It's almost a year

Hi Feeder

Its Karen here, I was Injured around the same time as you. It will be a year on June 6th. I have the same Injury a trimalleor fracture of my ankle. Okay up till a month ago I was limping and had pain on the inside of my ankle and pain near my archilles . I can walk normal now, no limp or pain with certain tennis shoes, like nike running shoes. Its like my ankle has to get used to certain shoes, its like 5 mins of agony , then my ankle is ok. But if I overdo it one day, like on my feet all day out in the garden, I'm in pain the next day or so, then I'm ok. I find a tight ankle sock works, like flight socks when this happens. I also use arnica, seems to help. It's been like that for 12 months. I know I say to people, when am I going to heal up and have no more issues, It gets old. But I'm happy to be walking nicely for the most part. I too was expecting to better than I am. My ankle is still stiff, I do not have the range of motion like I did. I think I know my problem, I was comparing the two feet one day and I noticed the muscle underneath my bad foot is tight, unlike my good foot. That muscle is attached to the big toe and goes all the way to the archilles. I just purchased a wobble board and it does excersise the ankle. I ve had PT and bike on a stationary bike at times. I haven't been exercising it everyday due to work etc. when I first get up in the morning, it's really stiff and takes a good 10 mins to loosen up. From what people have told me it's at least a year, and can take up to 3 years for some of us. My bad ankle is also bigger than my good one still, it's Improving slightly. I don't have foot swelling, but the ankle area swells slightly If I do too much or in hot weather. I'm with you, and going through the same. I'm 58. Take good care. One day it will be healed. I've noticed it happens like that.

Karen x

Hi DeeDee,

I'm 47 and had an ankle fusion because of arthritis caused by trauma 20 years ago. After the operation it took a year for me to walk with minimal pain however muscles atrophy in that time and tendons/ligaments are also being used differently along with back muscles due to a change in gait. The right feeling around your foot is likely due to the limp and change in gait. That should get better. Your puffy toes are normal even after a year. My operation was 27 months ago and I still get puffy foot if I push myself to walk further than normal. I still get pain. Everyone is different though.

Good luck going forward.

hi deedee mouse .i.m Donna I broke either side of my ankle 1 month ago , not weight baring yet or doing physio much other than elastic stretching and massage ,im back to see dr on 12 june that will be 7 weeks post opp, i have a lot of pain still and suffering a lot with depression . i,m 54

Hi Donna, I am also a Donna. thanks for your input but I'm way past that and was looking to see if I should be back to norm by now. Hang in there with the depression, that's very normal. I had it too and it wasn't a "woe is me" depression it was just something that came over me even when I was going to do something fun. I'm normally a very uppy person. You 're lucky you found this site. It was a great help for me and kept things in perspective .I always thought break your ankle ..operate cast it and when the cast off you're good to go...NOT! It is not a fun recovery. Karen, we seem like we are in line with each other . If I wore the sneakers. I bought that got me through this, I'd probably get more mileage out of my day but I really hate wearing sneakers. My range of motion is pretty good. I go up stairs fine but coming downstairs was hard, I'm finally walking down stairs with caution but not with ease. I force myself to do it. To Donna again, I did find a great pair of slip on sketchers with a good arch that got me thru recovery. Thanks all, sadly this is a much longer road than I expected. I'm used to healing quickly and being on my way.

Hi DeeDee

Its Sandy You and I had same injury days apart mine was 7/5/19 and my surgery was 7/11.

we've traveled this road together and its almost our one year anniversary!!!

im 68 I was 67 when I fell

Its so funny you posted about this cause Im same way Im walking fine but Still have numbness and stiffness

Once I get up and moving ankle seems to kick in to normal. I walk dogs every AM from dog shelter and I average about 8-10k steps a day Once I drive home and get out of my car my ankle is stiff until I walk a few steps

Its very frustrating

Two weeks ago I helped at adoption event and did over 20k steps and I paid dearly for a few days after that.

I wear high top boots for dog walking The support makes me feel secure.

I also use compression socks.

Still get numbness in my toes now and then and some days my hardware feels like its going to come right out of my ankle!

I had long support screw removed late January and it did help ROM. I can walk downstairs now using both feet.

My ortho said it's sometimes a year before it all normalizes.

A friend of mine broke his ankle 6 months before I did He's 64. He told me he still gets stiffness in AM

Ive always been very active so having my ankle run my days sucks!!!

Stay well DeeDee!!! We should keep comparing notes!!!!

Hi ! 53 years old and broke my tibia & tibia 8 months ago. I have 6 pins and a plate. Mornings my ankle is stiff. If I go for a walk the first 15 minutes are awkward and very uncomfortable. (How do you judge pain level after the pain of shattering your ankle?!) I keep pushing- Once I get going it's better. But, if I push too hard my ankle swells up, and later that night will be in bad pain. If I've been sitting too long and get up I will limp horribly. I cannot go down stairs except leading with the bad ankle - just can't bend it the same anymore. My ortho said it is not unusual to have pain and swelling for 2 years after, then arthritis can set in from the trauma. At this point, I am continuing to walk and ride a stationary bike. I dance around the house, I do my rehab stretches still, but it does feel like this may be my new normal. The pain and swelling has recently gotten better except when I overdo it. It is walking long walks that I miss. When I get frustrated or sad about it I remember how far I've come from being non-weight bearing. Could have been so much worse from my fall! Maybe over the next year with continued effort it will feel better but I don't know. I'm pretty sure the ankle will never be like it was before the fall. I am determined to modify what I can do to remain active and happy. I sincerely wish you the best in your recovery!

hi thankyou for advice iwill ask dr when i go back for a support boot.