Tips for recovery with a broken ankle

[Justsamantha05]

Hello I broke my left ankle on both sides and had surgery on April 30th with 6 pins and two metal plates inserted. I was in a soft cast for a week then later put into a hard cast. The hard cast was removed on June 10th and i'm now in a walking boot. My doc told me everything has healed perfect and I can start putting weight onto my leg and hopefully be up and moving by the time I come back for my visit in 4 weeks. (its allready been two weeks) My question is how do I know if i'm putting two much weight onto it. It gives a little bit of pain when i put alot of weight on it but not unbearable. But i'm still afraid it's going to snap into. So basically doe's anyone else have advice on there experiences with learning to walk on your broken ankle again and can it break again just by trying to walk on it? my doc said I shouldn't need any physically therephy and i'm a very active person (well i was ) he said when i come back if things havn't improved he will then order physical therephy but he thinks i will be fine.. so any advice would be great!! thanks Also any advice on the walking boot, i truly think i would be better practicing walking inside with out it.. I don't see how a person with two healthy legs can walk in that thing much less someone like myself..

[RetroPT]

Sorry to hear about your injury.

I would definitely refer you to a Physical Therapist. To recover to the fullest extent you need a good rehab program. If you don't do rehab, you will most likely be left with permanent deficites in range of motion, strength, balance, or all of the above.

This period in your healing process is dangerous because you may feel that your leg is healing well and attempt too rigorous of an activity. This may lead to reinjury and followup surgery.

In general, be active, but don't hurt yourself. A good guideline is to listen to your body. If you put weight on your leg and it is extreme pain stop. The walking cast should provide support and prevent much pain. If it does not, it may be the wrong size. If it is the right size, use crutches to aid in your walking. Either way, you need to start walking. Another exercise that is useful is the ABC's. With your foot bare, write the letters of the alphabet with your big toe in the air. Do this 2-3 times/day. There are many other exercises you can begin to do and progress toward.

Also, to control the swelling after a workout, apply an icebag for 15 min immediately and every other hour as needed for pain. Whenever possible have your foot elevated to control the edema as well. If your foot begins to swell more than average over a day or two, this may be a sign that you are pushing too hard. Take your workout down 1 notch if this happens.

Bottom line- go to a PT and rehab properly

P.S. Don't neglect your cardiovascular fitness- try an arm cycler to keep your wind.

[craigh]

hi, 1st of all i am very sorry to hear about your ankle mine is almost the exact same, ive had 2 plates on one side with 8 pins and 2 2 inch screws in the other. I was in hospital for a week because of a alergic reaction to the morphene and also they thought i had "compartment syndrome" (google it...nasty stuff) it has been 9 weeks to the day since i done mine i was in a soft cats wile in hospital and a hard cast for 6 weeks although they had to change it 3 times due to massive swealing. Now to the walking part of things, i can walk around the house almost fine stairs are easier than walking on flat to me at the moment, my advice is that it takes time to regain confidence in your ankle i think i limp more than i need to because it doesnt realy hurt that much but its habit. If you are uneasy walk with one crutch (in your right hand if you done your left leg) but done realy on it. I also encounted some problems when i 1st started to walk with heal pains because of weekening of the bone....aparantly this is verry common and you just have to get thorugh it, there is no harm being done just horrible pain. if the pain gets way to bad the hospital can make you a soal for you shoe but i stuck a bathroom sponge in for a week or so (i know it sounds weird but it helped me loads so i dont care ) Most inportantly is your ankle willnot snap i was out on my bike riding for physio before i could walk, just listen to your Physio Therapist and unless your are like jumping over walls and landing on your bad foot (which i doubt you are) there is no real rist of rebreak at the moment...if in doubt make a hospital oppointment but say you just need to talk to someone...they are realy helpfull!!
Hope this helps,
craig

[craigh]

I didnt read all of your post before replying.......from my xperiance walkign boots do not help. Get a comfey pair of old trainers and try not to think about your ankle also you should of been given some exercises to do before leaveing hospital..DO THEM LOTS AND DO THEM REGULAR they are the key to getting rid of the limp you will undoubtedly have for the rest of your life if you do not get up and do them now...i know its hard but work theough the pain the rewards of walking fine, running for the buss, basicaly every day life is well worth a few weeks of pain dont you think?
hope this helps ,
again,
craig

[Justsamantha05]

Thanks so much for all the replies it has really helped out, especially putting a sponge in the heal of my shoe.. my heal was really hurting but now it barly hurts at all!! thanks

[Scottie B]

I see a lot of useful information, and a lot of reassurance that I'm not the only one. I'm definitely going to try the sponge thing, but I also have my 9 week follow up this Monday (October 19th) and will be asking about a heel cushion. I was worried that something was wrong with that part of my heal.

I was wondering if anyone else was having issues with the big toe? Or knows additional tips for fixing it? There is a lot of stiffness in my big toe and the connected tendons. For instance, when I flex my toe towards my body (Dorsi Flexion (?)), my toe points away; instead of straight up and down or the same direction as my foot. In the other direction (Plantar Flexion(?)), the toe points up and towards the body. I have been given exercises and stretches by physical therapy, and I perform them throughout the day. My instruction was that it is better to do the exercises and stretches at steady intervals throughout the day as opposed to 30 minutes in the morning and night. However, it seems like everyday is exactly the same. I understand that mornings might be a rough start, but shouldn't there be some overall progress from day to day?

The other issue I have been experiencing is sharp, sudden pains that are not trigger by anything to my understanding. I could do the one crutch hobble walk all day Monday and have nothing, but sit at the desk with my foot elevated or try the same thing Thursday, and I have have pains that shoot through each toe individually. I get the same shooting pain and sometimes in a spasm on the inside of my foot where it doesn't seem like there are tendons or much if any muscle. Again, nothing that I can fathom is triggering these pains.

I am wondering what can be done on my part to ease these pains with little to no medication. I just stopped taking the narcotics, because I didn't feel they were doing anything positive and why keep taking something and potentially get hooked if it's not helping anyway? Since then, I have notice neither an increase or decrease in pain as a result of stopping that medication. Is there simple motions or gentle massage that can ease the shooting pains? Or aide the nerves in recovery if thats the issue?

I appreciate any help, and if I may comment, I agree 100% with RetroPT that a good PT program will help. As long as it is done properly, I have seen PT regain range of motion better than not doing it. Although, sometimes it seems as though the physical therapist is going to kill you before make you better. But, those are the joys of retraining your body and mind to complete once simple tasks.