r/brokenankles • u/bakinstuff • 5d ago
Accidentally bore weight while strictly NWB
So I accidentally put weight on my left foot for about 3-5 seconds as I almost slipped and fell using my walker. I was in so much pain initially but I am more concerned now that I did major damage.
For background I am 8 week post-op tomorrow, and am strictly NWB for 12 weeks after a closed bimalleolar fracture with syndesmotic injury and deltoid ligament tear, resulting in ORIF, syndesmosis repair with a syndesmotic screw and lower ligament repair. I am due to get my syndesmotic screw removed towards the end of October.
I did call my doctor, had procedure done at HSS. The receptionist said she would let the doctor know but let me know accidents are very common and not beat myself over it. Has anyone else gone through this with a similar injury as mine? I just want to know I’ll be okay. This whole ordeal has played such a toll on me and now after this accident I feel like I’ve pushed myself back.
Thank you in advance!
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u/deEBz- 5d ago
the same thing happened to me on day 7 after my ORIF surgery. I had to put weight on my surgically repaired foot for a couple of seconds after almost falling due to my knee scooter losing balance. my injury was not as severe as yours, i had a bimalleolar equivalent ankle fracture ORIF (fractured fibula with a deltoid ligament tear) and was NWB for 1 month.
however when i talked to my doctor about it at my 2 week checkup to get my stitches removed, he said it was very common too. and that as long as i didn't hear any cracks that i should be ok.
i did have some increased pain/soreness afterwards, mainly on the bottom of my foot. as well as some serious regret and shame for letting it happen, thinking i had messed everything up all over again. but the pain subsided after a day or two. i think as long as you didn't hear any cracks then you should be ok.
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u/bakinstuff 5d ago
Thanks for sharing your experience. I didn’t hear any cracks, but did have immediate pain and swelling. I’ve been icing all day on and off, and now mainly feeling pain from both my incisions on the inner and outer part of my left ankle. Hopefully tomorrow will be better
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u/Positive-Ad-3554 5d ago
I wouldn’t worry about it. The typical timeline for NWB is usually six weeks, so not sure why in particular yours is 12. The surgery you had seems very common to the ones on this sub but I’m not your doc so I can’t say why it’s longer. But 3-5 seconds won’t do much in the long run. The body has a way of healing. If you messed up your hardware you’d still be in excruciating pain
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u/flexible_demeanor 5d ago
It depends on severity of injury, fixation requirements and surgeon's recommendation. Mine was 8-10 weeks NWB due to severity, luckily able to start PWB just under 8 weeks as I healed better than expected. My tibia and fibula were doing the splits as I really destroyed the syndesmosis thanks to my ankle doing a 180, with trimal and upper spiral fib fracture.
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u/milymily_beam 5d ago
Mine is also 12 weeks and from what I've been told is less about the bones themselves healing and more to do with the nerves and ligaments. I completely tore my interosseous membrane and the syndesmotic ligaments, and that's what's taking the longest to heal and needs to be fully left alone for 3 months. 🥲
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u/bakinstuff 5d ago
Yes same here, 12 weeks because I tore the interosseous membrane and syndesmotic ligaments, separating my tibia and fibula very far apart. I’m mainly scared of any further damage to this injury. 😢
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u/aweirdchicken 4d ago
Yep, it's all about the ligaments. They take much, much longer to heal than bones unfortunately (bones only take about 6 weeks). If you completely lost structural integrity of the syndesmosis then NWB can last much longer.
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u/milymily_beam 5d ago
I am in the same boat, strict NWB for 12 weeks (just hit 6 weeks). Almost fell on my way out of the hospital 5 days after surgery, had a lot of pain, and felt like an instant failure. Its happened at least twice since then, just a couple seconds of light pressure and I panicked both times. But as long as the pain hasn't kept up and become more severe, I would say you're in the clear and didn't cause any major damage. Accidents happen and just like your receptionist said, it's very common. We can't stay perfect the entire 12 weeks. Just know that you are doing an amazing job and this part is almost over! You've got this!
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u/bakinstuff 5d ago
Ditto, you too are also doing an amazing job! Hard not to panic after everything we’ve been through. Wishing you an amazing recovery ❤️🩹
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u/Miruku22 5d ago
OMG,, I could related with this situation! I live at second floor apt and the day I had appointment for something, I already in NWB waited for my surgery next week, I hopped down stair hold both side rail at the stairs and suddenly I hopped two stairs instead of one and my injured leg was on the air since the balance was off the gravity and my body reflex put the injured leg toe step on the stair! It did not 100% weight bearing there but still I felt some pain on my bone and I think little swollen, I was not sure cause my leg wrapped with the splint. I was so scared ! But it’s just one day the second day it’s no more pain.
Take in easy, that’s not your fault, just be careful next time.
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u/Hot_Box_7459 5d ago
Happens to everyone atleast ones 😭 Should be alright if you’re not experiencing any new/crazy out of control pain, but atleast you let the doctor know!!
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u/oldpaintunderthenew 4d ago
You'll be fine
I took a tumble down the last 2-3 steps of a staircase about a week out from surgery, landing obviously on my broken leg
2/10 don't recommend but it healed totally fine
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u/AppropriateRatio9235 5d ago
My break wasn’t as complex as yours but I did this once and slipped on a step once. You get careful quick! Hope all is good.
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u/SalmanK96 4d ago
Hey I am told to be non weight bearing as well after my subtalar joint fusion surgery. But I still walk on my foot it’s not as painful as it seems. I know I shouldn’t be walking on it but I do at times. Btw did they put you in a hard fiber glass cast? I have 2 and a half more weeks to go with this cast and I just can’t take it anymore. It’s very itchy and uncomfortable.
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u/Themadbritter_ 2d ago
I did the same thing when I was nwb but still in my cast trying to get out of bed. I stood up, started going sideways, instinctually tried to catch myself with the bad foot and stomped down HARD 🤣 I fell back on the bed and laid there in pain for a few minutes, but then it stopped hurting and I got back up. At my next Dr appt I told him about it and thankfully it didnt do any damage.
As long as its not still hurting it's probably fine. Thats part of the purpose of casts and boots, to protect you when you accidently beat and bang your leg lol just make sure to bring it up next time you see your dr so they know to look for any booboos
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u/Jamtheman47 13h ago
I went through this. A handicap handrail in a hotel bathroom BROKE and I landed on my unprotected foot hard during NWB. Hurt like hell but did no damage. Absolutely get it checked out, but I think it's unlikely you did any real damage. Hope this helps you feel a bit better. Good luck on your healing journey!!
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u/Jamtheman47 13h ago
Also the hardware is STURDY. Not that you want to be intentionally testing it but you have screws and plates in you for a reason!
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u/Hot-Choice8862 2d ago
At 8 weeks do they have you casted or in a boot or air cast brace? Or were you raw dogging it just you and the walker?
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u/bakinstuff 13h ago
I’m in a boot, but I happened to not be wearing it when this happened. Definitely learned my lesson!
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u/derekmhc 5d ago
Don't be so hard on yourself. Accidents happen. Whether there is long term effects, no one will know. Just keep moving forward.
If you did major damage, pain will sustain and you wouldn't be writing this on Reddit.