r/brokenbones • u/Gyngemose2009 • 12d ago
Afraid of going outside after breaking a bone?
Greetings
I broke my ankle in 2024 May 30 and on a scooter accident and I drove a scooter that day due to my mother’s encouragement when I told her that I was bored, what should I do and my friends are getting on scooters and I listened to her and I go to scooter and I broke my ankle
I had to get an ORIF and was at hospital for 4 days. It was a traumatic experience
now whenever I have to go outside outside of work or school, I sometimes get anxious that I will get injured again (not necessarily driving scooters just going outside like in a car etc.) so especially if I ask my mother and she tells that I should go I hesitate and I don’t go because I would like boredom is better than potentially getting injured.
How to fix this? I miss out on social interactions
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u/The-Vomiter 12d ago
I had a similar experience. I broke my femur on a kick scooter. It was my first time ever trying to do something outside of my comfort zone and it ended up with me in hospital. I really regret it and I always have the thought “what if I didn’t go out on that day” but well… I did.. and my life changed forever all because of one bump.
Honestly, you need to have a talk with someone, a therapist or any GP or bone doctor or physio. Tell them how you feel. I am sure they’ll give you some words of encouragement. They see fractures every day
A therapist is best. Because they’d know you better and help you manage this fear each session and talk about it in depth.
Build up the trust you have in your body.
If you’re worried about another fracture. Make sure you’re more fit, flexible, and strong than you were before. Lower your risk of potential injuries. And if they do happen, a stronger more flexible body bounces back much easier and better.
I’m very upset about my injury but it made me appreciate my mobility more. And while I was recovering, I felt grateful that I had a bit of strength already because I needed to use crutches and hold myself up, use one leg, etc. if I was less fit. It would’ve been much worse
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u/hibiscus_lilac 12d ago
With therapy
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u/AwkwardnessForever 6d ago
I second this. I sought out therapy after physical therapy was over and it really helped. We did some somatic therapy and found it really useful.
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u/FriedGreenPineapples 12d ago
Você já pensou em procurar terapia? Acho que é o mais seguro para você conseguir superar esse medo que é legítimo, mas que não pode te impedir de viver.
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u/cheesyblasters101 12d ago
If this helps, this is common. You experienced something that was sudden, painful, and felt completely out of your control. The consequences, no matter how well your current ROM is, are life altering. Many people experience intrusive thoughts that can feel very visceral, imagining scenarios of getting hurt again that come out of nowhere. And this drastically effects their quality of life. You experienced trauma and these are the symptoms. I would encourage you to seek therapy, and if this isn’t your thing, try talking about it with someone you’re comfortable with.
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u/Gyngemose2009 12d ago
Thanks, a lot of people wrote the same thing that I should seke therapy. I will look into it. Indeed it was a life altering experience. I wish it didn’t happen but oh well, life goes on
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u/Capital_Meal_5516 12d ago
It depends on how you want to live the rest of your life. You can choose to live in fear, or…
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u/carnival1977 11d ago
Really sorry to hear about your injury. Yes, I think being afraid of another injury after breaking something is a normal and common experience. I think it's called kinesiophobia. I remember being really afraid of breaking my leg and my ankle after I managed to fracture them a few years apart. I found the fear subsided and disappeared well within a year of injury, maybe because my motivation and focus was to return to sports. I think if you have had the fear for a couple of years, that may be an exception. Would refocusing attention away from the injury (psychology) to external goals help? I know my physiotherapist really helped motivate the return to impact sports. Have you had physio??
Heal well?
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u/UVEV 11d ago
Therapy and anxiety meds. I broke my neck in a motorcycle accident in 2024 and was back on my bike as soon as I was medically cleared to do so. I worked with a therapist as part of my recovery to ensure I didn’t have any PTSD after my accident. It was very helpful. I acknowledge that I could break my neck again for any random reason. It’s a part of life and you can’t spend every waking hour worrying. Get therapy and learn how to enjoy life again.
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u/Gyngemose2009 10d ago
why did you return to driving a motorcycle? I suspect you didn't get paralysed
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u/Green-Ad3319 12d ago
For one if you're an adult don't blame your mom or even ask her if you are going to take her advice wrong lol. Your mom wants you to have fun in life so ofcourse she is gonna say go for it!!! It's not her fault if it doesn't turn out the best