I was in a bike accident and had a “Bimalleolar Ankle Fracture with an Associated Osteochondral Lesion (OCD) of the Talus.” And had ORIF surgery. And my concern is I am currently almost 6 months post op and started walking but have a slight limp still is it normal and when will I be able to run and jumb?. Will I be able to do those stuff again?
Ankle is healing well, except I still have a good bit of pain and swelling. He prescribed a round of steroids to help with swelling. Ugh. They turn me into a lunatic.
We were kind of wrapping up, when he dropped a little bombshell. He might want to remove some of the hardware. What??? It is a lot of metal and my does not do well with metal inside. (Had a major knee surgery. Had to get the hardware removed after a year)
I was not mentally prepared to hear that another surgery was even a possibility! I am trying to not panic, but...no thank you. He said 6 months post op would be an ideal time to do it.
Has anyone's surgeon mentioned removing the hardware?
Okay, maybe I was always destined for a mental hospital - I don’t know !? I’ve never had issues before that I’ve ever been aware of. I’ve had a decently successful and great life up until this point.
This injury is so brutal- it’s changed my entire life.
I cannot BELIEVE I just got discharged from a literal mental hospital. I got baker acted after saying “I want to d**. I give up” (I do not feel this way anymore.. please don’t come at me- I’m just sharing my experience)
I had ORIF about 6 weeks ago; 12 days after the fracture and ligament tear. I’ve since lost my job, my relationship, the ability to drive (we are almost cleared.. so hope is on the way, but still a month out from being able to legally drive in the US)
I’m about to lose my home too. I haven’t been able to get out of the house. I got severely depressed. I’m not hopeless.. especially after what felt like the worst week of my life in a HOSPITAL JAIL (I’ve never been to jail, but I imagine this is what that feels like) tried to learn coping strategies next to people talking about things other-worldly that kind of freaked me out to be honest, but I digress.. that’s a story for another day.
I just can’t believe my life has come to this. A small injury- a huge life change. Not sure how to move forward. not sure why I’m venting on Reddit. This sub is pretty supportive, and I’m desperate.
Advice? It’s so hard when people around us don’t understand how devastating this injury is to every day life. We can’t shower the same, we don’t have the same freedoms, we’re in pain 24/7 for weeks on end, it’s almost like an identity loss- and please don’t get me wrong - I am completely aware that people have it SO MUCH WORSE and there are far worse injuries and I am so beyond grateful that it wasn’t worse and that I feel so weak for complaining. I almost wish it was worse because maybe people could SEE it more and understand. It seems like such a minor injury, but for me it was life changing. I thought I was pretty decent with handling pain and being independent. Being stripped of the independence in one instant. Everything is astronomically more difficult to handle alone. Don’t get me started on getting up and down the stairs with the knee scooter.
I’m sad guys. Hope?
Thanks.
Hey guys.
My last post was a miserable one (how the surgery was 3 weeks delayed and a misdiagnosis of my Weber B fracture, the injury occurring straight after rehabbing since 2023 from knee surgery and re-tear etc.)… Here’s a more optimistic, puff-of-the-chest update!
Had the op on Friday and all went to plan. You can see the difference in how much closer the bones are post-tightroping! A few screws and a plate but not too phased now that they’re in.
I’m pretty active (28M) and hoping to return to football asap. Most of the day I’m elevating my leg and feeling pretty useless/slobby. As soon as the leg goes down, it gets pretty painful and the foot swells up quickly!
My nutrition stack is the following (pills):
Marine Collagen
Vitamin D3+K2
Calcium + Magnesium
Multi-vitamin tablet
Am I missing anything? BPC157 Peptide sub-q is tempting but am not fully convinced. I try to eat pretty healthy, drink loads of water and have stopped the snus.
The plan is 2 weeks in a cast, and then re-scan and hopefully move to a boot and we’ll see if they want me to start weight-bearing. I really hope they don’t put in a plaster cast. I’ll then check in with my PT to see if we can start doing some mobilisation/activation as ideally I’d like to get the ankle moving asap (without disturbing anything).
I’m keeping the leg exercises going which seem to be doing a satisfactory job of keeping my muscles activated (bar the left calf, that poor guy has become something like a floppy, slightly soggy tortilla). I don’t look forward to doing the exercises at all, because it involves having to put my leg down/manoeuvre.
Leg Exercises:
Thighs: Leg raises, seated knee extension with band, inner range straightens
Hamstring: bridges, curls with band
Glutes: side clams, hip extensions multiple directions with band
I haven’t done any adductor exercises yet. Will do copenhagens planks once I can put some side weight on it.
I’ll then be in a boot for 6-ish weeks and then I imagine an ankle brace/support-when-needed sort of situation? And then plain-sailing rehab and strengthening?!
If the above goes swimmingly:
My hope is I’ll be actively playing football in 6 months time (mid-November), which means within 4 months I’d want to be running and putting normal weight through my ankle as before. I know this is very optimistic. What do we think?
The surgeon said recovery was 6-12 months, which seems to be quite a broad estimation… so I’ve stuck with 6 months!
I do look at Musiala (German footballer) for inspiration. He had a severe, SEVERE ankle dislocation and fracture and was back playing within 7 months. How on earth he achieved this I do not know, so if anyone has any tips or advice for the journey, please feel free to add to this thread and I will do the same! I know he was surrounded by PTs and an unlimited budget, but if there’s any secret sauce to this recovery, I wanna know!!
If of interest to anyone I will put in updates every now and then on my progress. Please do the same with yours as I’d love to see how you are getting on and what your experience is.
Thanks!
Today is a TOUGH day. Can't quit bursting into tears. Family not even trying to hide their irritation at me this morning.
On the couch for 6 - 8 weeks, endless time to fill. What are you streaming, reading, listening to that is helping you get through the day?
Movies, podcasts, shows, comedy specials, vintage TV, books?
Thanks in advance for helping me focus on somthing else for a while.
Hello, I’m in the US here but this question is for basically anyone whose injury affected their finances. How is everyone holding up??
I was in the process of starting a new job that I can’t do now because of my injury. And the job I did before that was delivery for Instacart that I obviously can’t really do now, either.
I can’t get any disability or workman’s comp because I didn’t get hurt on the job and Instacart is an independent contractor agreement. (And honestly it’s a gig I’ve been trying to get out of doing for awhile but that’s a whole other story)
I’m having no luck finding any WFH or remote positions. Weeding through scams nowadays has become a job within itself…
Thankfully, I’m staying with family who are supporting me financially at the moment. I know I’m luckier than a lot of others in that sense but I feel utterly worthless.
I’ve done a few things here and there like participate in online surveys/focus groups, etc but those are rare. And I do some tasks for a voting organization app online but it’s pocket change.
I know I should be focused on just recovery but I’m really really stressing out about money.
How is everyone else doing?
I finally got into full weight bearing as tolerated as of yesterday. Been doing pretty good, have been playing around with 1 crutches with my boot. But I find wearing this boot more an issue then a solution. My good foot feels strained since atleast 5 inches on the bottom of the boot which makes my short body uneven.
Im wondering when would be good to ditch the boot. I have a brace I can wear in my shoe for when I transition. I just dont want to mess this up or ending up straining my good foot and causing more delays.
For context, 9 weeks post op orif Weber C injury, healed really well, swelling is currently controlled and not much pain currently either.
Any help be great please 😊😊
Was wondering if anyone else felt such pains few day after surgery. I also using one leg cushion, not sure if that is causing.
I broke my fibula and ruptured my syndesmosis on April 28th. I had surgery the next day: 4 screws in the fibula and 2 in the syndesmosis.
I was fit and healthy before the injury, and highly active in the gym.
Two weeks after surgery, the stitches were removed, and I started ROM exercises with partial weight bearing (20–30%).
The pain is mostly gone; I just have some stiffness.
I’m curious — how was your dorsiflexion and plantarflexion at this stage?
My plantarflexion is about 95% back, but my dorsiflexion still isn’t very good.
Did you have any pain during PT exercises around the syndesmosis area? I’m confused because I can’t really feel pain in the syndesmosis or during PT stretching.
Is that normal?
The “worst” pain I have during PT is in my Achilles tendon (about 3/10).
I am about 2 weeks away from being able to switch over to an ankle brace with a normal shoe. I recently moved from my ortho and was just told to call if I have any issues so I won’t be able to meet with him for my 12 week follow up. What braces have you all transitioned to with your normal shoes. TIA!
Hello everyone,
Has anyone experienced moderate itching while using compression socks or after taking them off? I am one month post ORIF for a trimalleolar fracture on April 19th. I have been using a boot for 2 weeks now.
I am wondering if any one has any solutions.
So I am now 5 days into walking. Had my first outpatient PT today. My plantar flexor is at 100%! Was corrected using walker and had my first attempt at trying walking up a step. That was hard! All my bedrooms and laundry room are upstairs. Anyway, started walking with crutches and tried even with 1 crutch. How long did you go from NWB to walking without any device? Like how many weeks did it take?
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.
Finally got my splint off!!! Onto the boot, but can barely put my foot flat. It’s way too swollen still. No one told me getting stitches removed stings so badly but I guess I should have figured! Note: the x-ray of the plates and screws was early due to me thinking I might have broken something when I fell 2 days after surgery, so the splint is still on.
Had an avulsion fracture on the base of my 5th metatarsal. I was in a boot for six weeks. I’m on the 5th day of transitioning. Probably stayed in my shoe too long on my 4th day. I feel like my joints,muscles,and gait will never be right again. It’s painful to walk correctly.. It’s very sore. Is this normal?? The more you work it out, and walk will it get better? I bought some brooks glycerin 23 to transition into.. Should I wear a compression wrap in my shoe to help? Just feeling flustered.. Instructions as follows:
Evening all. Webber B spiral fracture and torn ligament - which I am not going to attempt to spell. I was given an Aspen Traverse Air Walker boot today at the hospital and it looks like i am going to be stuck with it for a while. Any recommendations for good socks from uk suppliers ? Also, a post i can’t find again, mentioned some sort of powder to put in the sock to make it more comfortable?
Very shortened - trimal, synesmosis sorted with ORIF
Injury 8 weeks ago and surgery just over 6 weeks
In PT, out of the boot, trying to walk as normal and naturally as I can but obviously with crutches. Been doing really well at getting my gate to be almost as normal.
The issue is, I’ve been practicing WAY too much. 4 days on the row since PT, in and out of hospital whilst my partner begins the process of giving birth. Told to come in, sent home. False dawns. I’ve probably covered 2 miles in that time between car park and ward.
It’s gotten my ankle actually feeling great, my calf has grown significantly and I just feel more confident…
However.
We aren’t meant to be doing this. I got home last night (baby born and healthy) and it looked like somebody stuck a large tennis ball in my ankle.
It’s bad timing with the baby as I’m far less useful but I now feel worried about balancing my own recovery and the needs of my baby and his mother, who had C section.
How long did it take you guys to do a single calf raise on your injured leg? I am 12 weeks post op from a displaced distal fibula fracture. And I’m not even close to one. Not even holding onto something. I have ZERO strength. I am able to do full ROM and other strength exercises, but my calf is not waking up, so that is our main focus in PT now. Just curious how everyone else did.
Can I ask, does anyone (or did anyone) still have constant pain 6 months on?
If I'm moving my ankle, I'm in pain. Zero pain free steps. I've just switched from codeine to tramadol to see if that helps with the pain. I'm still on two crutches. Even with these, I can't walk or stand for longer 5 minutes at the absolute most. I have to use a wheelchair every time I leave the house.
Doc says it's still healing. But I need to know whether this level of pain is likely to be "it" now, or if there is still scope for it to get more manageable.
hello. i’m 6 weeks post op and diligently going to my PT, but can’t say the same in doing exercise and massage at home. though i see improvement but my ankle still feel hard and whenever i angle my foot upward-forward to match my other’s foot maximum stretch i still feel that restriction where something is still stopping my foot to really move upwards.
my ortho doc said that it shouldn’t be that case if i did the massage he advised in our first follow up after my operation. so yes there is a negligence in my part. now i have to do the routine every two hours to double time or else i’ll walk or stand like a model forever (what my ortho said).
can someone please give me an advice or share their experience in lessening this restriction i feel or even completely not feeling it anymore? my ankle is still swelling too though it does not hurt, it just looks bigger than my other one. so i guess that’s why it is still hard and have restriction feeling?
i will also have my second PT consultation today so i’ll also ask things to them if there is anything else i can do at home aside from the routines we started doing.