Hi,
I had ankle orif surgery on august 17th.
I had a surgical cast for a week and then a hard cast and was moved to a walking boot on the 29th september however, i was told i wasnt allowed to walk or start weight bearing.
I would just like to know other peoples experiences?
I will be back to see the doctor on October 20th. No signs of being able to weight bare.
How long did it take other people before they started to walk again? and was it difficult ?
Hi Georgia,
Im a few weeks behind you, trimalleolar fracture and dislocated on September 11th, surgery on September 20th. 4 weeks post surgery today. I have 2 plates and 10 screws in total. Although i can't help too much i can tell you what i was told / expecting to happen.
2 weeks post surgery i went back back for cast cutting off, stitches removing, and moved into an aircast boot. After an xray I was given the go ahead to start range of movement in my ankle. At the moment this is only pointing up and down as far as can manage- which really isnt far /much at the minute. my foot doesn't sit properly in the boot, the heel rides up so i already know im gonna need extra work to stretch that properly when the time comes.
I am back in 2 weeks for another check up and x-ray and was told that provided the bones were healing properly i will get the go ahead to start party weight bearing then....
maybe you will be given the go ahead on October 20th? good luck! let us know how you get in. Thanks, Leanne
Hi Leanne,
Thanks for getting back to me!
My time has finally come, xray today and now I can start 50% weight bearing!
I've now been put on the waiting list for physio and will hopefully be able to walk with the boot off in 5/6 weeks. Long but amazing!
The doctor said that most people have a screw out at the 12 week mark, the screw that goes right through the ankle but i'm not too sure I want to go ahead with that, what do you think?
I was 7 weeks after surgery before I got the go ahead to start bearing some weight. Now I am 3 months out. The bones have healed. I am still having trouble walking.
Oh no! Did you have any of the screws out?
Are you still having physio?
ive not been told this (about screw removal) to be honest... but guess there's time, and i have heard others mention it in other posts. it was mentioned at some point in time in my 9 days in hospital that i could have all the hardware out in future but its all a bit of a blur now! I have done lots of reading on it and some mention about a screw snapping at some point...ouch and i think ive already come to the conclusion that when the time comes ill get them removed as looks like couple cause more trouble in the future- and im guessing it will be no where near as bad as the initial surgery. Where are you based? do you think you'll have it removed? The waiting list for physio isnt great for you either. Have you dared try anything today? gosh its a nightmare going through all of this isnt it?
Well I wasn't told about screw removal until my last check up Wednesday, they want to take the long screw out (the one that snaps). I asked if it would make a difference and the doctor said no, even if it snaps. So, for now, I'm going to keep it in! I can't cope with anymore time in hospital hahahaha.
I'm based in Wythenshawe hospital. How about you?
I've been trying to weight bare today but i'm so anxious with it! I either think i'm doing too much or too little I don't know where the line is haha and they don't really tell you much, they just expect you to know.
It's such a nightmare! How is your pain?
I'm in West Yorkshire, was treated at Huddersfield HRI. Shouldn't complain too much but i found info difficult to get out of them at times too! it's so hard to think about anything else, especially when we're sat/laid around for weeks on end. i cant believe that there's a waiting list for your physio- did they say how long? When i read that last night i got in touch with an old friend today who is a physio and asked him to help me, when I'm told i can get moving i really want to push. He's been very informative today giving some range of motion exercises to do and i already feel a bit better knowing i have the start of some kind of plan. My pain is much better now, i did stop all meds 4/5 days after surgery. The worst i found was 1-3 weeks post surgery when i was getting awful nerve shooting pains, thats definitely calmed down and my ankle does feel a lot more sturdy and less vulnerable so i guess that's a good sign things are healing as they should. Still quite swollen on one side but improving every few days. My whole foot is bruised a deep blue and that just started coming out this last week, but since that the numbness is improving also. Its one thing after another! How you finding the healing/ pain side? I envy you been a bit ahead but can also imagine how intimidating it must be knowing how far too push! i guess you can ease yourself into it can't you, i really hope you aren't waiting long for physio!! Keep me posted
They didn't mention how long it would be for physio, they just said it depends! I've been trying to get the ankle moving myself but it is still so swollen and stiff.
Don't worry about it being swollen still, mine is still very much swollen (still cant see my ankle hahahahaha) I think thats partially my fault because I haven't been resting as much as I should and have been going to work since literally 5 days after surgery. So if I can recommend anything I would say make sure you REST as much as you can and keep it elevated most of your day, it will def speed up your healing process.
My healing process has been hard because one of my scars wasn't healing and had to go on antibiotics for it. This just caused it to constantly sting, which it still does but not as bad. But other than that there isn't much pain, just a few twitches and aches. I'm completely numb around one of my scars also.
It's a sigh of relief knowing I'll hopefully have the boot off completely in 6 weeks but I'm not looking forward to learning to walk again, so much hassle!
oh no, what a nightmare-I really hope you're not waiting too long for physio!! guess im lucky everything healed ok on the surface then at least, poor you! What exercises have you been doing? Ive just started circular movement this last few days and mine is soooo stiff- not so bad with up and down, but im so reluctant on the circular stuff. its stiff but hey ive made a start, the movements are very wonky and jerky. We need to remember this is clearly a long journey we're going on and its a marathon not a sprint 🤣 although geeze.... getting upstairs to the toilet on my backside so many times a day, i certainly feel like ive run a marathon! keep in touch, be great to hear how you're getting on and when EVENTUALLY we're both up and about in some fashion! this site is a godsend for this!
Hi Leanne! i see you mentioned nerve pain, how long did this last? I'm 5 days post op today and the nerve pain is the worst, fine when im resting but when i use my crutches or scooter i get tingling pain in my heel and outside of my foot the rest of my pain is fine! i hope it eases off soon!!
Hi Anna, My nerve pain eased around 4 weeks post surgery. Dont get me wrong I still have a few pangs but its no where near as bad. I was prescribed amitriptyline from the GP for it but was too scared of coming off it to take as described. If you are finding it too much to handle you should contact the doc to discuss further. Codeine or oxycodone won't help as its a different pain killer you need. I was moved into a boot 2 weeks post surgery when the Stitches were removed and found this to help as i could take my boot off and physically touch my heel and foot. My heel was completely numb following surgery and feeling is just starting to come back better, Im 5 weeks post surgery today. Keep going!
ah thanks!! im okay when im resting or sat but seem to get the shooting pain and like a numbness/nerve ache in my heel and outside of my foot when im stood, although this isnt all the time! it seems to come and go. i had a nerve block behind my knee so unsure if thats the cause. i feel cramping too and just want to rip this cast off!! haha ill contact the GP if it gets any worse, i havent needed any pain relief since day 2! I have a 4 month old so resting all the time is difficult!
Hi Georgia,
I had ORIF on my ankle just over 3 weeks ago. i was put into a boot after 2 weeks but can't weight bear for 6 weeks so just under 3 weeks time. It's frustrating for sure. I'm very active so elevating my leg and not doing much is very hard for me. i take off my boot 3/4 times a day and point my toes, make circles with my foot and stuff along that lines and not getting any pain which is good.
i had a plate and screws but dont have any screws that need removing
Happy to chat if it helps etc, i find it does
Adam
Hi Adam,
Thanks for responding and I hope your having a somewhat ok recovery! :)
I have finally started weight bearing over the last week and it is quite strange but I feel some relief getting back to normal!
I was in a cast for around 6 weeks before I went into a boot so at least you got yours quite early and are getting to move your foot to try and loosen it up.
You get fed up of not doing much when you're told you can't right? Hahaha
Hi Adam! im going back in 4 days for my 2 week check, hoping theyre going to give me an option of a boot as ive had an allergic reaction to the cast so covered in a rash! not bothering me too much minus being a little itchy and keep getting a burning sensation in my heel, feels like pressure but it goes when i get in a comfy position. how are you doing in the boot? im finding this forum so helpful with other people going through similar! thanks
Yeah was quite pleased to go to a boot, when i do range of motion exercise it does ache a little around where the plate is for a little while after. hopefully once i start to bare weight the the exercise will have helped.
Yeah that's the issue when my ankle was fine I enjoyed chilling now can't stand it
so when I went for my 2 week check i had my stitches out and they just put a dressing on and boot, i didn't get an option.
The boot is lighter, i find it more comfortable to sleep in and only real issue which isn't an issue is it's bigger than the cast so having to adjust at first for that but its a small issue really. i try and get out a couple times a day to walk around on my crutches but as you probably all know that gets tiring.
I just can't wait to weight bare and get back to doing normal stuff asap, I'm very impatient.
Yeah im the same, I've got a 5 month old baby so resting is difficult, and im used to being so active too! Always on the go so having to rest is alien to me! Have you seen the scooters? I got one of those so I'm able to get out a bit easier without the hard work of crutches!
I've seen the scooters but think i will just wait until i can weight bare. Only 2 and weeks away. I'm doing about 5k steps a day with just 1 leg with getting about my flat and going out for a couple of walks, other than that just the usual elevating like crazy.
It must be so difficult having a child, well done and keep going.