Ankle ORIF
Posted , 12 users are following.
Hi,
I had ankle orif surgery on august 17th.
I had a surgical cast for a week and then a hard cast and was moved to a walking boot on the 29th september however, i was told i wasnt allowed to walk or start weight bearing.
I would just like to know other peoples experiences?
I will be back to see the doctor on October 20th. No signs of being able to weight bare.
How long did it take other people before they started to walk again? and was it difficult ?
1 like, 149 replies
Adam_ georgia05996
Edited
Hi all
@anna29420 @leanne46572 @lynnie1972 @georgia05996 @ChesneyJones
So 3rd Physio session for me today, I'm now 8 weeks post op. They are totally thrown by me (I'm starting to think I'm a medical marvel) haha. I have NO swelling and no real pain. I am walking around my place without crutches and without boot, just bare foot and feel fine. I'm waiting for my physio to get the ok from my surgeon to move me into trainers for outside (they currently still saying to use boot) but honestly feel like I don't need it.
I have been given some exercises just to help with a bit more ROM but they confident I will be driving (I did my right leg) in next week or 2.
I also go back for my 10 week in 2 weeks time but honestly I feel it's kinda back to normal well 90%/95% there. it's so weird and frustrating now because the physio is a bit shocked at how good things are going but at sametime is concerned I will go backwards if I do too much. I have always been inpatient so keeping that in check is tough but yeah all good here.
How is everyone else?
georgia05996 Adam_
Posted
Hi Adam,
Amazing!! So happy to hear that you are almost back to normal.
I'm walking without the boot indoors and with the boot outdoors, I can take the boot off outside as of tomorrow but still cannot get shoes on my foot as my ankle is still very swollen.. who knows
Adam_ georgia05996
Posted
Well that's still amazing, good to hear
leanne46572 Adam_
Posted
brilliant news! you are a medical marvel ha! ive plateaued a bit this week- was hoping to be further along after how far I came along last week so a little frustrating. I can walk with 1 crutch and even without but with a big limp so I've taken it back to focusing on getting the gait correct. lots of heel raises etc and looking to start some balancing on the injured foot this next week- not quite there yet in terms of strength. The swelling is still hindering my ROM so this is becoming a bit of a battle ground. My body clearly not accepting all this metal as normal yet. I am walking further outside but again swelling when in my trainers is a problem so not getting as far as Id like. Physio happy though all things considered. Sigh, I keep pushing! 👊 good luck all...
georgia05996
Posted
Hi guys, how is everyone doing?
I've just got back from scotland, I've been there all week so lots of walking and I am paying for it haha.
anna29420 georgia05996
Posted
hi all!
Yeah doing good, been out the boot completely for 10 days and off the one crutch a week, all swelling gone, full rom and walking normally minus a slight limp due to weakness in my calf and reduced balance. Well on with strength work, walking the dog and due to start plyometrics and return to running in the new year! Thankfully day to day i don't think much about it as i feel back to normal minus my exercise side of things, but all going in the right direction!
hope youre all doing well @Adam_ @ChesneyJones @georgia05996 @leanne46572
Adam_ georgia05996
Edited
Hi all,
I had my 10 week X-ray this evening and I can come out the boot and go into trainers. I'm doing really well if honest, my ankle to a degree feels like it did before i did it maybe a bit achy hear and there. The surgeon wants me to see him in 3 months time but otherwise i continue with physio and working on impact training (jumping/hoping) with the view to start running in 4/6 weeks.
hope you all well?
@anna29420 @leanne46572 @ChesneyJones @georgia05996 @lynnie1972
ChesneyJones Adam_
Edited
hey everybody @anna29420 @leanne46572 @lynnie1972 @georgia05996 @Adam_ !!! I will be 8 weeks post-op Wednesday! Can't believe it's almost been 2 months since my fall. I start physical therapy Tuesday and I am nervous because i dont know what to expect. I had an ortho appt last week and i had really hoped to get PWB but i didnt and that was really disappointing. my next appt is Jan. 4th and thats the first day back to school so i am very worried. i hope to get a prescription for a knee scooter that appt also! I havent had much pain except some days it will get a little spikey feeling but thats just nerves. my skin has gotten better still a little dry since i dont want to lather it up with lotions and creams. it seems yall are doing pretty good and im so happy for yall!! we are so so close! hope yall have a Happy Holidays!!
Adam_ ChesneyJones
Posted
Hi mate,
in terms of physio, I started at 6 weeks post op, once a week etc, i personally found thats when i improved the most and quickest. stick to what they tell ya, i also went back in the gym with crutches ans my boot, it helped mentally for sure.
its difficult because i only had 1 break and misplaced ankle, so although I've had mentalwork etc I feel my injury might not have been so bad, my physio keep telling me they never seen someone so quick at recovering from this type of injury and mu surgeon had to get me to slow down at one point lol
as i said in previous message i'm 10 week post op and started driving yesterday as soon as i got the all clear too. i feel pretty good, get a bit of ache from the new muscles being activity etc but otherwise i feel like im back to good place, running will start in next couple weeks.
keep going guys and girls, its a battle but if you anything like me see it as a competition and don't let it win @ChesneyJones @leanne46572 @lynnie1972 @georgia05996 @anna29420
leanne46572 georgia05996
Posted
Hi everyone! after a bit of a plateau the other week im motoring on! walking much more with no crutches, and for longer. After a full day i ache a bit and a slight limp can return but Im over joyed! swelling still flares up but not expecting that to go anytime soon now. Im still taking a single crutch outside for now but dont really need it so will probably stop that very soon. Still not brave enough to drive (left foot injured) and my follow up pushed back to January 11th but can manage fine until then, hopefully consultant will give the all clear to drive and sign me off. Well done to everyone, sounds like we've come through it together and all doing really well. Happy holidays indeed
Adam_ leanne46572
Posted
get driving, do it, its all in your mind, my right foot was my injury and im driving already 😃 just as long as you can do emergency stop etc i would really encourage the driving i think its a big step.
i believe in you
leanne46572 Adam_
Posted
haha thanks! you're probably right. I should have been signed off this week so it will be about right. Im having a few days off now until after xmas as daughter at home, and ive missed so much with her this last few months im making it all about her. I'll try soon though, promise!
Adam_ leanne46572
Posted
you driving yet @leanne46572
georgia05996 Adam_
Edited
hi, how is everyone doing??
is anyone else experiencing really bad swelling still?
this is after a few hours sat down after walking for a little bit and you can still see significant swelling.. (L ankle)
Adam_ georgia05996
Posted
Hi, so I'm 14 weeks post op now
i walk say 15k steps everyday, 20k yesterday and don't get no swelling just aching where i need to work on strengthen the muscles and ligaments around the joint
I don't see too much differences in the photo @georgia05996
i still not allowed allowed to run for another 4 weeks and had 8 physio sessions, think i will need another 4/6. i saw consultant just before xmas and he said come back in 3 months. I've been back in the gym, using indoor bike, lifting weights including squatting with weights in order to strengthen my ankle
something I've noticed speaking to multiple people is NHS seem quicker to "get rid" or move people onto the next step, in my opinion too quickly. I'm healing very well and my experience of private and others is there defiantly seem a little more take your time and give you that "special" 1 to 1 treatment. This is not a dig at NHS in anyway just observation, everyone injury is different
my physio has a full plan to get me back to running etc, I've had 0 swelling and been driving and walking miles a day since 10 week post op as if it never happened. my ROM is back to the same as my good ankle etc so just things I've noticed.
I'm hiking 100 miles in 7 days later in the year so that should be good 😃
how is everyone else @anna29420 @ChesneyJones @georgia05996 @leanne46572 @lynnie1972
leanne46572 Adam_
Edited
sorry all haven't posted for a while! not sure if any of you are still looking and will see this but hey...
yes adam im back driving-wahoo! i did forget how heavy the clutch was though so took my time first!
You really have recovered so well from the sounds of it, Im so pleased for you! and i do agree, my physio has been instrumental with my rehab and not rushing too fast to avoid further damage.
I've lost count how many weeks now- September 20th was my surgery....
Christmas day was my first day without using any walking aids and I've progressed at a steady pace since then. I'm still limping, and can only come down a flight of stairs 1 step at a time. Can just touch the wall in knee to wall test and thats with my toes right up against wall, so lots of work still to do. But I'm still having physio and seeing still seeing improvements every 7-10 generally speaking.
the ankle itself feels very strong, it was the ligaments and foot strength that held me back once up and about.
@georgia05996 yes ive still got bad swelling, most of the time- see my pic. Was it a trimalleolar fracture you had? I cant remember. Consultant wouldn't sign me off a few weeks ago because of it, it just doesn't seem to be getting any smaller. so ive to go back in another few months. They did say it's pretty par for the course with this injury due to damage done. It can be up to a year to settle down. As a result im still stuck in my hokka trainers as cant get anything else to fit at all.... I've tried absolutely loads of different options. So wont be attending any fancy parties for quite a while as no decent footwear ha! I'm seriously considering pushing to have this hardware out at 12 months (2 big plates and 10 screws) because clearly my body is not happy with it.
Overall I'm quite happy with my progress and have accepted it's gonna be a long time to get to 100% if indeed i ever do. I keep pushing though! take care
Adam_ leanne46572
Posted
Hi @leanne46572 I get it as its been very busy and haven't check this has much as i used to, good to see you are improving. my op was on 3rd Oct and was walking unassisted around 10th Dec and driving 20th (mean was right foot so accelerator and brake pedal)
i have 3 more physio sessions left but we just work in the gym when i go now