Update-Broken Ankle-1 Year later
So its been about a 1 year (and a month) since I completely broke my ankle (broke every bone and dislocated it) and I’m proud to say my ankle is basically healed. I have scars on both sides of my ankle and it still swells bigger than my non-broken ankle but overall I can do everything again that I could do before I broke it. In fact I have started running at the Gym and it holds up well. Every so often my ankle will tell me if I’ve done too much by causing some pain or if the weather is changing. I still have all of the metal in my ankle as I figure that I’m going to at least enjoy the summer before deciding if I want to get the metal removed or not. Any of you out there who have broken an ankle before do you still have the metal or not? Is it as simple a procedure as the doctor says to remove it? Do I have to go back on crutches at all?
Dear Emily,
I am sorry for what you are going through. I had an accident over 5 years ago, I’ve had 2 surgeries and have been told that I will neet atleast 2 more. I always thought that when you break a bone, they put on a cast, take it off, and back to normal. Nope.
I hope you get better soon…lots of luck and keep us posted with your recovery….
Good Luck and don’t lose patience.
Emily,
What a terrible situation! This would be my worst nightmare. Is your foot too swollen for surgery? Why the postponment? I hope you have your surgery soon.
All the best and keep us informed on the other board. Lots of great advice there. (See posts above for the link to that site.)
Anklequest
HOWARD,
You are a fraud. Keep your promotional crap off this board.
Anklequest
broke my ankle almost 2 weeks ago. 3 bones very bad. they keep pushing my surgery back and now i am just laying here and not able to move at all. i don’t even have a splint. how can they let someone just lay here like this? i am so depressed and frustrated.
I am very active. I lift weights and play basketball pretty much everyday. I’m one of the Regional Managers with a 36 yr old New York Stock Exchange company that helps people make money from home.
Last tuesday, one day before new years eve, I slipped in mud, after playing basketball for 2 hours, and broke my ankle in 3 places and disloacted it. But I had NO never damage. It’s been a week today ? Any idea of when I will be driving ? Usually how long does it take to get out of the cast and into the boot ? Can you goto the store and shop in the boot.
I’LL SAY THIS. ANYONE WHO IS HAVING TROUBLE EARNING INCOME WHILE YOU’RE DOWN GOTO MY WEBSITE AND CHECK OUT OUR COMPANY. I CAN HELP YOU MAKE SOME EXCELLENT MONEY WHILE YOU’RE DOWN.
http://www.greatjoboption.com
But Ive been out of work for a week and made more money while I was out than I did the week before. I truly understand the value of passive residual income now. I’ll keep you posted on ankle progress and if anyone can answer my questions, that would be great. If you need money while you’re down or unable to return to work let me know : h_smith@prepaidlegal.com that’s my e mail address. I’d love to help.
God Bless You All
JUST WANTED TO SAY THANX FOR THIS SITE. I AM SOOOO GLAD I STUMBLED UPON IT. WISH I WOULD HAVE FOUND IT AT THE VERY BEGINNING WHEN I WAS FRUSTRATED AS HELL, ACTUALLY STILL A LITTLE FRUSTRATED. (BETTER LATE THEN NEVER.) IT’S BEEN 11 LONG MONTHS, IT WENT FROM FEELING BETTER, BARELY NOT LIMPING ANYMORE TO ARTHRITIS TO TENDINITIS/HEEL SPUR TO PAIN AND LIMPING AGAIN BECAUSE I THINK POSSIBLY….. MAYBE THE HARDWARE
IF ANYONE HAS HAD TROUBLE WITH HARDWARE PLEASE LET ME KNOW—-THANX!!
We have moved, Josh!
Probably for a few days your wife should have more pain killers. Ask the doc ASAP.
Lots of help on this new site. Cut and paste. Hope to see you there.
http://www.twistermc.com/christi/87/broken-ankle-2-years-later/
Anklequest
Josh,
I broke my ankle (tibia and fibula) in Sept 2008, and had surgery the next day. Believe me I know how that pain is. She took Percocet and they helped some,along with Lortabs. The pain will subside after awhile.
Just keep icing and elevating the foot. It will get better.
She is right ,it is worse that childbirth.
I can now walk with a cane and a little piece without,but sometimes my ankle still hurts.
HEY JOSH, SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR WIFE, I TOO FELT THE SAME WAY ABOUT THE PAIN. BESIDES STRONGER MEDS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HELPED ME, BUT… THE PAIN DOES GET EASIER TO HANDLE. PRAY!
Hey,
I didn’t really have time to read through all the comments. My wife broke her ankle in 11 places 2 days ago. They did surgery right away. Howeber, even with pain medication (2 hydrocorone every 4 hours) she is still like a 9 on the pain scale. Her exact words to me were that it was “much worse than childbirth.” Is there anything you can do to manage the pain better (ice it, listen to music, anything)? The pain meds just aren’t working…
Hi Maria – I too have hardware in my ankle (broke it in 7 places about a year and a half ago). I can feel the metal through my skin – all the screws and it freaks me out a little bit. Also, it’s pretty sensitive to things bumping it and/or my dog walking over it. I guess that will just have to be the way it is. Other than that, no problems or pain or anything. Hope this helps.
I smashed my ankle 14 years ago 2 screws put in and never taken out. Today I am in alot of pain from my ankle right up to my knee….have to check it out and very worried it has been bothering me for ahile but not this much. It never goes away to some degree (the pain)weather, etc. I am now 35, maybe it is arthritis.
Hello!
I am a poster on the other site — but I wanted to respond to Juan. Yes, I have quite the issue with my toes. A couple of things that really help, including the massage, put a wash cloth on the floor and work on trying to pick it up with your toes. Do not be surprised if you cannot. Do this over and over. The excersise of it enough will help. Also, roll a tennis ball around under your foot. Do this repeatedly whenever your foot is on the ground. I really took to this one, it helped my toes a lot. And then also, elevate, elevate, elevate! I’m guessing yours has something to do like mine does, with nerve damage and swelling. Elevation helps immensely.
I hope these suggestions help. I know how painful it can get when your toes are stiff. And, your toes are important, too.
Good luck,
trac
Hi, just wondered if anyone has had trouble with their hardware after a broken ankle. Please let me know. Thanks!! Maria
Have a good 2009 ankle breakers. Join us at our other web site: http://www.twistermc.com/christi/87/broken-ankle-2-years-later/ Just copy and paste the link above; then bookmark.
Juan: Try massage on entire ankle and toes. Perhaps it may help over time. Sounds like you might have some sort of nerve damage. Keep in touch with us at the new site and let us know what you decide about fusion or joint replacement.
Debra: Your information about massage is very helpful. Looks like wearing heels is not a good thing for ankle breakers, which has been said all along. Removing hardware may be necessary due to changes that occur over time. On the other site a number of people have reported on hardware removal. In each case it was deemed necessary due to screws beginning to poke through the skin, and, or other complications. Take a look at Tim’s posts. He did have hardware removed and his is the only one that became rather complicated. Others report very positive results.
Barb: Your ankle should be as strong as before after you heal..meaning the holes have to fill in with bone.
And lucky you! No arthritis. What a blessing.
So I broke my ankle and all that stuff, and now i’m researching bone fusion vs ankle replacement. My doctor says to fuse but I don’t want to do that.
Anyways…is anyone having problems with their toes since they broke the ankle? My toes are stiff and crunched up and it hurts when I bend them back. Like when I try to do a push up and the toes have to go back, owww that hurts. Anyone else?
I rolled my ankle while mowing my yard in april 2003. I had suffered for years with planters facietis. This particular morning I had a feeling of seperation in the tissues as I walked down the steps in my house.
I continued out to the yard with open back shoes…no support. The slight uneven ground caused by foot to roll outward….completely breaking and splintering every bone in my left ankle. My foot was hangin on by skin and little tissue support. I now have 2 plates, 15 screws and 2 pins holding my ankle together. I got the cast off mid august of 2003. I had very limited movment for several months. I did the physical therapy, the 20 visits that the insurance allowed followint the cast removal. And I continued with a massage therapist 2 times per week for 30 min sessions soley with foot and ankle manipulation. I was told that I would always have a slight limp due to the severity of the injury. I am testiment to the contray. The message therapy was very helpful in restoring almost complete movement and flexibility of the joint. The problem now is that I wore a pair of 3 inch heels to a wedding in july 2008. The next morning I could hardly walk without pain or swelling. I have had swelling and numbness almost daily in my toes, foot and ankle. The swelling before was only the ankle and limited to being on my feet for long per of time. I have also noticed that I can standup and get a feeling of bones and metal catching. The pain doesn’t feel too good either.
My orthopedist told me that I should have the metal removed about 1 year after the surgery date. My physical therapist said leave it if it doesn’t bother me. I’ve had no problems until recently…one of the pins has started to petrude to the point that it looks like it might come through the skin. I can also feel the screws on the opposite side of the ankle. I started walking about 15 miles a week over the last 4 months. I’ve lost weight and I feel that the ankle is looser. My question is that I don’t know if I would be opening up a new can of worms if I decided to remove the hardware. I also can’t help but wonder if the ankle now take longer to heal now that I am now 54 yrs old. I orthopedist as relocated out of the country and I now live in a new city. Does anyone have advise for me?
i broke my ankle march 2000.i have a plate & 8 screws.my plate has hurt for 8 years my doctor wanted to fuse my foot in 2002, but i didn’t.i moved 4 years ago to north carolina. decided to go to a doctor here & get it checked.i have no arthritis in it,it’s just you can’t touch the plate. he wants to remove it.any information will help! my biggest concern is will it be easy to rebrake it.
Hi all.. I came across your web page and couldn’t resist to drop my story.. 2 years ago i broke my right ankle .The right side of foot was repaired with plates and screws the left side of my foot was unrepairable. It took about 6 mounths to get back on my feet. Recently i went to my family doctor because i have a screw head that sticks out (which it has from day one) but i noticed several lumps above it.Long story short 2 years after surgey i have no choice but to have mine removed they claim it is falling down. I was told by my family doctor that in some cases when you have your hardware removed you can be back to your norm in about 2 weeks.. As for mine it all depends on how both sides of my ankle healed. For those of you who are in pain and having problems keeping your hardware in place talk to your doctors about having an ankle replacement surgery they do them but it is still in the experimential stages.
Hi Madge, Pam, and Rick,
Sorry to hear of your injuries but glad you found our little corner of the internet.
This is a difficult injury to endure but it DOES get better. I’m 7 months post break and doing all of my normal activities again, including kickboxing at the gym. I never thought I’d see that day again!
Anyway, just wanted to let you all know that there is a more current blog that Christi started for us… “Update-Broken-Ankle-2 years later.” This one was taking too long to load so we’ve all moved over to the newer one. The other site is much more active. Come join us over there. And Rick, there are several there that have had accidents such as yours with multiple injuries. One of the guys had a fusion as well. Here is the link to get to the new site: http://www.twistermc.com/christi/87/broken-ankle-2-years-later/
Hope everyone had a merry Christmas and enjoys the New Year!
Take care,
Liz
Just wanted to say that its nice to hear about people recovering from ankle injuries. It gives me hope to hear that some people can run again. I am coming up on one year this February 13th 2009 from a car accident. But didn’t actually get the ankle surgery until February 29th. My lungs were too weak from the accident, plus I had major trauma to my knee. As for my ankle, it was crushed. Broken in 3 places and the cartilage was torn up completely. I was rushed by ambulance after the jaws of life got me out of the vehicle. I spent 2 weeks in the hospital. The worst part of it all was trying to sleep with broken ribs and my leg a few feet about my heart. The first 3 months seemed like a lifetime. They were obviously the hardest. By the 4th month, they removed the hard cast and she said I want you to walk. I tried and almost fell. The pain was almost unbearable. Not to mention I couldn’t bend my knee from the full leg cast. I never thought I would walk again. But after 2 months of physical therapy, I was walking again and even driving. But then my doctor said we have to take the hardware out. I wasn’t happy because they were not bothering too much. Until about a few days before surgery. One of the screws was backing itself out of my ankle. And the weather was changing. Getting colder. I was feeling it. I have had 4 surgeries this year and I am actually glad to have the hardware out. My ankle swells a lot and still hurts, but not as much as it did with the hardware. I had 2 plates and 15 screws. I am still in PT and will be for at least 2 to 3 more months. I still cant run or walk fast. And my achilles tendon is sore most of the time. My talus was fractured and is sore all the time as well. I hope this goes away. However the doctor has recently told me that I have full blown Arthritis in my ankle and he might want to do a fusion in the future. Well thank you for taking the time to read this. I would love to hear from fellow ankle breakers.
Hey all, i broke my ankle dec 6 this year while going down the stairs in Singapore… was rushed to the hospital, the ambulance people told it was just twisted… yah right! as soon as i got there the doctor told me it was sevely dislocated and i needed x-ray, the pain was unbearable! the x-ray revealed it had multiple fractured… so i got surgery right the next day, dec 7 in the morning, the surgery was supposed to last 30 mins, but it ended up lasting 3 hours! had 8 screws, a metal plate and a pin put on my ankle. and cnt walk for 6 weeks, well it’s been 2 alrdy!! and on the 6th week i gotta have a second surgery to get the pin removed so i cn start walking.
I was in Singapore all alone, well i’m a student, i study there, and i got friends and flatmates, they were the ones by my side 24/7, but of course nothing like home and parents, so my dad took the next flight to singapore and on the 9th at night he brought me home (i’m from costa rica but my parents live in the philippines, business).
The airport in singapore was giving us hell!!!!!! at the end my dad brought in few lawyers he has in singapore, and the director of the airport kinda freaked out, so he himslef pushed my wheelchair all he way to the airplane and no one checkd me, the x-ray and metal detector beeped liek crazy but no one stopped us.
Now i’m home, the pain was bad at the begining, it felt heavy! not the pain is perhaps 90% gone, but it is still swollen, im scared to death of stairs, when i got down the stairs here i go on my butt, same when i come up. My parent’s bought me a wheel chair, walking frame, cane, and crutches, but so far i prefer the wheel chair when i go out, and the walking frame when im at home. 2day i’m getting my stitches removed!! i’m kinda excited, it makes me feel as if im moving on with all this.
I’m rly scared about else, i got another x-ray here in the philippines, and it showed that one of the scres is dislodged… has this happened to anyone else?? what now?? anyways i’m going to the doc again 2day so lets see what he says!
Hope everyone is doing fine, it’s nice to know you are not alone in this right?
Speedy recovery everyone!
This has been a wealth of knowledge and so helpful as I’m going crazy with a break! Five weeks ago I broke my foot playing baseball with my kids, the base turned and my leg didn’t and my right foot was caught in the middle.
Here is my question, what about driving? I haven’t been cleared for putting weight on my foot yet, (hopefully in a few days). How did anyone make the transition to driving?
Thanks for all of your stories, I feel semi normal
Hi Everybody -
I came across this blog this morning and I read about the first fifteen or so entries and then noticed how l-o-n-g the page is! I was really excited to discover it was still an active blog on a subject so near, but not dear, to my heart! On August 30th I walked out my back door, missed a step, fell about 8 inches and broke both ankles! The right was a hairline fracture and severe sprain, but the left was a doozy – broken fibula, dislocation, torn ligamnets, etc. I have a plate and screws in the side of my leg as well as a long screw thru the ankle to stabalize it while the ligaments heal. I had to keep ALL weight off the left for three months,and hop around on the right (which really hurt!) and on the day before Thanksgiving I got the go-ahead to put weight on it and “walk.” My doctor said she’d send me to therapy if I wanted to go. I kinda figured it was a given, but I guess not. Anyway, I had hoped to start therapy right away, but now I have bronchitis and conjunctivitis, so it’ll be a couple weeks, I guess. Meanwhile I can actually hobble around without the walker, although I look a bit ridiculous. I was amazed that I could maintain my balance. I guess it’s going to be a long struggle, but it’s great to know that there are others going thru the same thing and I shouldn’t expect to cured overnight. I’ll go back to the beginning and read more now, and I’ll write again!
Hi Mandy and Derinda, So sorry to hear of your injuries, but glad you found our little corner of the internet.
You’ll find a wealth of information from people past and present who have shared their experiences here.
Mandy, I feel your frustration… just know that it WILL get better. The first few weeks are the hardest. When I was at that stage I thought things would never get better, but here I am 6 months later and feel mostly “normal” again. Definitely keep your leg propped to help with swelling and keep those ice packs handy. When mine started aching at night I’d put an ice pack on for 10 minutes and it helped. Are you still taking the pain killers? I took Percocet for probably six weeks after my break.
Derinda, everyone’s situation is different, but from my experience I was in a splint cast for two weeks after surgery and then got the big Air Boot. I wore the boot for 4 weeks before they let me put any weight on it but only small increments at a time. I wasn’t full weight bearing until 8 weeks after surgery. I’m guessing that even when they give you the boot you won’t be able to weight bear for several more weeks, but like I said, everyone’s doctor seems to treat things differently.
I know it must be hard having 2 young children and not being able to get around easily. Hang in there, it WILL get better. 
Well, hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. It’s back to work for me tomorrow after having the whole week off. That’s one great benefit of being a teacher… we get long breaks.
Stay Safe,
Elizabeth
Hi All..I just want to day this site has helped me so much…
I broke my ankle on Oct 30 2008..I fell down my front porch steps..actually I think i missed all the steps!!
Anyway has surgery that night..plate 8 screws on one side(outside) two screws on the other..and one long one going through the middle..I also damaged the tendon that connects the 2 major bones??
I was in a plaster cast for 2 weeks now I am in a fiberglass cast(purple..very fashionable) shich I think I am getting off this Friday..but I am alittle confused..I need to have the long screw removed..and possibly the two on the inner side because the may be tooprominate..eww just the thought make me queasy!!
Anyway..If I get the cast off does anyone know if I immediately go to the big black boot? And Can i put weight on it..I am really confused..still have to take percocet…
I have two boys seven and 3…my husband is supportive but I don’t think he really understands what I am going trough.
Hi Mandy,
In Sept. I broke the tibia and fibia at the ankle and had surgery with plates and pins. I now am in PT and still can’t walk without my walker. I put pressure on my leg but my knee has such pain until I can’t walk.
I am hoping the PT will eventually help.
Yes, I too proped on pillows and with the help of painkillers made it thru the night.I don’t talk any meds now only when the pain from Pt gets to me.
HOw you have success with your break ,let me know how you are progressing.
Hi I substained a broken fibia, tibia and ankle slipping over at work on the 11th November 2008. This resulted in having a rod put in and plates and pins put in my ankle. I was operated on three days after the accident because of the swelling and then I had to stay in futher five days after. When they discharged me I was still not in a proper cast due to the swelling and I was to go back to the hospital a week later to have a proper cast put on . As the days past and the swelling went down it became really uncomfortable the pain was like a dull toothache but constant .Bruising started to appear and the temporary splint and cast was becoming loose. After many sleepness nights tears before bedtime and very strong painkillers I went back to the hospital. What a relief they sympathised with me and put the cast on early . No more pain I thought, wrong every night I wake with the dull aching pain will it get better I ask I try and prop my leg on pillows I massage the top of my thigh what else can I do ? Anyone have any suggestions out there?
juan,I dislocated my ankle 8 months ago playing basketball and severed all three main ligaments, but luckily had no breaks as you had.I can relate with the morning pain and stiffness—I lost half inversion and eversion and about 20 percent plantar flexion,which I think is what your talking about—-It does feel strange walking and not being able to flex your foot all the way down.How bad is your overall range of motion?It sounds strange that your dr is considering a subtalar fusion?? with very minimal pain. I understand you lose almost all ROM after this surgery.Anyway, I had a cortisone injection 2 and a half months ago and just recently pain started up after running or playing ball–Luckily my ROM probably isn’t as bad as yours. Im scared now that arthritis is setting in and might have to have the same surgery you might have.I see the doc in a month and hopefully he considers some surgey—maybe an arthrosopic to break up the scar tissue that your friend talked about as my ankle also is a bit larger and swollen than my right one also.How did you dislocate your ankle? Funny, I understand about wanting people to just step on your foot and force the darn thing down!Wanna here from you.
Well, I went back to the doctor today and he says my leg bones have healed and now I have to learn to walk again. I will be having pt 2x a week for 6 wks.He put me in an aircast and tennis shoe.He says this will really hurt putting full pressure on my foot.
Does anyone have any good suggestions about how to walk so that it doesn’t hurt so bad. It is really swollen toda.
Hello Everyone,
In December of 2004 I took a nasty slip and fell on top of my ankle to do nothing other than crush my tibia and fibia and completely dislocate my ankle. I had to wait about 5 days before the doctor was able to do surgery because it was swollen so badly. (Hematoma sp?) My surgery went very well. The ortho doc ended up putting a plate and about 8-10 screws on the outward facing side and then 3 screws through the middle of my ankle. The pain after surgery was HORRIBLE. Every time I stood up I felt like my leg was literally going to explode.
About 3 months later I had another surgery to remove the longest screw which went through my ankle. The recovery was only about a week.
Now practically 5 years later things are going OK. I have had several follow-up visits over the years with two different orthos and each one has told me that I arthritis is definitely setting in and (my personal favorite) on a scale of 1-10 for ankle injuries mine was a good 11 or 12. Nice. Guess if you’re going to do something, do it with all of your might, right??
Anyway, the pain has been manageable, although I don’t think I have ever had a single day where I was not at least sore. My ankle stays constantly bruised and when the weather changes (hot to cold or cold to hot) I get really stiff and have trouble moving. My only REAL complaint is that I cannot run for a long distance. I did ask about having the hardware removed and I was told that it can be done, but that it is really not a good idea b/c if anything were to happen again (and I’m accident prone) that it would just be 1,000 times more likely to completely break all over again and that the hardware simply acts a reinforcment.
So my best advice to anyone is to continue with the PT for as long as you can, continue with the ice and heat (especially for pain) even if it is years later and just know your limits.
I probably spent the first year and a half limping pretty badly and for people who dont know me, they still say that I have a slight limp. One really important thing is to make sure you have good shoes. I am a woman and used to LOVE very high heel and those are definitely a no-no now. It wasn’t until about 3 1/2 years after my injury that I was able to actually where a very low “pump” style shoe. Now I can wear about 2 1/2 inch heels, but usually only for a short while.
So to all of you fellow ankle injured persons – I know what you are going through and I wish everyone the best of luck with their recoveries. Just remember to be patient with yourselves!
Juan, Celinda, Judy, Gina …. We have moved. Try the site below. This site takes to long to load as it has so many posts.
http://www.twistermc.com/christi/87/broken-ankle-2-years-later/#comments
Celinda, I’m glad to hear from you. All your old freinds are on the other site. They’d love to hear from you.
Jaun, my short version of advice: See another doctor for a 2nd opinion and try another PT.
Anklequest
Hi there everyone,
So here’s my story. I broke my left ankle, tib and fib and I dislocated it. My girlfriend said that then they relocated my ankle I jumped up from the hospital bed but of coarse i didn’t feel it with the meds they had me on.
Well this happened in Oct. 2007 It is now Nov. 2008. I am walking on it but it is so still. I hate walking around at work cause I feel that I look stuped walking with such a limp. My doctor (whom I haven’t seen in 4 months) told me that he would like to fuse my ankle to get rid of the pain. I’d rather deal with the pain since it’s not
So after 12months I’m not sure what to do, I lost my job so I no longer have insurance and I’m not a temp and I don’t have the option to get insurance for another 6 months. I didn’t feel that my PT did anything. they just had me use machines and then they would walk away. I really thought the PT was going to actually hands-on work on my ankle and strecth it out and do stuff like that. So I’m been going to the gym and doing some stuff for my ankle. I don’t have the range or flexabilty to do calf raises. In fact my left ankle can’t even stretch out half as much as my “normal” ankle. When I try to stretch out as much as I can, it notmally take me about 45 seconds to a minute to do it because of the pain. The only time it really hurts is in the morning after I wake up and start to walk on it again, the rest of the day it doesn’t really hurt it just gets annoying that I can’t walk normal.
My friend said that I may just have scar tissue that needs to be broken or removed and that’s what’s not allowing me to stretch it. Sometimes I whish I could get a stranger to just step on my foot and force it to fully extend and then just see if that helps.
Has anyone been going through this for a year and still can’t run? Let me know cause I can’t.
Today I put weight on my broke leg for the first time.Pt says that I did good. My leg was in a goodbit of pain afterwards. I go back to the doctor this Thursday and he might take me out of the boot.Pt says I will be put in an aircast for a while. I hope I can return to work then. It has been a hard go as my husband is blind and with me in the bed it has been hard on both of us. Pt told me to use ice on my foot as it is a bluish color and swells a lot. I have been having to keep it elevated because letting it hang down it really hurts.
Hi there, To some of the newer breakers, I broke my ankle- trimaleolar fracture- in January 2008. Here is what I would say the healing breakdown was for me chronologically:
First month: surgical healing,learning to use walker then crutches. Figuring out pain medication and how to deal with work/kids etc…and how to bathe.Foot shed skin like crazy, turned crazy colors, swelling.
Second Month: Back to work but had to be driven. Can’t carry anything, so tired from crutches and pain. Still lots of swelling. Always wearing boot.
Third Month- Start PT, back to driving. Wear boot 2/3 of the time. Putting weight on the ankle in the boot. Better at crutches. Move to one crutch. Less overall pain.
Fourth- 6th Month Out of the boot, wear brace sometimes. Still limp quite a lot. Going down stairs still hard. PT helped a lot, wish I had gotten more from my insurance.
6-9th month- Try to walk as much as I can. Still less flexibility. Swelled a lot in the hot humid weather. Was able to walk on the beach in the sand with bare feet. Couldn’t have imagined that a few months ago! Icing every night to reduce swelling and discomfort.
9th-12th month- which is where I am now. Still gets swollen, especially when doing a lot of walking. Dr. said that for me I had about 15 % more healing to do and that that healing takes the longest to do. I lost so much calf, quadracept and hip strength so I feel much weaker. But I am able to do things like easy hiking, walking around legoland with the kids all day. Wear the brace only for something like a hike where the ground might be uneven so I can relax more. Still take ibuprophen and use ice sometimes. When I get up after sitting it takes me a minute to stabilize, limp once I get tired but less and less.
I Hope that is somewhat hlpful in terms of the first year. I have not gotten all of the way there yet but I believe I will be *almost* back to how I was before the surgery somewhere between a year and 15months and that is without being super good about exercising and stretching. If I could find more time for stenthening things would have improved faster I am sure. Best of healing to everyone, Gina
Hi everyone,
I am sorry that it has been a while since I visited last. Well, since the last time I talked with ya’ll, the doctor wants to do a 4th surgery on my left ankle,he was to try another fusion. I told him that I really did not want to do that, because I did not feel like it would take just like the first one did not take. I am able to walk a little bit, not much. I stay in the wheelchair mostly. I do everything that I need to do from the wheelchair, I am able to do what I normally did, just in a different way. I am not depressed like I was, I know that everything is going to be alright. I just hate the thought of winter coming because I know that I will be in alot of pain due to arthritis.
I hate to hear so many other people have broken their ankles. It does get better, it just takes time.
Talk to ya’ll later. I hope that everyone does well and God bless.
Celinda
Dear Kay,
I do not know the magnitude of what you have been through, but like you since I have broken my ankle I have been in pain. Some days tha pain is just there, and some days I can’t walk. Every step sends a pain shooting up my foot like no other pain I have felt before. I have so far had 2 surgeries and on my second had the hardware removed, plate, pins, screws, etc. It doesn’t feel better, and I do the cortisone shots about every 3 months. I don’t want to go through another surgery, even though the doctor insists I will eventually have to. I read you had your foot fused and that will be in my near future. Please keep me posted on your recovery and if it’s something I shouldn’t fear. I am so afraid of not only the recovery time, but also the end results of not being able to run after my children like I do now. I am sorry for what you have gone I am. After 2 surgeries, I said no more, after 18 I don’t know how sane I would be…Good luck to you and please keep me posted.
I broke all the bones in the ankel and foot in a car wreck 13 years ago.i have not had a pain free day yet.i have plates scews pins and wires.i have had the clots and the hardware coming lose. in the 13 years i have had 17 surgerys.ending up getting staph infection and had to have most of the hardware replace.Just had my 18th surgery last week.had all the hardware taken out and the ankel fusion.the frist 3 days was so much pain it was unreal.but after day3 the pain has been less and less.after day 5 i have not even needed pain meds.it is well worth the few days of pain.i will be in a cast for 18 weeks. when they took my hardware out. where it had been in there so long. they done bone grafts to cover the holes in the bone.i realy wish i would have had it done 11 years ago.best of luck with yours. iam very please with mine.the last 4 days i have not had any pain meds. this is the only 4 days in 13 years i have not had to the pain meds. i feel like a different person.
I BROKE MY TIBIA AND FIBIA BONE AT THE ANKLE AND HAVE BEEN ON BED REST AND I AM NOW ON A WALKER HOPPING ON ONE LEG. PHYSICAL COMES TWICE A WEEK BUT I AM STILL IN A GOOD BIT OF PAIN. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE THIS TYPE OF BREAK TO HEAL AND WALK AGAIN. I HAVE A PLATE AND SCREWS IN MY LEG. THIS HAPPENED ON 9-23-2008
Michele
We have moved!!
TO ALL WHO FIND THIS SITE, WE HAVE MOVED!!!
Try this link: http://www.twistermc.com/christi/87/broken-ankle-2-years-later/
We’ll share our thoughts with you. Many of us have good ideas and good advice. Please describe the injury, surgery & age a bit more in detail when you you post for the first time.
Anklequest
This site has been so helpful. I have been reading it for hours trying to find a story similiar to mine. My son had surgery yesterday … 2 long pins into his fibula for a break. He gets staples out in 2 weeks and we really don’t know what to expect after that. I also am unsure how long to keep him off school. He has been medicated since he in hospital yesterday, so no way to tell what kind of pain he in! I don’t know what the “normal” time off school is for a surgery like this; it seems most of the people that have written in had far worse surgeries! I would appreciate anything a person can offer that has had a similiar surgery. thanks!
Fit, and everyone else. Both sites now appear to be back up and running again, thank goodness. There is a fair bit of chat as of this afternoon on Anlebreakers 2… come and join us over there and tell us your story.
where did ankle breakers 2 year go.. nothing shows on either one of these pages?
this one at least registers that ther are over 1400 comments.
Testing to see if it posts..
Comment by CONFUCIOUS
Copied from Ankle Breakers Two!
September 13, 2008 @ 2:23 am
THESE WONDERFUL POSTINGS, ONCE MEANINGFUL,
NOW CARRY RAMBLINGS OF MEANINGLISS WORDS!
THOSE ONCE INJURED, THEIR WORDS LOST TO THE PRESENT,
ARE SENT TO THE LISTINGS OF THE PAST!
AND THEIR 0LDER RAMBLINGS NOW GONE, REPLACED BY
MISSIVES OF VICODIN WITHDRAWL AND BOWEL MOVEMENT
MISFUNCTION? TEE HEE, TEE HEE!
ONE WOULD HOPE NOT, BUT TO GET THE “GIST” OF TODAYS POSTINGS, ONE MAY AS WELL WATCH “DAYS OF OUR LIVES” OR THE “BEVERLY HILLBILLY’S”!
AND BE JUST AS MOVED! (NO PUN INTENDED!)
AND ONE WONDERS WHY THE ELDERS, NO MORE ADD WISDOM?
PERHAPS TO AVOID EMBARRASSMENT, ONE COULD SAY, BASED ON THE BAR SET SO LOW OF TODAYS BLOGGERS.
BUT NOT WRONG, OR BAD, AS EVOLUTION SETS NO MINDERS!
T-REX WAS ONCE FEARFUL, BUT IS NOW NO LONGER MEANINGFUL,
AS ARE WE, THE ANKLEBREAKERS NOW PASSED OVER!
ENJOY THE MEANINGLESSNESS OF YOUR WORDS, IMPORTANT
ONLY T0 YOU!
WALK CAREFULLY!
Hey Courtney… Glad you found us, but sad to hear you’re yet another ankle breaker.
I feel the frustration in your post and I know exactly what you are going through. I went through a period of depression and worry in the beginning… thinking my life would never be “normal” again. I broke my right ankle on May 21st, had the surgery on June 2nd, so you’re about a month behind me. Did you have surgery? or just a cast?
I can tell you, It DOES get easier. Once you get permission to bear full weight, things will start gradually improving. I think the hardest part is those weeks when you’re unable to walk, everything basically just comes to a standstill and you can’t really see or feel improvements, but once you start walking again your spirits will be lifted.
Hang in there.
I have been out of work since May… I think it just depends on the type of work you do as to when you might be able to return.
Anyway, just wanted to let you know that we’re here and we know what you’re going through. There is a second site… “update-broken-ankle-2-years-later” that is much more active than this one. This one just takes too long to load so most people go to the other site. Here is the link: http://www.twistermc.com/christi/87/broken-ankle-2-years-later/
Come join us!
~Liz
I broke my ankle on July 11,2008 I have had 2 casts and been in walking boot for 2 weeks now I still cant put my full weight on it . how long do you think it will take before I can ever walk again. i have been off of work since july 14th Im really getting tired of the crutches but cant be without them. I just want to be normal again and back to my old life.
Hey everyone, about 2 weeks ago i had 4 screws put in my Tibia and 1 in my Talus. Anyone else hav something similar to this?
Hello, my name is Jodie. I broke my ankle last October, and have a question for you long timer broken anklers.
I have a plate and seven screws in my left ankle, and not only does my ankle swell and bother me at times, but I seem to have more of a problem with my foot. Sometimes when I walk, it feels like the ball of my foot and toes are swollen? Anyone else have this problem?
My husband is pushing me to get the hardware out, says that would probably help.
Dear Erika,
Exactly what you mentioned, no. I know that when I over do things, I can’t walk at night and in the early morning. After I get going it’s kind of like putting grease on motor parts, eventually I can walk normal. I had my hardware removed last December. If they tell you to remove it, I promise it’s nothing like your first surgery. Ask anyone. You kind of expect the worst, but its not as bad. Ask them for a block before they put you to sleep. This literaly “blocks” the pain in the ankle, and when you wake up, there really is no pain. This way you have some control on pain-meds later and not as soon as you wake up. I had mine removed since the screws were loosening up themselves. I have gone to the ortho several more times, the arthritis is really bad and I have osteophytes growing in every direction. I also have no cartiledge left. I have it quite bad, but I am always hoepful that I am not worse and that I am walking. So heads up, good luck, and keep us posted with what the ortho recommends.
Hello everyone! Sorry I have not visited the past couple of months – Summer is so hectic with my son and work.
Anyway – I thought over the summer my ankle was getting better every day. I actually went to Hollywood Studios in Florida (the old MGM) and was able to walk all day! That was in August.
The past week or so, my ankle has been feeling very “weak” and has been more painful. This Saturday, I was at home cleaning. I did not overdo it, I did not twist it or anything. By Sat. afternoon, I could not walk on it. I felt like my ankle would break and it hurt so bad. I still am having trouble today. I cannot walk without a severe limp or I have been using my cane as well.
It will be one year since my break on Sept. 23rd. I broke 3 bones – can’t remember what they called it – I know there was a break in the tibia and the fibia. I have a plate and 8 screws on the outer ankle, and 2 large screws on the inner ankle.
I am getting paranoid that I might have to have the hardware out. I feel like a bone or something in my ankle is moving or popping – it is on the outer side and above my ankle. Right about where the plate ends on top.
Has this happened to anyone? Did you get the hardware out – and did the pain get better? I have an appointment tomorrow with the Orthopedic Doctor for an x-ray and exam. But I am really nervous. The pain has not been this bad for 3-4 months.
Hope everyone is doing well. Sorry to be a downer.
Erika
Copied from broken-ankle-2-years-later