Broken ankle and needing surgery

[Inastatus]

I fell down a step 2 nights ago and thought I’d just sprained my ankle. It was last night of holiday and had to travel back the next day so I have only just got to the minor injuries unit this morning where they told me it’s broken 😩 I’m in a cast and have been told I’ll need to have an op within 2 weeks to insert a plate.

I’m a bit in shock about it all. I feel so stupid for having the fall to start with and then trying to hobble around on it. I feel like it’s my fault for making it worse and that’s why I now need an op or is it common to have a plate put in at my age - I’m 62.

I’d love to hear from anyone who has had a similar injury and how well you recovered as I’m just feeling all doom and gloom at the moment. I’m normally so active and the thought of being like this for the next 6 weeks is awful.

I went through exactly the same thing 10 years ago When I was 50. I broke my ankle in two places and ended up having to have a plate and pins. I doubt if you have made it worse and they have only asked you to wait two weeks as they have to make sure the swelling has gone down before they operate. The six weeks did seem quite a long time, but I remember the consultant saying to me that if I did exactly as he said, I would have a full recovery. I followed his advice and now walk my dog 6 miles every day and I have no lasting effects from it. It took me awhile to get back to walking normally as the foot would still swell up occasionally, But only for a few months after the cast came off.
Hopefully the six weeks will fly past for you and you’ll soon be back to normal.

@Florence1997 - thanks so much for your reply and I’m glad to hear that you fully recovered. Did you have the plate put in at the beginning or after the initial break? I’m just wondering if waiting 2 weeks to have the pin put in will mean I’ll have to have the cast on for longer.

I had the plate and pin put in at the same time two days after I had my accident. My swelling wasn’t too bad so they could operate nearly straight away.
I then had the cast on for 6 weeks after the op. I’m not sure what the cast time is for pins only. But I would have thought similar time frame of 6 weeks in a cast once it’s been stabilised by the op.

@Florence1997 - thank you

My ds tripped and sprained his ankle when he was in primary. It wasnt especially red, hot or swollen and he could walk on it. So i made him just carry on with life, walking limping to school evey day, etc. It was only a couple of days later that i took him to minor injuries (mostly because i wanted to check i was bandaging it in the right way). It was indeed broken. The parental guilt i felt was horrendous, what kind of awful mother makes their dc walk on a broken ankle for days???

Please don't beat yourself up about initially walking about on it, life is full of what ifs, and hindsight can be a frustrating thing. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

I was 34wks pregnant when I did similar. They advised pin and plate. I couldn't face it so asked what if I didn't and they said I wouldn't be able to run. Seeing as I have never been particularly athletic and I was going to be able to walk I declined. They put on a pot and I gave birth soon after it came off. I wouldn't say I missed out I can run, not fast but I don't think that's down to the ankle. It doesn't stop me doing anything. It's only thirty odd years later that in cold damp weather that it aches but a couple of nurofen on the days it is particularly achy soon sorts that. No regrets here.

I had this about 15 years ago. Consider getting a knee scooter for getting around the house. I had one and it was brilliant for scooting to the kitchen, filling up the basket, and scooting back to the sofa. You also need to think about how you will shower.

I broke my tibia and fibula right down at the bottom and dislocated my ankle at the same time. I was put in plaster overnight and then operated on under a spinal block rather than anaesthetic with pins put in. I still suffer with some swelling if I've been on my feet all day and it still aches occasionally. It's been over 4 years since it happened and I'm now approaching 60.

@Overtheatlantic - thanks, yes I’m considering a knee scooter as I’m already finding the walker extremely annoying!

My husband broke his ankle, went to the walk in , they never xrayed and just said tissue damage, he carried on with it for a few months walking and mowing lawns, working as normal but he went back after 8 weeks when they said to if it hadn't got any better. it was still giving him.pain. so he went the doctors who sent him for an xray and it was a clean break, he needed plate and pins, ligament realignment, he couldn't walk on.it for 6 weeks but after that he just walked on it as normal and is back to walking, mowing lawns and working. He was 62, now 63

@LOCOJDS - thank you so much. I really appreciate your reply, it’s made me feel reassured.

Accidents happen - don’t beat yourself up!

My sister (66) did this a few months ago, it was badly broken and needed pins and plates. I'd say it was 4months before she could walk without crutches and it's still painful despite much physio.

More importantly get a dexa scan. They should refer you automatically after a break over 60 but if they don't then ask your GP.