Ankle ORIF - should I be walking better by now?
Posted , 12 users are following.
So glad I stumbled across this forum. I had ORIF surgery for Bimalleolar ankle fractures 5 months ago. I have a lot of pain and swelling if I walk more than 15-20 minutes. If I push it, the ankle is too sore to barely walk the next day. Being I'm over 50 I am assuming my healing time may take longer but this seems like forever! Should I be able to walk more by now without pain? I'm starting to lose hope that I'll be able to go for a nice long walk again.
0 likes, 25 replies
jessica71699 Ankle-a-saurus
Edited
That is true. If the metal is not bothering you leave well enough alone. In my case I have stiffness and going down the stairs is one foot at a time because of stiffness. When metal is removed it will feel like I did before accident.
Holmshei Ankle-a-saurus
Edited
I feel your pain. I am almost 5 months post-op with a plate and 7 screws on my fibula and a massive screw in my tibia plus the worst ankle dislocation of a 34 year old my surgeon had ever seen. I returned to work at the beginning of February for half days (teacher) and everything was find for a week and a half and then all of a sudden I started to get burning pain on the outside of my foot and the top. The pain is so bad that I haven't been to work in over a week and I can barely move without tearing up. I have a high pain tolerance but this is something I have never experienced before. I have been told to push myself and eventually the pain will go away but it's tough mentally to do that. I am finishing up my physio coverage so that worries me that I may not be able to work through the pain. It's such a mental game. I didn't expect this at all.
jessica71699 Holmshei
Posted
I know what you are going through. Five months post op is still a time that you are not going be yourself. It really does take a year to feel pretty normal. The pain will lesson in time. I put on sneakers first thing in morning.I used a balance board like the one at pt. I found this really helped me. I don't use anymore. Good luck!
Teal Holmshei
Edited
i can totally relate, very similiar situation, im not soft but never known pain like it & its not pt pain. ive been referred back to consultant
Ankle-a-saurus Holmshei
Posted
Holmshei sounds like we are on the same path! I agree "something I have never experienced before." I didn't expect this to still be so painful. It really interrupts your life. Sounds like we will get through this - eventually. Hang in there!
Ankle-a-saurus Teal
Edited
I just asked today for a referral to a different surgeon for review. My original surgery was out of state but I feel like I would like a CT scan or at least a local top doc telling me I'm heading the right way. I'll post whatever I find out
Teal Ankle-a-saurus
Edited
let me know how you get on
kenneth_06543 Ankle-a-saurus
Edited
no i did not , once i started weight bearing i didnt have any pain or issues at all. you might want to see your doctor and do xrays and see if everything is ok with the ankle.
Ankle-a-saurus
Edited
Update: I am having the worse time with my posterior tibial tendon. If I walk 30 minutes it flares up in horrible pain which takes days to recover from. I'm so frustrated. Went today and purchased a shoe insert with arch support per my PTs suggestion. I feel like I am in a neverending ankle nightmare.
Anyone else have this issue after Ankle ORIF?