u/hedgehog_720

I earned this 💪

I'm skating again, and getting closer to what my normal was before. It's not perfect, as I deal with post-traumatic arthritis daily.

Progress absolutely has not been linear either. Nothing will ever be the same, but I've learned to slow down and accept what my body can do on any given day.

If you're in the trenches early on, I promise it gets better. It won't be perfect, but it will get better. 💜

Any tips for improving dorsiflexion at 4 months post-op?

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I had a tri-malleolar fracture on 2/21, with orif surgery and hardware placement on 2/26. I don't have a recent xray photo, but this shows my hardware at 6 weeks.

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Now that I'm approaching 4 months out, I feel like I've hit a plateau. I was in PT since 1 week after surgery, and have been going every week these past 4 months. I started FWB without the boot at about 9 weeks. I've even been able to get back into some light roller skating.

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However, my dorsiflexion is nonexistent, and my pain seems to be worse than it ever was. While my muscles are stronger, I just cannot bend my ankle upward. My PT keeps saying this is normal, but that's not what I see here. For reference, I can only bend my ankle 1 degree worth of dorsiflexion. I know the first goal is 10 degrees, but that just feels impossible and so out of reach right now.

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I also am lacking in plantar flexion, but not as drastically.

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Anyone have any tips for improving flexion overall? It just feels stiff at all times. Swelling is actually pretty minimal, but the stiffness is stopping any movement.

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I will continue to do PT, but my next appointment with the surgeon isn't for a couple more months at 6 months post op. Should I consider getting it looked at earlier, or am I just being dramatic?