Broken ankle in 3 different places.
Posted , 3 users are following.
January 2nd I broke my ankle in three different places falling down the stairs. January 3rd I had surgery to put an external fixator in bc a splint wasn’t holding my ankle in place. Two weeks later I had surgery again to actually go in and fix the breaks. I got 2 plates and 3 screws. A week or two post op I got my splint off and put into an air cast. Then another week or so later got my stitches out. Now, my ankle never really hurts maybe once a day? But it really only bothers me when it’s in the boot. My dr said I could take it off as long as I’m not up moving around. I’m not sure if she meant that for sleeping as well? Should I be sleeping with the boot on? I slept on my back for the first month and a half.....I’m a person who has to sleep on my side!! Not really sure if I should be doing that with a broken ankle since it has to be elevated? Also WHEN will I be able to start walking? I’m going crazy doing nothing 24/7! Sorry this is kinda all over the place I’m just frustrated.
0 likes, 2 replies
darren79130 claudiaax21
Posted
From my experience you be will fine sleeping without the boot, a handy tip when I was in my beginnings last Feb 17 was to sandwich a pillow between the mattress and the bed, this gave me the elevation required, much better and much more comfortable than propping up your ankle on a pillow whilst trying to sleep, I am also a side sleeper and although difficult it was manageable. I have a non union fracture which means over a year on with my ankle still broke I still have the pain and swelling and discomfort with sleeping, weight bearing and walking. Every break is different, some life changing, but all will require a lot of patience in recovering, this forum has been a great help to me.
Keep soldiering on. Bless ya!
kpower claudiaax21
Posted
You are now at about 6 weeks post-surgery, so if your healing is about average your fractures should be stable enough to bear some weight.
Properly interpreted x-rays provide the actual irrefutable evidence as to whether broken bones are stable enough to sustain stress of weight and movement.
I hope your doctor has been sharing all this info with you. Sometimes it seems there is a breakdown in communication between doctor and patient and these patients are unnecessarily in the dark and full of suspense waiting for what to expect next.
If your fractures are stable now then probably it is okay to sleep without the boot. The reason docs sometimes advise their patients to sleep with the boot is because while fractures are still not strong enough to take some punishment then there is the risk you could do something while sleeping and unconscious (like some serious torsion and twisting of leg) that could endanger your hard won gains to date.
Now that you are hopefully ready for some action with the ankle you should already be aggressively performing ankle exercises (appropriate for your current state) to help shorten your recovery and improve chances of success.
Best wishes.