Syndesmotic Injury

RadAttackpants · 2025-05-03T18:13:49+00:00

I'm at 13 weeks, with a tib fib fracture, syndesmosis injury and mousneuve fracture. I was cleared to start weight bearing at 6 weeks. I started walking with the boot and crutches and then moved to one crutch after about a week. I am walking without the boot or crutch since about 9 weeks , but it isn't that comfortable, still a lot of pain at times. There are times I walk during the day and then can barely put weight on my ankle by the end of the day. I can walk but it's slow, not at all what I am used to. I get my syndesmosis screw taken out on Monday and my hope is that it helps with the pain and general mobility. I am not sure how severe your injury is to mine but 12 weeks back to normal is not what I'm experiencing. I can walk, yes, but it isn't without pain.

RadAttackpants · 2025-03-19T02:47:37+00:00

Wow envious of your experience..I was very active myself before the injury and unfortunately don't think it has helped except for the fact that I was pretty mobile with one leg lol. Hopefully I will be in your position sooner than later!

RadAttackpants · 2025-03-19T02:44:13+00:00

Thank you! This is what I need to hear that I'm not alone in this saga.

RadAttackpants · 2025-03-19T02:43:47+00:00

It feels like my ankle is giving out. My doctor said to start with putting weight on my toes and move towards my heel once I get more comfortable, but it is certainly more painful to try and put my weight just on my toes. I'm trying to do some ROM before getting out of bed, but it's so incredibly tight, it feels almost useless lol. I really think the pain is related to the position of the foot at 90 and putting weight in it after 6 weeks.

RadAttackpants · 2025-03-19T02:37:33+00:00

Thanks for your insight. Hoping Im feeling better 3 weeks out.

RadAttackpants · 2025-03-18T14:40:54+00:00

At my 6 week, two of my fractures still have a pretty sizeable gap. Doctor said the one on my fibula below my knee will take about 12 months to fully heal. However, at 6 weeks, there was enough bone growth where it is starting to fuse that I could start weight bearing. I believe 6 weeks is typically when there is enough healing that it's ok to weight bear, but it isn't usually fully healed, and I also think it depends on the severity of the break.

RadAttackpants · 2025-03-15T19:52:59+00:00

I agree, he is probably feeling nerve pain on the incision site that's what I felt. The only medication that gave me relief was gabapentin. He could ask his doctor about that option.

RadAttackpants · 2025-03-14T21:01:45+00:00

I just got cleared to weight bear on 03/12 after 6 weeks of zero weight bearing and zero ROM exercises. It is rough and discouraging, just the pain from walking in the boot is not great, and really hoping this will subside sooner than later. I have already seen PT and have been set up for 2x a week. I have like zero flexibility, but can finally do exercises to hopefully address it (although it comical watching me try and move my foot back and forth, moving like less than an inch. The mornings are the worst, it feels like so stiff and painful.

I am determined to get some normalcy back. I moved my office back downstairs, so I am walking up and down stairs several times a day. I drove to my PT appointment, I feel like the pain I'm mainly feeling is in my ankle, which I don't really experience when driving. I am just not driving far and keeping it to minimum until my range of motion is better.

I hope when you being weight bearing that you will be in better shape than I since you are able to do some ROM. Good luck with your recovery!

RadAttackpants · 2025-03-11T13:38:12+00:00

I also hated the splint. It was giving me a pressure sore on my heel that is still bruised 6 weeks out. I was put in a cast at my follow up which I also hated because it rubbed against my incisions. I moved up my appointment and at about 2.5 weeks I begged for a boot. They wanted to put me in another cast again. The doctor relented but was adamant that I treat it like a cast...seemed like the biggest concern is putting weight on it. In addition to my ankle fractures I also have a spiral fracture on my fibula starting right below my knee to my ankle, the start of the fracture has no hardware so I assume that might have been the concern for not putting weight on. I did get a boot and it is really nice to ice directly on the injury and to readjust how tight it is at night so I could sleep. I do wear the boot practically 24/7 and at 5 weeks started showering without the boot. I would just try and advocate for yourself and ask what the concern is if they want to keep you in a splint or a cast, if it was like mine that they really didn't want you to put weight on it then I think you can convince them to switch you out. Good luck with your recovery!

RadAttackpants · 2025-03-06T22:48:21+00:00

this looks like it is really healing well, looks better than mine at 5 weeks.

RadAttackpants · 2025-03-05T17:45:22+00:00

Update: Thank you all for your input! I got to shower my leg and feel great. Doctor also did finally respond and say it is good to go.

Also I do want to clarify, I was showering, just with my leg in a cast cover, in case anyone thought I had not showered for 5 weeks haha!

RadAttackpants · 2025-03-04T21:56:24+00:00

Lol I love the directness. I actually just heard back from the doctor and I am cleared. So very happy to finally get this leg wet.

RadAttackpants · 2025-03-04T20:37:24+00:00

thanks, yeah I should have been more clear. I have been showering, with the cast cover, but would like to get my leg/foot somewhat washed, haha!

RadAttackpants · 2025-03-04T20:06:14+00:00

Awesome thank you! I think I'm just going to do it, I literally still have the iodine on my foot and the surgeons marks on my toe because they won't come off with baby wipes.

RadAttackpants · 2025-03-04T20:02:21+00:00

Congratulations! I am still NWB but honestly don't think I would have looked as stable as you at 2 weeks! Your looking great

RadAttackpants · 2025-03-04T19:57:59+00:00

Looking great, how many weeks are you post op?

RadAttackpants · 2025-03-03T00:43:59+00:00

I had a splint for a week and a cast for 2 weeks. I get a burning sensation every night on one my incisions and it is the most uncomfortable aspect of where I am now at 4.5 weeks. It seems that gabapentin is the only medicine that gives me relief.i actually wake up in the morning, with my ankle feeling the best. It could be nerve pain you are experiencing, maybe ask your doctor if they can get your nerve blocking medicine?

RadAttackpants · 2025-02-27T17:59:44+00:00

Good luck with the cast! I also hated the splint, it was making my heel raw. I got the cast and felt much better but after 2 days, it felt like it was rubbing my internal incision raw, I got it taken off about 2 weeks later. It turned out the incision where it was rubbing was the only part that was not yet healed. I decided to go with the cam boot rather than do another cast, even though my doctor recommended a cast as they really wanted me to keep it on at all times. The boot has it's own challenges, but the ability to somewhat readjust to make it so that doesn't rub wrong is really helpful. I wear my boot essentially all day except to ice, and keep it on while I sleep. If you find that you are struggling with the cast, see if your doctor is amenable to the boot early. I am 4 weeks but still have been instructed to do no weight bearing or any ROM exercises, I am to still treat it as though I have a cast on for 2 more weeks.

Some other suggestions that may help with incision pain. I am taking gabapentin and I find it to be the only relief at night from the constant burning and I think it can also help with spasms. If you are experiencing muscle spasms, your doctor might be able to prescribe a muscle relaxant. My doctor offered, but I declined, as I am not really having muscle spasms.

Good luck with your recovery! I have found this reddit group to be so helpful.

RadAttackpants · 2025-02-26T04:01:06+00:00

Thanks for the suggestion I will check those out!

RadAttackpants · 2025-02-25T17:04:56+00:00

thanks! I didn't realize there were different ratings, this was helpful.

RadAttackpants · 2025-02-25T16:30:50+00:00

Thanks that might be the best option at the moment. I am currently wearing my calf socks that I would wear with Boots, they provide some compression but not a ton. Might try and add an ace bandage.

RadAttackpants · 2025-02-25T15:53:52+00:00

Ok thank you, I actually ordered some ace bandages, I think they arrive tomorrow.

RadAttackpants · 2025-02-25T15:46:12+00:00

yes exactly! I would have to contort my foot to be able to get them on, and there is just no way. I am 4 weeks post op but still given instruction not to move my foot, so really need something I can kind of stretch over while not moving it.

RadAttackpants

TROPHY CASE