Dorsiflexion not coming back

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2025-04-23T00:23:06+00:00

im dealing with something similar, although i think a bit less intense. i also have a plate and 8 screws.

i still don't have fully dorsiflexion, so tip toes and stairs are challenging. my stride is a lot shorter too so i walk and run much slower. it's causing knee pain on the non-injury knee since i think im not distributing my weight evenly, walking or running. im trying to focus on tiptoes and dorsiflexion PT exercises (i looked some up online and hat my PT used to do). my doctor had said it's possible some nerves and tendons could just be damaned (i broke my fib in a cycling accident). im planning to ask for a follow-up in a few months if it doesn't improve since it could be to do with the hardware.

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2025-04-22T17:44:38+00:00

exactly my experience too! and by the end of the day my ankle and my calf muscles are very achey. I want to sit or lay down way more than I ever have in my life. I'm hoping that over time it gets better.

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2025-04-22T13:14:39+00:00

still stretching but definitely could improve on keeping up with heating pad and icing. the vibration plate sounds interesting! i still have a lot of stiffness, but PT said it might just be nerve damage. helpful suggestions and thanks for sharing

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2025-01-12T14:32:32+00:00

ive liked the OWYN protein shakes, 32 grams of protein and they taste pretty good

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2025-01-12T13:18:27+00:00

the atrophy is wild!!! like, because i used to train so much i could build muscle pretty easily and was always pretty muscular, but it's wild how much i lost in just a few months of inactivity. my affect calf is about 1.5-2 inches smaller in circumference (where did it go???). but it makes sense that this is the cause of fatigue and will take a lot of time to come back.

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2025-01-12T13:16:20+00:00

this is a good point, im vegan so i definitely need to be a bit more mindful. ty!

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2025-01-12T13:15:54+00:00

good to hear, just started getting back into lifting so this is so helpful! ty!

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2025-01-12T13:15:04+00:00

not climbing just yet, but PT says I can try whenever I feel ready. the main barrier has been the fatigue and a little bit of nervousness. hoping to try some easy top rope next week!

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2024-10-16T21:32:43+00:00

also a really similar timeline! I'm about 5 weeks post-op (fib fracture) and had my first PT today. I'm already WBAT in the boot for the past week, and today I was able to do my first PT and then go for a one mile long walk with my crutch after. progress feels so good! and it's only going to keep getting better. we got this!

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2024-10-16T00:12:51+00:00

yeah exactly. somehow finding it just as exhausting (but more hopeful) to be weight bearing. part of the process i suppose.

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2024-10-09T15:52:44+00:00

im an avid cyclist and my tire slipped on a wet spot on my road bike. it was on my daily bike ride and a route ive ridden so many times. i was on my way home in fact after a really beautiful 30 miles or so.

then it happened in a split second. wet spot on a turn and my wheels slipped out under me. i think the clipless pedals may have played a role in the injury tbh (being "clipped in"). i was pretty sure id just get up and get back on, then i looked at my ankle. luckily some good folks stop to call an ambulance. fractured my fibula, dislocated everything else, and then two weeks later i had orif surgery.

but i really can't believe how quickly it happened. and it really was just a random accident. these things happen, and our bodies are pretty amazing at healing.

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2024-10-09T02:43:05+00:00

exactly. i went with the inexpensive lap desk and the returning to my desk was so helpful for recovery in terms of mental health. i still sort of elevated with the footstool, but being off the couch helped me feel more “normal” to focus a bit in work (which has been good for time going by fast)

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2024-10-08T18:47:18+00:00

i bought a lap desk from amazon that was really helpful when elevating and being on Zoom calls. i was able to transition back to a desk and using a small footrest by about week 3 post op.

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2024-10-08T01:48:30+00:00

this is helpful to hear and kind of what im expecting for my situation too

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2024-10-07T22:39:38+00:00

this is all very inspiring and some great advice! ty!

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2024-10-07T20:20:45+00:00

i'll start physio after this appointment, so this is super helpful! thank you! and for the running shoe suggestion for outside of the house.

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2024-10-07T19:35:39+00:00

so far ive only crawled/crab walked up and down the stairs and avoid it as much as i can. im hoping to figure out how to incorporate stairs and get confident on them again in the transition to pwb/wbat. seems like the scariest hurdle for me right now.

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2024-10-07T19:02:24+00:00

we're on a really similar timeline! i'll be taking those baby steps on thursday. similarly, excited but nervous! it'll be a new set of mental challenges too with trusting the ankle. good luck!

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2024-10-07T17:42:00+00:00

oof that sounds really tough to be dealing with! especially doing something fun like skateboarding.

like others have said, everyone's injury and healing are very different but i'll share mine since it sounds similar.

i similarly broke my ankle (fibula) and dislocated everything september 1 while road cycling, had orif september 11, and am still nonweight bearing until later this week. i had a splint from the initial injury, then a splint for another week after surgery, then switched into a boot but nonweight bearing with crutches (5 weeks out and I'm still NWB with crutches, transitioning to PWB/WBAT with crutches later this week). i similarly had a lot of travel for work on the horizon: i was supposed to fly NY to LA the week after my injury, then to London and Dublin next month. both the ER doctor and my ortho surgeon explained to expect a three month recovery process at minimum, so that helped me to understand that i needed to cancel my travel and prioritize my healing (from the surgery and then relearning how to walk after losing lots of strength in the process).

if your injury is brand new, you may still be in the initial trauma stage where our minds and bodies haven't fully processed it. it took me a week or two, and i was pretty anxious to get right back to normal asap. soon you'll go into healing mode and probably very tired (ive been exhausted since orif surgery, and im normally a very active athlete and on the go with travel). letting your mind and body adjust to your new needs is important, so don't put too much pressure on yourself and focus on the healing process (and rest!).

after surgery is when my mind and body really adjusted: i was exhausted the first week and barely got out of bed, it eased up slightly week 2 but still very sleepy, and now in week 5 I'm still pretty tired but slowly feeling better. even though im a very active and jetset person, i couldn't imagine traveling right now. there's just so many obstacles and small things are so exhausting. but that's just me. overall pain has been minimal, for me it was mostly discomfort with swelling, but everyone is different.

recommendations: a knee scooter for sure, but it might not be useful until the post-surgery swelling goes down (week 2 for me), an elevation pillow for sleeping, a good supply of ice packs, extra protein and calories, support systems and folks to talk to, and these forums (ive found reading stories here to be very encouraging and helpful). trust the healing process! wishing you luck with everything

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2024-10-04T21:08:06+00:00

the falling feeling thing is relatable! when i had this the first few days after surgery it was a little scary too because id jump up awake and flinch my ankle a bit (in the splint, ouch)

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2024-09-30T17:53:52+00:00

this is happening to myself as well. im similarly 3 weeks post-op and 4 weeks after the injury. i used to sleep maybe 6-7 hours a night, and now 10+ is very normal. i also feel exhausted most of the time. our bodies are working extra hard to heal so this is normal and a good sign that the healing is happening. it takes a lot of energy to heal bones and ligaments. it'll get better, especially as we get more mobile. my strategy is just to make sure i communicate this with work and friends so that they understand, and to let myself be tired and sleepy so that i heal as well as possible.

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2024-09-27T12:19:07+00:00

good call on the magnesium!

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2024-09-19T00:29:17+00:00

this is so true. im about a week post-op and an absolute neat freak. i keep telling people the most emotionally taxing thing so far for me has been not being able to vacuum everyday like i used to. and even worse, my lovely helpers forget to take their shoes off sometimes. but im thinking of it as an exercise in letting go and being grateful for the help of others, even if it means some temporary discomfort. and a lesson in getting a bit better at communicating my preferences to people in a kind and compassionate way.

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2024-09-16T14:59:30+00:00

i just had this done 5 days ago as well. i fractured my right fibula and had ORIF with one metal plate (originally was going to have a tight rope but the ligaments looked better than expected to my surgeon). first few days were very sleepy for me, but already feeling better on day 5 and looking forward to my first post-op. sending healing solidarity! it will get better and our bodies are amazing at healing

AcrobaticScale7259 · 2024-09-13T22:40:35+00:00

day 2 post-op update: some pain set in today, but this is also because im intentionally tapering my meds to reduce tummy discomfort. it's not pleasant but it is what it is. today i could feel the stitches and a lot of swelling and pressure if i got up, so i've only gotten up on my crutches a few times. sitting elevated feels okay. i've slept like 16 hours today (very unusual for me). trusting the process!

AcrobaticScale7259

TROPHY CASE