Fresh fibula fracture and searching around for what to expect. Orthopedist appt is tomorrow and I’m anxious to get on road to recovery.
Highlights from the x-ray report but leaving a lot out. How bad is this?
-Acute Oblique/spiral fracture through distal shaft extending to the level of the syndesmosis.
-There is widening of the lateral ankle mortise space suggesting possible ligamentous injury.
-Multiple osseous densities with no apparent donor site.
I was mountain biking and lost control, basically riding into the side-hill which pinned my foot between moving ground and the bike and pushed my foot out and toes up. Basically the opposite of a classic ankle roll.
I felt it break under what I think was compression, hoping this is better for ligaments?
I don’t know, I’m just looking for some positive info and wishing I could wind the clock back.
Honestly, you are already screwed! And, my hunch is, you may be more screwed soon (literally, js).
Good news: youth and good health are likely on your side.
Follow your Dr's orders and get rolling with some p-t, asap.
Best, Di
I am not an Orthopedic surgeon but judging from the x rays and the position of the two pieces of bone so close to each other, if they put your leg in a cast and you stay off the foot for 6 weeks, you should be okay. Worst case, they can do a small operation and join the bones with a metal plate and screws. I have it and it is not the most comfortable thing. If I were you, I would rather try and let nature do it's thing for 6 weeks or so and be 100 % afterwards. No smoking and a calcium supplement with some Vitamin D pills to enhance absorption for a while will also assist healing .
My Advice is you will need a lot of patience during healing process Does not happen quickly and its easy to get depressed during recovery
I broke my ankle in 3 Places in July I had surgery and I have screws
Im 7 months post op and back to my regular routine The first 5-6 weeks are the most difficult because you cannot walk
By week 12 I was walking
Good luck, this forum is a great place to vent!!!
Sandra, we an had accident the same time .I'm walking but still have a limp. I go upstairs fine but I have to go downstairs using my good foot and putting both feet on each step. My days are shorter when I run around doing errands. I can last maybe 4 hours when I used to last a lot longer. I still feel like this has kicked my butt but I also fractured 2 ribs ( don't know what I did) about mid Nov so that didn't help my recovery either Both injuries are long and painful recoveries. I had cancer and radiation in my ribs so it probably didn't take much to fracture them and that's probably why I didn't know what I did. Just had gotten the word that I was in remission then I went and did this. I just can't wait to get back to myself and have all this behind me.. You sound like you're way ahead of me and I think we are close in age unless I'm thinking of someone else . I'll be 71 this month.
yes Dee Dee we did injure ourselves at same time
I had Stabilizing screw removed 3 weeks ago and I can now use both feet up and down stairs
I had same issue with stairs prior to screw removal
i turned 68 on 2/2
Don't be shocked to be laid up for about 8 weeks before any PT starts. Don't try to be a hero and put any weight on the ankle. Do exactly what the surgeon says to do. Its the only way to heal and heal properly!
Yeah kind of what I figured. I think the two big things for me are how to get back to 100% and do I really want hardware left in there? Seems like hardware might create other issues, wondering if it's worth it to go back under and have it removed?
Dee
I went into surgery at 7:15 and walked out at 9:00
It was nothing
i had big bandage and had to wear boot for 2 weeks
Boot was pain in butt
I stopped wearing boot after 10 days
Update, got through surgery on Friday. Took about 1.5 hours. Was totally unprepared for how complete the nerve block was. I didn't realize its essentially paralysis and you cant move anything. It lasted about 40 hours and I awoke to insane pain at 4:00 am.
Anyway, recovery clock has finally started, post opp pics attached.
