Post-Ankle Break Pain and Swelling- How long will it last?

They say 6 weeks for a broken bone. 6-12 months for damaged ligaments.  Give it time and see what the mri shows.  

I broke my ankle in January and had surgery in February. I still have a lot of swelling too. From what I hear could be about a year for swelling to go away. 

Hi Melissa, I broke my ankle - spiral fracture of Fibula and I can honestly say it took a full year to recover!  I do not think of it at all now except when wet outside and scared of slipping!!!! Be patient, it does take a long time, take Vit D every day and Vit K for about 2 months.  I thought I would never be pain free, but am now!!! I am 63, if you are younger, it will heal quicker than 1 year! All the best, I know exactly how you feel.

Lots of love xxxx

 

About 6-8 weeks or 6-12 weeks is what you are looking too. Make sure you are elevating your leg to cause the swelling to go down. When elevating, make sure your leg is always above your heart. Hope everything gets better, i'm going through the same thing so i wish you luck!!!!!

Melissa I broke my ankle Feb 1st 2017 and damaged my ligament as well, I did have surgery with 1 plate and 8 screws and was told 12 months until the swelling abated. 16 months later ankle is still very swollen. I have had more xrays because my doctors think the plate and screws are loose as well as me having crps. Do not listen to any time line, everyone is different, every injury is different, if you think something is not right then shout about it. I hope your MRI goes well xx

Melissa,

It sounds like your physiotherapist's prognosis is going to be more accurate than your specialist's estimate for time to full recovery. Don't be discouraged-- ankle injuries are capricious things and really don't care much for what we want instead.

I've been on this forum a long time and know that recoveries can vary from a quick couple of months to 12-16 months or even more. I define a successful recovery as . . .

. . . fully healed broken bones and soft tissue (including tendons, ligament, muscles, nerves, and all the rest of delicate connective tissues that tend to get hammered badly in ankle injuries). This state permits a return to remembered healthy ankle function, with normal gait, minimal or absent pain and swelling, and the ability to return in some capacity to sports and other vigorous activity.

From my experience, appropriate ankle rehab exercises (or physiotherapy) done as frequently and for as long as necessary, are the key to a successful and short recovery.

 

Melissa I totally feel your pain and frustration. I am 19 weeks post ORIF and I walk fairly normal, but just about every step I take hurts to some degree. I can be walking with what I consider my normal pain level then all of the sudden I have about 6 steps in a row that just about drop me to my knees! Its frustrating to say the least!