May 16th, 2019 started off as a day full of promise… and yard work. It ended up being the day I went from being independent and strong to (temporarily) losing every and any ounce of independence I had. We (my fiancé and I) planned on getting some landscaping stuff done, and to keep the dogs occupied and out of the yard, we put their little pool up on the deck. Which, hindsight is always 20/20, and this was just a pretty dumb idea but made sense at the time.
Broken Ankle: The Injury and the Aftermath
Long story short, the deck ended up getting all wet and became slippery. I was wearing shoes with zero traction (thank you Birkenstocks) and in a split second pretty much shattered my ankle. As I fell, I heard the break and when I looked at my foot, it was facing a different direction than it should have been. I knew instantly it was bad, and life was going to change drastically for a while.
What happened is called a trimalleolar facture, a fracture of 3 different bones in the ankle/leg joint. Essentially, what that means is that every bone that anchors your foot to your leg is broken and the foot is disconnected from the leg. It’s the worst fracture you can get, and in addition to that, I had an additional fracture on the back of the ankle/foot that was “crunched up” in a bunch of pieces as well.
The pain was so horrific that they had to start an IV to get me fentanyl right there on the deck as they did a reduction (the first of two that needed to be done that day) to put my foot back the right way. That pain didn’t stop or get better for about a week and half, even though it felt like years, and even though they were rotating IV morphine and fentanyl at the hospital and loaded me up with a pain pill regime to take down a horse.
I got home from the hospital with a plan to see the surgeon the following morning, and at that appointment surgery was scheduled for May 22nd. The pain was so severe during this time and my ankle was so unstable that every time I moved, got up, with each hop on the crutches, any bump we drove over in the car… I was screaming and sobbing in pain.
I felt bad for me, but I felt worse for Justin who had to watch me be in anguishing pain without being able to do anything to make it better. I also couldn’t sleep, except for maybe an hour after I took each round of pain meds, so adding the exhaustion that set in after about two days from being up and crying constantly didn’t help my cause much.
We (ok, Justin) picked up a used knee scooter during this time but I had to wait a few weeks to be able to use it, because prior to surgery my ankle was just so unstable that it hurt worse to have it hang off the knee scooter than it did to use the crutches. Everything during this time was difficult, especially not being able to carry anything, go up the stairs, or take care of myself. Not only was the pain all consuming, but losing my independence was an even worse kind of pain for me and would continue to be over the next few months.
Using crutches meant I couldn’t carry anything, and when Justin wasn’t home, I had to learn how to really plan out and think through every single trip off the couch I was going to take. I started using my backpack to bring back my water bottle, or any food I needed had to be put in a container that could then go in my backpack, meaning plates and cups couldn’t be used. I felt so guilty that in those first weeks I couldn’t help with any of the cooking, cleaning, caring for the dogs, or pulling my weight around the house. I couldn’t even get into the shower myself.
Justin’s immediate future changed just as quickly as mine did when my injury happened, and he had to take on all of those responsibilities on top of working full-time and now caring for me and our two dogs. He even slept downstairs on a chair for weeks to make sure he was close to me in case I needed to get up to go to the bathroom in the middle of the night or needed pain meds. And in that first week and a half when I couldn’t sleep, he stayed up with me. While I felt awful that he was doing this, he was simultaneously my light and biggest blessing during all of this.
Trimalleolar Fracture Ankle Surgery
The morning of surgery I was so, so nervous and scared. It was partially the surgery and being intubated I was worried about, but it was also about what my life would be like after. The only thing I wanted was to be “normal” again and have my life back. At one of my appointments, my (wonderful) PA asked how I was doing and I burst into tears, which happened more than once a day anyway, and through my sobs said “I *sob* was just *sob* in *sob* Poland *sob* by myself *sob* 2 weeks ago *sob*”. I just couldn’t believe this was happening to me.
The instant loss of one of my favorite qualities about myself was devastating but going into surgery I just was thinking about all of the simple everyday things I so easily took for granted prior and was wondering if I’ll ever get back to just being me. Going to the store, driving, daily walks with my dogs, running up the stairs to grab something or flip laundry… all of it things I wanted so badly to be able to do again.
After surgery when the pain block wore off, I felt like someone had taken a chainsaw to my foot. Painful is not a powerful enough word for what I experienced. There were periods where I thought I was going to pass out because it was just so horrific and intense. Every time my surgeon or PA called to see how I was doing that first week, I would always burst into tears because I didn’t have the words to explain just how much pain I was in.
I was in a huge padded splint/cast and told underneath all that padding was 3 long incisions, one on each side of my ankle and one going along the back from my heel halfway up my calf. Inside of those incisions my surgeon placed 3 plates and 12 screws. I couldn’t feel ice packs through the huge cast, so they had to be placed under my knee instead.
After My Broken Ankle Surgery
Around a week/week and a half after the surgery, I was in less pain than I had been since my injury first happened, and was starting to wean off the pain meds. The cast came off around this time (5/30) to let the incisions have some breathing room and I got a boot to wear when I was moving around. I didn’t need to wear it as long as I was laying around with it propped up, which is about all I did for 2 weeks straight. I was able to put ice on it once the cast was off and that helped quite a bit.
Because of this, my swelling started going down quicker than anticipated, which I think helped with my healing. However, with each follow up appointment (which were very frequent), I was continually crushed by being reminded of how long it would be before I was cleared to bear weight again, and eventually walk again. Especially with my wedding coming up in just two months.
It was going to be at least another 6 weeks before I would be cleared to walk. During this time, life honestly just got really hard and pretty dark for me. I missed being able to just get in the car and drive to where I wanted to go by myself. My outings consisted of Justin going through the painstakingly cumbersome process of getting me out and into the car so I could at least take a drive to Starbucks to get out of the house and then repeating the process of getting me back into the house. I either sat on the porch, or laid on the couch.
I got to know my mailman and FedEx driver better than I thought you could know a mailman. Even once I started using the scooter, the physical exertion of doing anything made me extremely tired and completely worn out. This was so emotionally challenging for me and I’d be lying if I said I didn’t cry over something at least once a day. My body had just gone through a pretty intense trauma, and my mind was really unhappy about it.
Getting in the shower one night caused me a total emotional breakdown because everything had to be so planned and thought out. My every move, Justin’s every move as he tried to help me, where everything needed to be, and then my fear of slipping and the logistics of where my one good foot needed to go to prevent that, and THEN how badly I felt that Justin had to do and get absolutely everything for me that I needed. I was so frustrated, overwhelmed, upset and just tired of everything having to be this hard and being this much of a burden.
I was not the person I was just a few weeks ago, and even though I tried to be positive about it, it got harder and harder to do so and I hated that everything was such a challenge when I was so used to just doing everything for myself, and doing it so easily.
Post Surgical Depression
During this time period, we also had a ton of crappy life stuff pile up on top of us too. I was trying to plan our wedding that was happening in July but couldn’t actually do or go anywhere and thought about just cancelling it almost once a day because I was so sad about my injury was going to impact our wedding day, and knew I wouldn’t be walking by then. I had to cancel our pre-wedding trip to NYC that was supposed to happen the first week of June, and cancel a trip to California to see my best friend a few weeks later because my surgeon said I wasn’t able to fly for at least 10 weeks. Justin’s best friend died, and while we were back in Justin’s hometown (a 6 hour drive that I couldn’t help with at all) at his funeral, I got a phone call that my uncle died. Then two weeks later, my Nana had a stroke the week before our wedding.
This all just 6 months after Justin’s younger and only brother passed away. I truly had just spiraled into a place that didn’t look anything like me or my life and I was angry and sad. Every week it seemed as if something new and awful happened like clockwork. I was angry all of this was happening to us at the same time, but more than anything, I was angry at my stupid broken ankle because I wasn’t able to help or do the things I would have had I been able to walk, or be the support to Justin or my family I would have been if I wasn’t so consumed with trying to recover or so limited by that recovery. It felt like I was drowning in waves that just kept crashing into me, not able to get a breath before the next one hit.
Post-surgical depression is a real thing, especially prevalent in orthopedic surgeries that inhibit movement and activity. I was/am already dealing with some PTSD stuff from Tyler’s passing, and was really not mentally ready to gracefully handle something like this type of injury and surgery with zero notice that it was going to happen to me. Being laid up is SO unlike me, and like I mentioned, two weeks before this happened I was in Europe for a month by myself, as an example of just how much I value my independence.
Not being able to be active isn’t something I know well, and I got really depressed that it all changed in one split second. I found myself just so irrationally angry with people I’d watch walk down the street as I sat there, thinking about how they just don’t even know how great they have it to be walking on their legs like it’s NO BIG DEAL! I can laugh about it now, but I was so miserable and just… down. So much so that I couldn’t bring myself to work or even open my laptop. I didn’t want to talk to anyone or see anyone either. It was rough and I was physically and emotionally exhausted and beat down.
I knew it was temporary, but it didn’t make it much easier in the moment. It was so hard to feel stuck in my house with no motivation or ability to do anything but stare at the four walls for days on end. It also made me incredibly aware of how difficult this world can be for someone who is differently abled, too. Everything we did had to be planned out to a T. Do I need the scooter? Crutches? Or both? How far is the parking from the door, what car do we need to take depending on what I need to bring? How long will we be gone and what medications need to come with? What clothing options do I have for where we’re going or the weather that Justin has to get from upstairs being I can’t get pants on over the cast? Is the elevator close by, or is there a ramp near the main door? He’ll have to drop me off at the door to get me out and then go park because there’s no parking space without another car next to it?
Things that were no big deal if you had two working legs, like parking on a street next to a curb, for example, were now big productions for me, as well as making sure every place we went was easily accessible to get into (which, surprise, this is not often the case). The pain was pretty much gone 3 weeks after surgery, but that’s when the laying around thing became really the most difficult, but it was usually an easier option than trying to go do anything either.
Because of the combination of not doing anything all day, and just how bad I was feeling emotionally, I started to have a really hard time sleeping. I wasn’t burning off any energy during the day and I ended up just being up all night or sleeping for a few hours, being up for a few hours, sleeping for a few hours, so on and so forth, which made feeling normal even harder because I was so tired but also unable to sleep, pretty much ensuring I couldn’t be productive at all either. Continuing the cycle of just feeling really, really crappy about the whole dang situation. I’m not saying this to make you feel bad for me, I just hope to give an accurate description of what my recovery has been like.
Driving, Rehab and Walking After Breaking My Ankle
Once I got my stitches taken out, I finally felt like we were making some progress. I still couldn’t put any weight on my leg, but it meant that my incisions were healed enough to be a sign to me that we were moving further away from the injury and closer to being healed. It also meant I could take a shower without the shower-cap-for-the-leg plastic contraption I had to wear to prevent the incisions from getting wet. It was the grossest, but also best shower ever! Because my foot hadn’t touched the ground in so long, so much dead skin came off but it was the first time I had felt actually clean in like 6 weeks. Thank the lord!
I also had this idea in my head that once my docs told me I was full weight bearing again, I’d be just… back to walking! Back to being myself! Of course, I knew/thought it would hurt and that I’d need PT, but I guess I just thought that would be for some ROM (range of motion) work and I overestimated what my capabilities would be. Because even when I did get the all clear to put weight on it again, which happened on July 2nd, I still couldn’t walk. My surgeon even told me, “just because I say you can walk, doesn’t mean you can walk.” Welp, didn’t see that one coming.
At that appointment, what I really wanted to know also was about driving. When could I drive?! That is one of the things I missed the most. Driving myself just meant freedom to me, and not being able to meant that I was still dependent on someone else. So the day I was cleared to be FWB, my surgeon also told me that I was cleared to drive based on studies of reaction time vs. length of time post-surgery and that my ROM and strength with my foot flexing forward was good, but that he couldn’t be the one to make that decision for me. I had to be the one to decide that I was comfortable and confident that I could react and control the vehicle. I was super nervous about this and waited a few days after that appointment to get behind the wheel.
At first I just practiced with the pedals and going backwards and forwards, and then around the block, and then for the first week after that I avoided the highway and just took the back roads. My first time on the highway my calf muscle tightened up and spasmed a bit because my right foot was the one this happened to, my leg had atrophied so much and not been used for holding down a pedal for so long, so that was a bit scary, but it went away quickly and never happened again.
But pretty shortly after that, I was back behind the wheel with no limitations and on the road to freedom! What’s interesting about this is that I still couldn’t walk unassisted and was in so much pain when I put weight on my leg, but I could drive just fine and when I was, it was like my ankle wasn’t even broken and I hadn’t just had major reconstructive surgery.
Also, at that appointment, I was cleared to begin swimming laps, water walking and getting back on my Peloton bike (but taking it easy on the bike). That week I began physical therapy, but I also signed up at the YMCA and could not WAIT to start doing some activity again. At first, I was told to only do 15 minutes in the pool, and truly that’s all I could handle.
Because I still couldn’t walk on my own, I was wearing a brace, my boot and using crutches. This meant that the process to get to the pool to only spend 15 minutes it in looked like this:
Put on brace, boot and get crutches and make sure I have everything I need (including swim shoes for the traction being I can’t walk well) in a backpack. Get out to the car. Sit down in the driver’s seat and hurl the crutches into the back seat. Take off the boot, and the brace, and take my other shoe out of the backpack to put on to drive. Drive to the gym. Park and take off the shoe, put the brace back on, the boot back on, put on the backpack and get the crutches. Hobble incredibly slowly into the gym and to the pool. Pull a chair as close as possible to the edge of the pool near the ladder to get in and out. Take off boot and brace and put on the pool shoes. Lower myself down to the ground and half crawl-half scoot over to the side of the pool and get in. Swim or water walk for 15-20 minutes.
Get out (carefully and nervously), dry off and fearfully make sure EVERYTHING is dry before trying to walk because I’m so worried about slipping on water being that’s how this happened in the first place and repeat the process to get home. This was a 2+ hour process for just a few minutes in the water, and it was exhausting, but it was so worth it and I was determined. I could do something on my own!! I was focusing on healing my ankle! I increased my time in the water every 3 days by about 5-10 minutes, once I was able to see how my ankle felt the next few days to make sure I wasn’t overdoing it.
I had to do this process of putting on all my “gear”, getting to the car, taking it all off, driving, putting it back on where ever I went, too. I got pretty good at it, especially during the week my Nana was in the ICU and I was up at the hospital 2x a day.
I could feel myself getting stronger each day, even if just a little bit. The pain and swelling returned once I was FBW again, but that was due to not using it in so long, the muscle atrophy that happened to my calf, and increased with activity as the day progressed. The swelling made it feel like how your foot feels if it falls asleep, like pins and needles, but you can’t get rid of it. Even if I lightly tap my shin bone, I can feel the pain from the swelling in my toes.
I wasn’t taking my strong pain meds anymore, but I did have to start taking ibuprofen or Tylenol at night before bed. However, I finally was able to sleep in my own bed again after sleeping downstairs on the couch, so I could be close to a bathroom that was accessible for me and my scooter. I went from using two crutches with the boot and a brace to just using one as a cane with the boot and brace.
Each day kept getting a little easier, with a little less pain. Like I previously mentioned, the swelling increases as the day goes on and as I use it, so the pain I still have is always towards the end of the day and is always correlated with the amount of swelling. Sometimes I can’t even get my shoe on that foot because it blows up to the size of a football.
Road to Recovery
After getting the all clear to be FWB on 7/2, I reduced the number of devices and equipment I needed to walk or do daily activities over the next few weeks. 7/20 (my wedding day) was the first day I was able to stand unassisted long enough without the boot or brace for support to take a shower standing up (goodbye shower chair! I will not miss you!), and then quickly after that was getting rid of boot and brace and crutches.
By the 22nd I wasn’t using a crutch as a cane support, and then by the 25th I was walking without the brace or the boot. By the 31st I could go up and down stairs normally again instead of one step at a time. I still have a pretty significant limp, but like everything else, it’s getting better and a little less noticeable a little every day.
I’m still getting incredibly tired and worn out with activity, and can’t stand for more than a few minutes at a time, which makes a lot of things like cooking, cleaning, and standing in lines difficult still. But my capacity is getting better and better, and I’m feeling better and better. My balance is still a bit shaky and I can’t walk very far, but I’m happy with the progress I’ve made, even if I can only stand on the one foot I had surgery on for a few seconds. I’m still a bit embarrassed when I go anywhere in public because of my limp and how slow I am, but that embarrassment is usually overshadowed by how thankful I am to be out of my house and doing the things I want or need to do. Who knew getting gas at the gas station was such a privilege!
I’ve done a lot of naturopathic things to encourage and support my healing and recovery, and will outline all of those things in a separate post. Overall though, what I needed was time. Which was the hardest thing to give myself when all I wanted was to feel like me again and have my “old” life back. However, this injury has changed a lot of things about me and given me a new perspective and appreciation for both my health and the people in my life.
I’m still a bit angry that this “set me back” so long and at all of the things that happened during this time that I wasn’t able to take part in, or be there for. But overall, I’m incredibly blessed and lucky that I have the support system that I do in my now-husband, the wonderfully talented and amazing surgeon and PA I have and the friends and family that sent food, checked in on me, and made sure we made it to the other side of this. Things are looking up and I’m so grateful for the support (and patience) from my community.. You guys! Thank you from the bottom of my heart!
Timeline of Ankle Surgery Recovery:
5/16 broke ankle, couldn’t walk
5/22 Ankle surgery and put in hard cast
5/30 Hard cast came off, incisions re-bandaged and put in a compression sock and boot
6/24 Stitches came out
7/2 Cleared to be FWB, begin PT and light exercise (stationary bike and swimming)
7/5 Driving practice in the driveway and around the block
7/7 Highway driving on my own
7/14 Walking a few steps with boot and brace, but needing crutch/es to get around the house and in public, still using scooter for long distances
7/20 Able to take shower standing up without use of shower chair with no brace/boot to stabilize ankle
7/22 Using just the boot and brace to walk
7/25 Walking on my own, without brace and boot, but with a limp
7/31 Walking up and down stairs normally, instead of one step at a time
8/13 Walking with a barely noticeable limp
9/30 Walking normally with no pain. Swelling only with a lot of activity
10/20 12 days walking around Europe with little to no issues or pain
11/10 Last follow-up appointment with surgeon
04/15 (upcoming) First post-injury solo international trip to Switzerland to hike
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Sandhu says
22 weeks pregnant and broke my ankle (trimalleolar fracture)outside by falling from curb to street while waiting for my daughter School bus. Had surgery on October 14th. I got clear to walk with boot yesterday which is exactly 6 weeks after surgery. Past weeks been painful and depressing. Your story have me keep on going from after the surgery. Taking care of 5 and 3 years old and being pregnant at the same time has been really hard. My husband is helping alot with everything. I just want to go back to my normal self. Your story is giving me a lot of encouragement and soon I’ll be able to walk again. I really appreciate you for posting your story. This story is a hope for lots ok people out there.
Aruna Mahesh says
Ahhhh! I can so connect to your post because am in similar state with a freak skid, twist resulting in trimalleolar fracture while walking back home. Right now undergoing mandatory 6 weeks bone healing stage. PTSD is right term for it??I revisit your post for moral support and hopes of a decent recovery. Oh yeah! At 45years there is always fear of bones joining properly and this blasted situation of pandemic.
Mary says
Hi omg after reading your story all I could do is cry I’m dealing with the same thing omg ???But I’m so stressed out not being able to do anything for myself without help I’m in so much pain everyday my life has change I can’t go to my kids games because of the bills are behind not able to work I’m like what else could go wrong I’m putting so much stress on my boyfriend that hasn’t left my side but I could see at times he’s tired so it makes me feel even more sad because going from doing things for self to needing help with everything I’m in chair having him pushing me around In because I can’t walk anymore but I’m so glad your doing better ??❤️?
Sara says
Thank you for this article. I fell 9/23 walking the dog had external fix on 9/24 and on 10/5 had ORIF. Fortunately I had no pain until after the 2nd surgery. The pain after that surgery was nothing I have ever endured and I have a very high pain tolerance. Like I said earlier I had no pain after the fall which paramedics and Drs were surprised because one of the bones actually broke through my skin. The hardest part of this recovery is sitting around because of no WB for so long. Your story of the anxiety and depression was spot on. I’m hoping at my next appt Dr will say I can do FWB. I could not take any painkillers as I am allergic to almost all of them with exception to Tramadol which that even makes me nauseated. I was fortunate to have a pain team that sent me home with a 72 HR external nerve blocker. Luckily because of my allergies the ortho put a 24 internal nerve block and while in recovery they gave me an external wire needle nerve blocker above the knee for 24 hrs but it also allowed me to go home with one if needed, which as stated above was needed. Even with the having 4 days post op nerve blockers the pain after those days was horrible which led to my depression and anxiety. On top of this fall I was actually suppose to have surgery for a recently diagnosed Stage 0 breast cancer. So, knowing that had to be put off has just upped my anxiety which is why I am putting all my hopes into my next appt of being able to start PT and hoping FWB won’t be horribly painful. I want to have the breast surgery in Dec but I am also terrified of the anesthesia as it causes havoc with me as well. Bottom line I don’t do well with drugs. The upside of all this is because I am usually very active I knew I would have to eat half the calories because of my being inactive so I have lost about 15 lbs. One thing I have been doing daily is arm exercises using 5 lb weights and sitting outside in the sun helps with anxiety. On top of everything I have very high anxiety about Covid as my husband travels 5 days a week. Even though he takes all the precautions and re-cleans all the hotel rooms with Lysol and Clorox it’s still on my mind. My older child came home from college to help me and it has been a god send. Our relationship has gotten so close and has made me respect her in such a way that’s hard to explain.
Shamini says
I am sorry to hear that and praying all will work out for you. I am on week 9 with WB as tolerable. I am not an active person so the fear of putting more weight on my foot is scary.
Danielle says
Hi I just finally got my boot on Tuesday & had PT yesterday. It’s so extremely painful walking on my ankle. Is this normal for sometime? It hasn’t changed much since Tuesday just got more comfortable with the pain. Just wanted to ask someone who went though it.
Meghan Gill says
Hi. I was wondering if you could share any info on your PT what they did and how often. I am concerned I’m not getting what I should to get back on my foot.
paleobailey says
I actually didn’t go to PT after the first session. I didn’t like the therapist I got, and then I never got around to making another appointment. Sorry!!
Laura Caton says
I was not a believer of PT, but after my trimacular ankle fracture, I am now a believer. I went three times a week and am 11 months post surgery and back to my pre-surgical self. I am 59 years old and highly recommend PT. I admit I was religious about going and doing the exercises they recommended, like drawing the alphabet with my foot, stretching using those bands etc. Stick with it, it paid off for me,
Erin says
PT was a HUGE component of my healing. Make sure you are seeing a PT not a PT Assistant and that your whole TX and therapy is with a licensed PT. They did considerable manual therapy, cupping, dry needling, massing to break up scarring, adhesions etc. This was in addition to exercises, range of motion, weight bearing, balance work etc. I went 2-3 times per week for at least 3 months after I started weight bearing from using crutches to a walker to a cane.
Barbara Madison says
It’s over a year since my trimalleour fracture and I started having swelling again. In addition, my foot is discolored (blues and reds). All screws and plates look good on xray, so now I’m off to see a vascular doctor. The swelling (only injured ankle) inhibits my walking so I notice my knee now bothers me. Will I ever be “normal”?!?
paleobailey says
Oh no!! Oh gosh, I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I really hope you’re okay and that “normal” happens so soon! <3
Jim T says
Palebaily
Hello thank you for writing your story I just read it I am a 64 year old male and I did this last Friday at work It I scary when your buddies from work say don’t look at your ankle don’t get up
I have my fist surgery today at 3 then another one next Friday …I guess you just have to let the body take over you want to do everything but getting around the house is a planned activity
You finally get a comfy spot and fall asleep bam you turn in your sleep and you are woken up
I guess everyday it gets aliitle better I am active not as much as you I umpire baseball games and ref school and rec basketball games I am hoping to be 100% by next March for baseball
Thank you for showing what my next 3 months will look like
Stay safe and healthy
paleobailey says
Hi Jim! I’m so sorry you’re going through this. I wish you a speedy and uneventful recovery!! 🙂
Shamini says
Thanks for sharing your experience. I am on the similiar situation. I have two plates on each side of my right ankle with many screws can’t remember how many. My surgeon mentioned that he had to use some wires to ties the screws in place as my bones were very bad.
I would like to know what kind of feeling you had after you were given ok to FWB. I feel the left side plate, at times pinching feeling. Feels like I am wearing a flip flop something is holding my foot so tight.
My PT is only once a week, given me exercises to strength and ROM. I am going to ask for more frequent visits if that is what’s needed to speed up the process.
I have not put my full weight yet.
Do anyone knows if I have to start walking with the boot or go straight to the foot?
Thanks
Lori Roethler says
I’m so glad I ran across your story. It has been 5 weeks since I missed a step wearing cute wedges and ended up with a Trimalleolar fracture, 3 plates and about 15 screws. I’m 49 years old and was walking 4 miles everyday prior to this, and now I’m really struggling with the fact I’m disabled and trying to take care of my youngest daughter who’s 14. Being single, it’s been very difficult and I have no family other than my 4 children. It’s a relief that I wasn’t crazy when I literally cried in pain for hours straight. It felt like someone was digging a knife into both sides of my ankle, but no one could understand. I was told I could start putting a little weight on, but every time I put my foot down it feels so tight like it’s going to just snap. Please tell me that is how you felt and that it will get better. I’m trying to not get depressed and be grateful for other things, but I’m really struggling.
Sincerely,
Previously Independent Super Woman – Lori
Michelle Jansen says
I just wanted to say a big thank you for the in depth honest and open story of your very painful ankle injury.
I am able to relate to your story in alot of ways and I felt so sorry for you while reading this article and I had tears of frustration as I’m 2 weeks into my own recovery and now know what I am in for and I am already going a little crazy due to losing my independence and having to depend on my partner and my children. I’ve never experienced any thing like this pain and losing the ability to do basic tasks is a real shock. Parental guilt really sets in when you now need to need to rely on your children.
I do hope that you recovered well and I’m sorry for your losses.
Ellen Slater says
I fell almost a year ago and broke my ankle in 3 places and the fibia bone. My foot was grossly dislocated as was yours. It’s been a slow rehabilitation and my surgeon told me to expect a year for recovery. I had the depression too, but was very focused on getting better to help take care of my new Grandson. I’m just wondering if anyone else still has pain and swelling almost a year post surgery and how you’ve handled it. I still take a very low dose of tramadol almost nightly to help with the pain, but had expected to be completely off of it well before now. I have an appointment to see the surgeon in a couple days just to make sure none of the pins or screws have come loose. I’m wondering specifically if anyone has used orthotics that have worked ice or any off the counter meds for arthritis. I’ve tried the cream Voltaren which helps temporarily. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated . I’m sorry for the pain all of you who have posted have been through. It’s a very difficult surgery to recover from.
Barbara says
Thank you for posting your journey with this! I just suffered from the same break a week ago. My surgery was last Wednesday. It feels like a never ending road ahead, but your post definitely livened my spirits and helps me realize it won’t be forever.
Katherine says
Thank you for sharing your story and timeline! It’s so helpful to read your story and other commenters. I had a similar fracture on 9/10/20, surgery on 9/15, stitches removed yesterday(9/29). My pain wasn’t as bad as yours, but it was the worst I’ve ever had…I’d rather go through natural labor and delivery a dozen times than deal with that pain. Now that you’re over a year out, how is your range of motion and strength?
paleobailey says
Hi Katherine! I’m so sorry you’re going through this, too! Now at this point, my ROM and strength is pretty awesome, all things considered. I don’t have any issues day-to-day. The only time I’ve had any trouble with it was a few months ago when we moved, and I was on my foot moving around for about 3 days straight, up and down stairs the whole time, deep cleaning and painting, etc. It was really tough. Each night I could barely walk myself into my bed!
Angel B says
OMG! Congratulations on getting through this…I know it was tough. I found your blog in searching for the fracture. I had the same break almost a year after you. May 15th, 2020 I fell off my bike. May 22, 2020 I had surgery. June 18, 2020 I started PT and September 8, 2020 I got cleared from PT. I can totally relate to the feeling of total helplessness. My fiancé was my lifeline and I couldn’t be more thankful. We were scheduled to get married September 19, but this pandemic had other plans, so we’ll try again next year and I’ll for sure be in two shoes!
Thank you for being brave enough to share your story…I totally felt like it was my own. I’m still dealing with some pain, but I’m pushing myself to try to really “get back to normal”. Your blog is inspiring me to write down my own feelings about my injury and recovery. Big thanks and all the best to you!
~Angel in DC!
Sophi says
Thank you for your article, I found it by accident. I broke my ankle on May 4, 2020 triomalar injury and it has been already 4 1/2 month. I am still waking with a cane, can walk on my own for a 5 min. or so but not not correctly and with a limp. However, I noticed that I can not walk at all barefooted on hard surface even with a cane. It is very frustrating and I am trying to find out if you able to walk without shoes. I noticed you mentioned that swimming and walking in the pool helps. I will try to do that maybe that will train me learning to walk barefooted. Can you recommend what worked for you to learn to walk without shoes. I live close to the beach and would love to learn walking on the sand without shoes.
Marie says
I really needed this. As I read, I swore I was reading my story. Besides a few minor things here and there, this is currently me! I’m 3 weeks post op(4 weeks in a hard cast) and just overall over this! You have remme that there is a light at thr end of the tunnel though. Thank you for sharing your story.
Michelle says
I love you.!!! Am going threw everything went threw.!! Ammm sooo happy to read your story.. i don’t feel alone ..just thank you!!
Brittany says
Thank you so much for making this post. I’m 9 days post op. Same trimalleolar fracture. My husband and I were on our annual camping trip 3 hours from home when it happened. I did not receive any information about my surgery before or after it happened. I’m not sure how many incisions there are or how many plates and screws are in there. I have my first post op appointment tomorrow with my surgeon. Reading this has given me some sense of direction, thank you. My husband suggested I try to find some sort of platform with people that are experiencing the same thing and I could only find your post/website. Your honesty was truly comforting and all the comments have made me feel like I’m not alone. I know it’s been some time but I am so very sorry for your losses and congratulations on your wedding. God bless.
Jennifer says
Hi Bailey, thank you so much for writing this blog. It has been very informative as I broke my tibia and fibula 6/19/20. Glad you’re doing so well. I Just made it to the 8 week mark post surgery. I was only in a cast for 9 days, and have been out of it now since 7/16. My problem is my pain level is at a 10 when I try to put full weight bearing on my left leg. I get a shooting pain up the outside of my ankle up calf and heel. This makes me very hesitant to put 100 % weight bear because of the intense pain I feel. I go to PT 3 X’s a week and she really pushes me and my ankle as well as I do my at home exercises. I consider myself to have a medium to high pain tolerance. I stopped taking prescription meds 4 days after my surgery. Did you experience this with full weight bearing? I knew it was going to be uncomfortable and painful but not like this. I’d almost take the pre surgery burning pain than the pain I feel at full weight bearing. My surgeon said surgery was a success and just had x rays this week. I may have to go back on prescription meds to full weight bare. Otherwise, I don’t know how I will begin walking with no crutches. I’m starting to feel extremely defeated. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
paleobailey says
Hi Jennifer! Sorry I’m just now seeing this! But yes I did need to take my higher strength meds once I was weight baring again until it got easier and I got stronger. I typically took one at night and in the AM for a week or two until walking got easier! I hope you’re doing better now <3
Jennifer Kane says
My P/T called the surgeon’s office to see if I could get some prescription pain meds, but he said no. Just told me to buy some over the counter cream for arthritis. I’m 15 weeks post surgery and still not walking well. I can walk w/one crutch, but I can’t believe I’m not walking again. Beyond frustrated is an under statement. It is not as painful as it was (thank God). Nothing prepared me for that. The doctor is going to have me go for MRI if I’m not walking by my next appt. in late October.
Kayde says
Thank you so much for your post! I am a 28 year old active female, and I suffered a trimalleolar fracture at a rock climbing gym in December 2019. I had rods placed in my leg and ankle within 24 hours to stabilize it, and four days later I had the open reduction internal fixation surgery to place four plates and 17 screws (in very similar places to yours!) in my leg and ankle. I’m eight months post-surgery, and I’m in PT multiple times a week and able to walk (yay!). Unfortunately, I still feel pain while walking and do not have much range of motion. How long did it take for you to feel like you were walking “normally” and without pain? I really appreciate your perspective! I’ve had a hard time finding someone with a similar injury and situation to relate to; I love hiking and am incredibly independent, like you also discussed in your blog post. Thank you!