u/Fit-Ice-6597

Hi people,

I have to get this of my chest.

I broke my ankle 1,5 years ago and the hardware was removed almost 5 months ago. I still have physical therapy.

The dorsiflexion is still the problem and it's so frustrating. I have a ROM of just 7 degrees. Mind you, my good ankle has a ROM of 18 degrees. The plantar flexion is 50 degrees which is inside normal range. This improved after the hardware removal. My surgeon hoped that the same would happen with my dorsiflexion, but sadly it didn't.

I'm doing everything I can. I'm running. I'll start swimming again. I'm in the gym everyday, doing my PT exercises and I see my physical therapist twice a week. I'm on the stair master almost everyday because walking the stairs is still hard as well and my ankle is compensating on the stairs. I'm forcing my ankle to make a good straight step on the stairs. I do squats with a squat wedge, simply because I can't do them without it. I just want my ankle to be normal again.

My physical therapist is on holiday right now, but after he has a meeting with the trauma surgeons and he will discuss me. We're going to try to get a referral to an orthopedic surgeon, and I feel that is my last hope. Is there anybody here who went to an orthopedic surgeon/doctor as well? Did it help?

For your information: I had a trimalleolar ankle fracture with dislocation and shattered bones. According to my physical therapist, it was the worst fracture he had seen in years.

Hello,

I'm 32 and I've been smoking since I was around 17/18 years old. I have periods I quit and didn't smoke for a long time, but everytime something bad happens I just can't help but smoke again.

I started again a month and a half ago, I had a very nasty break-up w/ my (ex-)boyfriend. Basically our whole relationship has been terrorized by his psycho ex babymama and it got out of hand. She's still bullying me online though.

Weed has been my friend since then, but due to financial and health reasons, I want to quit again. But I know how hard it is...and I already feel really depressed lately. I'm also on a waiting list to get tested for ADHD.

Any tips?

I spoke to my trauma surgeon a few hours ago and he told me there's a possibility that the limited ankle dorsiflexion I have right now, will probably stay like that for the rest of my life...

I'm getting more physical therapy now, the period will be extended, but I don't want to accept that this is a reality I have to deal with for the rest of my life. I can't imagine not being able to squat in the right way or even properly walk on stairs...

Are there more people with a restricted ankle dorsiflexion and how did you recover? I'd like to know some tips and tricks because I so want it to be better.

For your information, I had a trimalleolar ankle fracture with dislocation and shattered bones, broke it on March 28th, 2025. On April 9th, 2025 I had surgery and they put in 3 plates and 15 screws. The plates and screws got removed two months ago.