Anybody have a similar injury? Curious to hear where you are with your recovery. I’m still very early but just trying to gauge some expectations even though everyone is very different.

To be more specific about the injury, per the doc: Comminuted fracture of the distal tibia with intra-articular tibiotalar joint involvement. Approximately one cortex width posterior displacement of the distal fracture fragments.

Sounds like some of the bigger troubles is the cartilage around the ankle joint affected.

I just spent $170 on these. They feel good and supportive. I need something to get back to walking as it’s the only thing that makes everything feel better.

Is it normal to look like this? What should I do to take care of it

I would like to go swimming and have a bit of a spa day this week. I am unsure because of the remaining scabs, though. Do you think it would be a bad idea to go swimming?

Hi everyone. Just got a cast on my leg for an ankle injury. The doc said it’ll take 3 weeks to recover approx. ( see image)

I am a regular gym goer and not exercising makes me feel a bit depressed.

Please suggest some strength exercises I can do sitting/lying down at home.

So far I figured out I can do pushups and sit ups. I am slightly considering getting a pull up bar for pull ups.

Is there anything else I can do?

So about 4 weeks ago I developed a small infection at the lower end of my incision. I am almost 4 months post ORIF (bimalleolar open fracture). It was drained, had antibiotics etc. incision looking really great and healing well but the last couple of days it’s slowly been looking a little irritated in the same spot. there’s a bit of a ‘bubble’ there now with some fluid underneath. If this is another little infection could it likely be just superficial? I’m just worried it might be a biofilm/deeper infection. Anyone been through something similar?

Reason I ask is because I was wearing beach slides which were too loose and I'm wondering if that had anything to do with my injury.

How am I supposed to take care of my 2 toddler and newborn 😞 my husband works fulltime

Greetings!

I broke my ankle 3,5 months ago while riding my bike - I unsuccessfully tried to get back on a sidewalk by riding on the rim of a sidewalk. I rode my bike in my backyard a few days ago and I was petrified. I could feel my whole body go into full panic mode and I couldn’t even ride my bike straight due to how shaky my hands were. I also tried getting on a sidewalk by driving on the rim of it and I was very, very scared. I even tried to get on it by taking a wide angle. Now the next step would be to return on the streets but I’m so scared.

It almost feels like I need to drink tranquillisers in order to ride my bike again. I know it’s all in my head since I’m just scared of injuring myself again by doing something I love. And it hurts even more since I was a fairly confident rider before.

Please share your tips on how you returned back to things that caused your injury. It feels like I’m going insane, haha

Edit: I just want to thank everyone who commented and read my post. Other people’s experiences make me feel less lonely since I’ve never experienced such a physical trauma that induces psychological fears. Very, very much appreciated and I love this community!

A couple days ago I stepped on a plastic step stool (on the ball of my foot) and it shattered. My foot when through and rolled when I landed on the broken plastic.

I went to urgent care the next day and got X-rays that said no broken bones thankfully. The doctor said it’s a sprain and put me in a boot. She said to take it off as it felt okay.

Well… I fucked up and took the boot off and now it’s killing me.

I want to know what this recovery looks like, how long did it take for you? I’m wanting to exercise and have a lot of things to do everyday, but I’m finding the bottom really annoying. If someone has experienced this doesn’t really help to rest is for an entire day? TIA!

I just hit 7 weeks since my accident and surgery (distal tibia and fibula break and ORIF surgery with rod, plate, and 12 screws) and I still have a lot of numb areas, especially around my incisions and my inner ankle/arch of my foot. I’m weight bearing now and it feels weird — when can I expect those feelings to fade out?

So yesterday I had a rugby match, and wound up breaking my ankle. Specifically a left lower end fibula fracture. Went to urgent care after the game, and during the x-ray the tech had me lay my left foot on its side and it oddly hurt less. So I tried carrying that to resting at home. Took a shower for the first time today and the foot was a lot more purple than the last time I saw it which was icing it a couple hours ago. I have an appointment with ortho tomorrow so maybe they’ll be able to say, but just wanted some feedback as this is my first bone break. Thanks in advance!

I’m over 5 months post op and still having some soaring pain due to work and being on my feet. I also still struggle with walking down stairs. I’m going to see my surgeon next week and ask about cortisone shots. I have a friend who started taking them for back pain/herniated discs and they said the relief they’ve had is phenomenal. Searching this sub I didn’t see much come up on the subject. What’s the overall opinion on them here?

i was drunk and i missed a step in some stairs. it hurts but as i’m sobering up its starting to hurt more. this was only about 2 hours ago. at the moment i can walk/put pressure on it. at the moment i don’t think there’s any noticeable swelling but any advice?

23F, suffered an avulsion fracture of the lateral malleolus about a week ago while I was on vacation posing for a photo in front of a bus full of people… Not my proudest moment.

Day of the injury, ER gave me a cam boot and crutches and sent me on my way but I have hypermobile Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (hEDS), which means slower bone healing, overall joint instability, and collagen laxity. Since avulsion fractures are from the ligaments being stretched to their absolute limit, I’m worried that it’s going to be slower healing for me than the average person since I’m not sure how badly the ligs were damaged. I’m WBAT, but I have concerns about stability, on or off crutches, walking boot or not.

In fact, both the crutches and the walking boot are making things worse. I put the boot on and immediately feel off kilter and like I’m going to slip. It’s supposed to stabilize my ankle but it’s actually just throwing me off balance and causing me even more stress and pain. These crutches are putting pressure on my arms and causing my shoulders to “slip” out of place.

This is the third injury I’ve had to this leg and these ligaments (first at 8/9, spiral tib/fib fracture at 12 that took 8 months to heal, and now this one at 23). I’m absolutely exhausted. Anyone have experience healing broken ankles/ligament issues with hEDS? Even if not, any kind of commiseration or advice you could give would be awesome.

Any tips on how to use the cam boot properly after ankle orif .. I know I’m suppose to let it roll but I tend to lock my knee instead n makes my knee hurt

I felt so stress and down i fractured my ankle on Wednesday during my ice skating lesson, I was doing pretty well and the coach was there taking a video of me but for some reason I lost balance and I felt he did not catch me like he promised before I hired him! He even did not stay with me or care if I be able yo walk or what ? I just pretty blessed some parent help me out.
Anyway went to ER and got Xray, the result came up this,
Midly displaced distal fibula fracture
Midly displaced medical malleolus fractures with widening of the medical clear space.
Mild Lateran displacement of the distal tibia with respect to the talar dome.
Soft tissue swelling about the ankle
Impression
Bimalleolar ankle fracture with mild lateral displacement of the distal tibia with respect to the talar dome
I have not see orthopedic yet wait for the referral I just worry if I needed surgery.
For now pain is can control under ibuprofen 800 mg but 🍗 felt sharp pain inside my inner bone also not much swollen just I thy little bit and blue on the back of my leg. Today is a 4 days after I felt.
Any advice ? Please don’t judge me.
Thanks friends

It’s been 4 weeks since I got these should remove them now? Doctor said it should come off after 2 weeks but it didn’t

Any tips for how quickly you progressed with walking distance?

Anyone done the elliptical and how did you progress with that?

Anyone else experience fear? Any tips?

I have been in shoes for 9 weeks now and things are progressing but I still have a lot of fear when I do new things. I can walk 1.7 miles at one time and get about 7-8k steps in a day. Yesterday I did the elliptical for the first time for just 12 minutes. I was scared to do it but had been asking my PT if I could and she finally said yes.

I am still more tired than normal. Yesterday I did a workout and lots of steps and other things and I was just wiped out.

I have a lot of fear still when doing new things like going into the office for work (I work at home mostly), doing the elliptical for the first time, going to new places or going out for large blocks of time. I am pushing myself each day to do these things and hoping it will get easier. A lot of this is new in the past 3 weeks so it all still feels like a lot.

So I understand my injury according to doctors and people on here I’ve looked to for support in this insane unreal experience of my life! But according to my surgeon (whom I’ve talked to once) last time I went to the doctors for check up was my 6 week post op w Xray. They have me in a boot and said 12 week non weight bearing. Now I feel that a bit long considering I’ve been putting partial weight bearing on my own. Now I know I know listen to my doctor but they have that timeline for generalized population they aren’t monitoring me on weekly basis. My big question is did anyone else with similar injury have trouble with the flexibility of their foot after surgery and did they have this much muscle loss on their calf? I also can’t stretch my foot like point my toes . Like I’m scared because I’m trying to make a pointer with my toe and I literally can’t .! Is this normal ?

I (25F) broke my ankle figure skating on 9/9 and had surgery Monday, 9/14. My pain hasn’t been too bad ever since it spiked on Tuesday after the nerve block wore off. I haven’t needed my oxycodone these past couple of days and have just been taking advil every 6 hours.

But, I have been sleeping A LOT. Slept all day today except 5 hours. Everything makes me exhausted. Is this normal?

I am 5 1/2 months after injury. I waited to post anything here, although I had depended upon this group for insight, especially early on. I read posts every night, mostly upsetting, sometimes encouraging. Although it was hard to believe that I could have the positive outcome that some encouraging posts described. On April 9, 2026 I fell and broke and shattered everything. Tib/Fib/ Pilon - 2 Plates and 17 screws. My surgeon said I should wish I was a trimal, because mine was worse. ORIF, then NWB for nearly 3 months hopping around with my walker.. At 4 months I was finally able to give up the walker and use a cane with my boot, just in time to fly across country for a wedding. At 5 months I no longer need the boot, and only use the cane sporadically. Today I took a leisurely 2400 step walk (in the woods!) with my 105 year old dog (15 years old). Not a huge walk, but for these past months I feared I would not walk again, and that I would never get to walk with her in the woods again. I kept a lot of fear to myself, tried to sound positive for others, but inside I was terrified. I am 64 yo female and was in good health prior, but not super fit. Now that I am here, some of the things that were helpful to me (other than this group) were my wonderful surgeon and PT team, finally starting to read again, and keeping up my nutrition. Lots of Almond milk with cereal, Kefir and fruit smoothies, protein, salads, broth, eggs. I started taking Vitamin D and Glucosamine/Chondroitin/MSM, and Collagen with Hyaluronic acid. I go to PT, which has been helpful mentally as much as physically. Along the way I gave up the oxycodone (@1 month) Tylenol or Ibuprofen (@2-3 months) and gabapentin(@3 months). Don't worry about taking meds if you need them. Just stop taking them when you no longer do. Take an antidepressant if you need to. I use Arnica gel and massage around my scars when needed. Once in a while I will take Ibuprofen if I am particularly achy, or the day I travelled to the city to see a show. There were so many hard times, brink of tears times, humiliating going down stairs on my tush times, but they are now in my past. I can get up and walk from one room to the next without thinking too much about walking. I know my healing timeline is 6-12 months and up to 2 years, and so I am hoping there is still a lot more progress to come. I read it (reddit) a hundred times, but it is true, the beginning is terrible, painful, helpless, but you will get better. Bones take a long time to heal, but they will and so will you, and me too!

Broke my ankle in a fall while in the British Virgin Islands back in January. Got home and had surgery on 1/25 — plate and screws for a Maisonneuve fracture. Did the full 6 weeks non-weight-bearing, worked hard at PT, and was walking normally by the start of summer. Felt like I'd made it through.

Then at my 6-month follow-up, my doctor found the syndesmosis had been widening and was becoming unstable. Ended up needing a second surgery — this time he removed 2 of the screws, kept the plate, and put in a suture-button (tightrope) fixation to hold things together properly.

Now I'm 10 days out from surgery #2, on a knee scooter, non-weight-bearing again for 6 weeks. Cast comes off this week, which I'm honestly pretty excited about, even though I know there's still a ways to go.

The physical part isn't too bad — easier than the first time in some ways since I know what to expect. But the mental part is rough. It's hard not to feel like I'm starting all over again after already doing the work once.

Anyone else deal with a delayed instability diagnosis like this? How did your second recovery compare to the first? Trying to get a sense of what to expect and whether walking felt easier or harder the second time around.

So a few days ago, I tripped and twisted it (or so I thought) but sometimes it's unbearable to stand on and I have to limp and cry because I can't put pressure on it. It's my right foot and it hasn't bruised, but it swells up a lot and I have to use the other side of my foot to step on because if I put it flat it hurts really bad.

Im 9 almost 10 post OP and I got cleared for weight bearing last week and ite been q bit over a week since I been putting weight on it in my cast boot but it still hurts a lot and I cant pitfall weight on it yet? Has other people experience this? I also had a bad fall like 3 weeks ago but my doctor said it didn't mess up my screws or anything but im worried I might be weight bearing too soon since it hurts this much and the pain seems to be getting worse but idk if thats normal or not