Broken ankle recovery
Posted , 11 users are following.
Hi I am currently starting a project on 'Assistance for people who have a temporary lack of mobility' aka. people with broken legs and ankles who will be on crutches for 6-8 weeks. I'm just looking for any information any body has with the problems they encountered while on cruches or a zimmer frame. Also any methods which help in the recovery would also be of use.
Thanks
1 like, 13 replies
elspeth37643 kieran1911
Posted
Hope these comments help your research
eileen64__UK kieran1911
Posted
Its about 6 years ago now that a care reversed over my ankle then drove over it......so it was pretty well mashed.
After an operation, pins plates and screws inserted and a stay in hospital I was sent home but not until the physiotherapist was satisfied I could manage stairs.
Her idea of managing the stairs was......{sorry should have said I was 60 at that time and have osteo arthritis in hips as well as other places...OK?} going to a flight of stairs in the hospital with an UNDERARM crutch...not an elbow one
Holding the bannister with one hand, the under arm crutch in the other and hopping {non weight bearing} up the stairs At 60 and with arthritis in hips and due a hip replacement soon!!!!!! I wanted out so thought I will do it if it kills me LOL
I managed and she was impressed.....
I got home, discarded the underarm cruch, used elbow crutches or a zimmer depending on how I felt, when I had to go upstairs,.......I left one pair of crutchs at the bottom, [borrowed a par from a friend} and had one pair at the top.
I sat on the stairs put the bad leg out, and pushed myself up with my hands and went up on my bottom LOL.....came down much the same way.....coming down was easier because when I got to the bottom I could put the good foot on the ground, hold the bannister rail and get myself upright. The first time I tried it when I got upstairs I suddenly thought how do I get upright without putting weight on it. I decided to go a bit further on my bottom and into the nearest bedroom, one hand on the bed and one on the bedside table and push......hey presto...upright LOL
Hope that helps
Eileen UK
Nadine_00 kieran1911
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alex4eva kieran1911
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gail82713 kieran1911
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hina72117 kieran1911
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judi57310 kieran1911
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I had my first ever professional massage after 5 weeks of this. Heaven. I highly recommend it.
hina72117 kieran1911
Posted
eileen64__UK hina72117
Posted
Sorry if this has been said before but I've been of the forums for a while.
I had a badly sprained ankle {6 years ago} and they wouldnt let me out of hospital until I could do the stairs.
By the way where are you...I'm in the UK things can be so different.
Anyway their idea fo me going up and down stairs was ....one hand on the bannister, the other I had an UNDERARM CRUTCH not an elbow one. and their idea was for me to hop upstairs, one foot up then hop, one foot then hop. I was lmost 60 at the time and have arthritis in my hips. I thought I'll do it if it killes me LOLI managed it with great difficulty and they were surprised and let me out.I had pins, screws and nuts in it. I got home and for 6 weeks or so I went up and down on my bum LOL
Here in theUK if you ask the Occupational Therapist they will put an extra hand rail on for you
Good luck
Eileen UK
linda66990 kieran1911
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jannie26408 kieran1911
Posted
first my heart goes out to those who responded. I'm probably not much help here as I'm 3 weeks post surgery after falling in shower, dislocating my ankle and breaking 2 bones, I have no mobility at this time with plates and screws. I'm not weight bearing and thankfully have a partner doing a lot for me. I'm using a wheelchair mostly to get from a to b as I'm not supposed be up very much so I'm on my butt pretty much full time. I'm 65 and they are concerned about clots at this time. I'm taking things day by day and do upper body exercises each day to keep strong as the upper body really takes a beating, my same leg and hip of the break is out and this is causing me pain but I'm trying to work it out with light stretching and hot packs.
I can't do crutches because I had cancer 4 years ago and the took my lymph out so this limits my options but would love to use them. I wish you well - it helps a lot to see how everyone manages so thank you for this posting.
Merry Christmas
Czzowitz10 kieran1911
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shirley43426 kieran1911
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