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1-Week Post-Ankle Surgery: When will I be able to lower my leg without massive swelling and pain??

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andrew15830
andrew15830

I (34 yrs old) am now 9 days post-ORIF surgery on my left ankle (plate/screws for spiral fracture and repair of torn ligaments) for a Weber C fracture/dislocation (surgery was one week post-injury). I now have a splint-type cast and go back to the surgeon for my first follow up next week (2 weeks post-op) and will be in a removable cast for 4 weeks, and then in a boot. I am non-weight bearing until I am in the boot.

I have been off pain meds for several days now and have minimal pain when my leg is elevated. When I put my leg down to get up to use the bathroom and shower, etc, my leg and ankle immediately swell from what seems like blood/fluid going down there by gravity. Putting my leg down results in almost unbearable pain within seconds, and is only relieved by elevating the leg again.

My question for those who have gone through similar ankle procedures is: how long should I expect until I will be able to be upright without this massive pain from lowering my leg?

I am not able to use my knee scooter yet and am now in bed with leg elevated 99% of the time because of this. I know that once this stops (or at least the pain is reduced) I can be more mobile and upright, which will certainly lift my spirits. Any advice folks can give based on similar experiences would be most appreciated.

2 likes, 89 replies

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  • Guest
    Guest andrew15830

    Posted

    I forgot to ask, did you also have ligament damage in your leg? I think the ligament is called the syndesmosis.
    • andrew15830
      andrew15830 Guest

      Posted

      All of the ligaments in the ankle were torn when my ankle dislocated.  I am not sure what it was called.  The surgeon drilled a hole through the tibula and fibula, and tied the bones in place with what he called a "tightrope" so that the bones would stay in the correct place for the ligaments to heal properly.  At least that is how I recall it being explained to me.

      Your timeline seems a little different than mine.  I was in the splint for two weeks after surgery.  I went in at two weeks for removal of stitches (45), and was then placed in a cast.  They cut the cast in half so it was like a clam shell, and had velcro straps around the cast to keep it together when it was on.  I could take the cast off to shower (sitting) and to ice the ankle.  I was in the cast for 4 weeks (weeks 2-6), and at week 6 got the boot, and will be in the boot for 7 weeks.

      I have seen on other posts that some people are placed in the boot earlier than I was.  Hopefully you can be partial weightbearing as soon as you get the boot.  If that's not the case (I have seen posts where some people were placed in a boot but could not put any weight on it for the first couple weeks), maybe ask if you could stay in a cast until you can start to bear weight in the boot.  The boot is much heavier than the cast was, and I couldn't imagine having to pick my leg up in the boot all day without being able to put weight on it.

    • Guest
      Guest andrew15830

      Posted

      Okay, yes. They thought I might need the tight rope, but I actually didn't. I know my doctor said I would've been NWB for six more weeks if I had that repair. I think that accounts for the difference in the timeline. Wow, you've come so far! You don't know how much you are lifting my spirits by sharing your recovery with me!

    • RosieG8811
      RosieG8811 Guest

      Posted

      Hi, just wanted to see how you are recovering? I'm 1 week post op, I have two screws in my right ankle and a "tight rope" to help with the damage ligaments. I have a follow up appointment tomorrow and I think the Dr is going to put me in a cast. My accident happened 2 1/2wks ago. I am 33 and in good health. I'm really sad because I started running 4mo ago, so that has to be put on hold for a while I hear.

    • Guest
      Guest RosieG8811

      Posted

      I'm right at 6 months post op (yesterday). I wear all of my normal shoes and I only limp if I've been sitting for a while without stretching. I can jump a little, not very high, with no pain. I am starting to do a light jog, but it's kind of like a cross between jogging and power walking because I'm still nervous about fully shifting my weight the way you have to when you run. I think I'm physically capable of running with no pain, but mentally I'm just a teeny bit nervous. I do still have some swelling at the end of most days, but nothing like the swelling I had in the first six weeks after surgery. I feel 80-90% normal now. I feel the hardware (I have a plate and twelve screws), but never more than a twinge of pain at this point and that passes quickly. I did not have to have the tightrope as my ligaments were undamaged, so my recovery was slightly different from what yours will be, but I imagine you are through the worst of it. I know it's probably hard to imagine that you'll get here, but you will. You'll be running again so much sooner than you think. I took my first steps in early September, approx 5-6 weeks post op, and it was all improvement from then on. Physical therapy helped a lot, and stretching at home will speed things up as well. If you've made it through injury and surgery, it's smooth sailing for you now. Good luck!

    • Guest
      Guest RosieG8811

      Posted

      Keep shooting me questions if you want. I can remember my recovery timeline really well, and I can suggest a few devices that helped me along the way, like the Even Up when I was in the walking boot, the knee scooter, a shower chair, and a walker, which I preferred to crutches when I first started trying to walk.
    • RosieG8811
      RosieG8811 Guest

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your reply. I'm glad you are doing well. I just got my cast on today and the doctor told me no weight bearing for 4wks. I did order a knee scooter and that should be here in 3 days. I'm looking forward to being a little more mobile and helping my husband around the house. The crutches just make me feel terrible that I can't do much.I do have a chair in the shower and that helps out. What is the Even Up? I'm hoping that once my 4wks are done I can get in a walking boot. Is there anything that you think back on during your recovery that you would do differently?

    • erin66090
      erin66090 Guest

      Posted

      Hello! I'm just starting this journey...orif surgery for 5th metatarsal fracture 3 days ago, original injury a couple weeks ago. It's mostly okay when I sit here with it elevated, but excruciating when I put it down to go to the bathroom or anything, and for the next 30 minutes or so afterward. I know it's a slow process, but give me some hope - when is the worst over? Any advice on dealing, other than painkillers?

      I appreciate everyone'should posts on here!

    • erin66090
      erin66090

      Posted

      Everyone's posts, I mean. Autocorrect!

    • rene505
      rene505 RosieG8811

      Posted

      Hi

      I dislocated and fractured my ankle on March 31st. I had ORIF surgery on April the 4th. I've been on the knee scooter since maybe 2 days after surgery. I stay in bed the majority of the time (a struggle).

      I was a very active person and walked and exercised regularly.

      I go for two weeks post surgery appointment on Monday. I know stitched will be romoved and I'm assuming a cast is on the way.

      I drove for the first.time about 7 days after my surgery (left ankle is.injured one).

  • lone75234
    lone75234 andrew15830

    Posted

    I'm officially at week 6 post-op from an Achilles, peroneal, and Brostrom procedure and am still non weight bearing. Just like you, When I get up it's almost instant pain from the swelling as blood rushes in. I was informed it hurts so badly because during surgery they cauterized your veins and vessels and cut through countless nerve endings and your body is regrowing them. Hence hurts like heck.

  • brittany40949
    brittany40949 andrew15830

    Posted

    Hi. Im curious to how long it took before u could go without elevating and no pain. I broke my fib and have a plate and 11 screws. Almost 4 weeks post surgery. But i still have a lot of burning and swelling when not elevated. My job wants me to return to my desk job...and accommodate and give me space to elevate at work. I dont feel im ready and just curious to when ur pain stopped when not elevated. Thanks,

    Brittany

  • james0704
    james0704 andrew15830

    Posted

    Andrew, thank you for sharing you experience. I have been suffering the same excruciating pain as soon as I get up from a horizontal position and lower my foot and trying desperately to find out what I can do to prevent this and understand how long it lasts.

    I had ORIF surgery on my left ankle (fibula fracture) on 27th March 2017, almost three weeks ago from a snowboarding accident. I was put in a protective boot the day after surgery. I've been on anti-inflammatory (ibuprofen) and pain meds (paracetamol), and blood thinner injections for two and a half weeks. My swelling has pretty much gone down but a couple of days ago, I started suffering severe cramp-like pain in my calf and lower leg, normally first thing in the morning and later in the afternoon. I had an ultrasound and discovered that I had a small clot below knee (DVT) and my doctor put me on Xarelto anticoagulants for treating the clot. I've been taking them now for two days but the pain is still excruciating when I get up out of bed after about 20 seconds or so and I have to lie down again pretty much as soon after I get up. Like you, the pain feels like blood rushing through my left leg and it subsides after about 15 minutes after lying down again.

    Is there anything you did to make this pain disappear and how many days/weeks does it last? I have been trying to wiggle my toes and flex my foot when I'm lying down but after only less than three weeks post-op, it's quite restrictive. I am also off any pain meds/anti-inflammatory meds as they do not go well with the anticoagulants.

    Any help will be much appreciated.

    • james0704
      james0704 fang01436

      Posted

      Yes, much better, it's been 8 weeks since my fracture and surgery. I'm fully weight bearing and hoping to be on the golf course next week! I have replied to a post below to share my experience.

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