Broken fibula and tibia... looking for advice

So, about two months ago, I managed to break both bones in my left lower leg—classic soccer accident, right? It happened pretty late in the day, so they didn't get me into surgery until the following morning. They ended up installing a plate and seven screws to hold everything together. I finally got my cast off four days ago, but my doctor is still insisting that I stick to crutches for now. The real issue, though, isn't the injury itself—it's the healthcare system here. Every time I go into the outpatient clinic to ask a simple question, the staff treats me like I’m some kind of criminal. They are incredibly rude and totally unapproachable, which just makes an already frustrating situation so much worse. Has anyone else dealt with this kind of attitude at a clinic? Also, I have a couple of medical questions: do those screws eventually get removed, and once everything heals, is it actually possible to get back to playing soccer or returning to a normal level of physical activity?
I'd really appreciate any advice you guys can give me.

Just because you had surgery first thing in the morning doesn't mean anything significant regarding the urgency. Honestly, unless there's vascular damage involved, an operation doesn't necessarily have to be an emergency; in fact, it’s often much better to properly prep a patient for the procedure, just like they did with you... As for those plates, the general rule is that they come out, but usually not before a year has passed (unless, heaven forbid, you deal with an infection, which is the absolute worst-case scenario). Professional athletes typically wait until they retire to have them removed—that way, they don't have to endure yet another month-long hiatus from their sport—and for older folks, they don't even bother removing them because it isn't necessary. There's actually less risk of the plates causing issues than there is of facing potential surgical complications later on.... In any case, the fact that they took your cast off is a great sign! It likely means callus formation is happening and everything is progressing according to plan... You'll still need to rely on crutches for a while, and you really have to take everything your trauma surgeon tells you at face value, from follow-up appointments to physical therapy and so on... Don't try to go rogue or do things on your own, because it is incredibly easy to end up right back at square one. A living example of what happens when you don't listen is Pelaić, who simply got too cocky too soon and ended up re-injuring himself 8which is now many times more severe)... If everything goes exactly as intended... you'll be back on the soccer field playing without any trouble, but I have to emphasize: everything in its own time.

Greetings everyone, I'm writing to you from Boston. This forum is excellent.
To get straight to the point: five weeks ago, I fractured my fibula just above the ankle with a 4mm dislocation. I opted out of surgery because the doctors insisted it wasn't necessary. Yesterday, after four weeks in a cast, I finally got it removed. Now I've been handed a referral for physical therapy along with some home exercises.
I need to know exactly what this therapy entails. Has anyone dealt with a similar injury? Please suggest specific exercises I can perform at home. Also, when can I expect to walk normally without crutches? Right now, it's impossible... it feels like my leg doesn't even belong to me.

Best regards to all forum members.

Hello everyone, I unfortunately fractured my fibula a few days ago. I was wearing a splint initially, but yesterday I finally transitioned into a heavy cast. I am hoping for a smooth recovery, though the doctor informed me that the leg will remain completely immobilized for two months before we even begin the rehabilitation process. Apparently, once the cast comes off, there is a significant amount of physical therapy required to get my mobility back to normal...
I suppose things might swell up a bit if anything goes wrong during the healing process..

I'm digging this thread up from the archives to share my own experience dealing with an intra-articular proximal tibia fracture on my right leg.

I was hit as a pedestrian in a major traffic accident back on June 10, 2019, and was rushed to the Ribera. I underwent surgery two days later on June 12, where they installed plates and screws.

By late July, my doctor suggested I head to a wellness retreat for rehabilitation. I spent a full month at a facility in Palm Springs for that purpose.

Following that, I spent the next five months continuing physical therapy sessions in Washington, D.C.

Just this past Thursday, I returned to the Ribera to have the hardware—the plates and screws—removed via surgery. 👍

Here are the key takeaways: when I arrived at the facility in Palm Springs, they had me up on my feet without any crutches. I honestly believe I accomplished about 60% of what was necessary for a full recovery while there. In Washington, D.C., during my standard PT, I only gained about 5% (which felt like a much slower progression than what I experienced in Palm Springs), while I personally had to shoulder the remaining 35% of the work.

The bottom line is this: listen to the professionals, but understand that you won't get back to your pre-injury state without putting in significant effort yourself. The healthcare system can do quite a bit for you, but they cannot put in the grueling work required for a total recovery on your behalf.