Extremely difficult to walk without crutches

Have you gone to physical therapy?

At 8 weeks I was told I could FWB but it took me close to 3 months to walk in sneakers without crutches

wow..I cant even imagine that he said you can bear weight so soon..I broke my fibula and fibula in july 2 plates and 16 screws..and I couldn't bear weight until October..12 full weeks no weight bearing at all..just crutches and a boot..it needs to heal!!!..of course it's going to hurt,it isn't even mended back together yet!..after 12 weeks I started weight bearing as tolerated and began walking with a cane..prior to that my therapy consisted of non weight bearing exercises to strengthen the muscles and range of motion exercise for the ankle to get it moving again....I really dont know why he has you beating weight already..I hope you heal properly..my thoughts and prayers go out to you..

i have gone to physical therapy. i saw my surgeon on the 15th of January. He took X rays and told me my ankle looked awesome. He told me it was fine to start weight bearing as tolerated and to use crutches until i could get to walking in just the boot. then try putting on my regular winter boot, then work up to walking barefoot in the house.

sorry forgot to mention he has me doing 8 weeks of PT

So I had almost the same injury as you with nearly the same timeline. 7-8 weeks after surgery I was given the go-ahead to weight bear, and it is crazy hard to start. my doctor had me start with two crutches first--crutches and bad leg, then step to it, crutches and bad leg, then step to it, etc. Eventually you can stride with the crutches and bad leg. Then you, after a week of that, can move to one crutch and i had to watch youtube videos of how to make that work. Then i was finally able to take two or three steps without either crutch and then it starts really taking off! Tell your mom its not that you've forgotten how to walk, but your brain is doing everything it can to protect that broken limb. It doesn't understand surgery fully so its trying to convince you to protect your ankle and not break it again because if you do, lions may eat you. Its very instinctual and your brain has to learn, slowly, that its safe and (mostly) pain dree

So I had almost the same injury as you with nearly the same timeline. 7-8 weeks after surgery I was given the go-ahead to weight bear, and it is crazy hard to start. my doctor had me start with two crutches first--crutches and bad leg, then step to it, crutches and bad leg, then step to it, etc. Eventually you can stride with the crutches and bad leg. Then you, after a week of that, can move to one crutch and i had to watch youtube videos of how to make that work. Then i was finally able to take two or three steps without either crutch and then it starts really taking off! Tell your mom its not that you've forgotten how to walk, but your brain is doing everything it can to protect that broken limb. It doesn't understand surgery fully so its trying to convince you to protect your ankle and not break it again because if you do, lions may eat you. Its very instinctual and your brain has to learn, slowly, that its safe and (mostly) pain dree

hi Ashley ,

I have very similar history to you : broke/displaced ankle in Nov . ORIF and a cast for 6 weeks. I had airboot for 1week and was also told to start FWB at 7 weeks .

This proved to be totally unrealistic . I carried on using crutches for a further 3 wks . Agsin , I , like yourself , felt I couldn't walk without them and was panicking about this.

After a few extra weeks I'm now using a walking stick. It is a case of exercise to what you can bear . I started by standing up with walking stick and gently shifting weight from foot to foot . I also used weighing scales to test how much weight i could put through the affected leg every few days. I also used spiky soft foot massage balls. While watching TV , just gently press them under the foot and keep trying to press abit more each day while rolling them ,trace the alphabet with your foot out in front of you often during the day . This is down to what your pain is like . I'm now able to weight bear but still using a walking stick. My ankle is still swollen and has limited rotation but on the mend. I'm not letting my progress stress me as I'm just concentrating on as and when . I've also started going for acupuncture . I fond this has helped with circulation , sensation and pain relief .

I personally think health professionals are too generic with time frame , everyones pain and injury is different . Do make sure you voice your concerns and if it doesn't feel right - do tell them . Ask for physio as well - be firm ! They are good at making you feel like you're over reacting or not doing enough.

I hope you start to make progress but again, don't get hung up judging by other peoples recovery rate. I know that's how i felt at first.

Good Luck on your road to recovery .

p.s I trawled the net and found this document the most helpful ( it says for kids but it works fir adult recovery too!)

http://www.nhsdg.scot.nhs.uk/Resources/Child_Health_Services/After_the_Removal_of_a_Lower_Leg_Cast__Children___v1__leaflet.pdf

No I don't think so. You do have to learn to walk. Don't try to push yourself into anything u aren't comfortable with. I only had 1 plate and I wasn't comfortable with crutches until I was weight bearing. My family made fun of me but I was afraid of falling. You do what you are comfortable with. No one else knows how you feel.

No I don't think so. You do have to learn to walk. Don't try to push yourself into anything u aren't comfortable with. I only had 1 plate and I wasn't comfortable with crutches until I was weight bearing. My family made fun of me but I was afraid of falling. You do what you are comfortable with. No one else knows how you feel.

I do that going downstairs,it's like I cant remember how. I can go up just fine. I never used crutches so when I was able to try to walk I walked around kitchen counter holding on .Then I advance to using one hand. I used wheelchair and walker.

Went to PT this morning. She was able to really stretch the Achilles. I realized I've still got a long way to go. I am able to walk barefoot in the house still using the crutches. It definitely hurts a lot to walk as normal as i can. how long will that take to not feel pain with each step? I keep trying to remember to keep my heel down, thats the hardest part for me.