2 weeks out of ankle surgery, tips for efficient recovery?

I had a similar injury some 11 weeks ago-- a medial bimalleoler fracture to right foot and major right ankle sprain, mainly to deltoid ligaments on medial side, and tissue trauma around the distal tibia leg bone. This was the result of a hard fall on ice. I am in my 60s and you are still young so you have that in your favor. Young bodies are resilient and heal faster (if you are healthy to begin with).

Orthopedic doc said fractures had borderline 'gaps'-- a little past their tolerances for breaks, and suggested that surgery might be necessary (pins and bolts). I knew surgery would only prolong the misery and healing (plus risks like infection, botched surgery, etc) and I knew the anesthesia would be a major insult to my body (I'm chemically sensitive).

We waited it out and the second set of x-rays showed fractures coming together nicely and more tightly. By third and last set of x-rays fractures looked great-- even the doc seemed amazed at how they healed (week 8).  By the way, I was in an aircast 'moon boot' while waiting for bones to knit. Virtually no pain the entire time (except for the night I injured it and tried walk on it).

I was 50 per cent weight-bearing at 6 weeks, full WB at 8 weeks. Then doc said I could walk on it for two weeks with aircast boot, then transition to regular shoes.

Yes, these traumatic injuries are life-changers. I think nearly all patients go through hard emotional periods, even depression, when this all sinks in. It helps to have a strong emotional makeup, spiritual or religious resources, and a support network of understanding friends/family. Boredom, despair, impatience-- just ride them out. This too shall pass.

I've been 'walking' in regular shoes (with a strong ankle brace to help protect from re-injury) for about 3 weeks now. At first I used a cane and hobbled with pain and limping for about a week. I don't use the cane now, and limp noticeably only when I overtax the ankle. I can only walk slowly, not very far, and going down steps is a 2-step affair only.

I am doing all the ankle rehab exercises I can that make sense (a physical therapist would be better, but I am making do with YouTube videos.) A wobble board has been immensely helpful to tone up muscles and ligaments.

I had hoped I would be nearing 100% by now, but I guess I am only at 60% recovery. I want to push the ankle harder with more, and more challenging exercise, but I am afraid of a setback from re-injury. So I exercise and walk to the point of pain/ligament/muscle fatigue and back off and rest for a while. It's going to be awhile, I see.

I have a slight touch of arthritis in hips and those joint pains flared up with a vengeance when I started walking again-- again, when you are essentially immobile for about 8 weeks your muscles, tendons, and tissues atrophy at an alarming rate. I would advise doing regular exercises, yoga, etc. for the rest of your body while you are in the moonboot (and non-weight bearing) to keep rest of body in shape. Then as soon as doctor allows do all the ankle rehab you can. Cut out junk food (inflammatory). Remember, this long recovery period is not a vacation to pig out on the couch watching TV all day long. Healing comes first.

Hope this helps, and I wish you a speedy and complete recovery.

Ok guys I am aweek post op im having nothing but difficulties I've done had my splint chancged twice an today was my second time well yesterday I've been awake all night due to it being too tight I am miserable I have not slept all night I tried having my doc paged twice but he did not call back my bones feel like they are popping an cracking an my tendons are being stretched out the bottom of my foot the u shaped splint that good up both side of my legs had put to my pressure on my arch my toes are cold an my foot is constantly tingling. An now my bones on my ankle are being squez an the top of my foot feels as if the ligments in the top of my foot are being torn im a 29 year old mother of 6 kids and need to be able to start heading but the way it is feeling their just reinjuring.y foot every time I go in. I should have started I fractured the tibia an fibia an ankle bone an dislocated the ankle they had to put 2 plates an 15 screws an I had to wait 8 days after the fracture happened to have it fixed now my healing can't get on the way cause they can't get the splint right it's 618 in the morning right now I have 2 more hours before the office is opened if they can't get it fixed today imgetting a second opinion im miserable and o yeah they only gave me enough pain meds to do for 3 days so during all of this I have had no pain meds