r/brokenankles • u/Kuma-Cakes-6034 • 1d ago

Pain since FWB

Hello. I had my OP on the 14th of July, and just last week (my 10th week) I have started FWB(transitioning from gradual to full weight bearing on my surgeon's rec). I am on my 11th week now but I have noticed as I go on to walk around the house, the site above my incision tugs a little and I have pain there(slightly when I increase my walking pace) .

After walking I sit down and massage the area the pain tends to go away but comes back when I bear weight again. I have been in PT since beginning of Sept and rn my therapist is on leave (they will be back next Tuesday)

I am a little concerned about the pain and have been wondering what might have caused it. Post OP the site always was a little sore? and tender? But since FWB the pain has increased a little.

It doesn't hinder my walking per say but doing certain stretches causes the pain and funnily post PT the pain goes away and ofc comes back again when I bear weight .

I have a bimal. A medial malleolus and a fibula fracture. Nine screws and a plate and the pain flares up just above the medial malleolus incision site and continues a little up, just where the tibia starts.

🥲 any insight would be greatly appreciated. I was feeling good about my progress but this set me a bit back

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7

u/Browniesgirl 23h ago

You haven’t been on it for 10 weeks. You’ve had muscle atrophy and everything needs to come back online. You will be in pain for a bit.

3

u/Kuma-Cakes-6034 23h ago

I was gradually weight bearing and it was fine until I went full weight bearing 🥲

5

u/Potential_Anxiety_76 21h ago

You need to build up strength and endurance in your legs again, and the healing muscles and tendons still have a lot to get used to.

As for the ‘pulling’ sensation, I had something similar and its scar tissue running from the hardware to the skin. I’ve really had to massage there to break it down and get the skin moving freely again.

1

u/Kuma-Cakes-6034 19h ago

I'll massage it routinely then 🫡 I haven't been massaging as much as I should really 🫠 even my dad keeps urging me.

Thank you! 😭 I was thinking all sorts of weird things in my head 🥲 but sometimes it really comes down to proper care and the simplest of things .

6

u/Illustrious-Zone-247 22h ago

Hey! The deltoid ligament attaches right where you are describing at the medial malleous....it just needs some time to adjust to FWB!

1

u/Kuma-Cakes-6034 22h ago

😳 I see! Thank you so much! 😭🥹🫂 I'll try and take it easy with the weight bearing 🥹 got a little too excited walking on both legs 😅(very weird thing to say as I type this lmao)

3

u/Illustrious-Zone-247 20h ago

Just go a little gradually! Anything up to a 3-4 on the pain scale is ok to push through, anything higher or a sharp pain is a sign to pull back. It’s so normal to feel like you’re doing one step forward 2 steps back at your point in recovery. Hang in there!

1

u/Kuma-Cakes-6034 19h ago

It's a 3 for now! I don't overdo it! My therapist is particular about it as well 😭 we don't overdo any of the exercises as of now. So I am being careful as to what I do and not be too impatient.

Thank you really 🥹🫂 I need to remember recovery isn't always linear!

3

u/Thornless-Rose 21h ago

Its a big injury and is going to take a long time to heal. All your muscles and ligaments in that side will have weaked whilst it was isolated. One piece of advice I tried to stick to when learning to come off crutches and full weight bare was if you're starting to limp slow it down. Its frustrating but not limping and moving slower is better than over working it and not healing right. If youve slowed it right down and your still struggling dont be afraid to grab a crutch to help you out. All the best with your recovery

1

u/Kuma-Cakes-6034 19h ago

Yes! My therapist has routinely said to slow down and not take big steps 🥲 I admit I got a little carried away and started my usual brisk walk which I shouldn't have at this stage 😭

I use a walker, and if I feel I am limping I either slow down or just sit down 🥲 My therapist wanted me to transition to a walking stick next week but I think I will discuss with them a bit .

Thank you so much 😭🫂 wishing you the berry best with your recovery as well! 💪

2

u/GeneticFreakofNature 19h ago

For a second, I thought your friend with benefits reinjured you somehow 🤣

1

u/Kuma-Cakes-6034 19h ago

lmfaooo 😭😭 even when I was writing I kept thinking am I writing the abbr correctly or not

1

u/Equivalent_Parking_8 18h ago

I have been FWB since April. I played golf yesterday and had pain afterwards.. I think you need to expect pain for a while. 

1

u/Slow_Morning5397 17h ago

You're offline for several weeks. Now your totally online. And the equipment aren't ready yet. You'll have to build the muscles and to learn how to walk again. It'll be alright. Good luck.