To ask for your ‘positive’ broken ankle stories

[Saladmakesmesad]

Posted something similar the other day when it had newly happened but hoping for a bit more traffic here, hope that’s ok.

I broke my ankle in a fall/blown by the wind down a steep path on Saturday. All traumatic and painful, A&E etc. Went to fracture clinic on Tuesday and they said it’s a Weber B fracture at outside and back and ‘borderline’ for surgery but too swollen to do anything with so put in a hideously heavy back slab cast for a week and then re X-ray and decide ORIF (repair) surgery or not.

I’ll be non weight bearing for at least 6 weeks (and that starts from when I get my proper cast on I think - which could be a couple of weeks away if I have surgery. I’m struggling with the crutches as I have a crap back, I’m struggling with the thought of the weeks of pain and debilitation ahead (we don’t have a downstairs loo) and having stupidly googled I’m now struggling because it seems like every ankle break ends up in months of pain, complications and misery.

If anyone has any fairly straightforward ankle break stories, please share them to balance the evils of Google!

Didn’t mean to enable voting. It’s fairly unreasonable of me to ask I expect. But please humour me, I’m so sad and sore.

I dislocated and broke my ankle in 3 places. I did have surgery and was non weight bearing for 12 weeks but I did exactly as I was told and have made a full recovery.

Occasionally get a bit stiff if I overdo it and my ankle is a funny shape but recovery is absolutely possible.

All the best for a speedy recovery!

Thank you. I can live with it being a bit stiff or wonky, I’m no athlete. I just want to be better.

I am sorry op, it’s hard. I have had a broken ankle, but only one bone, on the inside. The one you presumably haven’t broken. In my case I didn’t have surgery and made a full recovery however my break was stable because it was only one bone. Crutches were pain, however on the upside I ended up having abs of steel after using them for 6 weeks . Walking on that leg again was painful at first and I thought it would never be the same again but it is now.
May I make a few suggestions? I have read a lot back when it happened about ankle breaks. If it is borderline i would insist on having an op. If it doesn’t heal in exactly a right position this can lead to complications and pain further down the line. Op will stabilize it.
Secondly if you cannot get used to crutches get a knee walker or scooter. From googling they can be expensive but maybe try to get one second hand. This will make your life so much easier!
I suggest a site mybrokenleg.com if you want to read more stories while lying with your leg elevated:)

I had a nasty break in multiple places, surgery, pins, crutches, the works. I bought an ergonomic office chair on wheels that spun and used that to wheel myself around the kitchen and living area instead of using crutches. Was an immense help to my back, as I have a lower bad back.

I’m actually really hoping to avoid an op... just never had one before and am scared of the GA and pain and complications. But I will be good and do whatever they advise.

I think you’re right I need to find something with wheels for downstairs as the crutches hurt my already buggered up back. Looking forward to the abs though...

I broke my ankle in 2017. Had to have 3 months off work non weight bearing, but have been absolutely fine ever since

my ds broke his. six weeks in a boot and all fine again. It was however only broken in one place. We did borrow a wheelchair though so he could be wheeled around outside.

I broke mine in 3 places, but avoided surgery. The issue I had was the physio afterwards...I wasn't prepared for how much muscle wastage there would be from 6 weeks in plaster (all non weight bearing) and the physiotherapist didn't give me all the exercises I needed to get the full range of movement back.
I was out of plaster for about 4 weeks when I realised I couldn't stand on tiptoe on my recovering leg, so I had to ask the physio how hard I could go with which exercises to get that movement back.

The worst part of the whole thing was not having a downstairs loo! I found a flask for hot/cold drinks and a bag to sling round my neck to take food from kitchen to living room was invaluable.

Best of luck

I think mine was Weber b, it was a cork screw break,broke in two places.

I won’t lie op it’s not easy.

I was six weeks non weight bearing and slept on the sofa down stairs for five of those, I washed in the downstairs loo and my hair over the kitchen sink, we’ve a lot of stairs and I was too scared to do them.

I also used a Zimmer frame, and then switched to crutches when I was weight bearing, as I found a zimmer easier.

It became easier when I went into the boot, but my leg was very shrunken. When the boot came off I walked funny, my foot turned out the wrong way, and I limped badly,

I didn’t need an op, they basically twisted it back into position in a&e, and then put the cast on. Was horrific. Then they checked again a couple of weeks later it had not moved, it hadn’t.

I broke it in the july/aug and I was back running on the treadmill again by Xmas. It was two and a half years ago and I have to be honest, it still gets sore, like a twinge sometimes, either when it’s cold or if I’m on my feet too long.

I've broken both ankles and both feet as well as some spectacular ligament damage
Also had spinal surgery so I'm basically a walking disaster my ankles are both fine now, they get a little grouchy in cold weather and do a weird thing where they "give" for a second when I run upstairs
If you are standing then rest knee of bad leg on a chair
Find a cross body bag, it's useful for shoving stuff in
Grabber can also come in handy
Waterproof cast cover

If it’s Weber b, and broken at the back the op won’t be able to rest her knee on a chair, she also won’t be able to use a knee scooter.

Mine was broken at the back and if you rest on the knee, effectively the weight of the cast, which is very heavy, is on the break and it’s really Fucking sore.

Basically it’s sitting or laying down with your ankle elevated and wiggling your toes for six weeks.

I was initially diagnosed with a mild fractured ankle and put in a load bearing walking cast. I really struggled and could not cope. Eventually after lots of tests and xrays I was diagnosed as having a fractured navicular, ,metarcil and lots of others things. Once I got the correct diagnosis I spent 6 months in an aircast, then maybe another month in crutches? All normal now after lots of obsessive physio.

I dislocated and broke my ankle in 3 places. I did have surgery and was non weight bearing for 12 weeks but I did exactly as I was told and have made a full recovery.

Me too. Once or twice I've had the odd twinge when it rains (truly!) but otherwise I've been fine ever since.

I broke my ankle a few years ago and totally concur with the suggestion of a knee scooter. I hired mine from Stride On and it was the best 18-odd pounds per week I have ever spent! I also spent the extra £7.50 as a one-off charge to have a drink holder attached to it. I am a bit evangelical about them to be honest as what it gave me back in independence and saved me in frustration was worth every penny. I used a thermos flask to make tea then popped it, a mug and some biscuits into the basket and a glass of water into the drinks holder and I was well away! It also meant I could do little things like collect my own print-outs at work instead of having to grab someone else who was passing my desk and asking them to do it for me.
Once I had the scooter I then left my crutches upstairs at the top of the staircase and went up the stairs on my backside, using the bannister and a crutch to haul myself back onto my foot at the top. It wasn't dignified but it did the job. Then leave the crutches at the top and back down on my behind to the scooter parked at the bottom.
I avoided surgery as my break was stable but there were times when I genuinely believed I would never walk normally again. I remember posting a thread on here about how depressed it was making me feel and a lovely Mumsnetter reassured me that a year after breaking her ankle she hiked up Scarfell Pike. I was sceptical at the time but I genuinely could have done the same a year after the injury without giving it a second thought.
I am now five years down the line and the only thing I can't do is stand on tiptoes whilst balanced on just the foot attached to the ankle I broke. I can't say this has affected my life greatly and I still quite happily do an adult ballet / bar-fit class once a week where the teacher knows this is an issue and we just accept that there are a couple of exercises where I will always do a slightly modified version standing on two feet instead of one.
I clearly remember the upset and frustration of the first couple of weeks post-break but I promise you it will get better .

I broke both ankles several times back when I was a teen and never had them x-rayed or casted. I only found this out when going through investigation for on-going pain from ligament damage and the surgeon commented on the x-rays and MRIs, where the old fractures were clearly visible even to me. I had far more problems from the ligaments than from the breaks.

On the plus side, OP, full crutches will give you great boobs and abs of steel.

You need to ask your surgeon - preferably a consultant who sub-specialises in foot and ankle surgery whether an operation would change your course in terms of rehabilitation.

I try not to leave any patients immobilised in a cast for 6 weeks as the weakness and stiffness afterwards can be dreadful, compared to people that have been able to weight bear and mobilise early - the difference is night and day.

I presume by fracture at the back, they are referring to a posterior malleolus fracture.

I would ask:

Does it need a CT scan to assess the size and displacement of the posterior malleolus? (A. Yes it does, multiple studies have shown that plain x-rays consistently underestimate the size of the fragment)

Is it an unstable fracture pattern? Can they tell if the deltoid has been injured (A. Proabably impossible to know for sure, but likely not, weight bearing or stress xrays may help...)

If it is a stable fracture, why can I not weight bear in a boot? If it is an unstable fracture, why are you not offering surgery to stabilise it? (A. There may be valid reasons for both)

Hope this helps.

Hi op. I have a very positive story regarding my broken ankle. I broke it and needed ORIF so metal plate, 9 screws. I had a couple of weeks in a black slab to allow for swelling to go down, then surgery followed by six weeks in a plaster cast. Whilst cast was on I had crutches and pushed a plastic storage box padded with towels, using one crutch, from kitchen to sitting room with my coffee and snacks in! To get upstairs I went up backwards on my bottom and heaved myself onto a little stool once at the top. I also had to inject with anti DVT medication daily but got used to it and it didn't hurt. I recovered very quickly aged 51. Bought a plastic leg cast which was very useful for the shower. Had a few sessions of physio with exercises that I did religiously. Bar a little numbness and a small scar my ankle is normal.
I have just started Parkrun. I never thought I'd be able to do anything like running again! Good luck.

I don’t know the exact break I had, but I had an op. Still have pins and plate in there. Things I learned:

Crutches DO get easier. I found them painful and exhausting to begin with.

Don’t weight bear if you’ve been told not to (someone who had a similar break taught me that), but I did start to “wiggle” and “flex” as soon I felt ready and it seemed to do no harm

GAs are terrifying. But totally fine, really. Ask the anesthatists for their favourite jokes when they wake you up :)

The scar is huge. Forget heels for quite a while.

The skin round the scar will go numb and when you first get in a swimming pool, the sensation will be MAD!

I shuffled 5ks before the break. I took advantage of the free gym and physio sessions each week and got loads of confidence back by attending them religiously.

I wouldn’t call myself athletic, but 5yrs after the break, I ran a half marathon :)

Cross body bag! Defo! For the things your hands can’t carry anymore.

The hospital strength cocodamol will give you constipation- accept the laxatives if offered! (NO ONE told me this!!)

Not exactly what you asked but to give you hope.... I had a very severe break, leg broken both tib and fib broken in multiple places, multiple small ankle bone fractures and complete ankle dislocation 🙈 One of the most severe breaks the surgeon had seen....took 3 surgeries over a 12month period and intense physio...but am more or less completely back to normal, can even run a little! As a PP said I also got around the house on an office chair propelling myself with either the good leg or using the crutches like ski poles!! My advice is to persist if you feel it’s not right - after the 2nd surgery I knew things still weren’t right and was fobbed off multiple times - was only when I saw a different consultant as soon as I hobbled in and he glanced at me he said immediately I’d need another op and that made all the difference. If I can do this you totally can! Sending as sitting around with your leg up is so tedious!!

Thank you for all the helpful tips and kind comments. I think it’s hard being 5 days into something shit that’ll be at least a couple of months and probably more. Maybe once it starts to pass I’ll feel like it’s more manageable... ? Or be more frustrated I suppose!

@Saladmakesmesad I feel your pain.... literally! I broke my tib and fib and displaced my ankle on New Years Eve! I had emergency extenal fixator surgery in France, then more surgery, two plates and various pins when I returned to the UK. I am struggling! I had a slip with one of my crutches, and fell badly (understatement, it was AGONY). I asked for a zimmer frame instead, which has helped with my confidence. It is exhausting hopping around though, so not managing to get out and about as much as I hoped.

Back to hospital in two weeks, and hopefully can start weight bearing and get some physio. I am hoping the swelling in my foot goes down a bit, it currently looks "square", although my ankle and leg look normal (but purpley colour).

Wishing you a speedy recovery

You poor thing OP! Hope the recovery is straightforward. I dislocated and broke my ankle about 8 years ago- slipped on stairs. I had surgery then 6 weeks non weight-bearing, then 6 weeks in a walking boot. Everything went back to normal pretty fast. I’m not sporty though, so don’t know how that would’ve been affected. I sometimes get aches and twinges in that ankle, but nothing too bad. All the best.

I had a Weber B a few years ago. Done in March and back playing reasonably high level contact sports in June. Didn’t have surgery either which apparently slows it down a little. Did a lot of rehab exercises though, which was miserable at times. Sprained it again last year and that was worse than the break!!

@FixTheBone Love your username! Assume you’re in the trade?

So it’s a Weber B fracture of left ankle - lateral malleolus and posterior malleolus with mild talar shift. (Got this from the letter they wrote to my fracture clinic as I was on holiday so seen in a different clinic for that initial appointment.)

Is there anything I can do before my appointment on Monday to help myself avoid surgery? I’m keeping it elevated pretty much constantly.