AIBU about drs opinion

[mentallyilltotallychill]

Saturday, I fractured my ankle and foot, initially thinking it was sprained. I went to minor injuries Monday and had an appointment at the fracture clinic today. At minor injuries they did not know how i was even able to be walking (hobbling) and eluded to it then being pretty moderate.

had the virtual call yesterday telling me to come in today (21/03) to go over options potentially surgery etc with the surgeon and consult so i was bracing for the worse.

the ortho consultant i saw today told me im able to walk on it with my boot on but still take it easy which was great news obviously but everything i have read about similar injuries still advises no weight baring.

AIBU to think its still too soon to full weight bare, im concerned about it getting worse.

Or should i take this as a win, take it easy still and only walk when necessary? Have others had similar experiences and been fine? Was a very in and out appointment, quick physical check etc then he asked me to stand. I did say i took pain relief that morning.

I would trust the experts, walk about the house don’t go for a walk on a shopping spree

What kind of break is it, can you give us more details?

A bone in my foot is fractured which he said they wouldn’t usually do surgery on any way and the other which is the concern and minor injuries called it a moderate fracture is my outer ankle bone (fibular?) with like a V shape fracture. Ive never broken or fractured anything before so not too sure the standard protocols.

Go with what they have told you

Can you go on your NHS app and see if there is anything more specific. There are so many possibilities and that description is far too vague for anyone to give you any help/suggestions

Ankles are too specific for you to get any useful advice from anyone except the people who really know what they are talking about.

It all depends on the type of fracture, where it is, what impact it is having on your movement.

I'd be inclined to listen to the ortho consultant and walk on it as needed but not be doing anything unnecessary. So no marathons!

Oh, and in general (unless it's an unstable fracture in which case you would have been told to move it as little as possible) it's better to keep weight bearing at least a little bit if you can.

I was non weight bearing for 6+ months and lost a lot of muscle

everything i have read about similar injuries still advises no weight baring

I can categorically guarantee that the orthopaedic consultant has read a lot more about this kind of injury than you have, and will also have treated hundreds and hundreds of them. Follow their advice.

October 2022 i fell over and hurt my ankle /foot. Continued with my hiking trip another week walking.. Agony but ploughed on. Fell downstairs Dec 2023.. Xray showed 2 old fractures. .. So still hobbling a bit but full weight on. No boot. No crutches since January..
Man up woman. Imo.
No surgery mentioned. Ice and foot up. All will be well.

I'd say it's a bit weird if they haven't given a stick or crutches as fully weight bearing might be painful. It probably won't make it worse due to the location of the break but if they haven't already given ask for crutches. And deffo don't walk unnecessarily. Have you got a prescription for pain relief? Can you actually move reasonably with the boot on?

Theyve given crutches but no pain relief other than alternate paracetamol and ibuprofen. Can move about with it on was just the complete juxtaposition of what i was initially told today compared to Monday that had me confused haha

On the x ray they did say have i ever broken a bone before and i said no but there was an old one im assuming from an old ice hockey injury that i also plowed through😅 if it wasn't for a friend insisting she take me today id have probably done the same

The fibula is not a weight-bearing bone, it is just for attachment of muscles, so assuming it is broken a distance away from the ankle joint itself and not affecting it, this will be why you can walk on it. And the bones in the foot are often held in place (splinted) by the other bones, so don't need to be held in place by a plaster or a surgical fixation.

By 'fully weight bearing', they mean you don't have to keep weight off it - but don't go mad! Still take it easy until the pain decreases, and elevate your leg when you are sitting down.

Also, remember that just because you have fractured bones, it doesn't mean you don't have sprained ligaments too! So that's also something to bear in mind - you wouldn't be rambling around as normal even with a sprain.

In the future, you can ask to take a photo of the x-rays and that can help - you can then book an appointment with a private musculoskeletal physio and they will explain everything to you and why the doctors have taken the decision they have.

Hope it feels better soon!

I have 2 floating pennies of bone under each side of my right foot. Looked manky!!

Generally speaking, weight bearing helps the bone to heal. Trust the advice you've been given. It sounds fine. Or talk to your GP if you're really worried, but that's the advice I got when I broke a bone in my ankle.

@mentallyilltotallychill if you're on crutches and don't over exert yourself you'll be fine. Some people find the boot too heavy and cumbersome. They obviously saw the break wasn't somewhere where you can damage it by putting some weight. You could request stronger pain relief either from hosp or GP. And if they give you physio make sure you do it. Lol. I didn't as much as I should for my hip and now I look like one leg is 2 inches shorter than the other?!
DH broke his pelvis in 2 places but could weight bear as it wasn't in the 'wrong' place.