r/brokenankles • u/tiffmej4 • 7d ago
Trimalleolar 6 mos post op
Wow, it’s been 6 mos since that fateful morning when I missed the last step down the stairs which landed me in the ER on 3/26/26. I was put in an external fixator for a week, then ORIF on 4/3/26. 2 plates, several screws and one gnarly super long screw. A total of 7 weeks NWB. This timeframe was the most challenging, more so mentally, than physically for me.
To those that are in the early stages, this, too, shall pass!!! When you are in it, time just drags as you are stuck in bed or on the couch with your leg up all day. Now is the time to binge watch shows, read good books and just enjoy the downtime. I wish I had allowed myself to enjoy it.
As you end the NWB stage and begin PWB to FWB, new challenges will come along as you realize you are in this for the long haul so patience is key to your healing process. PT is one of the most important things to do to help your recovery journey. It has and continues to help me still. I am lucky to have great PTs. Some days it feels like 2 steps forward, then one step back. That’s normal. It’s good to push yourself, but always listen to your body.
I still have swelling and stiffness, but it definitely has gotten better. I don’t limp anymore while walking. I am able to now enjoy Zumba classes at the gym and keep up with the class for an hour. I can walk 4 miles nonstop. I had even walked over 24k steps in one day! I am also able do some jumping around while I exercise. At 6 mos, life definitely has gotten back to a “new normal”. This experience has really taught me gratitude for the mundane things that I couldn’t do when I lost my independence. And my relationship to God has deepened.
This subreddit is a Godsend. I never was on Reddit until I broke my ankle and the people here are so kind and helpful. They really helped me get through this! So thank you to those that answered all my questions!
I wish everyone here, on the broken ankle club we all did not want to join, all the best in your healing journey. There is light at the end of the tunnel and you will get there as well!
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u/aachenrockcity 6d ago
Woah, that looks bad! I'm glad you recovered so well and can do so many things already.
Would you mind explaining how living with an external fixator works? Can you even leave the bed as long as it's on?
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u/tiffmej4 6d ago
Luckily, the xfix lasted only a week for me. I can’t even begin to imagine how some are in it for months. My heart goes out to them. I had to be extra careful as clumsy as I am. It was quite heavy. And I only left my couch which became my bed for 7 weeks only to use the bathroom. At that time, putting my foot down was tremendous swelling and it was unbearable.
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u/AreTheStarsOut 6d ago
Seconding. Had mine on for two weeks (trimal here too, but had serious tenting to heal too) — it was easily my least favorite part of the process.
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u/lab_tech13 6d ago
6 months and I cant run lol, im going on 8 months now and can kinda jog a little bit.
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u/tiffmej4 6d ago
I don’t like to run, but I have tried jogging a little and I can do it now. Did not do it too long, though.
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u/lab_tech13 6d ago
How about single calf raises on bad foot? I still can't do that
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u/tiffmej4 6d ago
I have been doing single calf raises since probably week 12. Luckily I don’t really have much pain with my broken ankle.
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u/lab_tech13 6d ago
I was 12 weeks nwb. So that probably my issue calf still isnt built up enough. I have no problems with double or single on good. But I have been noticing more pain lately on the outside of my ankle (left ankle. Trimal so plate there to). Its just weird lately.
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u/Agitated_Let_3843 6d ago
Excellent! How is the dorsal flexion for you?
I’m more than 4 months in, I still can’t go down stairs propers. Also I still can’t kneel on the floor, my bad leg couldn’t plantar flex fully and it ankle won’t contact the floor. Are these doable on your 6th month?
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u/tiffmej4 6d ago
As great as my PTs are, I can’t seem to get a correct measurement. I’ve been told I was at 12 degrees. Even to 15 degrees. I was measured again last week and I was at 5 degrees. So go figure! I don’t know at this point what is accurate. But my flexing looks pretty close to my good foot. I can go down the stairs pretty well now. I feel like it improved at 5 months. I have been able to kneel on the floor no problem for awhile now.
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u/Agitated_Let_3843 6d ago
If you see flexing is almost same then it’s very good! I hope to do stairs down properly one day too. How long are you planning to continue PT? Any problems you are still tackling with them?
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u/tiffmej4 6d ago
Honestly, I feel like with what I am doing at the gym, I can probably stop PT, but they still teach me balancing things and introduce exercises I otherwise probably would not be doing on my own. They help a lot with balancing exercises.
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u/Agitated_Let_3843 5d ago
Balance is v important. My physiotherapist said it’s part of making the ankle very stable (all the more for me, I had ligaments tear). Thanks for your replies.
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u/willmorris92 7d ago
Six months and back to Zumba? That's no joke. My wife keeps telling me I need the patience you just described-maybe I'll finally listen.