Broken ankle

[omgwhathaveidonenow]

A trimalleolar fracture to be precise.
Can those who has had a broken ankle please share their stories please.
I am still nwb 2 months later, after having my X-rays repeatedly cancelled.
I am dreading the day I have to first put weight through the foot but I am so eager to get moving and driving again.

Can you go to a&e to get it xrayed?

Did you have it operated on/put in a cast when it happened 2 months ago? Usual advice is NWB for 6 weeks. Are you still in a cast?

After surgery I was told not to go into a&e unless absolutely necessary.

@SoMuchToBits
I had surgery the day after the accident, I was in a cast up until 3 1/2 weeks ago when I was put in a ankle walker.

I had a spiral fracture which was operated on to have plates inserted. I didn’t have a cast-because I’d had pins and plates-but I was nwb, I think it was supposed to be for 6 weeks, but I had to have further surgery to have the plates removed after 4 weeks (don’t ask) so I was nwb for about 10 weeks I think

I did that almost 10 years ago. I was NWB for 6 weeks then a boot I think. Then extensive physio for about a month. I did it in late August and didn’t go back to work until late October. Mine was pinned and plated. After I was NWB it took a long time to walk without support, I had a fold up walking stick for a long time. Winter was worse as the cold made it painful. Now it’s fine most of the time, the scar from the surgeries (I had to have 3 - one to set it and pin in, one to close it and one to remove the pins) can still get a bit tender but not too bad and nothing a massage won’t help. I still remember that feeling of putting weight on it after the cast came off and it’s scary but it gets you on the right path to recovery. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

Do you have a fracture clinic? If so, can you ring them for advice? It may be that you can get it x rayed but not via A & E (can see why they don't want loads through A & E at the moment). Fracture clinic probably only open weekdays though.

The feeling when you finally weight bear is something else. It’s like a massive electric shock. You just have to push through. Things will get better. If they don’t then push push push the NHS (if you’re not private). There is physio but they’re very stingy with it.

I would definitely try to be seen. A&E is very quiet from what I've heard. You need to get it checked.

I had a different type of fracture but did need pins/ plates. After the cast came off it did take a while until I didn't need any crutches. I felt I'd never walk normally again! If it's any comfort I can now run and do martial arts.

Do you have the name of the secretary for your consultant? They usually have all the information about fracture clinics etc.

I had a similar injury (double spiral fracture and dislocation with complete ligament rupture) about 8 years ago. Without giving too much information (the circumstances are quite outing to anyone who knows me IRL) I’ve had 4 surgeries and will need a 5th in the not too distant future. A combination of factors to blame for that- my original surgeon didn’t do a great job aligning the fracture, and I was in such a rush to get back to normal after 8 weeks NWB and 4 weeks partial, I didn’t listen to my body and kept pushing through the pain. In actuality, something had gone wrong with the repair and a year later I had to have my ankle reconstructed by a different surgeon. I’ve since had two keyhole debridements to help manage the arthritis. I don’t say all this to scare you, but to encourage you to listen to your body, take the time you need to heal, and not to be afraid to chase down the answers you need from your medical team.

I was NWB for over 3 months. 10 days in hospital before surgery, then cast for 12 weeks and then boot.Over 18 months later I still have problems but that is due to the arthritis setting in to the ankle. Broke both Tibia and fibula which were both plated and pinned which have been left in.

I was in a cast and NWB for 8 weeks, then a boot for a few more. That was 18 months ago and it feels good! Had physio and could do with a top up as it feels sore from running but I can run, jump, ski! Doesn’t quite feel the same but there’s nothing I can’t do as a result of the break. Good luck!

I had a bimalleolar fracture with a plate and pins and got my cast off a week past Monday. I was walking unaided the day the cast was taken off and although I’m having pains and stiffness, I am quite pleased with the progress so far. Not quite ready to attempt driving though and can only walk round the block in terms of distance. I was partially weight bearing before the cast came off. By the sounds of it, I’ve had it lucky! Hope you get back on both feet soon 🙂.

Every break is different. I broke my ankle 9 years ago. I was NWB for 13 weeks, foolishly went back to work at 14 weeks (a job I need strong functioning ankles for) and back to sport a month after that. I’ve never been able to run again - if I force myself to I can then hobble for days afterwards. Having said that, I am current British champion in an endurance sport, ski well enough to take on black runs and off piste and ski all day, and on a day to day basis have no problems. As long as I don’t run. I had a little bit of surgery not too long ago to clean up scar tissue and that made a massive difference. I’ve had over 100 hours of physio, much of it paid for by myself as the nhs can only give the bare minimum. You will never be the same again but the same is true for any injury. It is possible though for it not to have a big impact on you if you go about it right.

Thank you for the replies everyone.

The secretary isn't at all helpful, she's messed up 2 of my appointments, the last one she told me would be a telephone consultation but the call never came. I rang the clinic and I was booked in for an X-ray.

I don't know if I will be getting physio in the current situation.

I could possibly go back to work when I'm on one crutch, it's the driving that I am worried about.

What was the time frame From the day of first bearing some weight to getting the boot off, to no boot at all?

I’ve just found this thread 🎉really helpful thank you 🙏🏻

I’m coming to 6 was nwb & potentiality having cast off moving to boot next week. Was trimalleollar break with pins & plates .

Feel nervous next stage as still some pain & difficulty moving toes.. realise every break different but does this sound ok for this stage?

Also thinking ahead do they take pins/ plates out or only if necessary...

Thank you

Hope its all gone well for you omgwhathaveidonenow 💐

i tripped over a babygate, landed weird and dislocated & broke my ankle in three places on june 9th. (in the basement with nobody else home and without my phone, so i ended up having to crawl back up the stairs and over to my laptop in the living room which I then used used to call my husband to come help me.) the break on the back of my ankle was small enough to heal on its own, but the ones on either side were both bad enough that they required surgery (i now have a large plate on the left side and six screws on the right) which i got about ten days later once the swelling had gone down enough.

i spent the first two weeks on crutches before finally caving and buying a knee scooter for $150 which ended up making my life for the next 7ish weeks of non weight bearing SO much easier!

then, about three weeks ago, i got the okay to start walking again with as much weight as i could possibly bear and i’ll admit, i was really scared to put any weight on it at first. it took me a couple of days (with the help of crutches at first) to get comfortable walking around with the orthopedic boot on, but now I can walk really well in it (even down stairs) and am working at physical therapy on transitioning out of it now! (i can walk in normal shoes now with the help of a cane so i think I’m very nearly there now!!!)

pennydrop i was always able to move my toes except for the 2 days following the surgery before the nerve block wore off, but the top left side is still kinda numb and sometimes i get weird tingling sensations on my foot and ankle. it’s all totally normal apparently, and i’m told it’ll get better in time!

That must have been a painful & scary crawl 😣.. good to hear it’s going well.

I hate crutches too. Looking forward to boot & hopefully straight forward from there.🤞