Broken ankle on right + a sprain the left? Feeling overwhelmed
On 4/12, I had a pretty bad accident and ended up with:
a nondisplaced fracture of the left distal fibula/lateral malleolus
widening/swelling in the left ankle
and a sprain of the anterior talofibular ligament in my right ankle/foot
So basically… my “good leg” isn’t really good either.
The first couple weeks were honestly brutal. I’ve been in a boot on the left side, trying to protect the right side from getting worse, and just doing basic things like showering, getting food, standing up, or carrying something across the room suddenly became exhausting and weirdly emotional.
I think what’s messing with me most is how long recovery feels. Some days I feel optimistic and other days I’m terrified I’ll never walk normally again or get back to my normal energy/activity level. I’ve also gained weight since the injury and feel really isolated, which I wasn’t expecting.
Would really love to hear from anyone who’s gone through:
a fibula/lateral malleolus fracture
bilateral ankle injuries
being non-weight-bearing or mobility limited for weeks
or just the mental side of this kind of injury
How long did it take before you started feeling more “normal”? Did you eventually fully recover? Any tips that helped physically or mentally?
Thank you ❤️