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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Diane says
Thanks for sharing your story. I fell down a few steps getting ready for work. I saw my left foot/ankle hit the hard tile and my ankle was turned completely outside and I didn’t see my foot it was on the left side of my leg. I couldn’t believe it. It was a closed dislocated trimaeoler fracture. I was home alone and I had to crawl up the stairs to get my cell to call 911. My husband was out of state on business. The medics came upstairs and had to carry me out. I was crying and begging for pain meds but they had to get me in the ambulance to get my vitals etc. Fentanyl did not cut it. The pain was horrific. The local ER doc/staff were very good and kind but the nature of the injury was so severe he was unable to fully set my ankle. Ambulance was waiting to take me to the trauma hospital downtown. After anesthesia twice and two casts my ankle was not correctly set it was very unstable. I was told I couldn’t go under anesthesia a third time so I had to take the pain and have 3 orthopedic docs try and manually set it under flouro or go to surgery which wasn’t the best option because of the swelling. My bone was starting to tent and there was a danger it could break through the skin and I would not have a choice but to go into emergency surgery. I cried and held onto the guard rails of the bed I was laying on as I was being pulled and tugged as the orthopedic docs tried with all their might to set my ankle. After an hour of excruciating pain, and my third cast and third Ct scan it was reduced in good position. My sister had been in the waiting room. She finally came back and I didn’t even have words. She knew it was bad. My husband came just after that. I saw the PA two days later and had surgery ORIF of my left ankle on 3-8-21. I had a drain, and a lidocaine block infusion for 48 hours. Once that wore off the pain was unbearable for a couple of weeks. I was on pain meds but not even close to enough. I can’t remember how exactly the pain felt which is a good thing. I think the brain somehow protects what you can recall, which was a good thing. Two weeks after surgery I had my cast removed -and I passed out because I felt a disconnect when I saw my battered foot and leg. The surgeon did a great job, I just was in shock. I had to comeback a second time because some of my sutures weren’t ready to come out. I ended up with three plates, 16 screws and two incisions, one on the inner ankle and a large incision on my lateral ankle. No weight bearing for 2 months. No boot and right to PT and FWB as tolerated. Terrified- I couldn’t balance on crutches, I was afraid I was going to fall… I used the walker for the next 2 months, and went back to work. PT had been tough and challenging but made good progress. I started to use a cane for another 2 months. Still going to PT and I’m not using an additive device anymore. Went from using a walker, to a cane and now I just limp. 10 months today. I still have PTSD. I hate going up and down the stairs at home…but with time things get better. I was active, in good shape, figure skated, a lot of walking, weights and I am trying to work out again. It’s a new normal at least for now. I have some pain and stiffness but not all the time. I do get swelling by the end of the day. It helps to ice it and rest. I do wear a soft brace which helps with the pain and swelling. I don’t wear the brace all the time, because it can restrict movement/ROM. I’m a nurse and this whole ordeal is a huge challenge to say the least. My husband has been a saint. He totally took care of me and my sisters took turns staying with me to help. I couldn’t do anything I mean even go to the bathroom by myself….talk about humbling. I can relate to your stories and I pray we all can get back to the best we can be.
Lori says
Omg. Spot on. Injury happened on 12/13/21. Had Christmas decorations up snd shopping done. Fell at work down 10 stairs that were narrow and steep Not sure how but I knew immediately that it was bad. Was taken by ambulance to er. A X-ray and CT were done and an appointment with surgeon for the next morning at 9. Sent home!!!! OMG! I could not get in my house my poor husband tried to help but the pain was unbearable bi screamed cried snd cursed.
The next morning while getting ready I fell using bathe crutches. Hit my head and knee and my ear was bleeding
I cried band screamed. I was expecting to be admitted snd have surgery and due to the severity and swelling had to wait 10 days!! 10 days of hell!!!
The day of pre op I fell again using the crutches this time hiring my left hip snd shoulder. I cried snd screamed I’m pain. I now had black bruises on both hips
The day Of surgery I too was nervous but wanted to get the healing process started.
They started surgery at 3:30 and it took nearly4 hours
At 9:00 pm they were going to send me home! I begged snd cried to admit me as I had to crawl into my house
I stayed only because I demanded it.
Went home the next day bay 4:00 pm.
As everyone had noted when the nerve block wore off I believe the devil entered my body!! I screamed cried made horrible noises for nearly a day. It wad exhausting for me and my husband.
I cannot do crutches at all and after 2 falls am afraid so I borrowed a wheelchair. I feel safer with it
It had been one week after surgery and the pain had lessened bit today is back. I have not done anything that I was not supposed to do but today has not been good. I go from the bedroom to the bathroom to the kitchen in the wheelchair
I have just started the journey and all of the information snd testimony has been helpful. I can see how and why depression can become a big part of the process. I cry every day no just from the pain but the inability to function
On my own.
Gina Nieto says
I am so grateful I found your post and all of the comments. I am 9 days post surgery. I am in pain and weary but thanks to all of you I have HOPE.
Sannaz says
It was so helpful to read your blog and all of the comments too! I am 3 weeks post op from trimal fracture, I fell badly down a step going to my car. I had a baby 2 months ago who was born at 29 weeks and we had just been home from the NICU for 3 weeks before this happened. It has been insanely hard with a newborn. Luckily my mom and husband have banded together to support me. But I feel like such a used lump on the couch or in bed, feeding baby, changing diapers using our to-go caddy and healing my leg are really all I can do. It is so horrible to spend my postpartum time this way, I feel like every day I am fighting off depression. The pain is intense, but it helps to tell myself that the pain is not greater than me because it is me. Working on celebrating the small joys every day and giving myself grace. Sending well wishes to everyone else on this healing journey too.
Allison says
Hi!
I’m just over two weeks post op from a trimalleolar fracture and I have 6 screws and one plate. Injury happened playing soccer two nights prior to surgery. The pain after the nerve block wore off was intense for about a week. I had my follow up yesterday with my surgeon where they took out my stitches from my three incisions and changed me from the hard splint to a zero gravity boot. Now the pain is back pretty bad and I’m hoping it will not last as long as before. I can only assume this is because of the movement done with the ankle at the appointment and the new position it is in now with the boot has aggravated it. I’ve been trying to find blogs about the recovery process and this is the best one I have found. Finally someone that speaks about the depression and the sense of loss that occurs. I too was in denial about the length of recovery. I assumed that once my 6-8 weeks of non weight bearing were up, I would be able to walk again with some rigidity. My only knowledge with surgery recovery is from when I tore my ACL in the same leg almost two years ago. Clearly many of us have a long road ahead of us. At this point though, I’m ready to be done with the pain and would rather be uncomfortable again.
Someone had suggested to me to apply for a temporary handicap placard. I did, and should be receiving that soon. I would recommend looking into your state to see the process for that as it will be helpful to have further than just the non weight bearing time period. My surgeon wrote that I would need it for approximately 3 months. I have a knee scooter as well which has been a life saver that I borrowed from a friend.
Deborah says
I am 63. I missed the bottom step of my staircase on August 25, 2021. Broke my right ankle in three places and sprained my left ankle. My husband and a neighbor got me into a car and we went to urgent care which confirmed the seriousness of the breaks and arranged for an orthopedic consult the next day. They casted my leg and gave me the usual narcotic rx / I did not take it and just took Tylenol and a large glass of sherry when we got home
Had an appointment with my Ortho the next day and surgery was scheduled for August 31. We bought a transfer chair so I could scoot around the house and moved a bed from upstairs to our living room. I just can’t do crutches. Uncomfortable but nothing I would consider horrendously painful.
For the surgery I was given a nerve block for the pain that lasted 28 hours. Plates and screws, the usual. And the usual narcotic rx that once again I refuse to take.
Painful for about 10 hours after block wore off, but bearable. Took only Tylenol. Will be NWB for 6 weeks.
First post op checkup at week 1 he put me in the boot which I only needed to wear when moving around. He also told me to move my ankle as much as possible. No pain.
Second post op week 2 sutures were removed I was given the ok to shower finally. Sterile strips on the two incisions that I only replaced when they fell off. Showering was a challenge but made me very happy.
My six week post op visit was on October 14. My healing was done and I was told I was FWB and told to be out of that boot by my next visit on November 20. I could progress from boot to sneaker when I was ready. My doctor feels PT is not necessary, but if I feel I need it, it’s ok. On the next visit he will decide if driving is ok.
Got a cane on the way home from the appointment. Mastered the boot roll quickly. Very uncomfortable but I make myself getup and move for my daily routine.With a cane or walker, each day a short distance without either. Still use transfer chair for long distances. Found the boot to cause pain up my leg so one week after FWB, ditched the boot and got out my new sneakers (you will need a bigger and wider sneaker). On the second day I climbed the stairs to our second floor that I had not seen for 7 weeks. Been taking Aleave and icing the swelling. Pain is on the inside above the ankle joint. Will try to get to fitness center to use bike to help my legs and muscles. Do stretches for the ankle in between waking.
I use either a cane or walker to hobble around. Painful but you gotta do what you gotta do. The discomfort lessens a bit each day.
Not the two months I planned on but try to do as much normal as possible. Grocery shopping once a week. Hair appointments, nail appointments. Gone out to eat, church and other places. Used public bathrooms! My husband is a saint but I do as much as I can by myself. After surgery we got the temporary disabled parking permit which makes the logistics of getting out easier.
I will say that accessibility is not what it should be. Most places do the bare minimum; a handful bring it to an excellent level. Some places it’s almost non existent. I feel for those who are permanently disabled.
Dixie says
Thank you, thank you, thank you for this account of your experience. I too have suffered the same injury. I broke my ankle on August 18,2021 but did not have surgery until September 2,2021 due to significant swelling. I am now still in a hard cast over 1 month out from surgery. Hopefully will be transitioning to a boot in 2more weeks. It was wonderful to know what to expect on this journey. Things that resonated with me where the inexplicable insane pain after the nerve block wore off and how helpless I feel daily. I’m super scared to start PT. I am a nurse and work 12 hour shifts on my feet and I just don’t know how I will be able to return to work. Any tips would be appreciated!
laVona says
I had my trimalleolar emergency surgery July 8. Its Sept 30 and I still have lots of swelling, pain when I walk (just started with a walker ), wierd sensations in my foot and ankle, don’t sleep at night and get tired very easy (because its such a big deal to do anything). Depression is a BIG issue and I have a wonderful support system. I am surprised how long this recovery will be. WOW. It was great reading all of this because it let’s me know I’m not crazy. Lol. Thank you all
Karen Robins says
Omg reading this was exactly how I felt. I had a bimalleolar break and plates in done mine on the 9th March 2020 took my first steps on the 23rd may 2020 was also driving before I could walk. I ended up with sepsis in my wound so my wound didn’t heal till August I’m now 18 months since my accident and I now have osteochondral defect so waiting for more surgery and just been diagnosed with arthritis in my hip from not being able to weight bear properly it’s an awful injury good luck to anyone going through it you will get there eventually it’s just a long journey.
Julie B says
I am so glad I found your story. Your explanation is SPOT ON. It’s everything I am experiencing right now. I went camping for my son’s 12th birthday It was 7/24/21. I went into our RV to get a spatula for the cake and I fell coming down the 2 stairs to the ground. I broke 3 of the bones in my left ankle and I broke my right heel. I was a very independent person prior to this and it has been devastating to be 100% dependent on others. The depression is real. I have done my best to remain upbeat but it is not easy. The Dr.’s want me to put all of my weight on my broken heel, which is scary! Recovery is slow and can be painful. Thank you so much for sharing your experience.
Diane Cooke says
I found this post really helpful – thank you! It’s quite an isolating experience, even with gorgeous loved ones around because it changes the dynamic when you are completely reliant on them. Also going through it during the pandemic and not having such easy access to healthcare information has been hard. I had my cast removed this week, 5 weeks post surgery and the consultant told me to start weight bearing and to just listen to my ankle. After such traumatic surgery, I felt the need for much more directive instructions – how often to weight bear, for how long etc. You mentioned naturopathic treatments in your blog and said that you would go on to talk about that in a later post – I can’t find it and would very much appreciate you directing me to that info. Anything natural that I can do to help my recovery is brilliant. Thank you!
Cindy says
I had a trimalleolar fracture, joint dislocation and torn tendons on July 26, 2021. Was doing some scrapbooking in my basement and slipped on a page protector that was on the floor. Had surgery the following day on July 27. I’m just starting this journey and without having any experience or knowledge about this type of injury, I foolishly expected to be walking like normal in 8 weeks or so.
It is a little depressing to learn about how long recovery will take, I get the cast off and staples out from the surgery next week (at 3 weeks) and that’s all I know at this point about my recovery timeline until I talk to the surgeon..
I’m 65, was very active, still work, and live alone, so this has been a challenge trying to navigate my current “normal” in my house on my knee scooter. I don’t feel comfortable using crutches, but I assume at some point I will have to use them as I slowly try to walk again.
I appreciate this story and all the comments, as this helps me prepare for the recovery process. I am a believer that all things happen for the lesson that is contained in them, so will be searching for my lesson in this event.
Stefanie says
Thank you so much for this. I cried reading your experience, as it is exactly what I am going through and no one seems to understand. It is SO hard. Im only 11 days post break and 10 days post surgery. I have a long recovery ahead of me and it is absolutely terrifying. I can’t do anything on my own and have completely lost my independence. I can’t shower, I can’t brush my teeth standing up, I can’t play and run with my dogs, I can’t work out, I can’t cook, I can’t even work. All the things I love , just gone, just like that. It’s been a real struggle, but your story as truly helped me. Thank you so much.
Daisy says
This is the most important article that have ever read in my life. I had the same experience, broke my ankle and underwent Tri M surgery. This experience was devastating. I am no going to write all the details of my journey because all the things that you said are exactly the ones that I experienced. I had to take pain medication and in an effort to avoid calling my family in the middle of the night to take me to the bathroom, I did not drink enough water so I got so constipated that had to go to the ER The pain, the pain, depending on my sisters, or my son was really difficult. They are Angels in my life. They did everything for me. They moved to my house. But in the middle of all this pain and lack of movement came COVID-19 and we all got it. So it was me with my ankle broken on wheelchair and everybody else around me super sick with COVID-19. MY 93 year older mom also got COVID-19 while taking care of me and got a stroke Imaging this scenery. I felt guilty and so depressed for my impotence and not being able to help them. I could not see my surgeon for follow up or start therapy on time because they did not allow me into the hospital until I get a negative COVID-19 TEST. Worse and worse but I ket my mind positive and my family and friends calls made a big difference. Today after 10 months of my surgery, the pain is unbearable! I feel like something is breaking my bones inside my leg and ankle . I do all the house work but at the end of it, I can t move. Reading your experience made me realize that I need to go to the surgeon again. Because this pain is not normal. Having said that, the feeling of driving again and picking up groceries and being able to work from home for a year fue to COVID, and now going back to the office mean the world to me. If you read this , please surround yourself with positive people, accept the help and pray everyday. Meditation helped me. Alit. Oh I forgot yo tell you that I started running at age 59 and lost a lot of weight. The the day of fracture, I was following my coach assignment of the day “ ho to a trail a walk for 2 hours” the week before I ran 9 K. God is good and this too shall pass
Kristinn says
Thank you all! I am so glad I found this post and all of your comments. July 18, 2021, I fell on the stairs spraining my left ankle then breaking the right (closed Tri-M with dislocation). The Crocks contributed to the instability as my foot slid in the shoe to the inside of my ankle. I had surgery on July 29th and had the stitches out yesterday. Now in a fiberglass cast until Sep 8th.
I keep thinking it’s going to get easier and I’ll be able to do the things I had planned even with the cast/crutches. It’s a lot harder than it looks! I know now that I’m not alone!
Even though I will miss out on some events I had been looking forward to, I focus on and appreciate what I will not miss and am grateful for the patience, love and support of family, friends and coworkers.
The recovery timeline, experiences, and PT success are so helpful. I need to remember to be patient with myself and that while it may take time, a full recovery is possible. I look forward to walking my dog, getting back on the Peloton bike/tread and hiking again next year!
I am most grateful for my 16 and 18 year old sons who are caring for me and doing a great job! Their worlds were changed in that split second as well!
Take care everyone! No more bad shoes for me!
Kenya Kelly says
I broke my right ankle on May 21, 2021 and had ORIF surgery on May 22, 2021 (2 years to the date of your surgery). I am still in the recovery phase (still wearing the CAM boot) for outside or doctors appointments, AND still unable to FWB. My next follow up is on July 29th, and I am so anxious to receive the clear to start walking again with PT and light activities. Your story will continue to inspire me throughout my recovery phase and thereafter. Thanks for sharing!
Alice says
Hi everyone…I’m in my 3rd week of recovery from a trimalleolar fracture of my left ankle. So far, I think I’m doing reasonably well. I’m scheduled to go on an Antartica cruise in early Jan 2022. Yes, I’m very excited about it but…I asked my surgeon about it and he said “you can do anything you want, your ankle is better than new”. This cruise will entail getting on/off the ship 3x per day into zodiacs (rubber rafts), hiking up snowy mountains etc. I just don’t truly think I’ll be ready for that in 6 months, even if my return to weight bearing goes great. I have fragile mobility at best, due to a hip replacement. Getting up off the ground if I slip, would normally be a big deal. I’m hoping for some opinions from folks that have been through it before me. Any insights are greatly appreciated!! Thank you. I’ve learned lots from this blog, it’s been great !
Estellene Ferrel says
I found this site tonight as I was searching for information about broken ankles like I have done for the last 3 weeks! 3 weeks ago TODAY I too fell and broke my ankle. Mine isn’t as serious as most of all of yours and my pain hasn’t been bad. I got lucky and required no surgery but the depression has been the most difficult part for me! I never get depressed but I now understand it. Thank you all for telling your stories and giving me excitement again in knowing that I’ll make it! Just to walk again and sweep my own beautiful parquet floors and water my plants will be so wonderful! God bless you all!! Esty F. Texas
Talia says
Thank you for this post 😞 I am currently going through the same thing I broke my ankle on April 25th had surgery for my trimalleolar fracture on the 26th, had my stitches removed may 5th and was put in a walking boot non-weight bearing though up until may 26th, & started my first day of physical therapy on June 3rd You are really right about the depression I’m always said I just really can’t wait until I can start walking without crutches or even walking with one crutch, to not using nothing at all so I can start driving again but it seems like eternity
Kelly says
I just found your story your surgery. Mine happened 2 years ago this (6/29/2019) month. I too was getting married but my wedding on 1/31/2020. I have 4 plates and 18 screws. Your timeline seemed to be much quicker imine. I had my cast on for 10 weeks and the boat for 4 weeks and brace. The pain when the nerve block wore off was something I will never forget. It was so scary for my now husband and his Mom came and stayed with us for 4 weeks. They increased my meds to help with the pain. The next day she made my favorite meal. As I was taking my 2 bites I threw up all over myself. It was awful. We laugh about it now. I went to PT so I could learn how to walk again. I was so scared to put weight on my foot. I was in the my surgeon office and he asked me to put weight on my foot and I broke down crying telling him I was scared to. My PT folks were so good to me. My husband made me some of the devices I used there. I still use them today and I am almost 2 years post op. I was visiting my daughter in Florida when this happened. I went there so we could go dress shopping. I broke my leg in Florida and had to fly home with my leg broken. That was such an ordeal. The airlines treated me poorly, one flight attendant told me I didnt need a wheelchair. It just got worse. It really made me think about how disabled people are treated. It gave me a whole new prospective! When I got home my husband had wheelchair ramps so I could get into the house. My mother in law got wheelchair and scooters from her senior center. I was really lucky to have all those items. Another plus was our bedroom and bathroom all on the first floor.
There is so much more to say but the real reason I am posting is I am wondering if you all have swelling. Like I mentioned I am almost 2 years out from my surgery. When I do a lot of walking over 10K steps a day my ankle swells. Do you feel the screws? Have you had your hardware removed? Are you having this as well.
Karen says
Hi my ankle is still really swollen been 18 months for me I’m having my hardware out hopefully soon my appointment is on the 29th September.