Worried about outlook.
Posted , 6 users are following.
hi, i twisted my ankle walking up a curb on the 11th of may this year, fracturing it in 3 places and badly damaging some tendons and muscle. I had ORIF surgery on the 29th may (2 plates and nine screws) , was in a cast for 6 weeks, then a boot and was non weightbaring for 8 weeks total. I got the all clear to weightbare on the 29th July and to date i can fully weightbare , walk unaided and manage stairs etc....alot slower than before the injury but i was proud that I had achieved this much. My problem is that as much as i have improved i still cannot bend my knee without lifting my heel very far... my joint and achilles are still very stiff and my physio has given me one exercise to do...i stand with my leg on a chair..while my husband uses a belt to pull my knee forward while holding my foot in place. My physio keeps saying that i have passed the minimum point that they would want me to achieve eg being able to handle the stairs and so anything past this is a bonus and that at the 6 month point from the date of my op i will have made all the improvement that i will be able to make and my ankle will not get any better... i was told on a few occasions by my surgeon and consultant that my recovery will take the best part of a year but now i am panicking as according to my physio i have only three months to get my joint unlocked or i will have to live with it as it is. Can anyone tell me if which timeline is more realistic.
1 like, 5 replies
diane86522 lyndsay33038
Posted
I cannot advise you and I feel your pain. xxx I found theses guys: bob and brad physical therapy online. Has been a great help to me!
karen70040 lyndsay33038
Posted
Hi,
I'm a little bit behind you in about 3 weeks. I cannot advise, but maybe go to another physio? They all have different techniques. Also I'm seeing a sports massage therapist today. I'm Hoping she can manipulate my muscles in the direction to get my ankle joint moving, as I'm quite un - impressed with my physio too. I'm trying anything at this point. Only we know how our ankles feel. All the best to you.
melissa91009 lyndsay33038
Posted
Hi. no, your physio is either a dill or badly trained. Ankles take a long time to heal and regain the movement. Listen to your surgeon. Don't panic, just keep doing your excercises and slowly over time, things will improve. plus I'd definitely get another physio ☺
Llamalah lyndsay33038
Posted
agree with everyone else, go and see another physio!!
My physio has been doing the exact tractioning that you are describing on me but it is not the only work he does. In fact, it wasnt any where near the first type of treatment I had to increase my knee to wall.
My physio will check my knee to wall at the beginning of a session, do one treatment (like massage calf), retest, do another treatment (like the traction), retest, do another treatment (like planter facisia release), retest etc all in the one session with him.
There is a lot of things that can be jamming your knee to wall, including your hips.
lyndsay33038 Llamalah
Posted
Really! My physio sessions where literally that one exercise and away... in the end I cancelled my last session as I was doing the exercises at home anyway and he was happy to discharge me. I seen my GP last week on a different matter and she inquired about my leg, when I explained about the Physio she asked if he had practiced balance exercises with me as it strengthens the muscles usually responsible for repeat injuring of the bad ankle... when I told her he hadn't she showed me some balance exercises to do and I've come to realise my ankle is a lot weaker than I thought. I'm in the UK so if I go back for another physio referral I would just end up at the same place but I am considering looking for a private Physio just for a second opinion. I don't get how they can justify doing a half baked job...surely if my leg isn't getting the right exercises then the risk of reinjury is higher and more costly. 🤔