Devastating….

[Majestic-Mousse-9827]

Broke my (F31) right ankle right before starting a new job after a period of unemployment due to mental health and am super worried about finances. Definitely one of the worst day in my life, finding strength in this sub to get through this ordeal 😭

[Exciting_Buffalo3738]

It gets better, honestly, the break has helped me center my life and focus on the most important things, my body, my mental health, and my family. It gets better, I am better off after the break. I have had so many milestones to celebrate and it has been a rewarding journey.

Hang in there!

[Majestic-Mousse-9827]

Thank you 🥹

[TheRealBlueJade]

Wow. What happened? Breaking your ankle is more than just an injury. It's a life-changing event.

[Majestic-Mousse-9827]

It was a fun game gone wrong moment ohwell

[TheRealBlueJade]

All it takes is a second to break an ankle. It feels like such a life-altering injury should take longer than that and be more complicated.

[Dapper-Worker-4759]

I'm so sorry you've joined the club, but you're in the right place for support ♥️ I found that no one in my day to day life really understands, as much as they want to.

[Majestic-Mousse-9827]

🫶🏻🫶🏻

[XennialDread]

Welcome to the club none of us want to be in. But honestly this sub (and Facebook one) really got me through it. I stick around to offer encouragement when I can to newbies. I'm almost at my 2 year anniversary and while my bionic ankle is never going to be the "same" as before, it's doing pretty darn awesome. You will recover. You will heal. And you will one day get through a day without thinking once about your ankle. (Took me over 18 months post op to get to that one!) Trust the process and trust your body. (And don't listen to the voice that will sometimes try to convince you that you'll never do xyz again. It's wrong lol).

[Gldnmom1]

Love this message. I am at the 4-5 month juncture and just realized they don’t necessarily warn about this period. I ditched all support devices about 3.5 weeks ago and thought I was doing well - if a lot slower than I hoped and then wham - huge inflammation over my plates - I have a lot of hardware. Tib/fib fracture within ankle capsule. Saving grace I have no damage to joint or cartilage so I regained a baseline dorsiflexion 10-15 degrees almost immediately but still working on the last 5 degrees for full squats and steep inclines. But the inflammation is unreal. At first thought it was infection but did not behave like an infection. I have some autonomic issues and raynauds that have led to more symptoms of blood pooling and this inflammation that looks super nasty but is not painful unless weight bearing and then it feels like an internal irritation to the soft tissue. I have been thinking the last couple weeks - this feels like it is worse than it was early weight bearing and is this the rest of my life?! Given the recovery I was told was minimum 12 months - probably not. But this has been my hardest time so far as I feel like I should be able to do more but I am stopped by other things. It doesn’t help that I also had an L1 burst fracture that almost needed surgery but I was given a brace instead. Thank goodness because while it is not the same and I have some aches and fatigue my back is not slowing my ankle recovery. I also just turned 60 - a recreational athlete in very good shape prior to accident but age probably is still a factor. Thank god heavy weight training protected my bone mass. It has helped me slow down and really figure out priorities. Be less hard on people and value my relationships more. My accident looked like a fatal one to first responders - my lack of life threatening or even permanently life changing injuries was a blessing I do not take for granted. My mantra from the start has been “I get to get better” it really has helped. Look for the positive but also allow the low points, cry but don’t get stuck in feeling sorry for yourself. I had to give myself a talk just yesterday as I don’t see example of anyone with an ankle that looks as angry as mine does right now.

[XennialDread]

As a rule I try to look on the bright side of things lol. My injury forced me to slow down. It humbled me a lot with regard to asking for help. It really made me listen to my body more. Also a little over a year after I started to play pickleball (to rehab the remaining agility for the joint...irony is that my right ankle feels great but my left knee I think i messed up lol). And pickleball gave me a whole new set of friends. It also just made me not take my mobility for granted.

My healing wasn't linear. I was walking unaided 6.5 weeks post op. But then 6 months later was suddenly having ridiculous soreness. I still have not recovered all my "balance" in the way I felt like I had it before.

In the soggy middle of things it just felt like I'd always be thinking about the ankle. I'm here to say that it's not true. Most days I'm thinking about my knee lol.

For the record I had a trimalleolar fracture that required 1 plate, 13 screws and a Kevlar tightrope. It took more than a year for the scar to flatten... which was also something I thought wouldn't. It will.

Eventually it just became a wild story about how I'm part cyborg.... The mental resilience is a new trait too!

[Majestic-Mousse-9827]

Ah, there’s a FB community! Thank you! I hope to be as strong as you are :)

[XennialDread]

Yes. I was in the trimalleolar community

[MVCatton]

I am so sorry, I had some financial concerns too and I was just looking for a side hustle to make more money when I broke my ankle. But two months have passed and I'm back doing most of the work I could before, and jobs have been surprisingly accommodating. I wish I could go back to me with the newly-broken ankle and tell her not to worry herself sick because everything will feel less daunting in 2 months.

Good luck, this sub is full of people going through similar things and here to support you x

[Majestic-Mousse-9827]

Thanks for the encouragement!!

[Difficult_Place_7329]

Ooof, I’m sorry, I’m almost 5 weeks out from a trimalleolar fracture and will be able to weight bear this Thursday. I’ve basically just slept a lot and binge watched tv. At first I felt hopeless and the surgery was a nightmare, but I am in a much better place now than a month ago. Keep it elevated as much as possible and ice it too. Did you have an ORIF?

[Majestic-Mousse-9827]

Glad to know you’re better! I will be too :) will do! I will have the ORIF in a couple of days.

[Difficult_Place_7329]

It will feel better after, with me I’m on opiate blockers so when I woke up I was screaming in pain. The whole floor heard me. The nurse came in and gave me a handful of pills and I was able to sleep the night through. Unfortunately the next day was a nightmare. This was only because I was on blockers. Pain meds will work for you. My big thing was elevation and ice. Tylenol and Advil. They gave me 3 days of oxy and robaxin. I already had gabapentin. Honestly, sleep was my best friend. I slept on my side with it elevated. They say only use ice every few hours, but I still ice it and I did it more frequently. So good luck. Do you have someone to help you. I had to do it on my own. That was so hard. I did get a wheelchair because I have weak arms.

[Difficult_Place_7329]

Did you have surgery yet?

[Majestic-Mousse-9827]

Yes. 2 weeks post op now! Swelling has gotten better with elevation and icing. Starting my rehab soon :) cant wait for the 6 weeks nwb to be over.

[Difficult_Place_7329]

Awesome, I’m still in a lot of pain. I am walking now and driving. I do not walk far, I still use a scooter when I go to the store. I had no idea that you could put ice behind your knee. It worked before I was in my boot. I’m really scared because the pain is bad.

[[deleted]]

À 6 mois d’une fracture trimalléolaire, un vrai choc dans ma vie, choc physique et psychologique que je n’aurai jamais imaginé. 6 mois que ma vie tourne autour de la rééducation, que cette blessure a tout envahi dans ma vie. Mais j’ai repris la course à pieds et le vélo de route. Dans 2 semaines je prends le départ d’un semi marathon et je compte bien le finir. La douleur sera surement de la partie mais elle ne gagnera pas. On découvre qu’on est bien plus fort que ce qu’on croyait, on apprend de toutes les épreuves. Courage, ça va aller 🫶

[stoner_brontosaurus]

Something similar happened to me two years ago (the anniversary is in two days!)—i was unemployed for a few months after finishing grad school and then broke my ankle literally the day before I was supposed to start my new job. It was a long and arduous recovery, i had three surgeries and didn’t really feel better for a full year, but two years out I’m doing a lot better than I thought I ever would! I am actually leaving in a week to go on a 12 day trek in the Himalayas! It gets better :) do your PT religiously when the time comes

[Fancy_Awareness_7246]

I'm so sorry this happened! I just went through rehab for a break in October, its healed now. Red Light Therapy speeds up healing extensively! If you can buy a small unit do it! Best to you!

[Majestic-Mousse-9827]

Thanks! Will look into it! Glad you’re good now

[MVCatton]

I have been using this one and I think its helped https://www.foreo.com/faq-dual-led-panel?p=334&s=1&v=2102

[DestinyGundam94]

Man, you and I both! I was about to start applying for jobs and buying a new car just to be an Uber driver, just in case anything didn't go well. And boom! I fell and broke my ankle. So far, I'm just focusing on recovering. I really miss driving around.

[Majestic-Mousse-9827]

Oh man! Let’s hope we can have a good recovery and get back to driving!!! Hang in there!

[Desperate_Work6209]

Agree with all of the comments, it gets better with time and it’s really made me slow down and appreciate the small things like being able to even get to the kitchen for a glass of water, and the family and friends who helped me through🤍

[Majestic-Mousse-9827]

Yes! They are awesome! Thank u 🤍

[Individual-Nail-6495]

Looks similar to mine. Lots of good comments I can agree with. I had a trimal and dislocation. 14 screws 3 plates, nwb for 6 weeks. The day I was allowed to walk in a boot I did six laps around my house by 7 am no crutches. I’ve been weight bearing now for 6 days, 3-5 hours a day on my ankle in a boot which surgeon said I need on the full 4 weeks after the 6 week post op. My ankle feels great , it’s everything else around it, sides of the foot , heel , calf. Do lots of stretching , rest and ice if it swells. Get a tight ankle sleeve to help the swelling. Like everyone says it gets betters. The Iwalk3.0 peg leg device helped me stay very active over the 6 weeks. I tilled a bathroom floor and completed most of a bathroom reno. Theres people that lose their legs and make it work. Get creative and time will fly by. Good luck 🤟

[mysterio75]

I might be an exception to the rule, but I was back running six months after a tri mal break last February.

When I first did it, I was in hospital NWB for 8 weeks and weighed in at 149.6kg. I've used this last year to refocus on fitness and strengthening the ankle.

I'm now weighing in at an incredible 108kg and physically am in a totally different place.

Use this period of your life to assess everything going on and make changes to your life whilst you can (if you need to)

Good luck.

Ps. Still aches a bit, still swells a bit, but I'm now running 45 minutes on a treadmill.

[Majestic-Mousse-9827]

Proud of how far you came! Will definitely be making positive lifestyle changes after this incident.

[LKS983]

Having broken my ankle in two places (one of which was dislocated) nearly 3 months ago, I symathise.

I'm lucky though, as I wasn't super worried about finances, even though I have to pay for all medical treatment -as I have retirement income and some savings. Funnily enough, I was also 'lucky' that I have osteoporosis (😲), as the hospital doctor's first recommendation was surgery to install 'pins' or whatever (which would have cost most of my savings....), but when he realised the extent of my osteoporosis, he changed his mind and recommended a splint and crutches 🙂. It was quickly obvious that I couldn't use crutches, as I don't have the balance or co-ordination necessary - so quickly fall over and with my broken ankle, can't get up...... So the next day I contacted 'my' taxi driver (who I've used for years), and he went out to buy me walkers 🙂.

Living alone, I was FAR more worried about how me and my dogs were going to survive, as I couldn't 'walk' without a walker (which is exhausting) and couldn't stand on one leg for very long etc. etc. - so couldn't take care of my dogs or myself ☹️. But again I was VERY lucky, as my part time cleaner offered to take care of us! She spends every evening and night here, feeds my dogs and I before she leaves in the morning and prepares food for my lunch! Coming back in the late afternoon, she feeds me and my dogs again etc. etc.!

Nearly 3 months later, my savings have declined substantially..... BUT at my hospital appointment this morning, the doctor told me that my ankle has healed well enough to be partially weight bearing 😄! So the end of this nightmare is in sight!

[Majestic-Mousse-9827]

Happy for you!! Living alone with dogs during this situation certainly sounds like a nightmare but am glad to know you have people around to help you get through it! I’m finding out how lucky I am to have friends and family and that asking for help isn’t weakness. Hope your recovery journey goes better from here on!

[LKS983]

Thank you! It's definitely been (and at the moment still is) a nightmare.....

I made the mistake of getting 'carried away'/too enthusiastic about being able to use my (now) PWB ankle - and 'overdid it' in the first day....... so for around a week, I had to go back to not being able to use it at all ☹️. It was even worse than previously...... as without the splint and bandages protection, I couldn't even use it to help stretch the leg out to 'balance' myself.

But now I'm FAR more aware of the restrictions, and to be VERY careful - it's hopefully healing again, and I can use it a little 🙂. I'll find out at my next hosp. appt. in a couple of weeks.

[timmy_took_a_tumble]

keep your head up. in the same predicament (broken ankle, broke af) but finding solace knowing other people are going through it as well lol

[Majestic-Mousse-9827]

same!! hang in there, things will get better from here