5 weeks after ORIF

Hi Tosh, I can't say too much about your specific surgeries and such but I'd be interested in hearing how it goes when the cast comes off. I fell too after getting my cast off but wasn't as successful in protecting my foot. Thankfully I didn't break it again, but I did tweak it. I see skateboarders and ice skaters and it amazes me what our ankles can do. Anyhow, I do wish you only the best...

By the way, how did you initially break your ankle?

Teri

Ooops, I mean I fell soon after I had the cast put ON.....(it's still on, so big error)

Hi Teri

Did you get your ankle checked out with your doctor as I called the fracture clinic and arranged an appointment just to be sure that there wasn't any damage?

I broke mine playing badminton - just landed wrongly after playing a shot and knew it was bad as I heard a crack and saw my foot lying a weird angle.

I asked the doctor what protection I could use from air cast boots to ankle braces after the plaster comes off but was informed that nothing was needed - is this the same advice for anybody else out there?

will keep you posted of events when the plaster does come off?

 

Hi Tosh,

I broke all 3 malleolar 8 weeks ago and had a plate and 8 screws put in. (hill walking)

Had a plaster cast for 6 weeks and was non weight bearing. I was given full crutches and a zimmer frame in hospital before I came home and found using the frame around the house was much easier than the crutches. Also had a wheelchair for outside.

Had the cast off 2 weeks ago, was given elbow crutches and told that full weight bearing was fine.  (no boot or aircast needed) I used both of them for the first 2 days and on the 3 rd day managed to walk about a mile round town with both crutches...very slowly. I started work (only work 2 days a week) 3 days after the cast was off and have just started to drive yesterday. Saw the physio the day the cast came off and again a week later. I have been given loads of excercises to do 4 times a day and from next week will be going to the local pool to swim and doing cycling in the gymn for 3 days a week.

I have been lucky in that I haven't had much pain at all and haven't taken pain killers since I came out of hospital 7 weeks ago but my ankle and leg up to my calf swell alot especially after a day at work. Iceing doesn't seem to help much but rest overnight in bed reduces the swelling alot.

Now 2 weeks after the cast came off I am now able to walk without crutches but I do limp a bit.

My advice is that if the surgeon says it's OK to full weight bear then try to get back to normal living as quickly as possible and be religious about the excercises the physio gives you. I felt that my foot, ankle and leg had lost alot of strength over the 6 weeks in plaster so I wanted to push things as much as possible to get back to normal but be sensible and take the advice of the physio. When I had my second physio appontment I went with a load of questions written down to ask her which helped me to know how far I could push my ankle. Expect all sorts of aches and pains in the whole of your leg with the break as all the muscles get used to walking again but they do go after a day or two as your leg and ankle readjusts.

Good luck over the next few weeks...I know exactly what you have and will go through. It's tough but a positive mind really is essential.

 

HI Tosh,

No I haven't needed a brace and have had no problem sleeping.

I checked with my car insurer and they said it was OK as long as my surgeon said it was OK. I left it a week after he said OK just because of the snow we have had. I think by law you need to be able to do an emergency stop. My fracture was the left ankle( my car isn't an automatic).

Best of luck on the 5th.

Noreen

Plaster came off earlier today! Serious muscle wastage on leg but I'm sure this will build up over the coming year(s).....

Leg/foot felt very strange, expossed vulnerable.

Doc asked me to stand and bear weight but as the ankle hadn't moved in 6 weeks this proved to be difficult and I managed minor movement. He then proceeded to push my foot and this moved slightly without pain.

SInce coming come, I have continued to flex foot and also stand and earlier managed to stand on both feet without crutches gradually shifting more weight to the left leg - feels good.

Waiting for physiotherapy appt to come through but in the meantime I have just ordered some therabands (and a wobble board for later) which should arive tomorrow.

I intend to push through with as much movement as I can on a daily basis.

 

A week after plaster came off:

Flexibility in the ankle joint about a 1/3rd of right foot but improving daily with exercises and walking still with both crutches although I sometime push it by using only one. Tried walking without any but still too painful.

I wasn't given any data on exercises when I left the hospital and I guess like most people, I hit the net and found the following to be the simplest and most useful:

http://www.leicspart.nhs.uk/Library/71Physiotherapyfollowingananklefracture.pdf

Have 1st physio appt next week and intend to start driving after this weekend.

Hi Tosh,

Good to hear that your cast is off and that you are now on the move.

Thought I would give you an update on my situation as it may give you an idea of how things progress although I know everyone is different. Now just over 4 weeks after cast has been off and I am walking without any aides but limping a little still. Went into Aberdeen shopping yesterday and ended up walking around town for a couple of hours. Started off OK walking at a reasonable speed (no crutches) and a bit of a limp and ended up with a big limp and very sore ankle for the last 30 mins! At least I know what my limit is at present.

I have been going to the pool and gym 3 times a week for the past 3 weeks and have found it really helpful. I'm not much of a swimmer but have been kicking in the pool and doing my 'land' excercises also running in the pool. It feels really good and my ankle swelling is well down the day after. I have also been on the stationary bike (no resistance) and the rowing machine for a total of 40 mins each time. Again my ankle seems to really 'like' it and swelling is slight the next day. Im finding that moving the ankle reduces the swelling alot (although walking for too long in counter productive but you don't know how much too long is until you've done it). Also been having hot baths the days I am not at the pool with 'Dead Sea ' salts in them and just kicking and doing rotation excersises in the water which also is good. I have been rubbing in Bio Oil on the scars twice a day and the scars have almost totally faded. 

I am still getting a swollen ankle at the end of a working day and when it's swollen my ankle feels stiff but the swelling has reduced by about 70% since the cast came off. I have a bit of pain sometimes but it's when I have pushed the ankle too far. 

I feel the excercises I have been given by the physio are now too 'easy' and I have an appoinment today and want to try to extend the mobility side of things more now. I have bought a wobble board and tried it last week (just both feet on board and going side to side and front to back and also moving the board round ina circular motion) but my ankle was really painful after a few minutes of this so stopped and will speak to the physio today about it.

I think where I am at now is to push the ankle but I am wary of going too far and injuring a tendan or ligament. The physio should be able to reassure me on than today.

My calf muscle is back up to the same size as the other and although the swelling is well down my ankle is about twice the size of the uninjured one. 

Any way how some of this helps.

Keep going and good luck.