I broke my fibula on 7 May 2016 and was sent for X-Ray. X-Ray shown a broken fibula right into half about 2 inch from ankle with minor displacement. I was on fibreglass for 3 weeks and X-ray still shown the same displaced position except the bone has got 'sticky'. Doctor asked me to start walking but I just feel not right as it is still swelling and my ankle is so stiff. It feels better when I put up my leg in lying position, and whenever I stand up,my leg get swelled. I am worry about the displacement as it looks like my fibula bone isn't straight in position. Need advice.
Snap - I had same. Nurse tried to push it back in place. Didn't work. Ankle had dislocated- twisted. Ligaments and tendons burst. I got the 'Put eight on it speech' . After each xray, my husband pointed out that it wasn't quite in line. After nearly 4 months, no union. CT scan confirmed.
Had a bone graft 4 months ago next week. Straightened it. Scraped off soft bone and gunge from ligaments and tendons. Plated with 6 screws.
I'm trying to put you off. Have you got a moon boot or cast?
Try to rest foot on ground for small periods. Blood flow to the area helps bone growth. Seek a second opinion. I am much better off now. Can put a lot of weight on it.
Before I got operated on -2 weeks, the specialist got me to flex my foot. Gently to start with. He said a stiff foot was hard to rehabilitate. Gently after seeking Drs and Physio support first, it may help.
You are early days, so you will have a lot of swelling still. Elevate above heart very often. Get raised chair, toilet seat, and a knee scooter.
Pain colours as prescribed, as well as anti inflammatories as prescribed. Eat well. Try Sand pan crutches attachments for stability. Check out online mobility stores.
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Hello Florence. So sorry to hear this. Did you have surgery? Do you have any hardware ie: plates and pins? Who cast you?
Hi. No I did not gone for any surgery. Doctor, an orthopaedic specialist put the cast without adjusting as he said it looked fine. But then from the X Ray the bone was not straight at all. Now a month has passed and I still cannot walk. This is sad.
Thank you so much for the reply. I am not on any cast right now, but in resting position with my leg lying straight most of the time. Next week will probably go to seek another doctor's opinion, hopefully all goes well. Wish you the best too.. I totally understand how frustrated it can be to walk with only one leg. I broke my left ankle ligaments 3 years back, and now the right ankle+fibula fractures. Sigh!
Have you been for a second opinion whilst it is early days !!
You wouldn't be expected to walk yet.
You definitely need a second opinion ASAP.
Go as soon as you can. You need reassuring at the very least. Most probably more. Sounds exactly like me. Same place as well. Don't wait the 4 months I did. Waste of energy.
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Ok, thanks.
Hopefully one month is still amendable. I shall get a real good orthopaedic.
One month is still early? Some friends told me bone has got sticky thus maybe not easy to do the right position placement.
Anyway, I will get some real good experts to see what they say. Thanks!
Yup. ASAP. And if you are not satisfied, seek a second and third opinion. It's your body. It's your life.
You may need a second opinion sooner rather than later. Better safe than sorry months down the line. Ask around your friends to see if they can recommend an Orthopedic Surgeon & ask to be put under them.
Good luck
Snap again. Right fibula. Also because I've relied on other leg for 8 months. Bakers cyst on left knee reared its ugly head. Damn near crippled past few weeks. Just had cortisone injection in left knee last Tuesday
Couldn't bend it or straighten it. Remedy for that is to use other leg
Haha. If only. 18 weeks off a year. 3 seasons. But who's counting!
Become damned good at Ukelele. Ps4. Etc.
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I broke my fibula 11 weeks ago. NWB for 6. Walked with pain n walker til 8 weeks. Now walking with limp and some discomfort ....going to PT to work out stiffness due to 6 weeks NWB. A 2nd opinion is good to get especially to relieve your anxiety. ( we all suffer from that on this site). My ankle is still swollen but am told it takes time. Up to a year???? Try to walk on it more each day...it supposedly helps with the healing.
Yes, my other knee is feeling pain due to fully rely on it. Anything I can to ease the pain?
A year??? That is a long time to go. By the way, if I put on ankle support, will it help? I am wearing ankle support for the other leg, hopefully the other don't 'over-worked'. Any suggestion?
I wore ankle brace for 8 weeks. Stopped wearing it bc I felt I wasn't walking correctly with it on. Two dr told me I didn't need to wear it anymore. One dr told me I needed it for 6 more weeks. Frustrating to hear different opinions. Leads to anxiety as you limp around. Decided to follow doc who said no brace. Fingers crossed.
Def seek second opinion by a good OS. Sometimes surgery can NOT be avoided but it may PROLONG your recovery due to other possible complications that can be extreme. Do a lot of research online and on this site "when to have ankle surgery and when it's not okay." I fractured right fib 2" from ankle bone just like yours. Not sure of any displacement but was given no option except surgery. Was in so much pain I did not seek 2nd opinion or research. They operated 6 days later and put in plate with 10 short screws, one very long. Two weeks post op, was told I needed to non-weight bear another 7 weeks because needed 2nd surgery to take out long screw. I am 12 weeks out from surgery and still only partial weight bearing with a lot of nerve issue sensations, pain and swelling and still a limp. Was never explained what I was in for, time frame, etc., even after surgery. There are a lot of issues that can cause surgery to be a poor choice such as age, phyical condition and other present health conditions that can complicate things. I still wonder if all this was necessary. I almost would have rather walked with a limp then go through the surgery. I am 56 and have hypothyroidism, fibromyalgia, osteopina, and peripheral neuropathy, among other back injuries. All these things should be discussed. Obviously if surgery needed, the sooner the better but just a caution to do the research and don't think it will be a quick fix with the surgery. All my best to you.
Some say be careful with ankle supports as it discourages the muscles to develop
Heard that. Been told that. Seek medical opinion.
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If its displaced you'll need surgery. I broke my left fiblua sept 25, 2015. Surgery was oct 9th, bone realigned and a plate with 7 screws. I was playing ice hockey again bt the end of Dec. Get another opinion.