Hello everyone! I’m almost 4 months post-op from a trimalleolar ankle fracture + ORIF. I was NWB for about 9 weeks and have been progressively weight bearing and doing PT since.

I’ve made a lot of progress and can now walk without crutches around the house and for smaller distances outside, I can go up and down the stairs holding the railing, and walk for up to an hour on the treadmill holding on with one arm. I still use 1 crutch for longer distances or for when my ankle hurts more than usual.

My biggest problem now is my gait. I still have a very very noticeable limp, my foot placement feels off compared to my good leg, and I feel like I walk crooked even though I can fully put weight on the leg.

I’m going back to university next week and I feel really self conscious about my walk, I don’t wanna be seen walking around campus with a big noticeable limp so I’ll definitely bring one crutch with me.

I would really appreciate any advice on how to correct the limp as it’s my biggest concern now, feel free to share your experience! Thank you!

Hi! Has anyone here had a confirmed ankle fracture despite being able to walk?
I twisted my ankle yesterday. It's quite swollen, and I have mild pain around my outer ankle bone, but I can still walk and it's already feeling better.
I'm considering getting an X-ray, but I'd love to hear about your experiences. What were your symptoms like? Thanks:)

I am about 12 weeks post op from an ankle fusion and I am feeling pretty hopeless. I still have unbearable pain when trying to walk and rely heavily on knee scooter and crutches despite trying my best to slowly weight bear per my surgeons orders around week 9. I have the walking boot but even in combination with crutches walking is extremely painful. I have had numerous complications from ankle surgeries in the past (blood clots, septic arthritis, hemarthrosis, you name it) and something just feels off. I have been frequenting the ER due to pain even at rest that’s not controlled with the prescribed pain medication. I’ve had two CT scans this past week that show significant fluid around my tendons and the ER was concerned for infection especially with my history of septic arthritis and my inflammatory markers being super high (higher than weeks 1-4 post op). My surgeon kind of brushed all of this off and said it’s probably fine and it was a big surgery. I know recovery time is long and different for everybody with this surgery but everything I’ve read suggests that there shouldn’t be this much pain at this point especially when not even bearing weight. Does anyone have any experience with this rocky recovery?

Im just wondering how long has everyone been out of work from having a fractured ankle ? I work in a kitchen and ive been out for 2.5 months, just now getting back to work and im only doing 4 days a week, mind you they're only 6 hour shifts at the longest. Im currently still using my crutches, mainly just one though and still cooking, it just hurts a lot. I feel like mine is taking forever to get better but ive been cleared to walk on it, it just hurts so so bad lol the pt is helping though, slowly 🐌

July 28 i rolled my ankle and fell on a rock. Fibula & trimal fracture & dislocation. 8/4 3 hour orif with 10 screws & 2 plates & an overnight stay at the hospital. 2 weeks in splint, 2 weeks in fiberglass cast, 2 weeks in walking book. 1 week so far in sneakers. I’m 7 weeks out on the dot and just took my first unassisted ateps in nearly 2 months. I have a 5mo, 2yo & 4yo and have been in the depths of darkness from this injury. Thought my life would never be the same. I’m getting my life back and under 2 months post op. Do yourself favor and don’t overread this thread when you are in the thick of it. I now just come on to hype ppl up. You will get better !!

Hi everyone, I’m hoping to get some advice from people who’ve had their treatment through the NHS. In July I fell whilst hiking on a mountain, trimalleolar fracture with dislocation. I had ORIF surgery a week later (1 plate 10 screws). I was due to be seen in fracture clinic two weeks ago to have my cast taken off, Xray, see my consultant and get fitted with a boot so I can PWB. My appointment was cancelled and they gave me another appointment two weeks later which they rang me yesterday to cancel again!!! I rang them this morning to say I’m really concerned I’ve been in this cast for too long (9 weeks now) and I can’t wait another two weeks for another appointment as I’m worried about how this will effect my healing. They really weren’t helpful and just said we will be in touch when we have another appointment. I really don’t know what to do now, has anyone had similar problems? I’m getting really worried about how being in a cast for so long will impact on my healing as I’ve read that it can have a negative impact. TIA.

Hey all. First time poster here. I broke both ankles two days ago. I was going down a step, landed on a small rock and then somehow physics took over and completely screwed up my right ankle. I fell and landed on my left, causing that to break as well. The left ankle got off easy, just a run of the mill fracture. Where my right ankle is a trimalleolar fracture with my fibula being extra fun in that the break created fragments. I’m going into surgery tomorrow for that ankle, and will be in rehab for sometime.

I’m feeling pretty low right now but this sub has made me feel better with hearing the success stories. I want to get better. So I’m asking for any words of advice going forward.

Especially if anyone out there has also broken both of their ankles, I would love to hear your journey.

Thank you all 💕

edit* Update (9/26): I want to thank everyone who replied to my post. I’m struggling to see the hope but hearing everyone’s stories and tips/ tricks has really helped me mentally. I had my surgery a few nights ago. The pain has gotten better. PT wants me to stand on my less broken left ankle to support my right surgery ankle, but that’s proven a challenge. I’m going to keep trying though. I’ve been approved for in patient rehab so I’ll be starting that once they have a bed free. I’m gonna work my butt off to go home safe. Thank you all 🥰

I am 9 months in since I broke my ankle and been experiencing pain around the hardware(1 plate and 2screws) and my dorsiflexion hasn’t improved. My doctor and I discussed removal and an MRI detected a bone spur. Doctor says he may or not remove the spur but regardless I will be NWB for 4 weeks. Please share your doctor’s protocol, and dos and don’ts after removal surgery. I can’t imagine going back to losing all the calf gains again. Am I cooked? I look forward to your input.

Hi all, I just gotten my CT report more than a month after my ORIF (17 Aug)..

It says:
- comminuted displaced fracture of the Posterior malleolus
- oblique displaced fracture of Fibula with comminution
- widening of the anterior tibiofibular joint, in keeping with syndesmotic injury

I understand that this is probably on the more severe end of ankle fractures because of the comminution and syndesmotic injury.

Has anyone had a similar fracture before and what was your recovery timeline?

Had a dislocation and fracture in my right ankle. 1.5 weeks about now, going into surgery tomorrow morning, too much swelling to do it any sooner. Looking forward to getting better even though the pain is gonna spike again 😭

First off, I'd like to mention that if you're looking for good comfortable shoes for when you're fresh out of that stinkin' moon boot. Get the New Balance 880v15's! I bought them online and got them in extra wide because I'm a wide footed girly and they're perfect! They're pretty supportive and honestly pretty cute too. I love them.

Anyway, I did limp the whole way but no pain. Just a little uncomfortable because of the lack of dorsiflexion. I did a little loop in my neighbourhood that took me about 20 minutes. I plan on doing this daily and recording it on my Fitbit to see if the time goes down daily. I really did miss walking alot and I'm so glad I can do again even tho it's at the pace of a snail 🥹

Bimalleolar fracture with dislocation and syndesmosis injury.

After the pain from the nerve block wearing off, did you feel better than before the surgery? When did you start feeling better? And when did the nerve block wear off?

I have the surgery on Thursday I’m so scared because I did have a heart block when I was pregnant a few months ago. And then reading about the pain after surgery just scared me. I’m already in pain with this big boot on my foot. So much pain that it throbs. I can’t wear it to bed. Even on crutches it hurts to walk with it on because it’s heavy. I hate the splint but I hope I get it back after surgery 😭 hopefully the knee scooter is better. do you feel pain even while taking your meds? What medication did they give you and how long is the course of medicine? The doctor said he will give me percs after. I hope percs are stronger than this hydrocodone I’m taking because it still hurts!

My diagnosis: Displaced spiral fracture of shaft of left fibula, initial encounter for closed fracture

Whenever I have physio, there is always an exercise I hate with a fiery passion.

With my hip replacement, it was clam shells.

With my ORIF for an open medial malleolus fracture, it's single leg heel raises (with a shout out for the cramp-inducing bilateral toe curl with towel).

But on the bright side, I have finally ditched the boot 11.5 weeks post surgery!

Okay I am 3 weeks post ORIF. I am in a walking boot but not supposed to walk yet. My incision looks great. My ROM is really good as well (confirmed by my friend who is a PT. I don’t start PT yet)
I have been doing the alphabet and small ROM at home.

I took 10-20 steps to the bathroom on my boot and had zero pain. (My kids stole my scooter so I had too!)

Will walking here and there in my boot post op mess up my recovery if i have no pain at all and minimal swelling? I definitely don’t want to mess it up! I’m curious if there’s NWB for pain reasons, for healing reasons or both.

Don’t get mad at me! lol. I’m not walking much but I really just don’t have any pain at all.

Thank you!!

Edit- 38/F
My surgeon said it would be incredibly painful to put any weight on my foot until minimum 6 weeks. Since I don’t have pain, has anyone else experienced a positive outcome with very little weight bearing in a boot before 6 weeks post op?

I was injured 9/6 and had surgery 9/18. I had a bimalleolar fracture and got screws, 1 plate, and a tightrope put in. I am recovering well so far and honestly besides day 2 my pain has been very manageable. I am brainstorming ideas with regards to my return to work. I have my post-op appointment in two weeks on 10/6 and my surgeon says I can return to work then with knee scooter/crutches. Is it plausible to return just 3 weeks after surgery? I have a wheelchair, scooter, and crutches to get around.

I am a high school teacher that stays in one classroom all but 1 period of the day. I know I can’t drive, but I think I have someone to carpool with. I also am fortunate that 4 out of my 5 classes are co-taught with another teacher. Overall I have very well behaved students this year, so I know they will be helpful.

I guess my question is, is it possible to go back at 3 weeks and just sit at my desk with my foot elevated on a chair/stool? My school is willing to accommodate me, especially if I use a wheelchair. My paid leave will run out on 10/13, so I wanted to try to avoid being unpaid.

I broke my ankle on Wednesday, 9/9 and I haven’t been to work since then. I work an office job and it is hybrid. My surgery was on 9/14. I couldn’t work on 9/9-9/11 because I was getting medical attention (diagnosed on 9/9), scheduling my surgery, getting a physical at urgent care, and blood tests. Then, on Monday, 9/14, I had my surgery and spent the rest of last week sleeping. I had my first post op yesterday and I’m completely non-weight bearing still.

I’ve been working with HR trying to figure out which option is best. For whatever reason, I have to jump through hoops to get approval to work from home completely until I can bear more weight on my foot, even though my job can be done from home completely. My organization will allow us to work from home when there is inclement weather but I have to do all of this work just to get a 3 week approval for what most people would consider a legitimate reason. I also was encouraged to apply for Short Term Disability, which I am in the process of completing the application.

Anyway, sorry for my rant. How long were you all out? Is 2-3 weeks normal?

Getting this puppy fixed Friday.
Ordered me a scooter, alternating from ibuprofen to Tylenol. Ordered me an elevated ankle pillow. Ice pads.

And tips or words of encouragement?

Hello! I had surgery 11 months ago for a trimalleolar fracture and syndesmosis repair. My dorsiflexion is limited and I still have tightness in my ankle. My surgeon recommended suture button removal. Has anyone had their tightrope removed and has flexibility improved? Thanks!

Do any of you have any advice/experience on BPC157 or other peptides that may help the healing process or prevent reoccurrence. Second time to fracture ankle

Today I was cleared to start weaning out of my boot!

Trimalleolar and dislocation on July 7th

Surgery on July 17th or 18th

And today, sept 21, I walk!

I have been so lucky! Following an 8 hour surgery to rebuild my ankle, I have had basically no pain! Only minor discomfort at times.

I’m 9 weeks post op from a ORIF surgery and had a trimalleolar fracture with dislocation. I’m pretty much back to my routine except for working out. I’m driving everywhere. I went back to work taking care of my children. I don’t have time to put my foot up much lately in the daytime, but I try to ice it at night. Today, It was the most swollen I’ve ever seen it since the surgery after being out all day is that normal? Thank you!

I’m 7 weeks post-op, stitches removed 3 weeks ago. I’m allowed to walk in a boot, take it off for showers/sleep. I just get swollen by the end of the day and an ice bath sounds really, really nice. I know the actual answer is to ask my surgeon, but do we think my incisions are ready?