Broken ankle - when to wear fracture boot?

[toinfinityandbeyond]

I broke my ankle in 3 places, 2.5 weeks ago. I had surgery to fit plates and screws, which is healing well. I asked if I could take the boot off at night/when resting, and was told that was fine. I've got some nerve damage (hopefully temporary), and when the boot is on the pain at the front of my foot is unbearable. I currently can't weight bear yet, but I'm wondering if powering through the pain when wearing the boot and keeping it on more often will help with the pain. Does anyone have any experience of this?

when dh broke his heel he was in a plaster cast for 6 weeks and then had a boot on, he was told to wear it at all times apart from when he was sleeping. He wasn’t allowed to put weight on it for a full 10 weeks!

Just don't, DON'T leave it off for bed, forget, and put your foot down on the floor fully going for a middle of the night wee. Not me, my friend, but the way she described from being lovely sleepy and dozy to full on screaming in pain has put me off for life.

HCP in me, is the pain nerve pain from it pressing on skin? I don't know what boot you have but is there scope for removing that part or inserting something so it doesn't touch that area. I'd have thought keeping it on in these early days was a good idea.

Thanks, I've currently still got to keep it elevated at all times. So only moving it to go to the toilet (we've bought a commode - another low point!).
The pain did feel like it was from the boot touching, but I'm on meds that seem to have helped that. This pain is almost like a severe cramp, from the foot being stretched! I'm back at clinic on Friday, so will ask again then.

My son had a broken fibula just above his ankle. He had a plate put in and had a boot about a week after the surgery. He was given some foam pads to use if it rubbed or was uncomfortable.

Thanks, I've got foam inserts. It's definitely not the boot rubbing, or too tight. It's more to do with how the nerves seem to go crazy when I angle my foot into the boot! I'll add it to my list of questions for clinic.

I’m currently wearing 2 boots for fractured heels. My boots are plastic at the bottom and around the edge and the rest is foam. I have extra pads to pad around the heel which help with the nerve pain.
that pain causes cramps and shooting pains up to my hip in my right leg.
I wear the right boot all of the time and elevate it as much as possible, I sleep in both boots.

its been 11 days since my accident, I’m back at the hosp tomorrow for another x-ray.

i won’t type anymore as I’m on so many pain meds and normal meds I’m fearing the above is readable.

ots nice to have a thread to talk about recovery though, I wish you all well

I’m prescribed pregabalin teva 25mg to help with the nerve pain. Ironically they have also helped with my anxiety and bonkers thoughts so that’s a win.

Try to bear it. DS is awaiting his third operation 18 years on from the original break because of metatarsal issues.

Wow, two boots! You poor thing. The nerve pain is like nothing I've ever felt. I'm on so many different types of pain relief. It's taken me a good 10 days to feel somewhat normal on them. I hope things start to settle down for you. The past two weeks have been so much harder to deal with than I anticipated 😞

I'm in gabapentin, and it's helped, but not fully taken away the nerve pain. I'm glad yours is helping.

Weight bear? I've been told definitely not until around the 6 week mark. I also don't think I could, due to the nerve pain!

i went for a 2nd X-ray today and it looks like I’m going to need surgery on the right foot due to displacement.

they took bloods and swabs ready for surgery and said they will call me soon.

TMI can we talk about constipation? My god, have I suffered over the last few days! Not easy to run to the toilet with 2 fractured heels!

im taking a mixture of senakot & lactulose and at the watery stage still feeling another blockage on it’s way, any tips would be gratefully received at this point would Dulcola (sp) on it’s own cause less crawling to the toilet? Between my bowels and my heels, and the pressure of a possible surgery I’m reallly feeling down.

how’s your days going @toinfinityandbeyond ?

OH I'm sorry but the surgery is necessary. Check out the surgeons, feet specialists are unusual. Sons surgeon worked on the feet of top footballers and skiers. Do the research.

"Home - RJAH" https://www.rjah.nhs.uk

This is where my son went

"Consultant Profiles - RJAH" https://www.rjah.nhs.uk/our-services/consultant-profiles/?page=1&category=Foot,%20Ankle%20and%20Lower%20Limb

Hi I broke my ankle 3 places to sept 22 I had surgery and then boot too but it took 12 weeks before I could bare weight and at that I was
Limping

Sorry about the needed surgery. I hope you're not waiting too long.
The constipation will be the codeine, or other opiates you might be on. It's tough isn't it?!
The whole recovery so far, and I know it's early days, has been so much harder than I anticipated. I'm quite a tough cookie usually, but I'm struggling to stay positive. I'm telling myself that in a month I'll be in a much better place. Easy to say that, though!

Meant to say to ask ypur gp about movicol!

I kept saying that during the COVID lockdowns 🙈

12 weeks?! I was hoping for around the 6 week mark. The recovery is going to take longer than I first thought 😞
How is your ankle now?

@toinfinityandbeyond hopefully yours is different. Tbh I don't think it's every gonna be the same again it's played on both sides and I dislocated it to when I had the accident.
So it's uncomfortable on uneven ground and it can get sore when on it for 2 long x

That's exactly the same as my injury! Plated both sides and was dislocated, too. I need to lower my expectations. How did you find physio?

@toinfinityandbeyond , I broke both ankles in 2020. Had pin and plate to the left, tensor only for the right (bone chip where the ligament pulled off).
Yes I removed my air cast/boot at night and used a cold pack along with ++ pillows to elevate. I also used this time to wiggle the toes and move my foot as much as comfortable.
i developed severe constipation with a surgery the year prior, I now list the particular analgesic as an allergy. The constipation prevented my bladder to empty fully, got a UTI, I was a mess in that department.
i was allowed to feather weight bear early but the right ankle was so painful it was a while before I could do more than scoot around the house in a rolling chair.
i seriously cried when dh showed up with a wheeled walker, I felt so old…
but honestly it was very helpful.
I progressed well and healed well, had the plate removed after 18months. I’m really pleased how the ligaments on the left foot were tightened up during surgery.
i had very loose ankle ligaments after multiple serious sprains.

Goodness you poor thing. May I ask how that happened?

Wow, that sounds like an ordeal! This is really helpful to hear other stories. I know everyone is different, and so are recoveries, but it all feels so far off right now. I'm pretty much reliant on DH for everything, he's been amazing, but is exhausted!