Needing advice from others with hardware in ankle as well as being 6 months post op

I’m 9 months down the road, shattered ankle with 2 plates and over a dozen screws, I’ve had almost 35 sessions of Physio, and I’m into my 5th week  of 1 hr per wk light Mobility aerobics class. I’m pushing it hard in the gym, keeping my weight down and my stamina up, however I still walk with a limp and I need a crutch especially when I go out, I’m certainly looked upon by others of having difficult walking, this I’m believing is down to the metal work in my ankle, I will know more when I get the result back from the CT scan I had last week, apparently the standard X-ray isn’t showing enough detail as to the progress. I really do sympathise with you, all I can advise is keep doing all they ask you to do, keep doing the mobility exercises and keep on with the Physio, I have my calf and hamstring massaged once per week and I reckon this has been helpful. I’ve had real issues with my knee and I had an MRI two weeks ago, so I’m awaiting those results also. From my hip to my knee to my ankle I have difficulty get the free flowing movement which I once’s had, my othapedic consultant said it could take a total of 24 months to get to something like normal, he also said I’ll never get the full mobilty back and that I’ll never be able to run, so with that in mind I push myself as much as I physical can do. I hope you get some answers, Keep positive Diane 

I have not been to what you went through. 

However, I would like to say Thank God you are alive.  Keep fighting.  Maybe and hopefully someday you will heal physically.

But it is the psychological damage is the one long term that is very unpredictable.

Good luck to all of your trials and tribulations.

I'm almost 2 years out and fine with a lot of hardware in my ankle-from a trimal break. I thought about getting rid of the hardware all the time at your stage. After going through it all, I would urge you to wait and reassess at 18 mos. Everone I knew that went through it was usually feeling great at 18 mos without any pain whatsoever and back to 98-100%. Ankles take forever to heal and getting your muscles and tendons fired back up and  all back into shape takes a bit of time too. Everything I read, and I had a lot of time to research back then, said to keep the hardware in, unless you have problems with pain after normal healing times are over. Every surgery has its risks (slicing tendons etc). Why do it if your ankle is stronger with the extra support? Think of a fence with metal braces- its usually stronger than one without.  Hang in there! Do all your exercises as often as you can. Tendons need a lot of help recuperating! They seem to almost fire one at a time- it's a moving target of pain. That's normal! 

You sound in exactly the same boat as me! Weber B fracture on June 9th, plates and 6 screws added on June 19th, NWB cast for 6 weeks after that, PWB boot for 3 weeks after that and then crutches for around 3/4 weeks. I’m now nearly 5 months post surgery and am struggling with pain and stiffness especially first thing and after rest. I’m still getting swelling in my foot and around the ankle. My range of motion is very limited and I walk with a limp as my leg won’t bend forward far at the ankle. Feeling like I’m never going to be back to normal. People keep saying to me that my symptoms seem to be going on for a long time and I was starting to worry that I should be better by now. I’d be interested to know what your physio says? 

Lou