Hi
I Broke my right ankle that required surgery plates and screws 4 months ago and although im out of casts or crutches i still cant walk without hobbling or covering a distance . I am a post Lady so have no chance of going back to work . Im totally shocked how this has changed my life . I m wondering if i will ever be back to normal being able to walk my dog and horse again . Any advice would be gratefully received .
I so feel your pain! i am a year post fusion and bone graft March 2018 one screw was loose and was removed in May 2018 now another screw has broken and is being removed Thursday this week. Every step hurts. I chew pain killers. I am less debilitated as I can get around but limp, somedays i need a stick, but it always hurts. i get depressed and angry sometimes. it is getting easier but i did not expect this.. just keeping in touch and sharing is the best thing. if this op doesn’t ease pain I will get a second opinion. Have you thought of second opinion. lots of love to you
Hello Debbie
You do not say why you have problems walking so it’s difficult to offer advice. Recovery from this kind of fracture and operation takes time so you need to be patient. Physio? Exercises to stretch.and strenghten muscles?
Speed of recovery varies. Have you discussed your recovery so far with your doctors?
I had a very similar fracture and operation almost a year ago and apart from some swelling and discomfort in the evening after a lot of walking I am fine.
sorry to hear your challenges but as you say i can totally understand you feeling angry and depressed its so hard to just accept it because it puts so much of your life on hold . really hope your op improves things i will talk to Consultant this week . hugs to you .
I am 14 months post op ORIF ankle after a dislocation and traumatic fracture. Plate on outside and screws on inside. Had the screws removed 8 months after initial surgery due to nerve pain and numbness. I really thought things would improve after that but I was wrong. I work as a nurse doing 12 hr shifts and after 14 months my ankle still swells and hurts like crazy after working. I can certainly understand your concern. I am starting to wonder if mine will ever stop hurting. Maybe the ankle takes longer because it supports body weight? I pray this doesn’t turn out to be a career ender. Doc says to be patient, it will take time. Very frustrating for sure.
Hi Anna im doing all the exercises given to me and am booked for Physio
next week . i dont have any problem weight bearing but around the ankle is so stiff and painful when walking i thought it would have improved after a month of doing exercises . At what stage time wise did it all start to feel better for you .
hello debbi, everyone’s ankle recovery is different depending on age, what type of injury and how well your body recovers… the best thing is physical therapy and excercise. i want to encourage you to stay positive because it will get better if you put forth the work. the first 6 mths are the toughest becsuse hou learning how to walk and put pressure back on ankle i broke my know july 21th 2017 3 places. 2 plates and 7 screws. i understand how you feel. i’m back running and lifting weights everyday with any pain at all but i put the time in ..PRAYER IS THE BEST PART OF ALL
Hi Ken
good to hear your success story and many thanks for your words of encouragement i will do my best to stay positive and maybe take up praying .
Just takes time, I’m almost at a year. Still hurts, stiff, swells a bit, but this is a much better place than 4 months out. I figure in a year from now, it will feel even better. Patience, hang in there! ps: I wrap my ankle just in an ace bandage when I’m home, the support of it makes it feel 100x’s better - I can really get moving.
Hi Kim
I think ive found it difficult because i had no idea it could really take this amount of time and have read people being fully fit and back to normal life after 3/4 months .Although i am most certainly in a better place than i was and am so grateful i can drive and move around so i not so confined to my home , however the 3 main things in my life that being my job , walking my dog , looking after my horse and being out in nature is still as challenging . Thanks for sharing and i hope your improvement continues
Hi, I felt the same way. I would pop on here and read about people running at 2/3 months, lol what?! I really feel like age has lots to do with it, I’m 48, and it just took me awhile, and I was so frustrated to find out I wasn’t invincible. I really thought they would take the cast off and I would be buzzing around. After I passed the four month mark is really when I started living a more normal existence, you are definitely on your way. 
Hi Kim
im 54 so i do get the age thing lol . Thankyou for your encouragement it really helps keep things positive
Hi Debbie! I had ORIF surgery on October 31 for my left fibula (plate and 7 screws). I was cleared to participate in sports January 1st. I think by pushing myself to do what I felt capable of as I did greatly increased my ability. I was not offered PT or anything like that. I would recommend gently stretching out your ankle (ankle circles). As I was healing, I did a lot of calf raises in the shower. I have been able to be athletic and wear heels for more than 2 months now. But everyone’s healing is definitely different!
Hi Debbie this is Beatrice. I had a bimolleur fracture of my right ankle with a plate and 8 screws back in Feb. 2018. at the time the doc told me I would be able to walk by the time I was going back to work in April 2018. Long story short, that didn’t happen because I worked with children and there was no “light duty” at my job. Is there something else you can do at your job? Time to research that angle. So I missed the rest of the school year. I went back to work that September but my walking was slow, hesitant and I rocked from side to side lol. Had PT for about 3 months-extremely helpful. Try to get in some daily stretching and strengthen exercises. It will get better I promise. Keep moving and keep praying 
hey
youve done extremely well i wish my recovery was as smooth but like you said everyone heals differently im really surprised mine is taking so long because im a very active person love walking and being outdoors . ive been doing all kinds of ankle exercises so just hoping i greatly improve my abilities soon .
Hi I feel your pain i had surgery in february for dislocated ankle with trimalleolar fracture spiral fracture of the fibula and vertical and horizontal fractures of the tibia which resulted in a 9in plate a 6 in plate and 15 screws. Im an oral and facial surgical assistant my surgeon telling me i should be pretty much be walking with a cane by now in a sneaker at least 8 hrs a day… I can only get about 65% of my weight with a boot and both crutches the swelling and pain is atrocious and the doctor sais i dont need any pain meds its depressing and angering sitting here worrying about losing my job and not being on target… I keep researching other peoples healing stories and its worrying me im being a baby and not pushing myself enough
Hi
No Royal Mail can not give me light duties my contract is a walking postie doing 7 miles daily so i have to be at least 80 percent fit before they will let me back . I am doing lots of different exercises and have been from the very start . I can only keep hoping and praying i will actually get my life back .
Thankyou .
Hi Im 5 months post ORIF, SHATTERED ankle. I feel your frustration!! Im still limping and cant work yet. There is no light duties at my job either, Im a paramedic and we do 12 hour shifts, I cant get through the day without pain.
Have you tried going to the pool yet? That really helps with range of motion and feels good, Im going 2-3 times a week and physio exercises daily. Up to 2.5 limping k walking my dog. No matter what i do there is pain, some days worse than others.
Im 45 yr old woman who was in great shape before i fell 7 FT out of a tree.
Friends and family dont understand what we are all going through, its very lonely.
GOOD LUCK!!!
Hi
Thanku for your reply yes im swimming and cycling and things have improved which im very grateful for . There is still no speed to my walking and still have swelling and pain . my work have paid for private physio and that has really helped she is saying my joint is blocked and cannot be sure it will ever get back to the amount of walking i would need to do as a post lady so its looking pretty likely i will have to look for another job and at 55 fills me with dread lol . Sorry to hear you are struggling as well wishing you improvement soon .
Hi
please dont feel your not pushing yourself enough yours is very early on in the healing process . Im six months on and there is so much more improvement than when i was only 3 months in so dont beat yourself up this injury can take over 12 months to completely heal . I feel all the emotions you feel as do many others in our situation so your not alone . Good luck .