So glad I stumbled across this forum. I had ORIF surgery for Bimalleolar ankle fractures 5 months ago. I have a lot of pain and swelling if I walk more than 15-20 minutes. If I push it, the ankle is too sore to barely walk the next day. Being I’m over 50 I am assuming my healing time may take longer but this seems like forever! Should I be able to walk more by now without pain? I’m starting to lose hope that I’ll be able to go for a nice long walk again.
don't be alarmed, 2 yrs Ago broken ankle in 3 places, dislocation, 7 screws, 2 plates and orif surgery!!!! i know the feeling but you have to push threw it wisely!! physical therapy was the best thing for me because i never dealt with anything like this before. i'm back to normal routine running, lifting weights and whatever else i choose to do but i had to work on it daily. i'm 50 yrs old so the age is not the issue . you will have to adapt some type of exercise so your ankle will get stronger and also not develop artritus . sorry for the spelling the word but you know what i mean
I am seventy years old in excellent health and just recovered from a trimalleolar fracture. It's taken a year. My ankle stopped swelling months ago. The only problem now is stiffness. I am having metal taken out in two weeks and can't wait. I will be in boot for a while and need pt but am anxious to feel normal again.
Yes. I was 57 old, when I had a trimalleolar fracture in March 2018. After 6 months I removed the plates and screws. Now, at 2 years old, everything is perfect. I was left with only the sensation of falling. You will be fine.Good luck!
Yes. I was 57 when I had trimalleolar fracture on March 2018. After 6 months I removed the plates and screws. Now, at 2 years old, everything is perfect. I was left with only the sensation of falling. You will be fine.Good luck.
Did you go to PT? Im sure some pain and swelling are ok but after 5 months I think you should be able to have less pain when walking I suggest speaking to your ortho and see if you might benefit from more PT Im 7 months post op and 68 Im back to walking about 3 miles a day I am stiff afterwards but not in pain Good luck
Thanks so much to for all your replies! So nice to hear from you all! Yes. I am still in PT. I guess I didn't realize how long recovery would be but there's a lot of metal in there. ( plate & screws on one side, screws in the other). I had surgery in a different state, so followup care locally by a different surgeon has been challenging. I'll keep going to PT and try to stay positive. It seems like most people have the hardware removed but this was never mentioned to me. The thought of another surgery seems daunting.
I have had nothing but positive responses from everyone that has had metal removed. The surgery is in an out patient facility. The recovery is quick and pt should be helpful. The only thing is I'm overly careful when walking. This is something I hear is normal from everyone that's been through this.
hi, i have done the same as you in December, since weight baring about 4 wks ago and physio I am in unbelievable pain, saw physio frid who has told me to back off, but i still think something is amiss, ive done 3 days of nothing & still agony - did you experience anything like this?
im 3 months in and have been told they will not remove my "metal" work as its just more surgery. im in agony most days - its all been an eye opener!!!
At three months I was a mess and miserable. Now a year out and I'm doing great. Just having stiffness which will stop when metal is removed. Surgery in boot for a month and some pt. Only hear positive things so I'm very happy:
my doctor told me if the metal is not causing any problems leave metal inside
That is true. If the metal is not bothering you leave well enough alone. In my case I have stiffness and going down the stairs is one foot at a time because of stiffness. When metal is removed it will feel like I did before accident.
so true if its not bothering you leave well enough alone
However the stabilizing screw which went entire length of my ankle (joining one side to other) limited my ROM and just like Jessica I had difficulty walking down stairs
Removed about one month ago and was a quick procedure Had to wear boot again for 2 weeks but I only used it for about 10 days
I can now walk downstairs using both feet
I still have screws that are in bone of my ankle That is a little more involved to remove and for mow they arent bothering me
I feel your pain. I am almost 5 months post-op with a plate and 7 screws on my fibula and a massive screw in my tibia plus the worst ankle dislocation of a 34 year old my surgeon had ever seen. I returned to work at the beginning of February for half days (teacher) and everything was find for a week and a half and then all of a sudden I started to get burning pain on the outside of my foot and the top. The pain is so bad that I haven't been to work in over a week and I can barely move without tearing up. I have a high pain tolerance but this is something I have never experienced before. I have been told to push myself and eventually the pain will go away but it's tough mentally to do that. I am finishing up my physio coverage so that worries me that I may not be able to work through the pain. It's such a mental game. I didn't expect this at all.
That is so encouraging. Thank you!
I know what you are going through. Five months post op is still a time that you are not going be yourself. It really does take a year to feel pretty normal. The pain will lesson in time. I put on sneakers first thing in morning.I used a balance board like the one at pt. I found this really helped me. I don't use anymore. Good luck!
i can totally relate, very similiar situation, im not soft but never known pain like it & its not pt pain. ive been referred back to consultant
Holmshei sounds like we are on the same path! I agree "something I have never experienced before." I didn't expect this to still be so painful. It really interrupts your life. Sounds like we will get through this - eventually. Hang in there!
I just asked today for a referral to a different surgeon for review. My original surgery was out of state but I feel like I would like a CT scan or at least a local top doc telling me I'm heading the right way. I'll post whatever I find out