Trimallelor right ankle fracture 4 weeks post-op - what to expect when transitioned to a boot.

Posted , 3 users are following.

Hello Everyone,

I just found this forum and went through some very useful explanations. I broke my right ankle playing a sport on April 11th 2021 and had surgery on April 15th. It has been an awful ride so far and currently into my 4th week of post op. I was asked to visit the doctor's office on 4th June and doctor's office told me , i will be put in a boot after the x-rays. I would like to know what to expect from a boot and how painful it would be for me to handle. I have my foot elevated most of the time and so currently there is no pain when resting. It does ache a little when I put my foot down and let the blood pool in at the foot. I cannot do this for more than 20 mins as it starts to feel so tight and numb. Any suggestions and recommendations to get through this is appreciated.

Thank you.

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3 Replies

  • Posted

    hello, firstly sorry your going through this.

    I also suffered a trimalleolar fracture on my right ankle and im 12 weeks post operation. Everyones journey/recovery is different but ill give you my experience.. I was in a cast for 6 weeks non weightbearing, then transitioned into a CAM boot but was non weightbearing for another week. then gradually allowed to put weight on it. i didnt like the boot, it was heavy and made me have such a prominant limp! I did manage to walk around the house without no aids (but in boot) at week 9 but then from week 10 as soon as my physio said we were weaning out the boot i just ditched it altogether and went on with a trainer. it was hard and really uncomfortable ( still is ) The boot made my ankle stiff and felt like everytime i put it on it was setting me back. im still using a cane when im outside as i do have a limp but mostly walk around the house with nothing (just in socks) and for me thats a big achievement. Ive still got a while to go and its a long road to full recovery but it does get easier.

    wishing you an easy quick recovery.

    • Posted

      Hello , Thank you for sharing your experience.

      I was wondering if the tightness in the cast is normal if I put my foot down. As I can only keep my foot down for 10 mins before it starts to feel numb and tight. Should I practice keeping my foot down more ? I have 3 more weeks before my next doctor's visit and hoping I will get a go ahead for partial weight bearing and PT. I cannot wait to get over this and be normal. It is really scary to see stories where people needed almost an year and still have swelling in their foot and cannot bend the knee with ankle flat.

      I hope you have a full recovery and get back to your normal soon.

    • Posted

      thats okay. i was forever searching these sites wanting to read positive recovery stories. i cant believe how hard and long the recovery is to be somewhat normal.

      anyways again in my case i had a cast change at 2weeks post op to get my stitches out and when i came home it was so tight, it did lesson alot but i went and got it checked anyways where they took it off and checked there wasnt anything wrong and put a new one on. then there was no tightness even when i put it down.

      thankyou, im getting there, its a slow process but things get better from week to week. to make you feel better im 34 weeks pregnant ( was 22 when i had surgery) so things might be that bit slower for me cos of the added stress on my body. but even carrying a human inside me i can do all my day to day activities im just alot slower and its abit uncomfortable. Theres hope for you!

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