I fractured my ankle 12 weeks ago and still can’t walk, please help!
Posted , 9 users are following.
I fractured my ankle 12 weeks ago and was in a cast for 1 week and then a walker boot for the rest of the time. I have only had 2 appointments at the hospital with the first doctor telling me to bring my other shoe to my 6 week appointment which i was excited about thinking i could walk out of that appointment on both feet, but basically that was major false hope.
On my 6 week appointment i was dismissed and i told to wean myself off of the boot and crutches, that was 6 weeks ago and i still have to wear the walker boot outside, but can manage around the house doing chores without the boot.
I was doing the exercises they had given me, and last week i possibly may of stretched it too much and with such a simple act, i have now regressed back into wearing the boot full time and its now my inner ankle that hurts a lot now and cant walk without pain.
I am gutted as i thought i could see an end goal and i am so sick of being stuck in the house, i have very little friends or family and no one comes to see me, the only company i have is my son so im getting really depressed.
I was made redundant 5 weeks before it happened, so i dont even have a job where i can interact with people and i cant find a new one whilst i cant walk or stand for very long.
Anyone in a similar situation with not being able to walk after so long?
Id love to hear about other peoples recovery times.
Becky
1 like, 25 replies
kez45288 becky5588
Posted
I'm so sorry to hear that. I got 'lucky' i guess. 3 months in a wheelchair, 6 on crutches and then about a year to learn to walk again unaided. I think without my paediatrician in America I would have lost my foot entirely. I was hoping to hear about problems arising from fusion as that's the second to best step (excuse the pun) and that's all they can do to manage the pain until I hit my 60s in 20odd years time and replace it. Unless stem cell treatment gets really good very quickly. I wish you all the best
becky5588 kez45288
Posted
Thank you for your reply.
Wow sounds like you had a distressing and lengthy recovery time, im so happy for you that they managed to save your foot entirely. I think with situations like yours, we have to remind ourselves how lucky we are to have all limbs!
I was run over on the same leg when i was younger leaving me with horrible permanent swelling and scars and now the ankle, although they said the two wont be linked to any recovery. Im so glad you can walk again, you must feel such a relief after all that time.
sandra91776 becky5588
Posted
HI Becky
Sorry to hear about your fracture
Did you have any type of surgery to repair the fracture?
What about physical therapy?
I broke my ankle 7/7, had surgery 7/11, cast for one month then into a boot with limited weight on the foot until week 7
My bones were healed by week 7 (xrays),
but pressure on my foot and in boot was painful
Ive been in PT now just about 3 weeks and Im finding it quite helpful
Still have some pain but Iam walking pretty good now
It can be a very up and down recovery and my therapist said it can take up to 6 months to feel better
I agree its very depressing injury and more needs to be addressed regarding psychological end of this type of injury
unless you have been through it no one really understands
becky5588 sandra91776
Posted
Hey Sandra, thank you for replying.
They told me i didnt need surgery as they didnt see any movement after putting pressure on it on week 2 but i am wondering if there is something they have missed as to why the inner side of ankle is now the problem.
I have got my first PT on Thursday and im hoping he can shed some light as to why im not walking on my own. I think we put so much hope into the fact the break/fracture can heal within 6-8 weeks, but no one mentions the recovery time afterwards! Now iv seen further comments on other forums iv realised that 6-8 weeks is not a realistic time to get back to normal. I also agree with the psychological aspect as our injuries, it can be a very lonely place and i feel for people who have no one at all because without my son and my mum i dont know what i would of done in the first month with even being able to cook, clean etc
I hope our recovery times are not much longer!! It sounds like youre doing well now, im so glad!
sandra91776 becky5588
Posted
I think PT will really help you
Surgeons repair the bones but the physical therapists massage, stretch and get everything moving again
I know you didnt have surgery but really pay attention to what PT has to offer and do your exercises at home too
When i began going I was in boot with 2 crutches and in pain My therapist said she would have me no crutches, no boot and walking Well in 3 short weeks I am walking in sneakers
Ive began going out in morning to fill bird feeders and really feeling my independence coming back
I cant say Im pain free Im not and my ankle still gets numb, pins and needles
So expect that
roz79338 becky5588
Posted
I broke mine 2 years back and dont panic, it took more than 12 weeks to be able to walk again!!! It still hurts when the weather changes. Just be patient love, but a big part of the healing process is to try to put that foot down now, I was petrified but friends were great. An ankle is one of the worst, I had a spiral fracture of the fibula and it was one of the worst experiences in my life!!! Dont panic but try to put your broken foot down now it is very important. Take Vit K and D as this does help with the healing process.
becky5588 roz79338
Posted
Hey Roz, thank you for your reply.
Its nice to hear from someone who has had a similar experience and has recovered from it, this gives me hope so thank you so much for that!
I have my first PT on Thursday and from the sounds of it from other peoples experience im so far from what others have gone through.
I suppose iv got to that point where im getting sick of trying to stay positive, but im sure i'll get back on track.
I have tried to walk around the house and do the exercises the hospital gave me but i think iv over done it as to why iv regressed back.
I am so happy for you that you made full recovery!!! I can imagine in the winter we will feel some stiffness. But i have some hope again for the future now from the comments and i will definitely get some vitamin K and D.
Thank you!
Suzususan becky5588
Posted
I understand exactly how you feel. I broke my ankle on July 3rd and had surgery on July 23rd. After that I was in a splint Typecast for I think it was two weeks. Then they went to the boot non weight-bearing. my one month post-surgery they put me weight-bearing. the way the doctor talked I should have been able to walk out of the office but that was not possible. I am now doing physical therapy and it does help. I still. I still in the book right now trying to get graduated out. I am at about 10 weeks post-surgery now. it does take a lot longer than what they tell you. I can only take very short steps and very short distances in the boot. and the psychological is what everybody else is saying as well. It does get very depressing. The first time I took steps by myself in the house I got so excited and I probably overdid it and I probably overdid it that day because the next couple of days were very painful. I haven't done a lot of it since because I don't want to take another step backwards. I am doing the exercises that physical therapy gave me and the pain seems less. I think we just all have to hang in there and realize that it is going to take longer than 6 to 12 weeks which is what I was told and the beginning.. best of luck to you and keep us all posted.
sandra91776 becky5588
Posted
ill just add that this site has been so helpful just sharing our stories, experiences and challenges as well as our milestones!
hang in there everyone we will
all walk again!!!!
Suzususan becky5588
Posted
it does help a lot seeing other people going through something similar. I know I got very depressed and then when I found this it made me feel better. now today I had a really good day I had the boot on it home and I walked quite a bit by myself and that without holding on to anything with minimal pain. I think that is a good step forward so I took it off now and I'm putting my foot up and I'm going to let it rest pretty much the rest of the day. I have found it seems for me that if I I have found it seems for me that if I push it hard one I have found it seems for me that if I push it hard one day and then take it easy the next I do better. If I try to push it hard 2 or 3 days in. If I try to push it hard 2 or 3 days in a row then I end up going backwards. but I do think it's getting better. yes I'm very glad to have this group here to be able to share with and see how they are doing and we can compare. I know I was under the impression that I would be walking way before this and I think most people are and it's just not realistic. good luck everybody we will be on our feet soon
becky5588 Suzususan
Posted
Hey, how are things going for you?
I had my first physiotherapy yesterday and he said he was very surprised that i was still in the boot and told me its important to stop wearing it as iv become to reliant on it, but i dont think he grasped that i get in pain the day after if i walk on it, but he told me i should be able to walk at least 20-30 min now on my own! i was like no way! and told me if i go to the appointment next week in the boot he will throw it away.
It has left me a bit stressed because i know what my body can take but im going to try walk further everyday (if i can) How are your PT sessions going? x
sandra91776 becky5588
Posted
Becky
The boot is a security blanket for sure
But I think once you get into PT more you will gain more confidence to go w/o it
I go w/o it when I go out now but bring it in the car in case my ankle begins to hurt
Especially if Im going into grocery store
Dont get bullied into not using the boot
You know your body best
Good luck
Suzususan becky5588
Posted
it does help a lot seeing other people going through something similar. I know I got very depressed and then when I found this it made me feel better. now today I had a really good day I had the boot on it home and I walked quite a bit by myself and that without holding on to anything with minimal pain. I think that is a good step forward so I took it off now and I'm putting my foot up and I'm going to let it rest pretty much the rest of the day. I have found it seems for me that if I I have found it seems for me that if I push it hard one I have found it seems for me that if I push it hard one day and then take it easy the next I do better. If I try to push it hard 2 or 3 days in. If I try to push it hard 2 or 3 days in a row then I end up going backwards. but I do think it's getting better. yes I'm very glad to have this group here to be able to share with and see how they are doing and we can compare. I know I was under the impression that I would be walking way before this and I think most people are and it's just not realistic. good luck everybody we will be on our feet soon
oscar80077 becky5588
Posted
hi
to my experience with my broken ankle it's nothing too strange.
the boot it's just not as good as the proper cast so no surprise it took longer to heal. i don't know why doctors like that stupid thing. my ankle never healed when i was in the boot and i had pains.
the below knee cast is better, but when i reinjured the ankle i was put in a full leg cast. it was so much better.
Toria90 becky5588
Posted
I fell and broke my ankle in 2 places on July 3rd and it made me so depressed. After 9 weeks of surgery I was given the boot and the green light to start putting weight on it. I have been so scared to walk because I'm scared it will break again and its really sore when i stand on it. Therapy is helping so far with getting it unstiff! Be encouraged
sandra91776 Toria90
Posted
I broke mine July 5 in 3 places
Im walking bow in sneakers but have a limp and some pain
Your bones are healed
I feared my ankle too I think thats normal
My PT therapist taught me how to get over the fear
I am still cautious but no longer worried about it breaking
Suzususan Toria90
Posted
wow I did mine actually on the same day. Only it was just in one place and on the other side of the foot one of the bones moved a little. When they did the surgery when she fixed the ankle the bone seem to go back in place. I have been walking for about 4 days now. I have pain in a pretty bad lamp but it's much better. I felt the same as you I was scared to do. I felt the same as you I was scared to do anything without checking with. I felt the same as you I was scared to do anything without checking with either physical therapy or the doctor because I was afraid it would. I felt the same as you I was scared to do anything without checking with either physical therapy or the doctor because I was afraid it would cause a step back. I am walking on it a lot everyday even though it hurts like hell but it does seem to be getting easier. Now looking at me I have a pretty bad lamp everybody said that will get better I have a pretty bad lamp everybody said that will get better
Toria90 Suzususan
Posted
Wow thats interesting that it happened on the same day! When you first began to walk on it did you actually walk or were you like hopping with it. I take a step with my affected foot and kind of hop with the other.