Diet & broken limbs/limited mobility (Terrified of weight gain)

[Borisjohnsonshairbrush]

Hello all,

I'm 3 weeks post bimalleolar Ankle fracture and 2 weeks post surgery to fix the the break and dislocation.

I'm usually very very active (i did this while indoor rock climbing fgs ) I used to be very overweight 16st now 10st and thankfully I've lost my desire for things like white pasta and chips/crisps since the break.

I just cant treat myself at the moment as I feel I don't deserve it. adjusted my diet to low (ish) carb - berries and protein yogurt, fish and salad for lunch and chicken with greens in the evening. snacking on nuts or low sugar protein bar. And of course no alcohol due to meds/thinners

Has anyone else been through similar and found diet played a massive part? did you eat your usual pre-break diet? did you lose or gain?

I'm sorry
It sucks having an injury like that

I lost weight with a broken ankle. I stuck to 1100 cals very strictly. I figured I wasn't burning calories, so...

I didn't think about treats. Sorry, that's not much help. I was so worried and stressed out by it all, food treats weren't going to help.

When I was back on my feet, I was excited so I didn't care about treats then either.

I wish you a speedy recovery

That sounds horrible for you. Fwiw I broke my arm very badly last year and lost almost a stone in 8 weeks. Couldn't make myself so many snacks. I walked around a bit but did no exercise as I was terrified I'd lose my balance. Comfrey tablets helped I'm sure. Good luck.

Thank you @Ostara212 and @Bryonyshcmyony that's a big help and reassurance that I'm not being stupid dieting and being strict, I've had a few comments of you shouldn't be dieting while healing a bone etc,

I'm bum shuffling and zimmer framing as my little bit of exercise. Crutches are not my friend while I've got a back slab on!

I think you are wise to eat carefully, putting weight on will not help your recovery or regaining mobility. I am having foot surgery soon and am overweight, but have managed to lose nearly a stone in three weeks in preparation and plan to continue trying to lose more weight whilst I recover. What you are eating sounds really healthy.

The comfrey tablets helped bone healing not weight loss!

Hi I’ve broken my ankle - wanted to ask how the surgery went? I have an appointment on Wednesday to confirm if I need surgery or not (was on holiday and told it’d need surgery by one Dr and The consultant said can treat conservatively if doesn’t go out of alignment in the week following as they were too busy to operate on me due to lack of resources that day. Re the weight I’d get yourself some arm weights and think of good exercise regimen while you have limited mobility

the Surgery went great @Lushmetender, hardly any pain within in hr after the op. I had morphine I could self pump to while i was in and hardly required to used it! I was kept in for 48hrs, I have my post-op tomorrow to check its all healing ok, v nervous! keep i touch how you get on! xx

@Evenstar good luck with your op too and well done on the weightloss! xx

Thank you, wishing you a speedy recovery 💐

How did it go borishohnson hairbrush

Yes I have a spinal condition (long term) I’ve had to slash my food intake accordingly. I still gained weight (about 25lb) in lockdown because I couldn’t access my new regime of fairly sedate exercise.

I have recently bought a vibro plate doodah. That makes quite a good addition to indoor physio.

post-op went great, much lighter cast on.
it was so strange to see the metal work on the x-ray. I'm so run down today. I have full body aches and runny nose. (lat flow neg thank god)

so my appetite isnt here today. I kind of welcome it really as I find my digestive system is so sluggish anyway due to lack of activity xx

Oh no. Keeping checking! Another reason I wasn’t keen on surgery (increased chance of COVID19). I have managed to Avoid surgery but have a tighter cast on which has secured the break I had an oblique Weber b break in one place. I have a lighter stooky and have my toes completely out the cast and further below the knee! Only 4 weeks to wait it out! I’m sure you’ll keep the weight off with the crutches.

How are you Boris? Feeling better?

hello! not too bad thank you, still TRYING to restrict the diet but the TOTM and My hormones are craving lots of sugar and grease!

Are you ok?

Hi I’m feeling my cast is rubbing on inside. Hoping not as I don’t fancy another cast change too soon when it is still being managed conservatively. Can’t work out if I’m just reading too much about broken ankles and letting the imagination run riot or if I should ring the hospital🙄. I have an appointment in 3 weeks time to move to boot hopefully

exact same as me, boot hopefully 3weeks from tomorrow!

It cannot come soon enough! Is your cast quite snug? Tried to call the hospital but switchboard asked to call tomorrow. I don’t feel it’s an emergency right now but am concerned. How are you keeping active? I’ve been limited to bedroom and lounge as weather is rubbish

it feels nice and light weight and snug in a good way but I'm keeping it cool by out of the covers etc. Are you injecting thinners still too? I'm struggling so bad with them at the moment.

Im bum shuffling up and down stairs, I use a Zimmer frame in the kitchen if I'm pottering (my kitchen is down stairs, everything else inc lounge is upstairs, I have a wheel chair I use around 1ce a week at the moment when my partner takes me to a cafe etc and i only use my crutches to go to the bathroom or lounge as i hate them so much. xx

Yes thinners but I did ivf and had 3 c sections so no biggy for me. My cast felt lightweight after the back board cast but is now feeling heavy. Not sure why. Sounds like you are getting around. Yes bum shuffle up and down stairs. Can’t believe physio get you no to practise on stairs! Sure way of breaking the other limbs!

I know, I practiced going down the stairs with my crutches and my good ankle went underneath me! it was hangin!

I got myself upstairs after my operation (got kept in overnight due to low blood pressure and oxygen sats ☹️) and have stayed here apart from going to the bathroom, which is challenging enough as there are 2 steps down on the landing and one up to the bathroom and the same to negotiate on the way back.

I was only allowed to the bathroom anyway for the first few days and have 2 weeks of only 5 minutes per hour without my foot being elevated. We are away next week but am going to travel in the back of the car with my foot on pillows across the seat. I think it will actually be better as the accommodation is on one level and we have a wheelchair, my adult sons are happy to take me out 😊. Edwardian houses are definitely not good if you have mobility issues!

I hope you are both not in too much pain, as long as I keep my foot up I am fine from that point of view and have managed to reduce the painkillers.

Hi Evenstar great you’ll go on holiday. I was on day 1 of holiday in a converted 14th century castle with LOADS of stairs - spiral staircases, turrets everything. It was a beautiful placed but marred by doing the ankle in and I keep having flashbacks of the castle even though I spent all of 2 nights there! My DH says we should try and book somewhere else for august but I feel all is up in the air. It’s my daughter’s 9th birthday coming up but have had to ask if she minds having friends over when I’m back on my feet! Don’t know about you but I’m getting a numb behind! I’m going back to hospital tomorrow as I think the cast is rubbing! Feels like it does if you get a blister with ill fitting shoes. I’ve not been in too much pain at all. In fact, walked a little into A & E with my ankle after 2 days which they were a bit shocked at! I just hope it heals ok sooner ie 6 weeks as opposed to nearer 12.

Broke both ankles last 18 months ago.
On the scales initially it looked like I maintained weight BUT I lost muscle mass and gained fat. As soon as I began using my muscles again it became apparent I put on about 10lbs.
I healed quickly and well and lost the weight with a good fitness regime.
Good luck.

I was lucky enough to have kept a foam wedge I bought for DH after he had an operation so I can adjust my position a fair bit with pillows to avoid the numb bottom issue! I am a bit sick of watching TV though.

Must get on with reading the pile of books I got in before my operation.

Yes I keep doing sudoku and keep mucking them up! I keep checking work mail even tho signed off. I’ve been trying to get finances in order and get stuff for my daughter’s birthday. Not hit the books yet! Don’t have the patience these days! Also been watching Wimbledon and football! The weather has been rubbish here with flash flooding. Had managed to sit out a couple of times but looks like it’ll be a few more days before the sun comes out!