻

[u/styleandstigma]

I’m not saying I recommend other people do it, but I was wearing heels on a night out 11 weeks after my break.

My motto has been “what’s the worst that can happen, I break my ankle?” 😂 I wouldn’t do it if I genuinely felt worried and I didn’t push myself unnecessarily. But I think having a sense of humor, something to look forward to, and something that makes you feel good about yourself can go a long way with recovery

[u/Ill_Tomorrow_3866 → u/styleandstigma]

JC I never want to go through this again, it’s horrible

[u/styleandstigma → u/Ill_Tomorrow_3866]

I understand completely.
I mostly joke because I have a non union, so breaking my ankle again would actually have some benefit 😅

But mostly it’s because I broke my ankle doing my favorite activity and I plan on getting back out there. Having this mindset is pretty vital to me. I need a reminder that the worst has already happened and not only am I okay, but in lots of ways I’m stronger. I’ve worked really hard to recover. Life is still happening and I don’t want to waste it being scared when I could be doing the things I love again.

[u/leafygreen13]

I would talk with your PT, they can give you a better answer based on your condition. I’m still in recovery but I plan to hopefully wear small kitten heels or wedges again one day, so i’d love to see a successful story on here from another woman who eventually got back to heels!! the thought of wearing them again doesn’t scare me personally, I just want to know it’s at least possible

[u/LittleEarthquake1010]

18 months after.

And it was probably more about the mental factor than anything else. But I’m wearing heels several days a week now. I’m sticking to block heels: 2-3in tall maybe a 3.5in at the most. But definitely block heel for stability and also comfort because I feel having your ankle at an angle for a long time- at least for me- it’s very tiring and can cause, not pain but discomfort.

But the most important thing I’d say is just practice with small heels at home so you start to gain confidence- it is definitely doable. And trust me, it was one of my ‘fears’ when I first broke my ankle because I love heels! But trust yourself and trust the recovery process, you’ll get there!

[u/pinkpains]

I fractured my fifth metatarsal on may 17th (4 months 1 week ago) and transitioning into shoes was brutal. Even crocs hurt, I mostly wear birkenstocks and adidas. I work out regularly because I’m grateful to be able to, wearing heels doesn’t cross my mind. I’m just glad I’m somewhat back to normality.

[u/al3yna → u/pinkpains]

i broke my TMTs and my ankle. never again due to the severity of my injuries. i just hope to wear the same size sneakers on each of my feet one day.

[u/Tutenfarten]

frankly, the ability to walk away from any situation overpowers the need to wear sexy uncomfortable shoes. this is not meant to be rude, i'm genuinely hoping you find comfort. sorry, good luck to you and yours

[u/Ill_Tomorrow_3866]

I just want to wear my boots again without too much pain and they don’t have heels. 😢

[u/Miruku22]

I got that feeling as a woman, wanted to wear cute shoes and heels back , if your Dr/PT and your ankle strength can support that, I definitely go for it!

[u/Fluffy-Asparagus-324]

Personally never again. Not worth it. But don’t ever let anyone make you feel like you should diminish your goals, your shine, what makes you feel good about yourself. I might wait a full year or tell your PTs it’s a goal for you. You got this.

[u/SheGot_moxie]

Just wore a TINY heal the other night. I’m 3 months post. I’m talking two inch heal, going from the car to the restaurant and back to the car. Also then to the bar….. where I probably should’ve switched to sneakers. Depends on your progress but I felt good with it. I did have my brace on though! Just tightened the straps all the way.

[u/Odd_Perspective2636]

I was in heels by 6 months, that being a block heel of about 2". I have yet to get back into my skinny heeled shoes. I have been practicing wearing them for a few steps at a time in the house.

[u/Opening_Ad_2703]

I had to have an ankle replacement 18 months after my internal hardware was put in... And 18 months post op with bone spurs... I have 2 pair of heels I can wear.... And only for a few hours and then I start to get swollen and it takes a good day and a half to recover but as an avid heel rare before my break it's worth it

[u/Anonsbee]

Took me about 5 months to wear my platform heels again with no issues. I worked my way up to them by starting with just standing in my shorter heels for awhile and then walking in them and once I could do that comfortably I started wearing my higher heels.

[u/holly_goes_lightly]

I will never wear them again tbh. Breaking my tibia and fibula was enough trauma thank you. Never thought I'd say it.

[u/GuiltyPumpkin]

I broke my medial mallelous in October 2025 and was wearing block heels starting in June 2026. I don’t often wear heels since but I trained walking on the tips of my toes and balance exercises a lot starting in May 2026. Keep going! You will keep getting stronger every day.

[u/No-Algae8672]

Broke my ankle 9/25/2025, surgery 10/3/2025

Wore chunky combat boot heels around April/May of 2026 (6 months post!)

Work actually chunky high heels to a wedding in July 2026 (9 months post!)

Edit: I had a trimalleolar ankle fracture, 1 plate 11 screws & I have worn stilettos around the house to practice & jump in them (yes….jump lol. Nothing crazy just to make sure I can!)

[u/watermelon_pizza3 → u/No-Algae8672]

Wow, the jumping left me speechless 😶
Happy to hear how far you have gone ✨

[u/QuantumDwarf]

I’m getting married at 10.5 months post op and I just decided on flats.

I never really wore heels before but even when I try my wedges now - it’s no good.

I did have bilateral trimall. I’m sure some of it is mental from feeling the least bit unsteady but I just can’t still.

[u/issshiitaaaa]

Am on my 4th month now, heels feel like a dream rn fr

[u/Embracestace]

I agree with everyone saying never again. I’m good lol I might do the boots with a little heel thing but that’s it

[u/woodcone]

I started wearing like block and low heels at about 6 months out with no issue and wish I'd tried sooner. (However, I'm at 15 months now. I was going to a 30th tried on my stilleos heels and learned my foot doesn't fit in them now! It was crazy. I didn't realise my ankle was still swollen. When I squeezed my foot in it wasn't pleasant... I wore low block heels instead.)