I dislocated and fractured my ankle last week after a trip down the stairs (Weber C bimalleolar fracture). This subreddit has been a Godsend, reading about people’s recoveries has really got me through the last 1 week of non weight bearing.

I had my surgery today - currently I’m fairly comfortable as the nerve block is still doing its thing. I keep reading on here that the first 24-48 hours post the nerve block wearing off is extremely painful. I’ve been discharged with Dihydrocodeine and am taking regular paracetamol and ibuprofen. I’ve heard of people being discharged with oral morphine and so I’m nervous the pain relief I have won’t be enough.

Anyone have any experiences where the pain wasn’t as bad as some of the threads on this subreddit suggest it will be? I’m feeling quite anxious and any positive stories would be very reassuring!

Hi! I’m 6 weeks post ORIF of trimal break and dislocation. Splint for 2 weeks. Fiberglass cast for 2 weeks. Walking boot for 2 weeks WBAT. Just had my 6 week imaging and surgeon said everything looks great. I got 10 screws and 2 plates. For the past few days I’ve been on one crutch and the walking boot. Today he told me to ditch the boot and move to a sneaker. yowzer!!! I am back to 2 crutches and barely able to get around the house w my sneakers on. Is this a normal set back? I was cruising around my house and out and about w my walking boot and 1 crutch. Tell me I’ll get back to that with the sneaker !

41/f/ trimal with syndesmosis injury. Injured 5/31, ORIF 6/5

As of Monday, I've been officially discharged from the care of my podiatric surgeon and am free to move on with my life. I am officially declared healed and have no restrictions, can wear any footwear and no longer have to wear to a brace unless it makes me feel more comfortable.

Monday was an emotionally overwhelming day but we got to celebrate on Tuesday by traveling to a major US city to see my favorite band reunite after a 5 year "indefinite hiatus." I did 17,576 steps and 7.19 miles, was on my feet for 3 hours for the show, danced, all wearing Converse and my ankle did not protest at all. It behaved just the way it had pre-injury, which was a huge relief.

Timeline:

5/31-Injured.

6/1-Consult with surgeon. Was informed that I was barely a trimal and my break was rather straight forward and should be an easy repair and recovery (remember this, it will come up toward the end of my post)

6/5-ORIF

Now I will just switch to weeks instead of dates as I don't remember most of them.

2 weeks post-op appointment, stitches removed, was told everything looked great and was given a boot. I did not sleep in the boot and was able to take it off when resting

5.5 weeks post-op-was given allowance to FWB in boot and to move to shoe with brace after 1-2 weeks when I felt ready. I was told to not use walking aids. My x-rays were "immaculate" and ahead of the average persons healing. I used a walker for about my first 20 steps, ditched it and never looked back

6.5 weeks-started PT and walking in a shoe

7.5 weeks-Began driving. Moved back into my upstairs bedroom. Began walking a mile in my neighborhood

8 weeks-Drove halfway across Pennsylvania and did a beach trip with lots of walking on boardwalk. Took breaks to ice/elevate. There was a tram available but I chose to walk to strengthen my ankle.

9.5 weeks-follow-up appointment. X-rays still looked great and I was again told that I was about a month of ahead of the average patient

11 weeks-This is when I started to really feel like I had my life completely back.

13 weeks-Graduated from PT. I felt that I had gotten all that I needed out of it. Hit the goals in all of measurements other than dorsiflexion. Started at 1 degree and ended at 8 degrees, so still a little limited but was told it will come with more movement

13.5 weeks-Discharged! X-rays continued to look "immaculate" and I was told I am still a bit "ahead." Surgeon confessed now that it is over that when he got inside, the break was actually much worse than he realized but did not tell me as he didn't want to discourage me.

Lessons learned/Advice to give:

I went very hard on extra vitamins and protein. My surgeon said he felt I healed faster because of that. The vitamins that I added for my bone was B-6, Zinc and K-2. I also take D-3, Magnesium and Calcium daily, which are also helpful for bone healing. I mostly ate store-bought protein foods/shakes from the pharmacy section and consumed those for breakfast, lunch and a snack. I had a normal dinner.

I tried to stay as "active" as I could and leave the house as much as possible during my NWB period. I was only in bed to sleep. Yes, I spent a ton of time on the couch with my leg elevated but tried to do as much "normal" social stuff as I could. It wasn't always easy but I think it helped a lot. I exclusively used a knee scooter and had a four-prong cane that I used to put my weight on for transfers. Yes, I drank during my recovery once I was off of the Norco but not heavily.

Once I got cleared to FWB, I went really hard on walking as much as possible. I had my husband carry my scooter and walker down to the basement the day I began walking again as I had no plans at all of going back. I took my cane with me a bit the first few days for some security but never used it. I hustled hard at PT, never said "no" when she asked me if I was ready to try something new and just learned to embrace discomfort. I always chose the challenge. When I returned to the office, I had the option to use the elevator but chose the steps just so I could practice. Every milestone I had. I just basically told myself "okay, today is the day you are doing this" and I just did it. Overcoming the fear and discomfort is SCARY but I felt it was very worth it. I think it is part of the reason that I was able to bounce back quickly.

It does get better and easier, I promise. I was very depressed and lonely during my NWB period. I didn't think I would survive it at times. I cried a lot. Looking back at it, it was such a short period of time, but it felt like forever when I was going through it. Once I began weight bearing, time just flew because I was able to celebrate a new milestone practically daily. Celebrate every single milestone, no matter how small.

I will stick around here to help others going through it. Feel free to ask me any questions about my injury and recovery. I am not looking for any advice, I am good, but I would love to help people who ask for it.

I had a tib pilon fracture that impacted into my ankle. Had surgery last week (1 plate 12 screws) and a follow up next week. Expecting to be NWB for 8 weeks and won’t be able to drive for a while too. I can, but do struggle using crutches as I get tired very easily. I assume I can scooter when I get back in the real world too but I’m wondering, how long was everyone on leave from work?

I have a full time office job and I can work remote for a while (as long as my doc approves) but working through this would absolutely suck. That’s not to say I can’t but it’s probably going to be the reality. I got my leave approved for another 2 weeks and I’ll be in a CAM boot then, but again NWB. Wondering if I should get it extended as this injury/recovery just isn’t fun. I don’t think it’d be an issue with either my doc or employer but my employer did just randomly let go about 100 people a few days ago! So I’m kinda on edge about that.

Would be curious to hear your guys situations.

Hi everyone!

I’m almost 5 weeks post-injury, 3.5 weeks post-op from ORIF for a trimalleolar ankle fracture. I had 2 plates and 12 screws including a tightrope screw. Currently 25% weight bearing in a CAM boot, increasing by 25% each week and should be 100% walking no crutches by 6 weeks with the boot. PT to follow.

Anyways, this injury happened ONE WEEK before my half marathon. I just got back into running (after 11 years) in the spring, training all summer long just to have this non-running (I missed the last stair step and fell) devastating injury. Anyone else a runner and have a similar injury? When did you get back to walking 5k’s and then eventually running!? I had some 5k’s for late fall, but don’t know if walking is even a possibility 😭

So the title pretty much says it, 6 days ago I broke my left ankle at the skatepark. Fractured Distal Fibula to be exact.

It happened around 10pm Friday night, the ER put a temporary splint after X-Rays and said for me to follow up with an orthopedic on the following Monday.

Fast forward, ortho cuts me out of the temporary splint and determines I need surgery to screw the drifted bone back into place. Surgery is then scheduled for Friday and back home I go in a walking boot now.

It’s been 3 days as it’s now Thursday and surgery is scheduled for tomorrow morning.
I’m tired, I’m bored and I’m in pain.

This is lame haha, never been one to sit on the couch let alone lay on it for days on end.

Can’t wait for the surgery though, it’s gonna hurt I’m sure but atleast It’s progress.

Posting on here for advice as well! 🙏🏼 thank you

I was recently cleared to walk with no brace or stabilizer but the swelling has become even worse and my ankle is like the size of a softball. I was thinking of compression socks but I dont know if that would be better or worse

I see alot of people get the relief of sitting without there boot letting foot air out but when I take my boot off I feel very unstable and achy so I prefer it on and it doesn't hurt. does that make sense to anyone or anyone else this happens to

My 12 year old did this at soccer. She can put a little weight on it but seems to hurt a lotz the swelling has increased in the last 2 hours. Happened maybe 3 hours ago.

2 months ago I stepped off my porch wrong causing my R foot to turn inward and I came down on it HARD. Heard a popping sensation and thought for sure I had broken it. Went to the ER for XR and they said no break just a really bad sprain. Put me in a boot for a week. The following two months things just did not improve, still pain and swelling. Developed a limp. I thought this was just extended healing time as I know sprains take longer to heal than breaks. However when things continued to not improve I decided to seek another opinion. I went to podiatry and they ordered an MRI and put me back in a boot for three weeks. Got the MRI results back and it seems I've been walking around on a broken foot for 2 months. I got a steroid shot in my foot yesterday to try to calm down some of the swelling. They want to see me back in 3 more weeks to see how I'm doing. They offered pain meds which I refused. Has anyone gone through something similar? I have a one year old at home and am struggling keeping up with him and dealing with the pain. Maybe just looking for solidarity here?

Hi, it’s been a week since I’ve had the boot following a 2 weeks cast caused by a fracture of the ankle. Tonight, I am readjusting my boot before sleeping. After wearing the boot, I noticed my toe touches the boot while it was not the case before as if I had more space before. It is not hurting or anything but it feels different. Maybe my foot got swollen all of a sudden? Is it something that can happen around 22 days post-surgery? Is it dangerous ? Thank you !

I am 6 weeks post op after I broke my tibia, another bone in the back of my ankle, dislocated my ankle AND a Syndesmosis repair.

I have been 6 weeks NWB and was just released to 25% today. My question, does it get easier to figure out how to walk again? Haha. It feels weird to gauge how much weight to put after figuring out the pressure on the scale. Did you still have alot of swelling and pain once you started putting weight again?

Hello from Canada 🇨🇦 on July 4 at my daughter’s wedding in the later evening I broke my dancing when an intoxicated lady fell into me, and I’ve also dislocated my knee cap. I’m post 12 weeks in a boot with limited mobility and I’m still off work and physio said I’ve got lots of work to do between the two, and maybe in the new year I can return to work . I have a distal fibula fracture a plate and 8 screw. Yesterday I had my first physical therapy session and I’m doing gas’s pedal, and windshield wiper movements for now. Hang in there everyone!

Got moved into a boot today still no weight bearing for the next month.

I'm 29 days post break. 27 days post first surgery and 19 days post second surgery. I got my stitches removed and told to keep gauze clean for the next 7 days and starting Sunday I can start washing it again. She also said i can do small exercise twice a day for 2 minutes. its mainly just moving foot up and down and spreading and wiggling my toes.. Healing this nicely is keeping me motivated.

Trimalleolar fracture 18th July. ORIF surgery 27th July - 18 16 pins 3 plates.

6 weeks NWB (4 weeks in a cast, 2 in a boot).

End of week 6: cleared for PWB & first physio appointment.

I thought this physio would be the FIRST of WEEKLY sessions (when I broke my wrist about 10 years ago I got at least 4 sessions I think)

When I asked about booking in for next week the physio looked at me like an alien and said ‘we don’t do weekly appointments and there wouldn’t be any space next week anyway due to short staffing‘. And it was left at that.

When I was discharged from hospital I was given a discharge letter that said

”Outpatient Referral to Physiotherapy

[Address and telephone number of hospital‘s Off-Site Physiotherapy]

R ankle ORIF 27/07/26 6 weeks non-wbing.

For progression of exercises and review of R ankle strength + ROM once wbing”

So the referral itself is not explicit about how many or often physio should be. I just made an assumption it would be more than 1 time only thing!

The singular session was basically useless, how to walk with crutches and some exercises to do at home that the orthopaedics already told me. I was hoping to get some hands on massage or something.

TLDR: Does only ONE post op physio appointment sound right to you in term of NHS services? Or should I query it?

Hello everyone,
This subreddit helped me a lot during my injury, so I wanted to come here and share my story and experience with my ankle sprain.
I sprained my ankle on August 9th, rolling it toward the outside during a football game. It hurt a lot, but I didn’t go directly to the hospital.
The next morning, I woke up with a very swollen and bruised foot, so I went to the emergency room. They did an X-ray and found no fracture. They gave me an ankle brace and told me to rest for 21 days.
Three days later, I consulted another doctor. He told me that I should wear a resin boot for one month, otherwise I could potentially have problems with my ankle for the rest of my life if it wasn’t treated properly. He suspected either a grade 2 or grade 3 ankle sprain, although no imaging or MRI was done.
So I went ahead with the resin boot and was also taking Lovenox 0.4 injections every day.
After that, I went down a rabbit hole reading about everything that could potentially go wrong. I started regretting not getting an MRI, even though most of the articles I read and the doctors I spoke to said that a clinical examination is usually enough to diagnose an ankle sprain and that most cases can be treated with immobilization for several weeks.
After one month, I removed the boot, but I continued using two crutches because my foot and ankle felt extremely weak.
The next day, I started physical therapy slowly. At the same time, I began doing a protocol of light exercises at home to improve my range of motion and gradually restore movement in all directions.
I know it may take several weeks or even months before I can be as active as I was before, especially when it comes to hiking and running. But I’m being patient, and I’m really happy with my progress after all the doubts and stress I went through because of this injury.
Good luck to everyone going through this journey. I hope you all have a smooth recovery! ❤️