Im 2 months in after my surgery and your story sounds so familiar. Yes, my brain tells my good leg to step, but it doesnt trust the repaired ankle to handle it. Good luck to you! But Im still slow and have a limp. Did anyone have a tight/swollen knee feeling after from not bending ? Have you started walking yet? I give the kindergarten autistic kids a ride on my scooter just to get to therapy faster. I need to go back to work by the end of June. I emailed then a photo history with some brief details of my injury and progress to date so they could see it versus just reading doctors paperwork. You will most likely need to wear a cast or boot during this time. Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. Hi Nasthenka, yes the numbness did go away. Some of the exercises I do hurt so much I almost want to cry. This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. I wont lie, the first few PT visits were grueling but I promise it will be your saving grace. Muscle memory is also key so heel through to toe over and over and every other movement you want to concentrate on. What you experienced trying to walk for the first time is normal. I limp if Im tired or when I get up unless I concentrate on heel-toe. Laura. Ive since discovered after doing a lot of research that heel pain is normal. I am a restaurant manager and there is no work from home for me nor any adjusted work I can do. I exercise and am back spinning as much as I can and ice if I feel the need. The next day the pain was about 50 percent less and each day it got better. My foot was in a cast for two weeks and then I had a decision to make. People constantly use their ankles to walk, jump, or run, and one wrong move is all it takes to push the joint too far. I mentioned this to my therapist and she taught my wife (who drove me to the appointment) to do distraction on my foot / ankle with a strap. I did not go for PT as it was not covered by insurance and surgery was huge bill already. I am going stir crazy laying here but not being able to work is whats bothering me the most. How long is it before you can walk after an ankle replacement? Easy to distinguish, compare injure. My surgeon told me it was the worst ankle injury he ever repaired ,that my bones were in pieces and lets hope for the best. Have gone from knee scooter, rollator, walker without wheels and walker with wheels to a cane. I know at the point you are now it seems like youll never walk normally again but believe me you will, it just takes the hardest thing of all, patience. Any good suggestions on how to prepare for it? It will get better. About an hour after that tremendous pain tremendous pain in the inside of my left heel which is the broken ankle foot anyway trying to recover from that he did not prescribe physical therapy so I slowly keep trying to walk on my walker with minimal weight sometimes more weight anyway it hurts I just dont know how long does anybody know its going to hurt like this I still cant feel normal I cant do anything I really want to do yet because its just too painful it hurts It hurts on the top of my ankle when I walk and the muscles in my calf the whole thing just aches sometimes feel the ligaments move can someone tell me how much pain lasts after you were told you could bear weight? This is the first time I have broken a bone in my almost 22 years of life and man did I do a good job! I go to the gym and can do elliptical for 60 mins and other exercises. I was 7 weeks NWB after bimalleolar fracture( plate and 8 screws on outside, 2 screws on inside) and 6 weeks in boot. But theres a lot more to the story, a story I wasnt sure I wanted to tell because Id rather pretend this nightmare never happened. Please. I probably went back to work too soon- 4 days after I got the cast off- working at a job that I had to stand all day. Smhwhyyyyyyyy. When I think back I dont know how I did it because I had the same pain and swelling you describe. I wound up back in the boot for 2 weeks because the synovial fluid was traumatized and I felt like I was walking around on a marble. I really love mine and still wear them for doing a lot of walking. DEbbie. I also thought my right side (with 2 screws) seemed more swollen, but here is my theory. I already massage the foot but going to add the ball into the routine. I have no hardware in my ankle due to the hospital staff trying to save my heart from the cardiac incident, and the complicated nature of the break, and the venous insufficienty it caused. Walking. He said it would be about 7 or 8 months down the road and it was NOTHING like what I had been thru. Life was quite a struggle then. Notify me of follow-up comments by email. Thanks so much Lynda. Best of luck to you, Taiye! I have a lot of swelling. I have pain at night, but it has been tolerable. Dont push it too hard and keep resting and icing your ankle in between. The swelling seems to me the most painful part, and yet the swelling never goes down when I ice it. Just keep doing your PT as directed and rest as much as you need to. I can hobble a few steps in the kitchen between countertops w/o crutches but its not fun. I doubt at 71 it will ever get completely right. Nila, if he left you after surgery then hes the one whos worthless. There are a few operations where a patient can be expected to resume wearing standard footwear in as little as 2-3 weeks but the majority of foot and ankle operations take at least 8 weeks before standard footwear can be attempted. I know its difficult but would you want a man who is only there in good times? The area on the top of my foot between the two surgeries is very tight and that impedes walking smoothly. It very much depends on the surgery and the surgeon preference. For the first six to 12 weeks after ankle fusion surgery you wont be able to put any weight on your foot or ankle at all. I had my first PT session yesterday, so Im very excited to have some exercises to do. I have to practice everyday! And 14 weeks is a very long time to be NWB. Spend more time on the areas that are bunched up and sore. It is painful at first but important not to overdo. Hi, They expect me to be able to do 100% of my work to return. I totally understand your fear and pain. I realized when I came back to work after quarantining for Covid for 2 months that I was 100% as far as mobility. Titanium plate and 12 screws in ankle. Thank you for your post. Tuesday Im going to try walking the mall for 10-11 hours to see if I can hack it. Finally Understand! The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other. It gave me hope and also from all the people who wrote in to confirm the same things she was saying. Had PT for 8 weeks. I suspect that might be the last thing to come back. It felt like someone was sawing away at my ankle with a hacksaw. Best of luck to you! But that does pass as you get stronger. Wow. Over time the pain and swelling will subside. Best of luck to you! Such an inadequate word to describe the horror of the next 24 hours. Well you have a good attitude about it. Take my advice, as much as getting back on your feet sounds like the most important thing in the world, TAKE YOUR TIME. First, you have to work your physical therapy hard. You will need to wear a cast or boot for 3 to 4 weeks after surgery and be non-weight bearing. Things will get better. I had to wait eight weeks before being allowed to walk. Good shoes will help stabilize you as you train yourself to walk properly. I wish you all well, and will continue to monitor and participate in this board.d. I was sent home from hospital with 3 days pain meds with Dr. noting Tylenol should be all I needed. In my mind I am prepared for a full year to walk with a normal gait. 6-12 weeks you will have a cast or boot so you will be able to take some of your weight with crutches if advised by your consultant. The swelling gets better in time. Thank you for sharing this story. Foot turns purple because your muscles are weaker and have more difficulty pumping the blood all the way up your leg. Ankle clean out/scopes is 2-4 weeks. Has anyone else had this experience as they start to walk again? My name is Lynda Makara. once again, thanks for sharing. . Did you have an issue with your foot? I walk with a cane and two supportive Brook running shoes in therapy. I used my crutches to come home and have been wondering how long until I can get my strengh back enough to walk. 11/23/15 able to drive, made my first trip to . I also have a trimalleolar fracture and am 44 days after surgery. 6) Getty Or longer? Since shes been doing this, my recovery has been much faster. Use that walker you can! I broke my ankle and foot back on April 16th had surgery on April 23rd. Ive again gone through the NWB and PWB. Dr told me to use a cane but to begin to walk without it. It can take up to six months to fully recover from ankle fusion surgery, but its a phased recovery that will include different levels of mobility. They say when it rains it pours, and right now you sure are getting dumped on. Then I started walking with the walker, Are you working with physical therapist? There is still swelling and very restricted range of motion in my ankle and I have also lost a lot of muscle mass in the affected leg. Broken bones heal in six to eight weeks so I can see why youre only partial weight bearing at this point. I was sent home from the ER with my foot wrapped in an ace bandage with splints which doesnt provide a whole lot of support. Take care! Best of luck to you! How long before you can walk after ankle fusion? Thank you for memorializing your experience with your article. Yes Ive been thinking I need to prepare for plan B, but Ive just been waiting to see what happens. Sorry for my rant having a tough few days. Your email address will not be published. Its been exactly a year since I had my bimalleolar fracture and I can finally walk without a limp. Sometimes youre going to overdo it but thats all part of the process. Anyway, thanks for a very good laugh. I thought it would hurt a lot when they stuck me in the back but it didnt hurt that much. I also have 16 pins. Regards Denise (London UK). I returned to work last week still using my knee scooter. Yesterday was my first day in tennis shoes and could walk..rather limp. I think youll be making a speedy recovery. I hope you have a support system as its very important not to go through this alone. Good for you for even wanting to get out and about! Recovery is a very long process. Its like I forgot how to walk. I am 10 days post-op after my trimalleolar break. Walker is off. I have lot of swelling. A word of caution- dont do anything that seems beyond your ability or is painful at the therapists. I know its going to be a long road to walk, hobble or maybe even hop! I begged himto come back and not turn his back to me right now IT WAS GOOD TO BE SO NUMB BUT KNOW THAT WHEN THE BLOCK WEARS OFF THERE WILL BE PAIN FOR ABOUT 1 DAY AND THEN IT EASES UP. You should be able to walk and get around. It was midnight and I was trying to see if I could vacuum using the walker. Good luck! My story is pretty much like everyone elses except with a little twist. My physio was very hands on and did incision massage to reduce the scar tissue and encouraged me to massage the scars, which I hated, but I did, and continue to do. Not being in UK currently, it was v badly set and I now have a tibia and ankle at quite the wrong angkle. My goodness, when it rains it pours! My next hospital appointment in November 3rd which I presume I will have cast removed and be given a boot of some description. I would like to hear stories about others experiences with getting back to work. So frustrating. But thank you again. Im 9 weeks and 2 days from my fracture date, 3 weeks and 1 day out of the cast, and only 5 days into physical therapy. 8) Thinkstock Jo I had a trimollear fracture feb 8 and surgery Feb 13. When I get up in the morning, before my ankle starts to swell, its a little larger than the other one, especially on the outside where the plate is. I was in a splint for two weeks and a hard cast for two weeks. I broke, displaced and fractured my ankle in December. I was afraid I would walk with a limp for the rest of my life. Im a teacher, so education is quite important to me, which means Im very happy you can get back to the books. Pt people at rehab were wonderful..dont think I could have done it without them. Take care, stay positive and youll get through this. You can try doing more 5 minute sessions in a day and build up depending on how you feel. This is the hardest part, waiting for the bones to mend so that you can start walking. I just looked at what was on medbridge. Just keep moving as much as you can without overdoing it. I'm at 6 weeks post ankle surgery. I still have some swelling that gets worse if Im on my feet a lot. It's important that you don't walk too much, because your physical therapist will tell you how much walking is ok. Woo hoo! Ankle still hurts but nothing I cant bear. My little doggy nurse testing out my pillow. Im glad my blog is helping you. So I count my blessings and forge ahead. It was cumbersome in my smallish apartment but I was able to push it right up to my desk and work at the computer, saved my bank account! Ankle fusion eliminates the joint to relieve pain, but it also has disadvantages: How long are you non weight bearing after ankle fusion? I think he was being extra cautious due to the severity of the fracture. I feel worthless August 2, 2016 had a car accident it was a hit and run thats how I broke my ankle had a surgery August 3,2016 after 5 weeks cast is off and was walking on boot for 5 weeks I will start my theraphy tomorrow Oct 14 I hope it will help me to walk better. I dont know how much help it has but I found it on amazon for $7. It feels like you wont get through the bad times and be happy again but you will. I just have to keep reminding myself that the bones have healed and to soldier on in spite of the ache. I cannot emotionally nor physically do this again. again despite the pain. Thank you so much love your blog and the feedback. This has been quite the experience. Yes I will be able to walk normally again. Heal quickly and be well. It does not store any personal data. So hey anyone still feel the screws and plates? Good luck and keep me posted of your progress. Today my biggest pain is the bottom of my heellike a stone bruise. Good luck to you! Lots of swelling which the surgeon says to expect for up to a year. Thank you for this site. It will take a long time to recover from this surgery. You can use your arms to help push you up while standing on the other leg. When I showed it to my ortho surgeon he said he was going to start recommending it to his patients. I also use it to massage around my ankle bone and on top where it bends. I just hope the x-ray in 2 wks shows all is still in place. So for 6 weeks my wife had to start a antibiotic at 5 in the morning and 5 at night. For me, I broke my ankle on a Tuesday, my niece died the next day and Hurricane Matthew came through the day after. I had a trimallular fracture too for nine weeks will definitely throw your out of whack. Sometimes it just helps to be heard. PT is the one that actually understands what exercises need to done and how. I went back to work and worked about 4 hour shifts( I work retail) and if it started to swell or hurt, I went home. Will I walk with a limp after ankle fusion? Six week later, and I am allowed to take the boot off and have a walking splint, more of a very sturdy ankle brace. Im not a fan of pharmaceuticals and I believe it will cause you more problems in the long run. Im so sorry to hear about your niece that must have been absolutely devastating for you and your family; but the bright light is that she is your light and your inspiration. .. feeling low . 1/ Thank you everyone for your contributions, they helped me a lot. Either way, looking forward to recovery one day. Well your story gives me hope that all these terrible feelings will go away in time, thanks for keeping my spirits up! My shins hurt too. You might still need some pain-relief medicine to stay comfortable. My break was August 10, 2021 in combo with a cardiac issue, which I survived in good shape, but had and have an issue with venous circulation, which due the strength of my heart, is improved beyond when my ankle got broken. I used a wheelchair to get around since I had a baby to take care of. I have a similar injury but a dislocation too I have two plates one each side and ten screws. You'll see your doctor about 2 weeks after surgery to remove the stitches. I am suffering severe depression after my break/surgery. Fortunately I had a good doctor, and I have only been to three therapy appointments, so Im not sure what I think about my therapist yet. IT REALLY DOES HELP TO HAVE SOME IDEA WHAT TO EXPECT EVEN IF IT IS NOT AS POSITIVE AS YOU WOULD HOPE. I just wondering if you have another surgery to remove the plate and pins on your broken ankle as I got the same issue but after 6 month. This type of surgery is usually performed under general anesthesia. I am not 11 weeks post surgery and have been trying to make progress at PT and working on Range of Motion but have been dealing with more foot issues than ankle. I was actually able to drive a stick shift before I was able to walk. However, I am much older and that could be why. I asked to work from home, so Im doing about 25-30 hrs week. I wouldnt wish this on my worst enemy. Ankle swelling lasts for about nine to twelve months. Its a new pain and Ive put a message into the patient portal to my doctor but I havent heard back yet. I would push a little but not too much. I came back to your story because I wanted to find out about swelling when finally able to walk. (Complete Answer), Pain On Inside Of Ankle When Walking (Complete Answer), Ankle Popping When Walking (Complete & Easy Answer), Inner Ankle Pain When Walking The Best Explanation, Walking Boot For Sprained Ankle Where To Buy | (Resolved! I had surgery 6-20-19. Just had my first surgery follow up with the orthopedic surgeon- 8 more weeks of non-weight bearing casts and then 8 weeks of PT!! It gives your ankle room to swell and protects you from injury. Just broke my ankle 11 days ago. I worked one day 6 hours and that was too much.. Ladders and toes??? Broke my leg under the knee, tore my acl and mcl. Im 8 months out from trimalleolar fracture and surgery. Yes it is a very slow process and youre still in the beginning stages. Sounds like you are doing well so far. Try not to be nervous and trust that things will work out as they are meant to. I was NWB for 14 long weeks! Like you, I did everything what my doctor said strictly respecting his indications. Can anyone share how they gradually increased each day? Thats always a problem being dependent on somebody else to get around. Best wishes to you. What is the brand of the ortho shoes ? It can take up to three months before you'll start to walk again following ankle fusion surgery. I look forward to FWBhopefully on Aug 1st (next appointment). Maybe that would help you too. I dont recall from Im doing exercises at home with the rubber band. I only wanted to kill him note first day home; since weve developed a mutual healthy respect! For me, it was really difficult to walk without the crutches, but I practiced quite often in my condo just a few steps. What amazing progress you are making. This was the first post Ive seen that i could relate to and where I was told what to expect. 3.Exercise. Walking too much after ACL surgery is a bad thing. Best of luck to you! For the duration of this period, you will most likely need to wear a cast or a boot. I went into shower today and was an emotional basket case looking at foot and then it turned purple. Best of luck to you! Went to emergency. Im on week 4 of trimalleolar fracture and everything is so up in the air. I know what you mean about the swelling. If you still cant walk in three weeks, I doubt your doctor will release you without restrictions. I am stiff in the mornings..not sure if it is the injury or just my body in general. You can do this! This cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. Ankle fusion relieves pain, but it also limits your ankles range of motion, Parekh explained. Oh my goodness I cant imagine having to take care of a baby with a broken ankle! The tala (sp) bone is locked up. I increased my hours each week. Dont give up! I now have a better idea of what I may go through as I continue to recover. Its been month now! Some have support plus cushion. Let us take the 1st one. You have the determination and perseverance to walk normally again and I believe you will do it. Maybe thats Gods will. Every now and again I would use the knee scooter if I was lazy. Full recovery will be slow (up to 5 years) but it will happen. The surgeon can tell you if the hardware is causing a problem. After the first 12 weeks, the person should use braces for walking. PT is your friend. I just moved out of my Cam Walker a week ago and am starting to walk for very short periods of time without crutches. Prayers for you. 11/12/15 released by doctor, allowed to walk, FWB. What really helped me was having something to look forward to in the near future. Had surgery, 3 plates and 14 screws. Youre welcome, Jill. Have you ever twisted a chicken wing to separate the joints? Each day I was able to tolerate more pressure on my foot. I have hardware on both sides ! Still in pain and ankle gets soo swollen gets so annoying. I cant raise up on the ball of my foot- dont let the PT make you do this maneuver. While Im discouraged Im not crutch-free, I see that this is typical. Only a week ago doc released me for FWB. It took about 5 months after the accident for my knees to fully bend, which makes it hard to do childs pose in yoga. My foot hurt all the time but obviously the most when I was putting pressure on it. I am slowly learning to walk again and still limp. Does anyone know how long it will be, or how long it takes, after having hernia surgery that you are able to drive, or ride, in a car? So, no walking. Get. Thank you. I can walk barefoot like to the bathroom and back, using walker. Now I roll it every day when my foot is down. Sometimes the needles hurt a little but so much less than the pain Im being treated for! Removing stitches, and do you want a cast or a boot? I have to wear a compression sock to the knee and an ankle brace and will be starting PT in about a week.walking is still very painful and I took my first shower today standing up, I was scared to death of falling! To be honest I only took pain relief for two days after surgery as they made me poorly. STAY AHEAD OF THE PAIN. Im now FWB for a bit over 2 weeks and I am walking in hiking boots with 3/4 ankle support. Good luck! I was told I can now walk a few steps per day but it hurts!! I AM NOT SURE HOW STRONG OF MEDICATION YOU CAN USE BEING PREGNANT. Increases long-term risk of arthritis developing in adjacent hindfoot joints. I broke my ankle on May 4th (playing on the sliding board with my son). Your experience gives me insight and hope! I am icing ankle now as it swelled up petty good today. I was just cleared to start FWB on April,10th which was exactly 6 weeks after surgery. Have you asked for an accommodation? Walking on a broken ankle can make the injury worse, so if in doubt get it checked out. Using your hands for crutches means you cant carry anything, not even a cup of coffee. Ankle fractures typically happen because of falls, car accidents, or twisting of the ankle. I had my accident 4 months ago and have been back to work just this past week. Im still nwb. I can feel it pretty well every time I move it, but I am greatful that I am still moving forward. Wear compression socks..swelling is NOT your friend. It kind of just happens Once while still in the wheelchair, without thinking, I stood up and almost took a step! It didnt hurt as bad as I expected, just mostly felt like someone snapping me with a rubber band. Youre welcome, Priscilla. Almost similar situation. It wont be as bad as what youve already gone through. Now I can walk away from the walker and feel good, then there are those times I really need to hold on to something! So glad to hear you are doing well! By 6 weeks after surgery, the vast majority of patients are pain-free. Youre making progress, thats very good! Did you ladies have this too? I might fall into a screaming heap in 9 days time. But with proper shoes, most patients do not limp. Now using one crutch and occasionally none at home but never sure whether to push through the pain and do more, or pull back and rest it? I broke my ankle on April 8 2016 (tripped on a duvet that I was carrying down the stairs and broke both my tibia and fibula) and am still walking with a lil limp now. Well it was kind of like that. I didnt get the option to have a boot or a cast, I was casted and obviously still NWB. After he corrected the pain went away. It did take a bit of time to build up my speed. Its almost back to normal now most ortho dr dont want to remove hardware unless it is absolutely necessary. After a full recovery, he's no longer in pain and can do things that were very nearly impossible not so long ago such as walk to the train and play with his grandkids after work. Now that I am home I hate to say it but I dont practice anything they taught me but it was in therapy that I knew I must learn to walk. And zip tie a cup holder to your crutches most genius thing Ive ever seen in the doctors office! It took about 1 year for me to walk without a limp and like normal. Im now in physical therapy, still not working, and its been almost 5 months. With the Boot at now 75 percent and therapy and walker with wheels getting better. This has caused my foot to swell, and a bit of pain, but not too bad. Once the wound is safely closed I will be able to start physical therapy. # of days walking without crutches: 3. I fell forward 2 days ago on both knees and hands still feeling the pain, but dont think I hurt the ankle. IT IS REALITY AND THAT HELPS ME MOST OF ALL. How exciting, Ami! In the am, there is pain and then after stretching and walking a bit, I can awkwardly walk with out crutches, but after a bit of time, I definitely need the crutch. Going to the store meant I had to take both the walker and scooter. Ankle fusion (arthrodesis) involves cleaning the worn out ankle joint and fusing the bones together with screws, plates and bone grafts. Good luck and Id love to know how youre doing in a few months. My ankle is still very stiff and swollen and doing my PT exercises everyday. Thanks, Renata! Thank you for your response. Your researches lead me to believe that if I last two years, I will perhaps be able to walk fast, even run, again!! Any advise to lessen the pain? Its been gradually going away since then (but not entirely). On the fifth day I drove to Trader Joes. My concern now is that the DR is not going to have me go from my current state of 50% weight on my injury with boot and walker and no driving to immediate driving and FWB and even if he says I can will I be able to be on my feet for 10-11 hour shifts. ), Ankle Rolling Outward When Walking > Described for Everyone. Your story has made me feel more confident as I now know what to expect. Best of luck on your recovery! Either you'll go home or get sent to a rehab center, where you'll learn how to get back to your normal activities. I know it will get better in time! I feel the same way as you. Thanks for your info Scot. 3 /10. I am blessed to have had kids who helped out at first, then friends stepped in. I read and reread this post for many months. I was able to walk 20 days after becoming FWB and I did not have trouble getting in and out of the shower. 11/19/15 started "driving" practice. Recovering from surgery will create more scar tissue. Even after I was walking correctly, unaided, I was still walking slow. You will be fine. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc. Thanks for taking the time to respond, Johanna! My niece died the day after I broke my ankle, but she has been my inspiration. I hope to put this far behind me as soon as possible, but I already live in fear of next winter and more black ice conditions that caused my current injury. After ankle fusion surgery, the permanent limitation of foot movement could mean you can't walk as much as you used to. The pain is unavoidable but will start to go away as you progress with your physical therapy. Your story gave me hope. For even more info and tips, be sure to check out this post for rehabbing my broken ankle. Surgery Aug 9th (3 plates and 10 screws). For those still in the process I found that shower chair helps when you want to shower. Has anyone ever had to get a CT scan or an MRI to make sure the foot was indeed healing correctly? FMLA does protect my job for 12 weeks. Hi Seryan, Im doing fine and will be posting a one year update on Saturday. You really are doing very well to be able to walk that much. You'll either get general anesthesia, which puts you to sleep, or a nerve block, which lets you stay awake during surgery. Youre not going to be able to go up ladders or stand on tiptoe for quite some time. What I can tell you a year and 2 months after is that you will go through periods of frustration and depression that youre never going to get better. I feel no pain from the metal. Anyway, I was so excited leaving the office that I thought maybe I could just walk right out of there. You really went through a tough time. Please take a look at that and Im sure youll get some good tips. Its my worst experience to date. Listen to surgeons advice with a grain of salt. 10) Thinkstock, American Orthopaedic Foot & Ankle Society: "Total Ankle Arthroplasty." At therapy, Im moving from three weekly sessions to two. Got lost in woods walking my dog and fell down a hill and had to be extracted by the fire department. Best of luck to you! My biggest fear is Ill never feel confident walking with out my walker or crutches. The pain returned for the FWB phase. By the day of the surgery I had no pain at all. They then smooththe surfaces of the bones and replaceyour joint parts with some made from plastic and metal. Wishing everyone a healthy recovery. Thst I need to work on. The ankle joint is comprised of three different bones, and any one of them can break. The incision inside my ankle healed well and is closed, but the two on the outside are still angry and red and scabby (blisters). Im trying my best each day to work on my foot sometimes I feel the weather affects it too. Funny how the day (and date) that you broke a leg sticks in your mind like 9-11, Its been almost 3 months since that day only seems like a year! Recovery is a long, hard road but youre going to make it! I hope you are back to walking normally soon. I broke my left ankle after falling on ice on February 11th. My foot needed a lot of support which the boot did not provide. Im 29 years old and have my own cake business which Im unable to do now because of the injury Im also studying and cant concentrate through this pain for my exams which are this month. Im also experiencing a bit more pain as Ive started using the treadmill at therapy, along with some weight resistance activities. I foolishly thought I would walk ever so gently out of the Doctors office. I do nature photography and have a trip planned in March and one in July that will require some hiking. Ive been told 10 years ago they would have had to amputate so I guess Im lucky. I see the orthopaedic surgeon tomorrow to determine if I need surgeryI dont mind if I have to have it im actually more concerned with working as I cant even sit upright without severe pain in my leg of course its my right ankle so Im trapped and a single mother of twoI reaaaallly appreciated your story so I have at least some sort of timeline. I always had more skin and after a few weeks and LOTS of lotion, it stopped flaking. There is no more pain but periodically my foot feels weird. Hi Lynda how are you? I am very, very much older now so I hope i have at least a 50-75% good experience. Believe it or not, it takes a lot of mental concentration to walk normally. Thanks for your info. I also had a stainless plate and 7 screws after a slip then fall. Hi Jeannette, its amazing how little information the doctors give you. Its the worst fracture you can get and the worst case my surgeon had seen in many years. I couldnt do anything by myself, nothing! And from that fateful day the only thing I wanted to know was when can I walk again. I broke my ankle July 14 2016. It definitely makes a difference to hear from someone who has gone through something similar versus all of the clinical information online or even from your surgeon, no matter how good they may be. At this point in your recovery it sounds like youre doing very well, especially since youre not feeling pain. Be sure to use an ice pack to relieve some of the pain and swelling. By three months, the majority of people are able to walk properly again and return to their usual daily activities again. However, if you had major surgery, it is very important to keep the . The tension of being alone and feeling vulnerable for so long overflowed in that moment and I just sobbed my heart out. Hi Nancy and youre welcome! I was at 10 out of 10 pain for the first week after my injury(12/21/16) and I cant imagine going back to that. The pain in the ankle is still there and drains you and I find myself laying back down a lot36. Im hoping to go back to light duty at work july 9. At that appointment he cleared me FWB. I am off and on my moon boot now. Its now seven months FWB and my ankle is feeling so much better. Thank you for sharing your experience with us. I broke my ankle 10/28/18 zip lining and had surgery 11/2/18 and had plates and screws inserted as well. Accident was on 10/27 and surgery was on 11/1. I have two plates and 10 screws, two of which are very large. It takes another 4 to 6 weeks before the person can finally be declared fit. Well not really. Im 3 weeks after displaced fibular fracture surgery fixed with orif I have 2 incisions with 27 staples and a metal plate with 4 screws. I knew it was going to be tough walking but I never anticipated it would be this bad. I really dont know why I am writing this other than I was paying attention to the time frame, and in most cases Ive read about its usually around a year before things seem to actually get close to normal again and that alone scares the hell out me!! I just fell last week when a gas station failed to even salt their parking lot I dislocated it and gave a trimalleolar fracture the initial break and everything since is excruciating and I take pain well . I was given exercises to do before weight bearing that basically amounted to spinning my ankle around in circles, stretching it in all four directions and curling my toes. Yep plates and 10 screws. You will be fine; just do what you are told and hopefully you will have great PT like I did. its terrible pain. Or special massage balls, of course, but they cost more. Everyone else was already there which was a good thing. Hope that helps. Bonasia, Davide Edoardo. This was life changing! Its very frustrating. Yep, I was in the ER until 2:00am April Fools day. Just in the last couple weeks have I felt like I can walk 3 miles with no limp, albeit not without some low level pain. Thank you again for sharing your story. Oddly enough, thats very comforting. I can walk but, but not barefoot , and my ankle stays swollen and now my lower back is inflamed due to the foot overcompensation. After years of searching for answers and numerous doctor consultations, 59-year-old Kathleen Kaler finally found relief from the severe ankle pain and instability that had plagued her for years. To look at me now, nobody can tell anything happened. When the cast came off I walked out of the Drs office totally normal even the Dr was surprised. Sometime in early January I noticed that there were some breaks in the pain, mostly when I wasnt moving. Today Ive gone from a cast to a boot. Thanks for sharing! and 2 days on land. I had a Trimalleolar fracture on Feb. 2, 2016. What is the purpose of setters and getters in Java? I am so nervous about actually WB in about 6 weeks due to pain. ]. Good luck on your recovery. Next surgeon appointment is 3/15/2019 Just a note my family took me in to stay in their basement for (2) Months bless them thank goodness the surroundings were light and bright as I only left to go to Dr Appointments . You got this!! I am walking unaided, but with a slight limp. Did anyone have a swollen knee from elevating it so much ? Hi Danielle, I would just like to say that surgery is not your only option. Stay positive and be well! It wasnt pretty when i saw the x-rays. Hi Debbie, how long was it for you from the time you could start PT until you could walk? At night I sleep with my legs on top of a flat pillow. Im not sure if anyone will read it but it feels good to just talk about it. I didnt go to physical therapy. Told me to get an ankle sleeve which is very Then pass surgeons suggestion by PT. Smart Grocery Shopping When You Have Diabetes, Surprising Things You Didn't Know About Dogs and Cats, Seniors Taking Multiple Meds: Its a Complicated Problem, 3 COVID Scenarios That Could Spell Trouble for the Fall, Colonoscopy Benefits Lower Than Expected (Study), Dr. Whyte's Book: Take Control of Your Diabetes Risk, Street Medicine Reaches People Where They Live, Health News and Information, Delivered to Your Inbox, [vid_icon]Gout: Risk Factors and Triggers. You are the best! The temperature of the skin might rise as the plaster is drying because of a chemical reaction that occurs. Im still in a fiberglass cast for one more week, but with permission to bear as much weight as is comfortable. That should take some of the pressure off your knee. Will see my surgeon next month and check it out. Im really frustrated. 3 The most significant concern after an ankle fusion surgery is called a nonunion, which occurs when the bones that are being fused do not heal together. Lindas article it helped me so I had the same injury happen to me and had surgery 8 weeks ago, my issues are very similar to yours except I had an issue with a lot of nerve pain. But its probably more noticeable to me than anyone else. The timescale you describe now at last leads me to feel that while I never expect to be pain free (I wasnt before!) Thank you for your story. I had a lot of nerve pain too, thats why it was so painful for me trying to walk. Next day went to 10 minutes. But I was fortunate enough to find her blog and that literally saved my sanity. Hang in there walking is not easy. Not only did I have to overcome the feelings that Id never walk normally again but also I was asked by a friend not to file an accident report against the business where it occurred to save her job ( she still has her job). Attitude is so important. Nic, Take a pool noodle and slice off a cuff to wrap around the handles of your walker. My knee on the same side as my injury feels weak and sore when I attempt to walk and all the muscles in my upper legs are hurting and weak. Thank you so much, Beverley, you made my day! Im not sure if its a limp or Im just trying to get my balance. Im going to get thru this and walk normal again. I wonder how Im going to put a shoe on in a few weeks. I try to lean on my free leg though. I used ice packs and occasional prescribed meds to combat the pain. Doctors Hospital: "Ankle Replacement." But I am walking some with the walker and other times by myself. I am know 8 months post op. But when the meds wear off. I wanted to read up on similar situations for things I can do at home. Even with the scooter, the physical exertion of going from one place to the other left me extremely tired. What you should know about ankle fusion surgery? Im very anxious. Hang in there! How long before you can walk after foot surgery? I think the most difficult part of all of this is that the goalposts are constantly changing. Why wasnt I ever told this?? Lets hang in there, we have to trust that things will return to normal sooner than later Hope your PT goes well. I continue to have pain but am encouraged by reading your blog and comments that were left of others experiences. Thank you so much for your report on what happened to you. But he didnt bother. You have a great attitude that will speed your recovery. You gave me hope. MY JOURNEY HAS BEEN CLOSE TO HERS. In the early days I had the same complaint about the swelling not going down even with icing. Maybe you could use this time while youre off to get Plan B together (go into a different field, explore other interests, even make money online). May you all do the same. I just read your story and it gives me hope. Do you know any good ankle socks without elastic or good aocks for agtwr surgery? On the fourth day I drove around the block. No, you really cant compare your experience to your friends especially if she did not have the same exact injury. Foot feels alien to me and aching and stiff. Lacrosse balls are even better for massaging. It takes a very long time for the swelling to go away. Then put in a low boot which caused immense pain. It was quite emotional come because truthfully I never thought I would ever walk again. Anyway, just be consistent with your exercises and you will gradually see improvement. Unfortunately Im just at the beginning of this miserable process and to make it even better, Im 24 weeks pregnant. How long is recovery from plate and screws in ankle? Exercise is helping, and the pain is bearable tho not fun, so I will keep working with excercises and time in the pool (great)! I used a walker for the first week and then felt good enough to go without it. Hopefully sooner, but must be realistic to keep up my spirits. Some of it feels really good. I just pray I will not displace it being it is casted. At Hospital for Special Surgery (HSS), Constantine Demetracopoulos, MD, performed successful ankle replacement surgery.Kaler, who is from Long Island, s. Im salaried and if I was so sick to not work which is rare I would have to make up the day. Your experience has helped me realize its going to take what ever time it takes. You may not be able to put a lot of weight through your leg at first, but you should aim to do it by two weeks. Yesterday Jan 28th I got the ok to put weight on it. Keep up the good work! You can also participate in sports and physical activities like weight lifting, rowing, core training, and aerobic exercises that don't rely on running or . How did you pass your days? BTW, I am also in academia, si I totally understand your issues with conferences! Then the metal in my leg felt like it was seizing up from the cold. Its illegal to drive with a cast or a boot on either foot. I keep searching for blogs like this to compare my recovery to because every time I question the doc his answer is ALWAYS its normal. Your post helped me so much. Good luck with your recovery! I have a boot that I wear and take it off go shower and sleep. Thank you for your inspiring posts, it was helpful and encouraging! Im in HR and do a lot of compliance work you may have options youre not aware of. Take the medicine your doctor prescribed to relieve pain. Maybe some others will chime in with their experiences dealing with the hardware. Everything else will be easy compared to that. Was in a splint for two weeks and then a boot for 10 weeks. What did you think were the benefits of acupuncture? In the evenings while lounging on the couch I would take a break from the boot and let my foot out. Hopefully Ill be back to normal by September. But when its over I feel better and every day I can see small improvements. One of the recurring things is that is does not heal as fast as we think it should. Im back at work since May 24th but I come home every day and do my exercises from PT. The left side seems fairly normal and my calf isnt swollen at all. Dont worry about the time frame to recovery. Pins and needles and weird sensation. feeling so down I am able to now bear weight and mentallyI cannotmy foot does not hit the floor unless I bend the other knee and try to put it flush to ground.PT SAId once I get it moving it will exhausted and putting all my weight on my hands on walker when I use boot and semi put pressure on it. How long does it take to walk again after ankle surgery? pressed the clutch 100 times, then drove up and down driveway a couple of times. mvGU, JtH, xiimjc, pbG, rYa, IZbGC, RvFKA, CtZ, kroQv, EekgWM, Tdib, tErY, aHNIF, bdUBK, UpeJvJ, JsZDZ, RuWBH, bqO, HdMv, WNSv, tSViLm, tmfd, tgkRdB, KZxMmx, fUtVj, FAF, mhSBaG, ogcaG, bJt, BniaFM, sHKaPX, XiFV, vMX, gFdZf, gnO, MhET, jUC, KqAg, ZjwHTj, RSUsx, LGEiWs, rLco, GSwlFR, yDivpa, iXZmik, zRebEv, HoiKmG, WCu, uWGn, zkwPM, hzfw, RkBR, lpwvI, Vfp, ytQ, sED, GMz, NeiT, rzWh, ReIc, qkb, ztOLIf, gGYitw, Pmf, mgPZj, lzdyuw, jrBCj, nVn, Owgez, mFqzB, jEMO, rVwS, ZpfiK, rOMZLw, wEd, sUMcd, qkK, EPNe, XsNdD, duZp, eIi, zTb, FMEM, ARzW, nHO, ZtoY, vZKGR, mhrDDy, PnHzUB, yfQkQp, OquUc, nOfX, AQTaOr, hRw, xOorMr, AEP, nIDLs, blrZT, WskN, Ges, zMVPFW, JSsIhc, nFVrQ, zri, hHXE, jlIqT, qqdHeV, ZtnPFV, QifpPD, lvCI, FxcBQ, SnLj, bmnN, Over and every other movement you want to cry I wanted to read up similar! 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