Aibu to not do my ankle excercises?

[Freewheelingto40]

Just looking for some advice.. Broke my ankle three weeks ago. Had surgery which included some plates and pins. Cast off two weeks post op and given a boot. Can't put foot to the floor for 6 weeks until one screw removed. In the mean time I have been advised to try exercising my ankle moving my foot forwards and backwards.. Problem is I'm too scared. I literally can't do it... Anyone been in the same position?

I’m just of a boot and doing some small exercises. The physio said it’s really important do them because you are more likely to damage the same ankle again if you don’t strengthen it ASAP. Just do one movement and see how you get on

Yes YABU you need to build strength starting slowly if you are in pain. Ask for help if you are scared. Doing nothing is unreasonable.

Honestly, if you don't do it, you are going to end up worse off, with a slower recovery and possibly also a less complete one.

Speak to your physio if you "literally can't" but if it's that you're frightened and feel like you can't, you need to screw up all your courage and push through the fear.

Sorry and thank you for all your replies. I can do it. It's all in my head.. Need to get it in my head I can do this. Thanks for the encouragement.

Just get on with the exercises as prescribed by an expert. Even if people here said don't do them, would you then not do them. Dear consultant, I've ignored your advice cos a random bunch of strangers who are mostly not experts told me not to. What a waste of NHS resources.

You need to mobilise the ankle joint as once it becomes stiff, it will be much harder to gain full range of movement in it which can cause problems with knees and hips.
Just go slowly or ask someone to do very gentle passive movements until you gain in confidence. Good luck! (3rd Yr physio student)

Thank you so much hit and miss. I am going to take my boot off now
(this in itself is making me nervous) and stop being a wuss and do this. Much appreciated

OP I had a ligament reconstruction with pins- a ‘surgical break’ and it will be ok, really it will. 11 years on and it’s so much better than it was before the op. Take it really slowly at first, you can do it

Definitely do them. I've broken both my feet and ankles and tore the ligaments both times and the one I had physio on has a big difference to the other one
Take the boot off and just get used to that. Then wiggle your toes. And so on. Tiny steps
You need to regain the movement and mobilise it

I had a knee replacement and 'literally' couldn't do one of the exercises, the physio said the muscle/nerve connection had switched off, and I should keep trying, so that the connection would eventually return. It did!

Yep, do what the physios tell you, it does help (had complicated break/dislocation 5 years ago repaired with plate and 5 pins). And they can tell if you've not done it. I've got full movement back in that ankle though the exercises hurt and were difficult to start with.

Q: What's the difference between a terrorist and a physiotherapist?
A: You can negotiate with a terrorist!

Do take it easy though, I tend to be a bit.. well the neurosurgeon said I was wilful and needed tying down
He told me to walk lots to stop scar tissue sticking to my nerve post spinal op so I walked lots turns out he meant gentle strolls down the road where I interpreted it as building up to 10k....
His comments about recovery were a lot of people have the op and then lie in bed recovering or are too frightened to move or exercise whereas if you really work at it you get the best recovery. I paid for some PT sessions too, just 4 to get me started and I went from unable to walk/foot dragging/48hrs from paralysis to being back on a horse at 9 weeks post op and lifting weights 10 weeks post op
Hopefully that motivates a little!

I broke my ankle just over a year ago. 2 weeks in hospital and pinned and plated back together again. Two months non weight baring in a caste and several months in a boot. A year later I still have swelling and pain and now arthritis is setting into the ankle joint. My arches have fallen and I have planter fasciitis and my calf muscle has wasted so it is an inch smaller than the other one. have a limp that throws my hip out so I get hip pain on top
I did my physio and still have problems but it would probably be a lot worse had I not. Mine was quite a bad break of both the Tib and fib bones plus it was dislocated.
Who ever knew that something I always thought of quite minor would turn into a long term problem.