Ankle injuries: What's your experience?

Well, let’s see... I broke my ankle over six months ago now, and for the most part, things seem fine; I’m walking normally and all that, though I still haven't quite worked up the nerve to try running again—I honestly can't tell if I'm even allowed to.
Hmm, but then a few days ago, this pain started creeping in while I'm just walking, and it's quite significant, almost as if I can sense that something deep inside isn't quite right—mind you, I still have those surgical plates in the joint—and it looks slightly out of alignment too. To be honest, I think it looked that way from the moment I was discharged from the hospital, except now the swelling has gone down, making the misalignment much more obvious. Is that actually okay? Should I be genuinely concerned? I have a follow-up appointment scheduled in a month, but frankly, I'd much rather head back to the doctor sooner. What do you all think? 😕

Oh, and one more thing—I'm still experiencing that tingling sensation in my foot... everything about this feels so strange, yet it seems like nobody is giving me any real answers. 🙏

dustytinker11 said:so, okay... I broke my ankle over six months ago... and I'm fine now, mostly... walking normally and all that... though I haven't dared to try running yet, honestly don't even know if I should...
well, so a few days ago it started hurting while I walk, like, a lot, and it just feels like something inside isn't quite right—and yeah, I still have those plates in the joint—plus it looks a little bit out of alignment... at least, that's how it looked when I first got out of the hospital, except now it's not swollen anymore so you can actually see it better... is that okay? I mean, should I be worried? I have a follow-up appointment in a month, but I'd much rather just go in sooner... what do you guys think? 😕

oh, and I still get these tingling sensations in my foot too... everything about this feels weird and nobody is really telling me anything...🙏

hm, maybe that pain could be tied to the weather... it’s been all over the place lately... my mom broke hers once and she always says it aches whenever the pressure changes...
how long since you were back on your feet?

oh, and if I can jump in here too—I broke my own ankle exactly 30 days ago (ended up being the bone running from the knee down to the ankle)... I've got about 10 days left in this cast... what do you guys recommend doing once it's off? ...and man, I wish I knew if swimming is the best way to go because I live like three minutes from the beach (okay, fifteen... haha), but when do you think I could actually start standing on it? I was hoping to get some activity in this summer...

Oh, absolutely—my joints ache whenever the weather shifts; honestly, I feel like some old grandmother sometimes, haha, but that’s not quite the kind of pain I’m talking about here... this is different, more of a sharp, piercing sensation that hits me right when I stand up. Hmm, how can I even begin to describe it? It’s a stabbing sort of thing. 😕

Now, regarding that ankle of yours... well, didn't your doctor give you specific instructions on whether you're actually cleared to stand or not? In my case, they were incredibly precise every single time, outlining exactly how much weight I could put on it and such. But then again, I wasn't in a cast, so perhaps our fractures weren't exactly identical.
And yes, swimming is undoubtedly your best bet. I couldn't manage that at all because my incision hadn't even healed properly for nearly six months. 👎
As for walking around, I finally managed it around the twelve-month mark, though I originally broke it around month nine or ten. They told me quite early on that I was allowed to walk, but the pain was just too overwhelming, so I decided to wait a few more weeks until I felt ready.

That bone can take up to two years to fully heal—so honestly, it’s no wonder you’re in pain. Right now, I’d really suggest some heat therapy. Just hop in a warm bath and try to gently move that ankle around to loosen things up.

dustytinker11 said:I couldn't even get moving because my wound hadn't healed for almost six months...👎
then I finally started walking again, maybe around the 12-month mark, but then I went and broke it all over again around month 9 or 10... they told me way back that I could walk, but honestly, the pain was just too much, so I hung out for a few more weeks waiting it out..

My bike fell right on my leg, so there isn't an open wound or anything, just a massive impact.
though I'll probably end up with a nasty one soon enough since I've got this huge hematoma from a ruptured vessel—basically, the blood had nowhere to go because there wasn't an opening, so I guess it'll eventually have to break through the skin to let the pressure out...👎

So, which part did you actually break???
Did they skip the cast because of the wound or what????
Were you even allowed to put any weight on that leg???

Michelle Cook83 said:The recovery can drag on for up to two years, you know. It’s hardly surprising that you’re in pain. Honestly, what you really need right now is some kind of heat therapy—maybe find a way to soak in a warm tub and start working on getting that ankle mobile again.

thanks..🙂 So, you mean I could go to a community pool or something? And this heat therapy... where on earth do people even get that? Should I be hunting down my doctor for a referral, or just try to figure it out myself?

Jose Evans182 said:My motorcycle fell right onto my leg; there aren't any open wounds, just a massive impact force,
though I suspect a wound is coming, given the hematoma—since the vessel burst and the blood had nowhere to escape without an opening (I suppose it’ll eventually have to break through the skin to drain)...👎

And which specific bone did you fracture???
Were you kept in a cast because of the wound or what????
Did you actually dare to put any weight on that leg???

Hmm, I fractured both bones; it’s explicitly documented as a "bimalleolar ankle fracture with displacement." My surgeon—who, mind you, has been practicing for thirty years and claims he's never seen a fracture quite like this one—was quite taken by it... hmm 😕
As for a cast, no, I didn't have one; since the ankle itself was broken, if they had immobilized it in plaster, I wouldn't have been able to move a muscle. In fact, just a single day after the surgery, I was already forced to begin exercises and work on my range of motion... because if you don't, everything just seizes up, and getting back to your former self becomes an uphill battle—and even now, I'm feeling that struggle.
In the beginning, I only dared to rest my foot against the floor, then later graduated to about forty pounds of pressure, and after two months, I was finally back to full weight-bearing.

Michelle Cook83 said:The cost can run up to two years. It’s no wonder you’re hurting. You should probably try some heat therapy right now—maybe sit in a warm bath and try to get that ankle moving again.

Two whole years???
Man, I had no idea it took that much time.😕
Is there anything actually doable to help out?? Like, you know, stuff that speeds up the healing process???
Maybe I should start throwing more specific things into my diet????😬

Jose Evans182 said:Two whole years???
I had no idea it could take that long—that's quite a stretch--😕
Is there any way to actually help the process along? I mean, what truly accelerates healing?
Perhaps there is something specific one should incorporate into their diet to assist the recovery?😬

My partner recently broke his leg, and while we were browsing online, we came across some advice suggesting that boosting nutrition—specifically focusing on calcium and proteins—can make a difference; essentially, things like dairy products and lean meats.

Jose Evans182 said:Two whole years???
I had no idea it took that long--that's a massive stretch.😕
Is there anything actually being done to help? Like, what helps speed up the healing process?
Maybe adding more specific stuff to the diet could make a difference?😬

Eat plenty of fish, take some zinc supplements, and load up on antioxidants—you know, vitamins A, C, and E...

Michelle Cook83 said:So, you’ve got plenty of fish on the menu, some zinc supplements, and a whole heap of antioxidants like vitamins A, C, and E... basically just a giant pile of stuff that sounds like it belongs in a wellness retreat in Sedona.

Zinc, huh? Honestly, if you're looking to load up on that stuff, you’ve got options, but it really depends on whether you're hitting the grocery store or grabbing some supplements. If we're talking straight food, oysters are basically the heavy hitters—like, they're off the charts. Then you've got beef, maybe some pumpkin seeds if you're feeling healthy, or even chickpeas if you're doing the whole plant-based thing. I remember reading somewhere that certain fortified cereals are also pretty loaded with it too. Just don't go overboard with the pills without checking with a doctor first, because nobody needs that kind of imbalance. Anyway, what's the plan? Cooking something specific or just trying to boost the immune system?
Wait, fish? How exactly are we talking about fish here?? And like, what kind of fish are we even discussing? I feel like I missed a whole chapter of this conversation.

So, where can I find A, C, and E without getting absolutely fleeced? Like, seriously, where are they hiding if you actually want to find them in bulk?😬

Kimberly Williams45 said:So, my better half recently went and broke his leg—total disaster—and while we were just scrolling through the web, we stumbled onto some advice about upping his nutrition to help things heal. Apparently, we need to go heavy on the calcium and protein. So, basically, it’s time to go all out on the milk and smash some steak!

Oh, you know the one... honestly, who even bothers with lunch if there isn't any meat on the plate? Total waste of time.

I’ve no idea how much ZN is actually in that specific brand of cereal—but if you're looking to hit those levels, supplements are honestly the way to go. You just get a guaranteed, precise dose every time. I usually stick with the Vitamin A from Natural Wealth.

Michelle Cook83 said:I have no clue which brand of baby formula actually has ZN in it, but honestly, if you're looking for results, just go with tablets so they get a precise dose. Grab some Vitamin A from Natural Wealth or something.

Thanks....🙏
I’m really not a big fan of popping pills—truthfully, I hate taking any kind of medication or supplements—so I think I'll go do some digging to see where I can actually find it...

Kimberly Williams45 said:So, my guy recently broke his leg, and while we were just scrolling through some stuff online, we stumbled upon this advice about beefing up his diet—specifically more calcium and protein. Basically, chug more milk and go hard on the steak!

Sending good vibes to him... and hey, let me know when your man finally gets back on his feet😕 😕 and if he had to deal with a cast and for how long??? Just curious about the whole ordeal...
🙏
I went in for my checkup today thinking they might finally ditch the cast, but nope... I’m stuck in this thing for another 40 days...👎

I actually took a photo of my leg before it was all wrapped up, and man, it looked pretty ridiculous swelling up like that...
If anyone wants to see the carnage, let me know... hahaha😬 😬 😬

Jose Evans182 said:Thanks....🙏
I'm really not a fan of taking meds—honestly, I try to avoid pills whenever I can—so I'm going to look up where I can find it...

No problem!🙂

So I finally got my cast today (not the full leg kind, just a wrap on the front), and they told me to keep applying ice over the bandage to help with the swelling... but honestly, I can't even feel the cold through this thing🤷( so who knows if it’s actually doing anything)
It's only been one day and I'm already losing my mind...
How did you guys deal with this???
😢

It’s a good thing you aren't completely stuck in a full body cast.

Michelle Cook83 said:At least you aren't stuck in a full-body cast.

Yeah, well, they're gonna wrap me up like a mummy for like a week. By then, hopefully, the swelling will have gone down.🤷

Orthopedic hardware—screws, plates, you name it—usually stays in your body for about a year or two. For some people, they just stay there forever because a second surgery isn't worth the hassle.
If you suddenly start feeling pain in your ankle after six months, don't ignore it; go get checked out. There’s always a chance something shifted, or maybe the initial placement wasn't quite right and the long-term use of the leg caused things to move.
At the very least, get an X-ray of your foot, and then feel free to get a second or third opinion from a few different trauma specialists.

They didn't put you in a cast right away because the swelling is too intense. It wouldn't make any sense to do it now; the cast would just end up being loose once the swelling goes down.
Just keep using the ice. Even if you can't feel much, I promise it's doing its job.
What kind of fracture is it exactly? What does it say on the discharge papers?

restlesspanther42 said:They didn't cast it immediately because the swelling is too bad. It wouldn't make sense—the cast would just end up sliding around once the swelling goes down.
Just keep applying ice. Doesn't matter if you don't feel it; it's definitely working.
What kind of fracture is it exactly? What does the discharge paper say?

It’s a fibula fracture near the ankle🤔...

This is the first time I've actually broken something, so I have no clue if this is normal or not...
For the first few days, it wasn't even that bad. I could move around a bit with crutches, but since the day before yesterday, the pain has been brutal. I can't move at all. I'm taking pills to help, but honestly, they don't seem to be doing much... Is it supposed to be this bad?
When is this supposed to let up, even a little? In this state, I won't be able to make it to the hospital, and apparently, I need a different cast anyway.
🤷