Any advice on excercises for ankle while I wait ( 3 weeks!!) to see physio??

[ohnelly]

Hi just wondering if anyone has any advice on what I can do with my ankle while I wait for physio or should I just leave well alone?
I broke my ankle in 3 places and had to have operation to put pins, plate etc in. I have had it in plaster for 6 weeks, and have had the plaster off for a week now.
Obviously I am not going to try and walk on it without my crutches - not that i could, but it is so stiff, especially in the morning (it aches before I have got out of bed)
I have been trying to do little circles, up and down and side to side movements with it to loosen it up. Doesnt seems to be doing much.
Maybe Im just impatient, but im 17 weeks pregnant with number 2 now and want to be able to walk on it and drive again before I get too big! Help
And I cant believe I have to wait 3 weeks to even be assessed by a physio

i too have a plate in my left ankle. I fgound the best exercise to strengthen up the ligaments and tendons was to sit with my foot next to something solid,pivot foot on heel,but keep all the foot close to the floor and push with the outside of the foot against the solid object many times a day. Physio told me to do that and i have never had any problems since. Took about 2 months.

the circular movements will help too. Also get one of those long elastic exercise bands(they are about 5 inches wide and 6ft long)I think they are called therabands, that are used for waist trimming and tie it to a chair or heavy object.then hook your foot in and pull towards you.

Oh thanks I will try these. Alypaly was it 2 months after you had plaster off it was back to normal? How long before you could drive/walk without crutches? Its my left one too - everyone on the ward seemed to have done their left leg/ankle in while I was there!

its a very long story....in brief...had a very big foot repair job (osteotomy i think it was called)as consultant NO1 messed up a bunion op and set the bones all crooked.(despite denying it...xrays proved his ignorance)Later found out he was a back specialist so he was probably dabbling in an area of orthopaedics that he should have steered well clear of. BLOODY CONSULTANT.Made my life a misery for 2 years before repair job...and even thats not brilliant..but its the beat of a bad job, so to speak.
Second doc tried to correct the mistakes(and tried 3 ops in one as i was in agony) but Doc No1 had removed some bone ,from the large bone running down to big toe.
Doc no 2 took a v-shaped piece of bone from my lower right leg bone(not realising that he had almost cut the v-shape all the way through the bone. After the op it was really really painful on standing. Went home with an 'air cast' boot. Was walking along with the boot on,and my leg snapped...yep...i actually felt it break at the v-shape.
Went back a week later as consultant was just about to go on hols. Sat there with a broken leg for 1 week. He came home,put a plate in and was able to walk on it without crutches after 2-3 weeks.(although did use my aircast boot when it felt weak.)
Ankle stayed really swollen for 3-4 months and had to elevate it whenever poss.filled with fluid if i stood up too long.

Still have the plate in my ankle,the bone on top of my foot,a screw in my big toe and a screw in the metatarsal of 2nd toe..due to all corrective procedures. I am able to ski and went skiing 8 months later.Also still play national badminton...just put up with the niggly pain and stiffness.
the plate on top of my foot causes me problems as it digs in my shoes and initially i worried about the plate in my leg and my ski boots. but no problems so far.
But as you can see...none too happy with Doctors who are suppposed to be specialists.
almost wish id kept the bunion[hmmm]
I cant say it didnt hurt,

Wish you a speedy recovery...hope its all successful

Oh my god that sounds horrendous!!
I think its just going to take longer than I thought, and my bump has suddenly appeared this week to help matters even more - am 17 weeks now! Im sure there was nothing there last week - its just appeared from nowhere!
Im glad your able to go ski-ing and carry on as normal finally though as I work with horses and was hoping to ride again as soon as I feel like it after having baby.

be careful what you do as you are pregnant. Progesterone makes your cartilage and ligament soft ,so dont go mad on exercising otherwise you may stretch ligaments too. Progesterone settles about 6 weeks after delivery so then you can do more srong exercising.

Have you tried Youtube? It is really good for demonstrations of physio exercises.

Really jybay? I never thought of that. I will go and have a look now! thanks