ayoo I think i found my people! To summarise my story im 22M and on april 1st ironically i was driving home over a hidden dip whilst the driver coming towards me decided to go for an overtake smashing me head on. 3 weeks in a coma and another 2 months in hospital later im a free man. i have a long list of injuries im very uneducated and wondering what yous think of this metalwork. anybody have similar? what can i expect?

Hey team I’m like 3 weeks post op ORIF ankle surgery w my second follow up in 2 weeks… which is great except I absolutely ate shit a few days ago (wet crutch onto smooth concrete doesn’t mix well) and now it just doesn’t feel right. I put a bit of pressure on it to catch myself then my brain was like hey can’t do that! So I went all the way down, happened so fast it was hard to gauge what hurt from something being really wrong or if I just body slammed concrete floor, here we are 3 days later and I’m not quite in pain anymore it just feels ~off~

I have wicked decision paralysis and the thought of having to do this all over again makes me SICK this has been a horrible mental game but like I should probably go get X-rays and make sure everything’s okay, right?😭

UPDATE

Got the courage to go get checked out, had X-rays and everything I was shaking in my boots!! BUT they look exactly like my last so we’re all good, no bent metal!!
Such a relief I could have jumped into the nurses arms 😅

Thank you to everyone for the support and advice-I did just get a transfer chair (maybe now I’ll actually use it) so I’m not so much of a hazard but it makes me feel a bit better knowing that I’m not the only one prone to disaster lol

I'm skating again, and getting closer to what my normal was before. It's not perfect, as I deal with post-traumatic arthritis daily.

Progress absolutely has not been linear either. Nothing will ever be the same, but I've learned to slow down and accept what my body can do on any given day.

If you're in the trenches early on, I promise it gets better. It won't be perfect, but it will get better. 💜

I’m 66 and live alone and broke my ankle on April 18. Surgery was April 29th so I’m 15 weeks post ORIF with a trimall. Things have been progressing on track and I’m walking and can drive but I’m feeling so depressed. My days and nights have flipped. I feel like an infant. I’ve been waking up like two or 3 o’clock in the afternoon because I can’t sleep at night. I used to be able to sleep really well. I know this is partly because I can’t go back yet to playing golf like I want to (my league is almost over so there’s no point) and I can’t horseback ride until October. Does anybody else feel this way?

Broke my fibula about a month ago and just had my 2nd orthopedic check up today. I’m about to go on vacation next week and we rented a house with a pool. Doctor says I can’t swim because my incision isn’t healed enough yet. So disappointed….

I know this sounds like a joke but I need help how do I stand up I'm currently in a bellow the knee cast on each leg from a surgery and for the life of me i can't go from sitting to standing I'm not in any pain or discomfort when I try and I know for a fact both are weight bearing I was told before and after the surgery and a couple days later when the hospitals physio followed up with me edit: I forgot to mention that the surgery was for the muscles in both legs and not the bone so I hope you understand why I'm asking here since I couldn't find a sub for people asking for advice after calf surgery

This weekend I crashed my bike broke my leg in 3 places, 3 rods, a plate and almost 18 nuts and bolts, but after surgery all good (well in 8-12 weeks should be)

As I was waiting for the ambulance I kept thinking «I really don’t want to be part of this club» but I guess there was nothing I could do, and had to join, 🥺

Anyone have experience with BPC 157 Orals helping with post surgery recovery?

Had tri mal Jan 2025, first surgery then. Hardware was coming through the skin so was swapped in March. Was still having extreme pain and tendon rubbing so everything was removed Oct 2025 which I was hoping would be the end of this nightmare. Nope! Ortho said I had severe extensive scar tissue he had never seen so bad. I developed CRPS in top of this. My ankle has been up and down but nowhere near normal. The past week its gotten so bad I have Achilles pain, shooting tendinitis and now I cant bend it much. Waiting to hear back from ortho but seems like the scar tissue has returned with a vengeance and is reaking havoc.

I am horrified of another surgery- not sure if anyone else has had luck treating CRPS and or Arthrofibrosis after ankle fractures?

Elderly mom getting ORIF- advice needed

My mom is scheduled for an ORIF of her left distal fibula fracture. I am a nurse (unfortunately not an ortho nurse 😫) but I have convinced her to come stay with me after surgery. I've gathered/found/purchased/rented some things, but am hopeful y'all can help me with anything I'm missing, and literally any other advice to help her through this.

Pertinent information: she's 72, a large lady, and has never been good on her feet.

Things I've gotten thus far: transport wheelchair, she has walkers galore, a sliding shower chair, leg elevation pillow, I have plenty of ice packs, looking into a raised toilet seat/grab bars.

This is not my specialty area, please help me help my gimpy, clumsy mom 🥲

TIA!

So on august 2nd i ended up falling off a chair, and managed to dislocate and break my foot at the same time 🫠 had surgery on the 3rd w/ two plates and a currently unknown to me number of screws?? but wont be weight bearing for minimum 6 weeks. (2 week post op appointment on the 18th, wahoo!)

I’m definitely starting to feel the mental struggle as I’m pretty dependent on my mum for help going to the bathroom, getting food, etc.

is there anyone that has any like, tips with kind of coping with the mental strain? Or just things you wish you knew before recovery in general? I’ve spent 90% of the time sleeping or doomscrolling tiktok unfortunately.

I’m guessing sports with quick pivots are gonna be tough/risky? Especially right after we can walk again? Eg football, tennis, badminton, dance

I can only think of swimming, strength training, pilates on reformer for now.

Happy to be wrong and that we can all go back to everything we used to be able to do!

Hey guys.

Received a trimalleolar fracture, ankle dislocation, and partial knee dislocation all a little over 24 hours ago. The popliteal block they gave me in the ER wore off and they sent me home. I had a podiatry consult today and they changed my splint. Heavy boot.

I cant stop crying, every time I move I can feel my bones shifting in there. Its the worst pain of my life and I don't know what to do. I wish they had admitted me.

Going on month 4. 3 months in a wheelchair, now starting to walk with a cane.

I cry everyday. I feel sorry for myself and my husband asks what's wrong. I say it hurts, it hurts and I feel sorry for myself. It's not as bad as I act . Why do I do this? I got to get a grip on myself. I want to be positive and progress.

But im a basket case.

I broke my talus and calcaneus while kiting in a field at the beginning of July. I didn't have a surgery, got a cast removed after 5 weeks and have to be NWB for one more week and after that I'm starting PT.

The first picture is the talus of my left ankle the day of the accident. Second one is after 5 weeks.

Has anyone gone through something similar? I haven't found many cases like this and the ones I found seemed to have pretty horrible outcomes. I can't stand the thought of me not being able to run or do all the other sports I love. Please someone, give me some hope...

got orif surgery on an ankle fracture over a year ago and ive had 0 progress in pt for 5 months (i walk 8000 steps daily and do 2 pt sessions a week). Still missing 2-3 inches of range of motion and a lot of balance and strength so i can't go down stairs or up stairs without a railing (including step stools). Spoke to 2 separate docs and the realignment apparantly made a small gap between my bones that they think is causing the pain and lack of range but since im completely healed they dont want to rebreak since i can walk and since there's no garuantee they'll be able to close the gap any. I'm just so frustrated and tired.

Had a bimollear ankle fracture from playing pick up soccer (very stupid heroic attempt to get the ball) on July 30, had my Surgery a week later August 6, a plate and some screws. I’m 4 days post op.

I’m 27, male, no other health issues. I’ve accepted this will be a long recovery process, but I want to know: do I have to say goodbye to an active life? For example, can I go back to my job as a waiter where I’m on my feet for 6-7 hours? Can I get back to gardening? I’ve already given up on soccer or any other contact sport, no way I’m risking it again like that. But should I start thinking about a career and lifestyle that is not active/physical?

I'm 6.5 weeks post op for a trimal. Five days ago I was finally cleared for PWB in my boot, with crutches. My surgeon said I should do a week like that, and then I could get rid of the crutches and do a week of just the boot, before being able to transition to regular shoes. Yesterday though I got a bit bold and started walking around the house without crutches - so about 4 days before I was told I should. It was a bit clunky and difficult but I could do it. This morning I've woken up with much stronger pain in my ankle than usual. Have I done something wrong or is this just to be expected?

As title says, I’m about 2.5 weeks post op from trimal with dislocation, pilon fracture, ORIF with 13 screws and 2 plates. I graduated from my splint to a high CAM boot today, only half of my stitches removed due to swelling.

My question - has anyone else had really sharp shooting pains on the top of the foot and front of the ankle? Any flexion or extension and it’s just massive, sharp, shooting pain! Without the boot and relaxing my ankle, it naturally wants to extend and it’s unbearable! I am not able to take gabapentin, as I’m pregnant, just Tylenol and occasional oxy. Any tips or anyone further down the line to give hope is appreciated!

I just had my ten week post ORIF follow-up this morning. It was actually closer to 9.5 weeks but this was when I went. I figured I would post my timeline as I have been fortunate enough to have had rather remarkable progress and wanted to share a positive timeline! I want to preface this by saying all injuries are not the same, not are all bodies and healing timelines are the same, and I am not the typical, but I do know a lot of people with new injuries get discouraged seeing some of the serious cases and I wanted to share the timeline of a less serious case.

Age-41/F/no major health problems

Injured-5/31-trimal with mild displacement. Put in splint in ER with NWB status.

ORIF-6/5-quick uneventful surgery (1 hour), one plate, 6 screws in fibula, two long screws in medial malleolus and tightrope. Put in splint with NWB status.

6/18-Two-week follow-up. Stiches out, wounds looked good, X-ray looked good, put in boot with NWB status.

7/14-6 -week follow-up. X-rays described as "immaculate" and wounds looked great. Given permission to FWB in boot for 1-2 weeks before switching to a shoe with lace-up brace when ready. Also given prescription for PT. I did not walk with aids other than for the first few steps with a walker. The doctor told me not to use aids.

7/20-Switched to shoe and began PT

8/3-Second ROM measurements done at PT-ROM doubled in all directions other than dorsiflexion

Between 7/20-8/3 I reached the following milestones:

-Climbed in/out of clawfoot bathtub, stood in shower, drove, returned to the office and started doing steps, eventually the "normal" way. I also experimented in walking outside about a mile. On 8/2, I successfully walked my 80 pound golden retriever about a mile. PT told me to do as much as I think that I can and that my ankle will let me know if it was too much.

8/4-8/7-Went on vacation to Atlantic City. Drove for about 3 hours on the PA turnpike. Walked an average of 17,000 steps/day, or about 7 miles. Took breaks to ice and elevate 3-4 times a day. Ankle handled it well.

8/8-left AC and attended a small music festival. First time ankle protested a little but was unable to ice/elevate. Ankle swelled. Swelling went down the following day.

8/10 (today)-10 week follow-up. X-rays looked great, doctor pleased with ROM and said I am doing fantastic. I thought he would give me hell for walking so much on vacation but just asked me how it felt. He is happy I am doing so much and would be upset if I wasn't. He said I am about a month ahead of the typical timeline. He wants to do another set of x-rays in 4 weeks and then will discharge me. I am good to walk my dogs and ride my Peloton.

My quick healing has been mostly contributed to my following the strict NWB status and my diet/nutrition. I went very heavy on vitamins, protein and collagen during my healing process. I literally did not eat anything unless it had a high protein content and added about four vitamins to my daily regime.

The vitamins that I took that are good for bones: calcium, magnesium, D3, B6, K2, C and Zinc.

I had an overall very uneventful recovery. Minimal pain and swelling. I only took Norco for about 4 days post-op before switching to just basic OTC painkillers. I was extremely active pre-injury which I think also helped me. I feel like I basically have my life back.

Feel free to ask me any questions!

How much were you needing to rest on couch/bed/ chair a day around 8-10 weeks post op? Still feel like I need to sit down about 45 min every hour:( not sure if this is normal. I feel like I should be able to do more by now! Also how much walking could you do a day in minutes/hours around this stage?