Trimalleolar fracture. Will I ever climb again?

Posted , 3 users are following.

Hey everyone.

I'm 3 weeks post op for a Trimalleolar fracture, with a plate and screws. I hardly got any face time with my surgeons so I'm still in the dark around what I can expect recovery wise. In 3 weeks I have a follow up appointment where they will decide if I can move from my cast to a boot and begin weight bearing.

Before this accident I was very much into rock climbing casually. I'm not great at it or anything but it was something I did several times a week and it plays a very big part of my physical and mental health. Most of my social life and friendships revolve around being on the rock. I'm slowly adjusting to the idea that I won't be able to climb for the better part of this year, but I'm terrified of the idea of never climbing again.

I also loved skipping as part of my cardio, and have even less confidence of being able to jump rope again. I'm a 34 year old female relatively fit and healthy before the accident. My main question is to those of you further on in your trimalleolar roller coaster of a journey is; were you able to go back to your sport and to what degree? I guess I'm impatient to understand what my new normal will be.

0 likes, 6 replies

6 Replies

  • Posted

    Hi,

    Sorry to hear about your break. If it helps I (35f) suffered a Bimalleolar fracture last January, and up until that point I had been running, hiking and climbing regularly. My return to climbing was rather delayed by lockdown and indoor climbing gyms being closed. I did manage some easy scrambles in July (the walk in and out caused more problems than climbing), and 2nd some easy sport and trad climbs in July. My main problem now is confidence and fitness, which will just take time.

    One of the best things I did, prior to lockdown, was a few sessions at a hydrotherapy center when my walking boot was taken off.

    Hope all goes well with your appointment,

    • Posted

      Thanks for letting me know your experience 😃 It gives me hope that I could go back to it too in the later half of this year even though the thought of even just walking seems so far away. Hope your ankle is treating you well.

    • Posted

      hi there i also had a bimalloer orif 3wks ago, can i ask did you ever get slight muscle spasms in your calf and toes whilst you had your cast on and how did that first time feel once you hot the pot off? im guessing it was 6wks after your op.. id love to know your experiences with having this type of surgery too sbd how your doing ..thanks

    • Posted

      Hi, my memory is a bit hazy now. I had some pain due to the stitches rubbing within my cast, which was fine once I got the cast off and boot on. I had significant muscle atrophy when the cast came off, but everything is much easier in the walking boot.

      I would say I am back doing everything that I did before, but not to the standard that I did before. However, it is difficult to know how much is down to the ankle, how much is fitness and how much is not being able to exercise the way I did before due to Covid.

    • Posted

      hi thanks for the reply.....thats good to know your doing good, i cant wait for the cast to be off just over 2 wks and counting lol

    • Posted

      how long ago is it from having your operation now?

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