Broken Ankle Recovery
Discussion
Just wondering if anyone else has had problems recovering from a broken ankle.
I fractured the end of my left fibula back at the end of May, went through the usual cast & walking boot over 10 weeks.
I've been recovering well and was walking around and back driving, but was having problems striding out due to bad muscle stiffness so I asked my G.P for access to physio to help me.
After my first appointment with the physio I was given some home exercises to do with a resistance band and some calf stretches/range of movement practice.
I did these for around five days and woke up one morning in absolute agony and unable to walk/put weight through the ankle. I can't walk anymore without incredible pain, certainly can't drive!
Waiting for a docs appointment now, any ideas what's happened?
I fractured the end of my left fibula back at the end of May, went through the usual cast & walking boot over 10 weeks.
I've been recovering well and was walking around and back driving, but was having problems striding out due to bad muscle stiffness so I asked my G.P for access to physio to help me.
After my first appointment with the physio I was given some home exercises to do with a resistance band and some calf stretches/range of movement practice.
I did these for around five days and woke up one morning in absolute agony and unable to walk/put weight through the ankle. I can't walk anymore without incredible pain, certainly can't drive!
Waiting for a docs appointment now, any ideas what's happened?
Did my fibula in 2005 playing football, had it pinned and plated. It's just the tendons and ligaments which you have probably overworked. It's hard to start with but stick with it and go slowly. I thought squatting and heavy calf raises would get my ankle back up to strength, but it didn't. In fact I never played football again because I thought my ankle was f
ked completely until many years later when I took up kick boxing. The movements involved in that built up the strength in my tendons and ligaments enough to start playing again.
It's the twisting and turning that I'd had trouble with, just had no strength there, whereas I could squat easily as much as before the injury.
ked completely until many years later when I took up kick boxing. The movements involved in that built up the strength in my tendons and ligaments enough to start playing again.It's the twisting and turning that I'd had trouble with, just had no strength there, whereas I could squat easily as much as before the injury.
Warnie said:
Did my fibula in 2005 playing football, had it pinned and plated. It's just the tendons and ligaments which you have probably overworked. It's hard to start with but stick with it and go slowly. I thought squatting and heavy calf raises would get my ankle back up to strength, but it didn't. In fact I never played football again because I thought my ankle was fked completely until many years later when I took up kick boxing. The movements involved in that built up the strength in my tendons and ligaments enough to start playing again.
It's the twisting and turning that I'd had trouble with, just had no strength there, whereas I could squat easily as much as before the injury.
this.ked completely until many years later when I took up kick boxing. The movements involved in that built up the strength in my tendons and ligaments enough to start playing again.It's the twisting and turning that I'd had trouble with, just had no strength there, whereas I could squat easily as much as before the injury.
work through it, and ask to see the physio again if you really are going backwards
end of recovery is about 18 months, up to then it's improvement time
Warnie said:
Did my fibula in 2005 playing football, had it pinned and plated. It's just the tendons and ligaments which you have probably overworked. It's hard to start with but stick with it and go slowly. I thought squatting and heavy calf raises would get my ankle back up to strength, but it didn't. In fact I never played football again because I thought my ankle was fked completely until many years later when I took up kick boxing. The movements involved in that built up the strength in my tendons and ligaments enough to start playing again.
It's the twisting and turning that I'd had trouble with, just had no strength there, whereas I could squat easily as much as before the injury.
Thanks for the replies. I hope it's just the tendons & ligaments, the doctor has sent me for an X-Ray to check for any small loose bits of bone in the joint. If that's ok he will be sending me for more physio.ked completely until many years later when I took up kick boxing. The movements involved in that built up the strength in my tendons and ligaments enough to start playing again.It's the twisting and turning that I'd had trouble with, just had no strength there, whereas I could squat easily as much as before the injury.
Quite surprising just how much strength you lose around the ankle after a break and consequent inactivity.
Had the same problem a few years back. Break and dislocation, 8 weeks immobile then plaster came off and couldn't walk. About 3 months into my recovery (was paying for my own physio) went back to square 1, in agony and couldn't walk unaided. Was just soft tissue damage from pushing myself too hard (had right, i was worried as joshua is very confused from when he use to sleep in your bed at selwyn st. hes very mixed up about his emotions for you and sleeping with you is only going to make it worse. its a long story and complicated but hes desperate for councelling.starting jogging again) took time out to rest and recover then started exercising again. Took about 12 months to get back to what is now normal.
D1ngd0ng said:
Had the same problem a few years back. Break and dislocation, 8 weeks immobile then plaster came off and couldn't walk. About 3 months into my recovery (was paying for my own physio) went back to square 1, in agony and couldn't walk unaided. Was just soft tissue damage from pushing myself too hard (had right, i was worried as joshua is very confused from when he use to sleep in your bed at selwyn st. hes very mixed up about his emotions for you and sleeping with you is only going to make it worse. its a long story and complicated but hes desperate for councelling.starting jogging again) took time out to rest and recover then started exercising again. Took about 12 months to get back to what is now normal.
Sorry to hear this. Sounds very similar to me though, I think the physio has overdone it and overstretched my tendons and ligaments too far. The pain is worse than when I first broke the ankle!They have told me to rest and do gentle calf stretch exercises and range of movement if I can manage it. The hospital have given me a pair of crutches which are very helpful I can tell you. I can just about shuffle about unaided around the house, but need the crutches to get going when I get out of bed or have been sitting down for a while.
Thanks, it was a life changing experience but despite the fact my sprinting and team sports career is over before it ever took off I'm doing alright. I'm in the best shape of my life! Run 5k 5 days a week currently, hour I. The gym at lunch doing whatever and karate several nights a week. Just takes time and pain to get where you want to go. I also ended up with about 10 degrees less dorisflextion (knee bending forwards right?) in my right compared to my left and the tendons have never been forgiving. You'll get there, must persevere and not lose heart.
Decent Physio always helps too
Decent Physio always helps too
The_Doc said:
Warnie said:
Did my fibula in 2005 playing football, had it pinned and plated. It's just the tendons and ligaments which you have probably overworked. It's hard to start with but stick with it and go slowly. I thought squatting and heavy calf raises would get my ankle back up to strength, but it didn't. In fact I never played football again because I thought my ankle was fked completely until many years later when I took up kick boxing. The movements involved in that built up the strength in my tendons and ligaments enough to start playing again.
It's the twisting and turning that I'd had trouble with, just had no strength there, whereas I could squat easily as much as before the injury.
this.ked completely until many years later when I took up kick boxing. The movements involved in that built up the strength in my tendons and ligaments enough to start playing again.It's the twisting and turning that I'd had trouble with, just had no strength there, whereas I could squat easily as much as before the injury.
work through it, and ask to see the physio again if you really are going backwards
end of recovery is about 18 months, up to then it's improvement time
Generally, unless you get an infection in the bone, it's unlikely that the bone hasn't knitted properly and that the pain and problems you are having is the bone itself.
Muscle, soft tissue and ligaments however are a different story, and any trauma followed by inactivity can wreak havoc on them - especially around load-bearing joints.
As said by the doc, full rehabilitation of an important joint is often a far longer process than just allowing the bone to heal.
I'm willing to bet that there's nothing intrinsically wrong in there, and there isn't any floating pieces. You'll just have to put up with the odd flare-up of pain and swelling from time to time, as you nurse the joint back to full strength and mobility.
One other thing the doc hasn't mentioned, and I don't know if he would agree or not - but another factor that might be causing pain is pressure on nerves, either from the altered range of movement, or internal swelling putting pressure on them and irritating them.
Nerves themselves are inside something called a myelin sheath - and if this is damaged, inflamed or under pressure then the pain can be quite debilitating. So even if you are starting to use a previously damaged and then rested and un-used joint, something as simple as a slightly altered range of movement when you do start to use it again, can cause something to rub on a nerve that previously did not.
The only way to cure that in the short-term is unfortunately a little more rest, the good old RICE technique (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) and some fairly decent doses of ibuprofen to help reduce any swelling (and the swelling may be internal - so you might not be able to see it as such).
Unfortunately for me, as an ex motorbike-racer, my body is littered with the fallout of quite a few similar types of injury, so I am a bit of an expert when it comes to learning how best to overcome such injuries! One thing I have learned though is that, however frustrating it might be, generally speaking your body talks to you in many different ways about what it is and isn't ready for - and pain is one of them. As uncomfortable as it is, try to treat it not so much as an annoyance, and more of a strong message from your joint to your head about what it can and can't do right now!
Easy to say I know, but it helped me rationalise it a bit.
Just give it time, it will be back to normal, but it might take a bit more rest, work and time for your injury and you specifically. But one day it will be as good as new again, I'm sure.
HTH
Hi Ray, thanks for taking the time to write the post, very helpful and informative.
The Doc has given me Naproxen to reduce the swelling and the physio has recommended alternating my foot from warm to cold water to also help.
I'll rest up and hopefully be back on my feet soon, it feels a lot better this morning so that's a good sign.
The Doc has given me Naproxen to reduce the swelling and the physio has recommended alternating my foot from warm to cold water to also help.
I'll rest up and hopefully be back on my feet soon, it feels a lot better this morning so that's a good sign.
Swelling was a major issue for me especially when the plaster was on, I was in a lot of pain a lot of the time because of it. It took more than a year for the ankle to go back to the same size as the other one.
Also because my ligaments were so week, the bone must have taken more pressure than usual, which made me convinced for a long time that it had not healed properly as the pain seemed to be coming more from the break than ligament pain. If that makes sense?. I walked unbeknown to me with a small limp for a good few years after as well, which again only righted itself when I took up the kickboxing.
Don't leave it like I did, perseverance is the key.
Also because my ligaments were so week, the bone must have taken more pressure than usual, which made me convinced for a long time that it had not healed properly as the pain seemed to be coming more from the break than ligament pain. If that makes sense?. I walked unbeknown to me with a small limp for a good few years after as well, which again only righted itself when I took up the kickboxing.
Don't leave it like I did, perseverance is the key.
Warnie said:
Swelling was a major issue for me especially when the plaster was on, I was in a lot of pain a lot of the time because of it. It took more than a year for the ankle to go back to the same size as the other one.
Also because my ligaments were so week, the bone must have taken more pressure than usual, which made me convinced for a long time that it had not healed properly as the pain seemed to be coming more from the break than ligament pain. If that makes sense?. I walked unbeknown to me with a small limp for a good few years after as well, which again only righted itself when I took up the kickboxing.
Don't leave it like I did, perseverance is the key.
I understand what you mean, it feels as though all the pain is coming from the area of the break. For a while I thought I'd damaged the bone somehow. I'm also getting a lot of pain from the calf muscle and achilles, but the doc assures me that this is normal.Also because my ligaments were so week, the bone must have taken more pressure than usual, which made me convinced for a long time that it had not healed properly as the pain seemed to be coming more from the break than ligament pain. If that makes sense?. I walked unbeknown to me with a small limp for a good few years after as well, which again only righted itself when I took up the kickboxing.
Don't leave it like I did, perseverance is the key.
When I broke it I inverted my foot and put all my weight down on the side so must have really stretched the ligaments as well a breaking the ankle.
Thanks for the advice, much appreciated.
I did this: 
I still get slight problems with it 17 years later, though most of the pins are out. For me it was buying a new bike and spending a lot of time cycling that was best rehabilitation. I could push my heel down and give the joint, tendons and muscle a good stretch and at the same time strengthen everything through normal cycling action.
I was told to either expect arthritis or to have it fused by now, but I reckon the miles offroad on the bike has saved me from that.
One thing though, it has caused me slight scoliosis in my spine where I counteracted whilst walking. You may need to spend time stretching legs, back etc so that you don't become imbalanced.
I still get slight problems with it 17 years later, though most of the pins are out. For me it was buying a new bike and spending a lot of time cycling that was best rehabilitation. I could push my heel down and give the joint, tendons and muscle a good stretch and at the same time strengthen everything through normal cycling action.
I was told to either expect arthritis or to have it fused by now, but I reckon the miles offroad on the bike has saved me from that.
One thing though, it has caused me slight scoliosis in my spine where I counteracted whilst walking. You may need to spend time stretching legs, back etc so that you don't become imbalanced.
I've broken loads of bones, tiorn ligaments etc and been pinned back together several times due to BMX crashes.
Do you smoke/drink alcohol/take drugs? If so, stop. They inhibit bone/injury rehabilitaion massively.
I've found that tendons can be the most painful, especially after they have been rested and movement/strengthening them starts. But tendons can also be the longest to recover too.
Elevation can help a bit at night so stick a pillow under you ankle.
Bear with it...it's a long road!
Do you smoke/drink alcohol/take drugs? If so, stop. They inhibit bone/injury rehabilitaion massively.
I've found that tendons can be the most painful, especially after they have been rested and movement/strengthening them starts. But tendons can also be the longest to recover too.
Elevation can help a bit at night so stick a pillow under you ankle.
Bear with it...it's a long road!
jshell said:
I did this:
I still get slight problems with it 17 years later, though most of the pins are out. For me it was buying a new bike and spending a lot of time cycling that was best rehabilitation. I could push my heel down and give the joint, tendons and muscle a good stretch and at the same time strengthen everything through normal cycling action.
I was told to either expect arthritis or to have it fused by now, but I reckon the miles offroad on the bike has saved me from that.
One thing though, it has caused me slight scoliosis in my spine where I counteracted whilst walking. You may need to spend time stretching legs, back etc so that you don't become imbalanced.
Impressive x-ray, that must have been painful. Walking correctly is the part i'm most concerned about, i'm due to see the physio again so I can discuss this later in the week. The work I do involves a lot of walking, so i'm hoping this will help my recovery too.I still get slight problems with it 17 years later, though most of the pins are out. For me it was buying a new bike and spending a lot of time cycling that was best rehabilitation. I could push my heel down and give the joint, tendons and muscle a good stretch and at the same time strengthen everything through normal cycling action.
I was told to either expect arthritis or to have it fused by now, but I reckon the miles offroad on the bike has saved me from that.
One thing though, it has caused me slight scoliosis in my spine where I counteracted whilst walking. You may need to spend time stretching legs, back etc so that you don't become imbalanced.
Rehabilitation of the tendons is by far the most painful part without a doubt, but on the plus side they feel a lot stronger and I can walk unaided and in much less pain than a week ago.
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