ankle surgery, need some advice

Hi. I don't want to bus your bubble, but you have a long way to go. I'm at 10 wks and the pain is still here. Doctor told me that I can go partial weight bearing now, but I'm still in lots of pain. I think it's because of physical therapy. Everyone heals different, and I wish you a better recovery than mine. So now all you can do is sit back, and find something to do to kill time, cause right now, that's all you can do. But I'm hoping the best for you. I had no ideal that breaking an ankle could be so dang tough. I just can't wait til finally walk again. Im tired of pain, swelling, and being dependent on people. Well, God luck.

HI Heather, 

Yes, its all normal. Don't push... slow and steady will get you there but not for while. Some people heal quickly and some not. I was told by my specialist that its a solid six months of healing to know where you will end up in this process. Don't try to guess. Try to come back with your updates and so on as you recover because everyone is at different points of recovery. 

 And don't forget , everyone threshold of pain is different , too. 

Good luck!

Rose

You are sooo early in the process...I'm impressed that you are putting partial weight on...at 2 weeks, I was still living on the couch with my leg elevated - I was in a hard cast for 6 weeks though. I'm now at 9.5 weeks and in a boot..has given me much freedom, I limp around without crutches for very short distances (in kitchen, bathroom etc,.) but use at least 1 crutch for any walking more than that. I'm in more pain now than the last 2 weeks of the cast. Since you are more mobile early on, maybe things will progress faster for you. I was NWB for the first 7 weeks. So I would say not surprising you have pain...your bones aren't healed yet! (I'm assuming you had fractures and ORIF?). Just hang in there and keep an open mind about how long or short the recovery process might take. If you are young, might go faster. I thought I'd be driving in 2 weeks, based on what doctor said, but I   don't believe it as I'm not able to walk without the boot yet. Best of luck to you....lots of support out here on the 'net!

No. I was in splint for two weeks, then the boot now for seven weeks. I still have the boot, but I'm partial weight bearing. I went to the doctor, Feb 13, and my doctor s have owed me my x-rays, and he said my bones were healed, but continue the boot for about 3 more weeks. I kind of rely on how my ain is. Some days there is absolutely no pain, then other days it's crucial. I'm not healed by a long shot. But I have been driving for about a month. Cause it's my left foot that was broken with this tri fracture.

Hi Heather,

I am shocked, simply shocked, that your practitioner let's you bear weight and walk on your injured ankle just 2 weeks after surgery. That might be a world record for bone fracture healing time.

My doctor wouldn't let me put weight on my ankle fracture for 6 weeks (and I had no surgery and my fracture healed in a timely manner).

Again, I am amazed, and not a little concerned.

Thanks everyone I appreciate any & all advice given, I'm 42 & this is my first broken bone! Let me clear something up about putting weight my Dr told me to shuffle while I'm in the boot w/ crutches I was the one who tried to put some weight on it & that didn't go well at all! I realize now that I have a long road of recovery, I see the Dr in 3 wks (the 27th) he's taking xrays throughout the process as well. Never realized how bad an ankle break can be!!! Thanks for the support

Wow 2 weeks post op with plates and screws should not be weight bearing on it at all yet. It takes 6 weeks for the bone to heal and for the screws and plate to properly adhere. I was allowed to partial weight bear with the boot after my xrays at 6 weeks showed bones healed.. I'm at 9 weeks and came out of the boot today with full weight bearing. 

?You shouldn't be doing any weight bearing at all without the physical therapist, so they can teach you the proper mechanics.

?Please check with your dr on this.