After 6 weeks in cast for broken ankle ( I fractured it in 3 places, tibia, bottom of fibula and tibia and dislocated, falling down stairs but no surgery) had cast off Monday and given an air boot to wear outside. Dr said not to wear inside and to try and move my foot etc as much as possible, but it is really painful and really stiff so can only move it a little forwards and backwards , and getting really panicky that I won't be able to walk again! I've been partial weight bearing (very slightly!) with boot on and crutches , I'm waiting for my physio appointment now, but really worried it shouldn't be this painful, stiff and swollen after 5 days.
Hi julie44783
I'm just over 8 weeks post op have 2 plates and 12 pins in right ankle. I was non weight bearing in cast for 3 weeks and 5 weeks in walking boot partial weight bearing. Have been out of the walking boot for 5 days now. When I got the cast off doc told me to try flexing ankle and rotating it every few hours to get range of movement back. My ankle was very stiff to begin with but I'm getting slightly more movement in it slowly. have just been referred for physio but told it will take 4 weeks and have been given exercises from physio thru my work in the meantime. I understand how u feel as my ankle has swollen a lot the more I walk but I'm just elevating it which is helping and taking painkillers. Its going to take longer than I thought to get range of movement back and to walk properly but just got to be patient (which doesn't come easy to me!) I'm sure once u start physio you'll see improvement. Good luck with ur recovery
Hi thanks, so are you weight bearing or just partial without your boot, and on your crutches still? I've tried resting my foot on floor but that's about it , it's so stiff and won't bend upward properly so it's like I'm standing on a slope! It just feels way too painful to put anymore weight on it yet which is really frustrating!!, so I'm just sticking to crutches and nwb indoors. Also were you toes really stiff and swollen , I can hardly bend mine.
he
he bath! - really fed up now of only having one good leg!) also was your toes really stiff as well , I can hardly bend mine don't know if it's because of well the swelling as well
I'm almost full weight bearing with the crutches But can't walk without them. I was like u and put my foot on the ground at first. Can now go up and downstairs on crutches (was on my bum when wearing the boot!) I was terrified once the boot came off and I've had to buy a size bigger in trainer due to swelling. I had bit of discomfort at first but not pain. Nurse said if I tried to walk and it was too sore then to go back to wearing the boot and try again in a few days. Toes I can flex both ways now but that has happened over few weeks. When I first started to flex foot it hardly moved at all but there is definite improvement now. I thought once the bones has healed and the boot was off i'd be walking straightway but Ive checked online and seems to take about a month to get from FWB to one crutch then no crutches at all. The physio I spoke to thru my work also told me to alternate between bucket of ice water and warm water, put foot in for 2 mins each and whilst in the warm water to try to move ankle as the heat helps. Do this for 20 mins. And elevate leg above level of ur heart. And to massage ankle from the toes upwards and that will also help with the scar tissue. I'm not due back to the ortho clinic until January and I felt as if I'd been abandoned a bit but I've just got to keep doing my stretches and hopefully when u get physio on Nhs I'll have better range of movement.
Thanks, I will try the ice water then warm water. I know it's going to take time and I've got to be patient. I think I'm just having an 'off day' today and feeling sorry for myself!! Good luck with your recovery too.
My emotions are all over the place too. Was feeling good at start of the week after getting out of the boot but last 2 days feel as if I'm going backwards. So know how u feel. But know I'll get back to normal eventually. Take care and good luck 😀
Hi Julie
You can expect pain for the next 6 months to a year.You will come right in the end.
Massage and exercise is the way forward.Try getting on your bike as soon as possible .
In 6 months time try the new electrical treatment.
Mr Ankle
I found doing very small circular movements in a warm bath was the least painful. Within a week I was doing them out of the bath too. By the time I started physio I'd got almost full movement of the joint. It's now eight months since I broke both my ankle and 5th metatarsal, it's still a little painful to walk or stand on for long periods especially on uneven ground, but it's getting better ever day.
Hi thanks, I know I've got to be patient and stop positive! As you say It will come right in the end. The massage would be good , I know the more I move it the less stiff it will become, probably feel better when I've had my first physio so I know what exercises to do to get things moving. I've not heard of this new electrical treatment is it to promote healing quicker?
Hi thanks, I'm still struggling to get in the bath! It's such a performance on one leg, with my hubby helping to manoeuvre me from a stool into the bath! But lovely once I'm in there! Yes I will try doing more movements as it is less painful in a warm bath. Glad to hear from others that it does get better over time.
Hi Julie, I am also close to 6 weeks since I broke my ankle. I did have surgery, however, and had my cast removed 12 days after surgery. I was given a walking boot and told to still keep weight off until my 6-week appt, which is this Monday (pretty excited about it). Anyway, when I had the cast removed, it was 20 days after I broke my ankle, and the doctor told me to start moving it (I also started physical therapy shortly thereafter). I had similar concerns, but the pain is totally normal. If your doctor said you're cleared to start moving your foot, that means he's confident your bones are healed. You have to trust the healing. You haven't used your foot/ankle in 6 weeks. In my situation, I went 20 days without moving my ankle, and it was painful to get it started, so I imagine it's worse for you. The pain will subside, but it's like starting a weight lifting program...your muscles and joints are going to be sore. Last week was my 2nd physical therapy appt, and he gave me more exercises to do. I started experiencing soreness again, and got worried again, but my ankle feels pretty good today, and has decent range of motion. I'm excited about my appt this Monday where I can start weight bearing again. I know it's going to be painful, but I'm confident it will get better as I exercise it.
Stay confident, work that ankle out, and listen to your physical therapist. Good luck!
Hi, thanks for your words of encouragement, that must have been painful for you to have to start moving it after only 20 days. Yes I suppose it is like starting weight training , my calf muscles ache as well! (just basically falling to bits all over, I'm 49! -can't help but think if I was younger it wouldn't take as long to recover!) Yes I've heard physio can be quite painful so I'll have paracetamol at the ready!! Good luck to you on Monday, hope everything ok for you and walking isn't too painful.
I f.found it easier to get in and out of the bath by myself, did help that my broken ankle/foot was on the outside of the bath, sat on the side of the bath, swung the good leg into the bath put hands on either side of the bath and lowered myself in. Did the opposite to get out, put bad leg out then pushed myself onto the side of the bath using arms and good leg/foot, it's a matter of getting your good leg under.
You make it sound so easy ! I will try that tonight!!
In regards to the bath, it's a matter of getting your balance right and you good leg underneath you, I practiced with hubby in the bathroom, got so I as confident on my own within a few days, though I did pull the plug just in case.
I'm 55 so you're younger than me, age does matter as it takes longer to heal, I was told slow and easy, exercise as directed, don't try and do too much in one go, so little but often. You can't go wrong with just rotating the foot one way then the other, and pulling your toes up and pushing them down.
I find myself doing the exercises all the time, eg. going from one foot to the other, whilst trying to get my seven month old granddaughter off to sleep.
Hi Julie,
I know exactly how you feel. I was just given the all clear to fully weight bear a week and a half ago after 13 weeks non weight bearing. I let out a cheer when the consultant told me to start to weight bear and that I can wear normal footwear.
Just today, I was able to do a few hobbling steps unaided but still need both my crutches to get around. But before today, I felt exactly the same as you, could not imagine ever walking again. It really does get to you. But it is these slight improvements that really make you feel better about recovering.
Physio sessions have been really helpful, and I'm sure you will feel better once you see these improvements.
All the very best in your recovery.
Managed to get into bath for first time tonight on my own! so quite pleased with myself. Did some exercises in the bath and the warm water does help. Thanks for your advice, a little and often.
Hi thanks, it's great to hear from others who have been through it and are on the road to recovery. Yes, I can't wait to start my physio (although I know it will be painful I know it will really help with my recovery) I think I'm restricted with how much movement I can do at the moment because it is still quite swollen making it really hard to move it about but I've heard this should ease off a little with time. Today I felt really tired on my crutches , been away for weekend and probably overdid it, arms and good leg get quite achy as I'm in a boot now and it just lightly rests on floor, not quite brave enough to put any more weight on it. Good luck with your recovery too.
i have the same problem. i was told to start partial weight bearing after an orif ankle fracture surgery. we went to a PT center and im starting to have my therapy (w/o my doctor's knowledge because he never told me to consult one but since i dont know what to do i went to PT straight away). anyway, im on partial weight bear but without a boot on but big problem is same as yours since i am unable to bend my foot upwards so im like stiff walking a lot. so yeah, i also want to know how to get this stiffness to moving.
Hi Beba85
I was given different info by 2 docs so am doing exercises given by physio thru work and my range of movement has definitely improved and on her advise I am concentrating on my gait and I've been massaging my ankle too. Every little seems to be helping. I contacted the ortho clinic last week who confirmed that I should've been referred for physio thru them so awaiting an appointment for that. It felt some days that it was never getting better but I can see light at the end of the tunnel now and it's because of the physio. Good luck with your recovery.