Shoes post ankle fracture

I will check out the New Balance 999 and Jones. My doctor told me your free, you don't have to wear the boot anymore.  That was it.  No instructions as to weaning out of the boot or crutches.  I think I may have weaned myself too quickly.  Wishing you a graceful gait.

Hi Jannie,

I'm happy to hear your bones have meshed.  My initial movement was flexing the foot up and down, holding it for a few seconds in each direction. I tried doing circle with the ankle each direction, writing the alphabet.  I would sit with both feet on the floor and lift my heal up and down.  PT gave me a stretching rubber band to use for resistance in all directions, I do this several times a day.  Massage your foot, ankle and calf yourself.  At first, I had all kinds of crazy shooting pains everywhere, but that subsided quickly and my foot would turn purple when hanging down, that went away quickly, too. This week I've see some improvement in my range of motion and it's given me more hope of returning to normal. My ankle still feels quite stiff, but my husband says I've made alot of improvement. I go to PT and thats about all I get done that day.  I have to go home and ice it and take Tylenol and it wakes me up that night.  I assume some pain is expected.  I have had more pain with PT than when NWB.  It's a fine balance to get it moving and tolerate the pain.  We have to move it so it doesn't look up.  

Wishing you a speedy recovery so you can get back to normal.  So nice to chat with everyone

Thanks Linda, it's a long road but I'm going get thru this. I've become foot blessed so I'm trying to branch out a little. I guess it's hard not to, it's all consuming. I start PT MI day and hopefully water therapy. You've inspired me and thanking you for your kind response. Take good care and keep on....

That is foot obsessed....haha

 

Hi Cinderella,

I do have one pair of flat, dressy shoes made by Clarks, too.  They are comfortable and low cut under the ankle, not much arch support.  I also have a pair of Keen's that are supportive under the foot.  I think I'm going to need my hardware out before I can wear boots that rub on the ankle.  It's been snowing like crazy here and I have a pair of Born's that are lose on the ankle and zip up the sides so I can get them on, the bottoms are not slippery.  I've been petrified of slipping and falling on the ice and snow.  

How much range of motion do you have?  Do you still have swelling and pain?  Are you doing PT?  You must be back at work.  I hope that is good for you.

I've got very little range of motion - still very swollen, too.  I've been worried that it's taken so long to get better - stable break and i was told it would be "back to normal" in 6 to 8 weeks.  I had to pester the doctors to have a second x-ray as the fracture clinic discharged me despite never doing a second x-ray to see if the bone was mending.  I've had no PT - in fact, it's been a nightmare in terms of care from beginning to end.  I had a second x-ray last week and finally got the results today.  It's no wonder my ankle is so swollen - the bone hasn't mended.  So, they told me to walk on it weeks ago and I shouldn't have been, the doctor said today.  Yes, I've been working on one or two days a week which has been tricky - can't drive yet so friends have been taking me.  Who knows what will happen, now.  Awaiting an appointment with the consultant - just hope I don't get the incompetent fool that I saw originally :-(

I'm sorry to hear what has been your post op outcome. I had a break years ago and when I came out early from my aircast same as you happened to me. Went back in my boot for 4 months with ongoing PT. it healed better after that. My new break 7 weeks ago is completely different this time and my foot is like it's frozen. I started physio and in excruciating pain this morning so icing and see my GP to manage pain while I go thru this. 

I hope wth this news your bone is still mending that your healing will be better knowing this. I guess slow and steady but I get how frustrating this is for you. Your amazing for working and I wish you good recovery from here on.  Keep us posted and take it easy on yourself. May you get someone to help you move forward the way your meant to......

I'm self-employed (hence, no sick pay) and have one permanent day of work so felt it was really important to keep that going.  It hasn't been easy, though, especially when I was on two crutches and couldn't put my foot to the floor.

Is your second break on the same ankle?  Oh, no, you poor thing.  So disheartening to be going through it all again.

My main annoyance is that my original break didn't need an operation - it was considered a stable, aligned break.  It was assumed that all would heal well so they never x-rayed it again.  It looks as if it may have become misaligned and I blame that on mismanagement on the part of my consultant.  If I'd been given sound information on what to do/when to walk etc... this should never have been a problem break.  I think they try to save money but actually end up spending more in the long run when things go wrong.

Good luck with your break.  I read somewhere that Ibuprofen is one reason why breaks don't heal well - the body needs to feel the pain so that your brain gets the message to heal that body part.  Hard not to take the pain-killers when you're in agony, though!!

That must be so frustrating.  Did they tell you to stop walking on it? Are they going to do surgery on it?

I had a similiar thing happen.  I broke my ankle in France, it was not displaced, they casted it. I flew back to the US a few days later, a doctor cut the cast off and put me in an airboot, told me to walk on it. I did for a week.  Flew to Oregon, where I live, doctor here said it 's displaced now and you need surgery.  I feel that if I had'd walked on it I would be healed by now.  

Yes, it is so frustrating, especially as it wasn't displaced originally.  I haven't been told much, to be honest.  I asked if I should put the aircast back on & my doctor said it "might be a good idea" and to keep off it as much as possible.  Trouble is, I'm used to walking about on it, now, so I keep forgetting to use the crutches so I'm probably doing more harm every day. At least I'm seeing the consultant at the end of the week so I will hopefully know more, then.

Sorry to hear about your ankle - sounds so much like mine and as you say, if we hadn't been advised to walk on them, we would probably have been fine.

Looks like I won't be fitting in my normal shoes any time soon!!  

I was told the same thing in France about Ibuprofen type drugs, that they prohibit healing.  The doctor in the ER told me not to take any.  Then I looked it up online and it says that, too.  The doctors in the US are not up on that and tell you to take it.  They would include all NSAIDS (non steroidal anti inflammatory drugs) like Motrin, Aleve, Celebrex, Vioxx, Naprosen.

 

Your post was a year ago. I just want to know if you had surgery and what was the outcome? I hope you're doing fine now. I have tibia and fibula fractures and I didn't have surgery. This gonna be my 3rd month with no WB so hopefully all my bones healed when I go for my next check up.

Hi, I'm glad you didn't need an op! I didn't have one, either. My break just didn't fuse very well despite being aligned. Nobody could explain why. I'm virtually back to normal now, though, thankfully! I can't bear anyone or anything to touch my ankle - it doesn't hurt, it just feels really peculiar. So, shoes are still a bit of a nightmare - no heels or cuts of shoe that rub against the ankle. Apart from that, all is well. Thank you. I hope your break is fixing well. Take good care.

Thanks for your response. Hoping everything is okay with my next appointment. Include me in your prayers pls. I feel depressed sometimes . It's kind of hard when you have some knowledge of what's going on. I'm a nurse and sometimes I think of the worst outcome. But I think I have to change this attitude. I have to think positive. Thank you again!

I wonder if the breakage causes a bit of depression. I read a fabulous book called the magic when I was housebound - all about positive thinking. It definitely helped & changed my attitude & way of seeing things. Hold on in there. It will improve - it just takes time.

Did your bones fused after all? You mentioned that your bones didn't not fuse but you're walking fine now. How many months was your break fused completely ?I went for my X-ray today. It's healing but slowly but alignment is good. It's been 3 1/2 months now and I'm little bit worried. He put me on 50% WB and will increase to 100% on a boot. I'll appreciate your response. Thank you very much again!!!

Wow.. i feel like tgis is more of a setback then anything else. And considering the doc said it was fine, go ahead and walk on it . I hope you have a decent attorney, because as we all know that have had to have gone through this, its already a horrible ordeal. But to have a dic. Thr reason for the setback... I would be suing, suing, suing. Especially since tbey told me that when people walk too quickly on injurys like these, a lot of times theres no going back in a fixing them AGAIN.. aftee that, itd usually only AMPUTATION... so yeah, could be a way for you to clear at least 6 figured 7 if u lose the leg. Good luck and God speed.

Actually, the surgeons here  in NY are very familiar with this...I was only recommended - tylenol.(used it faithfully)..However, the efficacy of that for me is very little so now I'm in my 10th week...relatively well healed  and returned to Advil..for pain/discomfort.

Wow ...surprised you didn't have surgery with both sides of ankle involved...How are you doing...I'm 10  wks post surgery...75% weight bearing (walker)...swelling, discomfort but not really painful..

I see this post is 11 months old now . Wondering where you are in recovery and healing now ? I broke tibia and fibula 8 weeks ago. 7 weeks post operation. I have 11 pins and a plate.  6 weeks mandatory NWB and still can barely put weight on ankle now. I went from wheelchair to crutches and now one crutch. I go to PT 2x week. I am told I should be walking now but can’t wear a shoe since foot is still so swollen. I’ll be in walking boot for 2 more weeks. So incredibly painful and didn’t expect it to be this difficult . 

I am so surprised and disappointed you were told this should be walking...I am 12 weeks post surgery...did weight bearing..25..50..75 and now 100%..I am using a walker trying to wean to a cane..I bought an inexpensive pair of light weight - air cooled/memory foam (skechers)..not for permanent..but 1 whole size larger and wide  as prescribed by PT...can get it on for stable walking w/o boot...also padded ankle with ole thin shoulder pad...also ok with PT...He said do what I have to....It's going well..but cannot be rushed...Good luck to you..Please check back..

Hi, so sorry to hear that you are also having such a terrible time of it, post break! There is light at the end of this very long & painful journey, I promise! I am now fully recovered - apart from the odd pain when it is damp outside. Weirdly, my feet are now a size bigger but I wore my first boots with a small heel this winter, so things are looking up. Ithe took 8 months for my swelling to go down & after that, quite a while for my ankle to feel as good as it does now. Good luck with it - just ask if I can be of any help! I know it's a miserable time for you.

Thanks for the well wishes from all. It’s been a wild ride . I guess I need to be patient since I’m only 7 weeks post surgery.  I know swelling will take awhile but 8 months OMG!  I also wear a knee length compression stocking during the day to help with swelling. I elevate and ice when I can.  I borrowed a pair of Crocs and they seem to fit well with all the swelling and I am able to practice walking with one crutch.  An injury can definitely cause sadness and frustration but I’m trying to stay positive .  I run marathons and am used to being outside in the beautiful year round weather. I’m thankful to be feeling better  everyday and will continue to remind myself it’s all about time . 

Thank you, I also agree that the surgeon is being a little impractical considering I’ve been immobile for 8 weeks and NWB.   How is your swelling at 12 weeks now ? Glad you are 💯 weight bearing now with a little help. Did you use compression stocking ? Good luck 

no compression stockings here but very creative sneaker padding...and my opposing knee was "screaming" from over use so wearing a knee brace on that...Oh what fun?!?!?

Not taking pain medicine when you feel pain from an injury or surgery is the worst thing you can do.  It puts too much on your heart.  You will create far more health issues trying to be a super hero and not take the ibuprofen.