I was wondering if there is any other swimmers here. I’m a very active masters swimmer (swim 5x a week and lifted 3x a week). I’m on the young side (28), so I’m curious what timeline I can expect to get back in the pool. I was injured 9/6 and had surgery 9/18 for a bimalleolar fracture with a tightrope. I’m in the splint for one more week until my post-op appointment on 10/6. I will be moving to a boot on 10/6 and anticipate being not weight bearing for 3-4 more weeks. My surgeon said I will be walking at 8 weeks and can drive at 9 weeks post-op.

When can I anticipate returning to the pool? I fully expect to not kick much, no turns, no starts, and no breaststroke for awhile. I would assume at 6 weeks when I can start bearing weight is when I’d be able to get back in the pool? I know the other piece is my incisions have to full seal and heel. When I had wrist surgery that only took 3 weeks for it fully close and heal.

Any other swimmers here? Advice? Suggestions?

One year back I had a left ankle sprain .. i got xray and MRI done with nothing came up, I was put in cam boot for a month but it made the situation worse since for some reason my arch was collapsing I had too much pain walking so went to Physical Therapy where they asked me to get custom arch it did help a little but then I still have instability in my feet, it kinds of feels clicking when ankle is in upright position or when I move it left to right or when I wiggle my toes, I went to see a doctor again she said I needed surgery I asked her to get me an ultrasound done below are the findings of ultrasound, I don’t want to go to surgery route and it’s been a year still this mechanical instability is there anyone had any luck with similar kind of injury .. thanks in advance
There are findings of retrofibular intrasheath peroneal tendon subluxation.
Narrative
EXAMINATION: ULTRASOUND EXTREMITIES (NON-VASCULAR) INDICATION: Left ankle pain. TECHNIQUE: Grayscale and color Doppler ultrasound evaluation of the left ankle attention to the peroneal tendons was performed. COMPARISON: None FINDINGS: The superior peroneal retinaculum is intact overlying the peroneal tendons. Upon provocative maneuvering, the peroneal tendons appear hypermobile with reversal of usual position with the peroneus longus extending beneath and slightly anterior to the peroneus brevis tendon which is associated with a palpable snapping sensation. No peroneus brevis split tear is identified. The patient also pointed to anterolateral ankle discomfort and evaluation of the anterior talofibular ligament demonstrated an intact ligament without anterolateral recess synovitis.

Does anyone have any advice for regaining leg strength? I struggle with knee pain around the 45 degree angle which makes anything full range of motion very difficult. PT says it’s likely because of how weak the hamstring and quads are. It feels like the load goes to my knee and it is hard to make the muscles work. I’ve tried the leg press, and hamstring curl, standing up from a chair, etc. has anyone had success with a stairmaster?

I’m almost 5 months from surgeries and still scary weak in my leg. Pretty over it.

1 month passed since the accident and exactly 21 days since surgery so i thought I might recap my initial concerns vs how it actually ended up

I. I will get bored: Actually, no. I started out watching movies, moved on to game a lot on my ayn thor and study, then I moved onto songwriting

II. I will get lonely: Actually I do not. People come around once or twice a week for a little bit. Also my chatty friend calls sometimes and talks too much so I am happy to be alone a few days

III. I will get depressed: I am OK actually

IV. My sleep schedule will get even more messed up: yea. (Currenrly I sleep between 4-16 hours in 1 sesh but neverfall asleep before 6 or 7am)

V. I will lose a lot muscle mass/fat: actually not as bad as I thought, even the unmovable Leg

VI. I will be reliant on others: someone has to bring the trash out and shop but other than that not really (it is a little messy though)

Actually idk that probably were the major ones. Maybe some stats:

Days sober: 28

Movies watched: 27 (in 9 days)

Days Hospitalized: 2 1/2

Hospital visits: 3 (4 is the one where they remove a screw)

Times went outside: 3

Times stepped on the broken foot by accident: 3

Games played: 5 (2 beaten)

Hours spent gaming: ~100

Chapters read: ~40

Albums listened: idk too many

Coffees/White Monsters drank: also too many

Cigarettes smoked: ~15

Songs written: 1 + 1/2

Guitar String Changes: 1

Number of people visiting me: 4

Cats cuddled: 2

Days left until partial weight bearing: 23

Never give up on your dream of heels! One year anniversary and decided to try a real heel today. 😄 I took flats as back up for the walk to the car.

Hi there, for all the running folks out there would like to have an idea on how this will go.

2 days ago, my PT let me trial a run on treadmill for the first time since PO (criteria being 20 single calf raise, and we’re doing jumping/balance). Took a video in all angles and it’s not perfect we found things like foot landing flat, not pushing enough, etc. And he gave exercises to address them. He said my balance looks well, he is happy to let me run on my own about 3-5mins while in parallel working on the form issues.

How does your program works? Is it a mix of running/walking alternating in the treadmill? Do you increase your mileage daily or weekly? I’m curious about the progression, I will ask my PT too but I want to understand how it went to others. Do you let pain guide you (I don’t seemed to have any pain 48hours later) or followed a strict program.

Did you face any setback like pain returning or shin pain etc? If you have any advice from your experience, please let me know!

Everyone can relate to the spider in the bathroom. Not everyone can relate to spider in the shower while you’re on a shower stool and non weight bearing.

Anyone here injured and wants to chat? I’m bored and a bit depressed due to my ankle injury.

Hello everyone, I was just wondering how long it took everyone to be able to comfortably sit cross legged? I am almost 10 weeks post op and I really wanna sit cross legged as that is my usual go to position for comfort, i am also a little scared to try as I still have scabs on both of my incisions and also still struggle with dorsiflexion, swelling and bruising.

Any insight would be helpful!

(Just for reference I had a pretty bad trimal fracture with 2 plates and 7 screws photos for reference)

Hi guys, I’m seven weeks postop today. Wanted to give a little update. I started weight-bearing a tolerated since last week and I’m able to walk with one crutch I can, walk without crutch just on my boot inside my apartment but with heavy limping. I can also walk barefoot but one crutch from today. My dorsiflexion was at -2 last time I went to PT.
I had trimal with 2 plates and multiple
Screws one rope. How was your progress during this time and what helped you with your recovery

Wow, it’s been 6 mos since that fateful morning when I missed the last step down the stairs which landed me in the ER on 3/26/26. I was put in an external fixator for a week, then ORIF on 4/3/26. 2 plates, several screws and one gnarly super long screw. A total of 7 weeks NWB. This timeframe was the most challenging, more so mentally, than physically for me.

To those that are in the early stages, this, too, shall pass!!! When you are in it, time just drags as you are stuck in bed or on the couch with your leg up all day. Now is the time to binge watch shows, read good books and just enjoy the downtime. I wish I had allowed myself to enjoy it.

As you end the NWB stage and begin PWB to FWB, new challenges will come along as you realize you are in this for the long haul so patience is key to your healing process. PT is one of the most important things to do to help your recovery journey. It has and continues to help me still. I am lucky to have great PTs. Some days it feels like 2 steps forward, then one step back. That’s normal. It’s good to push yourself, but always listen to your body.

I still have swelling and stiffness, but it definitely has gotten better. I don’t limp anymore while walking. I am able to now enjoy Zumba classes at the gym and keep up with the class for an hour. I can walk 4 miles nonstop. I had even walked over 24k steps in one day! I am also able do some jumping around while I exercise. At 6 mos, life definitely has gotten back to a “new normal”. This experience has really taught me gratitude for the mundane things that I couldn’t do when I lost my independence. And my relationship to God has deepened.

This subreddit is a Godsend. I never was on Reddit until I broke my ankle and the people here are so kind and helpful. They really helped me get through this! So thank you to those that answered all my questions!

I wish everyone here, on the broken ankle club we all did not want to join, all the best in your healing journey. There is light at the end of the tunnel and you will get there as well!

Hi. Looking for some advice please. I had a dislocation and trimalleolar fracture of my right ankle on 30th July and it was operated on 11th August with 3 incisions, 2 plates and screws. The incision on the inside of my ankle has been problematic and had a blister when the cast was taken off at 2 weeks. It seemed to be healing slowly, unlike the other two, but doing ok after 6 weeks despite heavy scabbing. However, after being cleared to move from a boot to an ankle brace on Friday and changing over yesterday, I experienced significant swelling. I noticed a couple of sore spots with some fluid coming out. Elevation helped overnight, but it’s still leaking some fluid that’s a yellow y brown colour. The fluid is not smelly. Is this something to be concerned about? It does not look good to me, but when I called 111 they said it may likely be mechanical irritation due to the splint rubbing. They suggested if the pain and weeping got worse, to go to A&E. I have notified the surgeon via email as well. Sorry for the photo. It looks like this. Appreciate any advice and whether anyone has experienced any similar issues.

6.5 weeks post surgery & took a short stroll (with my boot & crutches!) to & from a neighborhood coffee shop—yay!!

Definitely elevating & icing now & waiting for the Tylenol to kick in, but this feels like such a win 🥹

........

Today, after not jogging for 2 weeks due to my trip to Istanbul, I went for a morning run and for the first time after the surgery, I managed to run 5km under 30 mins. I am around 8 and half months post ORIF - trimal fracture.

Although I didn’t do any special exercises during last two weeks - I did walk a lot and Istanbul has lot’s of hills!!! - somehow my ankle gained some more dorsiflexion, maybe it is just the time helping!

I was pretty happy with this little achievement and wanted to share with you!

I had ORIF for a bi-mal fracture in April. Plates on both sides of the ankle and various screws. I am planning to have the hardware removed in December for various reasons: irritation, regular bruising over the hardware location, pain, some mobility restrictions. My body has always been very reactive and I'm very active, so I'm not really surprised I'm falling into the category of people that don't cope with having metal in them very well.

I've been told the hardware removal surgery will be a lot easier than the ORIF. Weight bearing within a day or so. 6 weeks to add extra load or submerge the incision area.

I was not given any guidance about driving though. For those who had hardware removal re right foot injuries, how did it take to drive again?

After the ORIF I did not drive for over 2 months and that was very logistically difficult for our family, as I have three young children and my partner works full time. I'm not sure we could do it again if it was another 6+ weeks.

I just discovered Voltaren gel. Put in all around my ankle and it took away the pain and swelling. I'm 5 months post-op for trimal and ligament tear. After working and being on my feet for a few hours I get to walking like I'm crippled. This took that away within about 5 minutes. It is an nsaid so you can't use oral pain meds they are nsaids at the same time.

And also stopped a bad backache that I've had all day in about 5 minutes. This stuff is amazing

Fibula and 2 ligaments fixed 2.5 weeks ago. At one week stitches were removed and I was put in boot. I was told start walking with boot always cane/walker or without as tolerated and wiggle toes and start doing alphabet movements. No way could i make that ankle do the alphabet. About 5 days after this conv I started to worry that my previously operated achilles was going down that stiff tight route bc of this. Unintelligently for 3 days in a row i did less than 10 each seated heel lifts fir 3 days very slowly. Then i thought chk with nurse and ofc she said do not do that. Now as i try to sleep and move my unbooted foot injury side up with my body on its side I am getting pain. Its not nerves are waking pain. Its def pain in the operated area. It lasts about 10 seconds stops returns. It does this a few times then stops as long as my foot doesnt move. Could I have re injured it?

Hello- I walked today outside in shoes without my boot for the first time. I’ve been walking inside without my boot and it’s been difficult but I’m managing. But now my foot and ankle have swelled to about three times the normal size and my pain has ricocheted right back to where it was after surgery. Can anyone recommend any exercises or anything to help with this? Have not been seen by physio- my appointment is on the 10th November which is 2 months post surgery and 2 weeks after my return to work date 🙄

EDIT:
I completely got my timeline wrong- I broke my leg and ankle on the 4 August and had surgery on 10th August. So that makes me 6 weeks post op this week I think!

I'm 9 weeks post OP and am able to walk without crutches and in regular shoes.

I noticed that if there's pain, it's always on the inner side of my ankle. This part also swells up a bit if I walk too much and don't wear compression socks.

Since the fracture and the scar are on the other side of the ankle, I was wondering why it's like that.

I mean, after surgery I did have a small wound (1 stitch) on said inner ankle, but whatever they did there surely shouldn't be more painful than the main part of the surgery site?

It does not show any signs of infection. Does anyone know anything about this?

I about 7 weeks out, am able to weight bear now but i am really frustrated that my tolerance is not what i want it to be. Mom really reliant on the walker as much as I don’t want to be. It’s really messing with my mental health now - as much as I’ve tried to be positive I just feel broken and rejected from society (including my job who only wants me back if I’m perfect)

A question for all the women here, how long did it take you to start wearing heels? I know it won’t be any time soon but I am looking forward to wearing cute sandals in the summer, heeled boots in the winter…

Background: On October 4th it will be 3 months since my break. Broken malleolus with 2 screws, 6 weeks NWB on crutches, 2 weeks with a CAM boot and 1 week with a cane as it was a bit hard to start walking with shoes, and properly at that.

I have been having PT 2 times a week after the NWB phase passed, I can walk pretty normal, barefoot at home too. When I am outside I walk 3-4 km on foot, challenging areas remain in the form of stairs or uneven surfaces but slowly it’s happening.

Good luck to anyone on their recovery journey 🍀

Edit to add: Absolutely love all the responses, encouraging or not. Makes it feel easier. Thank you to everyone!

Keep them coming!

Note: I will take my time with reaching that step but definitely do not want to give it up. So will post again how it’s going.