Next Steps
Posted , 6 users are following.
Hi I am now 6 weeks since my broken ankle surgery. My incisions on my ankle are healed and I don't need to visit a nurse to have dressings changed now. I am waiting on a phone call from my consultant to tell me the next step on the recovery. I have a walking boot on which was put on the day after my operation. Does this come off as I was told this had to stay on for 6 weeks which it now is. If anyone has been through this stage where you start physio to help you to walk again and do you go from non weight bearing to weight bearing straight away or partial weight bearing then full weight bearing? What sort of physio exercises can I expect? How many physio visits a week can I expect? I would be grateful of any information as to what happens during this time as I have tried to find out online but can't find anything. I am in the UK. Shocked honestly by the lack of information on recovery procedure after an ankle break online in the UK. I would be grateful for any information. Hope you are all doing well. Thank you. Julie ❤️
0 likes, 15 replies
Llamalah julie57775
Posted
Hi Julie,
Im not in the UK so I don't know what the process will be like for you under the NHS, but in terms of general next steps, once I was cleared to start weight bearing at 6 weeks, it took me about 2.5 weeks to transition to fully weight bearing, no boot and no crutches, under the supervision of a physio (twice a week visits). The first few days were very uncomfortable as the nerves in the foot had to get used to the pressure again. Once they were used to the feeling (I did a lot of rubbing my foot on the carpet while sitting on the couch to desensitise it), it got easier to walk on. Muscle building took a long time, there were days when I couldn't walk much. Walking in a heated pool helped a lot!
It took about 11 months to get back to all the activities I was doing pre-injury, and I am still not as good at balancing on that ankle as I was before. (currently 13mths post injury).
julie57775 Llamalah
Posted
Thank you so much for your reply. I guess we all hope it will be quick to get back to normal but I am realistic and know it will take time and a lot of work. I am glad I can talk on this forum to people like yourself who are going through it. It gives hope and an idea of what to expect in the coming months. I wish you well. 💐
MR_ANKLE julie57775
Edited
Boot off in 8 weeks then try to keep too much weight off ankle for a further 4 weeks. In 6 months should see big improvement in your limp. Back to normal in 1 year.
Good luck
Mr Ankle
karen34719 julie57775
Edited
hello again. well, youve asked the question ive been trying to find an answer to! I do feel here in the UK we have nothing to fall back on apart from here but as there are few of us on this site from the UK we dont really have much to compare with concerning aftercare. Im going to call the hospital tomorrow so will let you know what im told. I had a bad break and have plates and screws both sides and ive basically been left to it. i was given advice when my cast came off on a scrap of paper for what i should do for 6 weeks. its been 7 weeks for me now and i dont have a clue what i should do next. im walking ok ish with my boot on but dont know what to do to get walking without the boot as scared to do any damage. certainly feel we should be having physio - dont know about you but my movement is very limited still (im finding the alphabet exercises quite painful but hospital didnt seem concerned when i called them a couple of weeks ago). I do think we need proper help to move forward so hoping for help and advice tomorrow. i will let you know what they say. Take care, Karen x
tom92172 karen34719
Edited
At around 7.5 weeks i was walking pretty well in the boot but felt it was holding me back because it put pressure on my knee and opposite hip as its a very unatural walking motion. With 2x week physical therapy I quickly moved to my shoe by 8.5 weeks. Let your body guide you and take advice from therapist. You need to be safe about it but getting out of the boot is critical to healing process.
No offense to our UK folks but NHS doesn't sound like something I'd want to sign up for. The US has problems for sure but my care throughout this has been stellar, even with Covid19 issues. Good luck to everyone!
karen34719 tom92172
Edited
we are in such weird times at the moment arent we. usually the nhs are amazing and at any other time we would have been properly cared for. since Covid they closed all departments for non urgent care (even cancer treatment!) and moved those staff onto wards to help out staff who were self isolating or sick themselves. The government here had the slogan 'stay at home, protect the nhs and save lives'. hopefully as we are slowly coming out of lock down departments will start opening again - i really hope so. its good to know that you were walking in your shoe by 8.5 weeks, so there IS light at the end of the tunnel! Stay safe. Karen
julie57775 karen34719
Edited
Thank you Karen. I agree there isn't much advice in the UK on re Overy steps which is why I am glad we have this forum. I am 6 weeks but non weight bearing aloud for 6 weeks so crutches and walking frame only. I have seen the physio once to give me some exercises which I have been doing every day. Rest of the time resting my ankle and leg on pillows. Quite frustrating when your not sure what's next. I hope all goes well with your call. Julie x
karen34719 julie57775
Edited
Good luck with the exercises. i wish they had given me acces to a physio i was told to use the physio website which tbh is pretty useless - everything is still so tight though. im also spending most of the time with my foot up on a pillow as i really dont want to damage anything. are you able to get upstairs? im not so still sleeping downstairs which isnt helping im sure. Do you mind me asking - have your scars fully healed? mine are ok i think - one side seems ok and the other side still has a small scab on it so scared to get it wet! should i get it wet by now - i dont know lol. i have so many questions to ask tomorrow. Karen x
cherelle86 julie57775
Posted
hi,
i broke mine 29th december. had the 2nd and final cast off 14th feb. valentines of all days. i was told that i could full weight bear from 14th feb. i was also given a boot. and was told after one week to try and walk round the house without it. i had physio once a week. my last session was actually cancelled because of covid. but i was told i made excellent progress. exercise wise, i had to do a lot of going on my tip toes and lunges. ive since bought a pedal exerciser. i had a crutch for the first week, and found i got rid of the boot after about 4 weeks i think. i still get twinges now. and still feels tight. ive also started driving again. oh, as per other responses, im uk so was with NHS.
julie57775
Posted
Hi quick update. I was hoping I would get permission to take my walking boot off today from the consultantin a telephone review but I have now been told I have to go into the outpatients on 1st June to see the consultant. So the boot remains on. Can't believe I am so upset really hoped today I would be free of the boot and start physio properly but not to be. Two weeks longer which doesan't seem a lot but feels a lot to me. This has affected me so much more than I thought it would. I am not used to being like this as I have never broke a bone in 54 years of my life or been ill really. Its a struggle mentally. My partner has no understanding of it. Just have to plod on. If anyone else has felt like this please reply so I know I am not going mad. ❤️
karen34719 julie57775
Posted
hello again Julie, firstly everything you have said is spot on - who could have imagined that 'just' a broken ankle would have such a debilitating and depressing impact on daily life. i am 57 and live with my teenage daughter. im not an athlete by any stretch of the imagination but active. i had breast cancer 3 years ago - had mastectomy, chemotherapy, radiotherapy, injections for 18 months. i can honestly say that breaking my ankle has been THE worse thing that has ever happened to me! after my cancer treatment i vowed that i would live my life with no stress, be happy, have plenty of holidays! and whatever happens i would never let anything get me down . until this happened! i told everyone that i must be such a wimp as i cant get to grips with this but every one has told me that after getting through my treatment 3 years ago im the least wimpy person they know!! but this has almost broke me. i spoke to physio today and was given some exercises and they are contacting me again next week (was told it could be 3 months!!) im desperate to drive, get upstairs, wash my hair - and walk! hearing you say youre struggling has made me feel more normal so i hope by sharing my struggle with this helps you feel a bit better too.
Karen xx
julie57775 karen34719
Posted
Hi Karen thank you so much for your reply. I feel reassured that you have similar feelings to me. I really thought it was Just me and that I had to pull myself together and get tougher. I am a strong person but as you say it has nearly broken me. I too just want to be able to do the things I used too do like washing my hair on my own and going for walks with my boyfriend and our dog. Just the simple things we take for granted every day. This experience is teaching me not to take anything for granted anymore and treasure all the simple things. Its one of the toughest things I have gone through too. I appreciate you taking the time to send me your thoughtful reply. I am sure there are others who feel the same. I am so glad we have this forum to talk on which has made me feel better. I wish you all the best and a speedy recovery. Julie xx
anne0606 julie57775
Posted
Hi Julie
sorry to hear you are still in pain. I know exactly how you feel. I had an ankle fusion on 1st august last year. it hasn't fully fused and I was told at the beginning of March I needed another op with a bone graft! Then lockdown happened and all appointments and operations were cancelled. My consultant phoned me and suggested I put my boot back on and he will operate when it's safe! There is a 90% success rate with fusions and usually it fails if you are a smoker or diabetic! I'm neither!
I'm still in pain and can't walk properly. with lockdown as well I have got very down and tearful! it's hard not knowing when I can have an op! Makes me mad when so many people are ignoring social distancing (even government advisors!!!) as this will just extend lockdown!
Hang in there we will eventually get there. Try to be positive and I hope you recover soon.
Anne
anne0606 julie57775
Edited
Hi Julie
sorry to hear you are still in pain. I know exactly how you feel. I had an ankle fusion on 1st august last year. it hasn't fully fused and I was told at the beginning of March I needed another op with a bone graft! Then lockdown happened and all appointments and operations were cancelled. My consultant phoned me and suggested I put my boot back on and he will operate when it's safe! There is a 90% success rate with fusions and usually it fails if you are a smoker or diabetic! I'm neither!
I'm still in pain and can't walk properly. with lockdown as well I have got very down and tearful! it's hard not knowing when I can have an op! Makes me mad when so many people are ignoring social distancing (even government advisors!!!) as this will just extend lockdown!
Hang in there we will eventually get there. Try to be positive and I hope you recover soon.
Anne
julie57775 anne0606
Edited
Hi Anne
Thank you for your reply. I know exactly how you feel I think lock down has made coping with injuries which are debilitating much harder. I also agree it makes me angry when I see lock down rules being flouted. Trying to recover from the injuries being in lock down while also worrying about you or any of your loved ones getting this terrible virus is difficult. I am so sorry to hear your operation has been delayed that must be hard for you. I too broke my ankle a week during lock down and the treatment had to be altered due to the virus. We will get through all this and come out the other side better. Wishing you a speedy recovery. Julie 🙏