Fractured fibula

I am now 70 years old and fractured by fiblua from a fall on ice 15 years ago.  I was in a cast for six weeks.  I did have one PT session after the cast was removed to stretch out a tendon in the back of my calf.  (Mostly standing on stairs with your toes and raising up and down).  I continued to wear heels and resumed normal athletic activities.  Over the past five years, I have had considerable ankle swelling and pain.  Orthopaedic surgeons feel the arthritis in my ankle is from the trauma of the original injury.  My ankle joint is bone on bone and I will be having ankle replacement surgery in the Fall (getting by until then with cortisone shots).  Since your injury is new, ask your orthopaedic physician how you can avoid deterioration/arthritis going forward. 

 

Hi Simone. It's been 7 wks since I broke my ankle. I have a tri fracture. It was Dec 23, I had surgery Dec 24,. I was put in cast for two weeks, then in in a boot for 5 wks. Ben. My next appointment is ng February 13. I'm hoping to be weight bearing when I go to next appointment. This is a long and tough recovery, so all I can say is, Have Patience.

Hi Simone,

Sorry you had to join the club! I fractured my fibula a little over four months ago. It sounds like you also have a stable fracture, which is a good thing! Mine was a Weber A. I was initially in a slab cast (because I had to walk out of the back country (I injured it hiking) on it for about 3-4 kilometers, so it was very swollen). I got my aircast after one week. I was NWB in the aircast for three more weeks and then I was allowed to begin WBAT at 4 weeks. I was walking in the boot unaided at the end of 3 days. At 6 weeks I was told I could start walking without the boot and I never put it back on again. My recovery was very fast, but largely due to the fact that I had a low fracture with minimal soft tissue damage (essentially my ligaments ripped the end of my fibula right off, but given that it was very low it just snapped back into place so I didn't need surgery). I know that I am very, very lucky as it could have been much worse.

As for footwear, I am primarily wearing running shoes and hiking boots (a winter style right now). I love the traction and stability. If I am in icy areas I wear ice cleats to minimize the risk of slipping on ice and re-injuring myself. I rarely need to wear dressy shoes - so far I have worn flats. All of my pretty heels are languishing in the closet. I figure I will try them again once winter is over. 

To get back to your former level of activity, you should insist on sports physio therapy. I had mine targeted to my preferred activities (hiking, cycling, climbing) and they treated me like they would an athlete, which was awesome. I didn't qualify for the regular "get you back to walking again" physio, but I am so glad I got my sports focused home exercise plan. I highly recommend it. Even if you have to pay out of pocket - it is worth every penny!

Hope you have a speedy recovery!