Timaleollar Surgery

Hey there  My first post but have been lurking here around a month.  I also had that fracture on 4/15 and had surgery 4/20.  The first couple of weeks, I thought I was going to die having to lay around.  I can tell you what I have done to relieve to aches and become more mobile.

I was lucky after surgery that I didn’t have a cast but was wrapped insanely in bandages and they gave me a boot right after.   I also elected after the break on 4/15 to use a walker instead of crutches because it was easier for me and I could get around.  Worst part of that was my hands hurting for a while until they became calloused.  

Everything changed once my staples were removed in 5/8.  They instructed me to walk and walk a lot.  Now I walk freely in the boot and only take a scooter with me if I am going to be out for a while.  

While being laid up in bed, I ordered a leg elevator from Amazon (best thing ever) that has a groove the leg lays in.  I would sit up on the couch with that elevator so I could move my upper body.  I finally just started stretches on my good leg while laying down and moving it around lol

I feel your pain and even walking around with the boot, there are days I just want to scream and be normal...  I am finally going to start exercising in my pool this week so I am stoked for that.  Once you can get things removed and start moving it around it will make you feel better ??

Hi,  

Just know that the pain gets better from here on out. You will have some good days and some bad but each day is another step toward recovery. I broke mine on 4/9 and had trimalleolar surgery on 4/17 so I am a month ahead of you in recovery  Personally I did not use the knee scooter when I was in a splint, I found it uncomfortable so I waited until my 2 week checkup and got the aircast.  In the meantime I used a wheelchair and walker that was loaned to me to get around the house.  This week I have my 6 week post op visit with the ortho and expect to be told to start light weightbearing at physical therapy ( started therapy at 4 weeks post op)  I don’t know how I will manage to walk but I just trust that the dr and therapists know what they are doing. It’s a long haul for sure, but this is a great place to get advice, address concerns or just vent if you need to. We have all been where you are . Good luck

Kaityln 

Hang in there your ankle will get better. I will be 6 weeks tomorrow post surgery and I had a double fracture in my right ankle. I had a 10 inch plate and10 screws put inside. The only issue I am having is nerves/tingling issues. I pretty much laid in bed the first 2 weeks so I can relate going stir crazy. Just hang in there and listen to your doctor. 

All I can tell you is that it’s gets better with time and that this is a temporary situation albeit it doesn’t always feel that way. I and others on this forum understand your frustration, hence why we are all here...it’s normal to feel depressed, achy, experience shooting pains and a number of other frustrations that come along with this malady. I have spent my convalescence (almost 8 weeks post-op) reading up on everything related to my particular surgery (ORIF, two plates, screws and a tightrope fixation) and procuring all the needed gear (love Amazon)that would help me heal physically and mentally  (knee roller, elevating wedge, different boots, compression socks, ankle supports once healed, ice therapy unit, shower chair, temporary handicap tag-once I could drive, Netflix, books, etc). The hardest for me was the mental aspect and not letting depression set in or allowing myself to gain too much weight (due to inactivity, people bringing over food, boredom, etc). I know it sounds cliche but take it one day at a time and find other ankle support online  groups (Facebook ) to aid in your recovery. Best of Luck!

I had ORIF surgery on January 31, 2018 to fix three fractures in my ankle. I have two plates and a combination of pins and screws. I was in a slpint for 12 days after my surgery and during that time I had ice on my ankle almost non stop. After 12 days I was put in a plaster cast so at that point ice was no longer effective. Don't be afraid to take your pain meds! I hate taking any kind of medication, but found that taking what I was prescribed one at a time did absolutely nothing for me, however taking two at a time got me a few hours at a time of being comfortable. After 18 days I switched to over the counter pain meds and tapered off of those pretty quickly.

Just know that it takes time and everyone's schedule for recovery is different! I'm 36 years old and had my fracture on January 16th.  I'm 17 weeks post op (ORIF for trimalleolar fracture) and 8 months pregnant, so my recovery is taking longer than most due to the pregnancy.  There are stages you will go through - but once you can start weight bearing you'll feel like you're finally working towards getting better! 

After surgery, I had a splint for 2 weeks.  I waited till I got the hard cast to use the knee-scooter which was my doctors advice.  After 2-3 weeks in the hard cast I switched to the boot, non-weight-bearing.  After a couple more weeks I got clearance for partial weight bearing.  Then a few weeks later full weight bearing.  Each stage comes with new challenges at first, but then gets easier so you are ready to move onto the next.  Now I am walking with 1 crutch, and practicing with no crutch at home and when I'm in physical therapy.  Keep hanging in there, it will get better and it's nice to have a forum to chat with people who are going through the same thing.  Just be glad you aren't pregnant too!

Hello! I broke all 3 bones in my ankle on 6/29, had ORIF surgery 7/13! The 2 weeks leading up to surgery was a nightmare!!! Excrutiating pain 24/7 that prescription drugs didnt help, no eating, no sleeping! I had to get my ankle readjusted at 10 days and bones rebroken pretty much. And all that with no sedation or pain relief! I almost fainted and im sure i gave the nurse bruises when i was holding onto her arm! Hardest time of my life for sure! I had calf pain as well so got put on blood clot medicine but the pain was just from not using all the leg muscles and thankfully that all went away after surgery! Surgery was supposed to be 1.5 hours but turned out to be almost 4 hours!! Ended up needing a big bone graft, fragments of bones had to be found and removed, 2 metal plates and 22 screws put in!! Around 50 staples together on both sides of my ankle!! One scar goes all the up half my leg! I am 6-7 weeks post surgery now. Got put in a boot yesterday and starting physical therapy tomorrow!! Doctor is encouraging me to start light weight bearing. My ankle is so stiff and does not know how to work anymore lol! I am slowly getting somewhere finally!! I used crutches and wheelchair until i got a hard cast 2 weeks after surgery! Now i am using the knee scooter and its a life saver. It helps me feel a little bit more independent finally!! Take your pain pills in the beginning but try to wean off them sooner then later! I had friends and family come over everyday or every other day, that helped me not get depressed honestly! I am 33 years old and i have 5 kiddos haha!! So its definitely been extremely hard to be so helpless and dependant on people when i have a household to run and 5 kids to raise! But luckily i have a great support system and so much family and friends helping me with everything!! It does get better but it takes alot of time and sooo much patience!! I still got a long road of recovery but itll pass and will be a memory soon enough haha!! Good luck to anyone going through this! You got this, you will get through it and you will come out of it much stronger with alot more patience lol!

I had ankle dislocation with trimalleolar breaks. spent 2 weeks with external fixator and bed ridden and then internal fixation with 3 plates and multiple screws. i'm now 3 weeks post op and gaining my strength back. I'm looking forward to the wounds on my shin from the external fix to heal so I can comfortably use a knee scooter. any advice? also, did anyone else continue to have full numbness in parts of their foot? I cant feel or move my pinky toe. maybe because of swelling? lately, the foot burns with phantom pins/needles all through the leg, particularly at night. I know I'm supposed to keep it elevated but it feels better when it's kept level or down because there's better circulation.