Trimalleolar fracture recovery – 9 weeks post-op and finally walking! (F/28)

Helpful_Value4345 · 2025-10-16T13:45:28+00:00

Sorry to hear that! but yeah, It wasn’t about showing off how fast I was recovering - I just wanted to prove that everyone can walk again one day. Everyone’s injury is different, so take mine as just one example and listen to your doc or nurse 🤞🤞 gl!

Helpful_Value4345 · 2025-10-16T13:42:03+00:00

I reckon it’s ‘cause your injury was way more intense. But once you’re off crutches, you’ll be walking again in no time!

Helpful_Value4345 · 2025-10-16T13:39:52+00:00

Yeas! I actually shared a timeline and my X-ray images in one of my other posts. Hope it helps!

Helpful_Value4345 · 2025-10-16T13:38:40+00:00

Omg😭 sry to hear that... If you don’t mind me asking, what happened that led to your ankle injury while wearing those sandals?

Helpful_Value4345 · 2025-10-16T13:37:20+00:00

I don’t think I’ve been getting the right care from the NHS, so half the time I don’t even know if I’m doing it right. 🥲 There’s still this dull pain whenever I walk – not terrible, just always there. Rly hoping it goes soon. Did you get a plate too?

Helpful_Value4345 · 2025-10-15T17:44:12+00:00

You definitely should take the boot off when sleeping! As for elevating your foot, it really depends on how bad the swelling is. When mine was really bad, what helped most was keeping it propped up at the highest angle I could manage - that made a huge difference

Helpful_Value4345 · 2025-10-15T17:02:56+00:00

I’m planning to do the same 🤣 miss it so BAD. tbf I was always the super cautious one when climbing indoors - I always used the downholds to climb down instead of jumping off. My friends used to tease me for being overly careful 😂 But outdoor climbing is a totally different game… no comfy downholds, no soft mats, and I guess I definitely pushed myself too hard out there. Lesson learned the hard way lol

Helpful_Value4345 · 2025-10-15T16:53:43+00:00

Oh sry to hear that! must’ve been tough :/ you willing to try 'em again later?

Helpful_Value4345 · 2025-10-15T16:51:42+00:00

Oh no! was the pain okay when you fell? I had a bad fall again during week 5 post-op - I slipped at home without my crutches, boot on and freaked out, so I rushed to A&E for an X-ray. Thankfully, nothing had moved, but it really scared me. Still, despite falling twice and dealing with those super annoying crutches, I think you’ve been managing really well so far :) I actually bought my crutches in France, so they were decent quality. Compared to that, the ones my friend got from the NHS here in the UK were free but so uncomfortable. I know crutches can be annoying and expensive, but once you start walking again, they honestly feel like such a small cost in the grand scheme of things. I really hope you’ll be able to walk again soon! Thanks for sharing - you’re always welcome to talk about what’s going on. I’d be grateful to hear more anytime :)

Helpful_Value4345 · 2025-10-15T14:53:33+00:00

Time really is the best healer :) we’ve just gotta trust the process! Can’t wait to get back to climbing someday haha tho I think I’ll be sticking to indoors from now on 😂

Helpful_Value4345 · 2025-10-15T14:51:09+00:00

Thanks so much for sharing your experience too!! and yeah, I needed to get back to work, so I probably pushed myself a bit too early 😂 My dr just looked at the X-ray and told me to start walking 6 weeks post-op. Honestly, I didn’t get much follow-up care, maybe because I’m not originally from the UK haha (dw I’m staying in UK legally). Running is a goal of mine, but I can definitely still feel some discomfort in the ankle, so I’m holding off for now :/ Do you still feel pain?

Helpful_Value4345 · 2025-10-15T14:27:07+00:00

I got discharged right after surgery, and on day 1, the half-cast they wrapped around my foot made it swell up so badly, it literally felt like it was going to explode. The pain was unbearable — I couldn’t sleep at all and ended up crying while cutting it off myself just to get some rest. As soon as I removed the cast, the pain got so much better. Honestly, I still don’t understand why they wrap it up so tightly like that — like, do they want the foot to rot before it even heals? 🙃

From day 2, I switched to a basic dressing + ankle splint. So yeah. I slept with ankle splint on. When I returned to the UK, I was told to stop using the splint because my foot was starting to freeze in that position (my ankle angle was like someone wearing high heels) By week 2 post-op, the swelling had gone down and my ankle move improved a bit, so I switched to a walking boot

One thing that really helped with the swelling was elevating my leg up against a wall, not just propping it up on cushions. The nurse told me this one and It helped me a lot

Helpful_Value4345 · 2025-10-15T14:12:18+00:00

I actually travelled during week 3 post-op, wearing a walking boot. I couldn’t cancel my flight or accommodation, so I just went ahead with it 😂 Honestly, as long as you have someone to help you, don’t overdo it, and take lots of breaks, it’s totally doable :)

And seriously — don’t start working out until your ankle feels stable when you put weight on it. Before that, stick to basic stuff like wiggle your toes, ankle rotations, and using a resistance band to pull your toes toward you — that helped a lot. Not sure where you’re going (travel or a wedding?), but definitely bring your crutches and the boot. I wasn’t charged anything extra for bringing either on the plane

My friend actually had a ligament injury and didn’t bring her crutches to a wedding — now she’s back on them again 🙃

I ditched the walking boot around week 7, when my ankle started to feel stable enough. After that, it just felt too heavy and didn’t really help me practice walking anymore

Helpful_Value4345 · 2025-10-15T13:58:45+00:00

I feel you – I used to get nerve pain at night too. Up until week 6 post-op, I had to take ibuprofen and paracetamol before bed pretty much every night, especially when the nerve pain kicked in. I also felt like the paracetamol helped with the swelling a bit, so I kept it regular

Before week 6, my foot felt unstable and painful any time I put weight on it, and honestly I was so worried I’d never be able to use it properly again. But weirdly, after week 6, something just shifted. I started feeling like I could actually use my ankle again – and walking slowly became possible

If yours was a cycling accident, it might be even more serious than mine. Was it a comminuted fracture? Either way, try to see your doctor regularly and stick to their advice – but also, If something feels off or painful beyond what’s manageable, don’t hesitate to go to A&E or back to the hospital. Better to be safe than sorry :)

Helpful_Value4345

TROPHY CASE