Advice on recovery from ankle fracture

Very interesting thread. I dropped my 1050 Tiger on my right leg June 15. Tib/fib crush fracture, plate and screw reduction surgery, 6 weeks in fibreglass cast, I have been in the boot ever since. Latest x-rays show the top 4 screws have sheared and there is still a gap in the front fracture of the Tibia. Next step is the titanium nail down the middle, bone graft and all the other hardware out. Only real problem has been the constant swelling and numbness on the bottom of my foot. Good flex because the break is above the ankle but the swelling is still pinching the nerve that runs over the inside of the ankle and under. PT on and off but because of surgery imminent I'm holding off on the exercises until I get stability. Think I'm gonna get me some that compression sock technology. Wondering if Sidi Adventures might have saved this.
Good luck with healing everyone.

You are in for a long haul. Go to PT & follow their lead. Your ligaments will never be the same so get some good MX boots
.Ride,don't run.
Good luck!

Yesterday, 26 days after my ankle fracture/repair, I had my second recheck. When the cast was removed my ankle and foot were still quite swollen, but dramatically less than the last time I saw them. Instead of the black and blue discoloration there was a diffuse port wine hue.
The orthopedic surgeon gave me an option--either another cast for 2 weeks or a boot, with either no weight bearing allowed during the ensuing 2 week period. I opted for the latter and was instructed to keep it on at all times except when sleeping and showering. When the boot is removed I am to repeatedly gently flex and extend my foot and toes.
After getting the boot I found throughout the day the pain in my foot increased significantly more than when I had the cast on my lower leg; most notably, pain in my heel. By the time I had gone to bed my heel was so painful I had to either position my foot on either side or propped up on a pillow with the heel hanging off the end. At 5 AM I threw in the towel and took my first hydrocodone tablet in over 10 days. I'm anticipating progressively less pain over the ensuing 2 weeks, after which I go back to see the orthopedic surgeon for radiographs and hopefully permission for touch down.
An interesting side benefit to this ordeal is the fact I've lost 8 lbs (4% of body weight) to date. Undoubtedly some is muscle mass, but most is fat. The weight loss is attributable to my being pretty much house-bound and married to a nutrition Nazi. If I get the munchies I first must hobble over to the food, but then have a limited capacity to transport it anywhere. When I get to the food I'm faced with a decision between low-fat yogurt, unsalted raw nuts, organic fruit, or fresh vegetables. I fear my cholesterol, which normally ranges between 130 and 170 mg/dL, is now in single digits.

No Deramax? :eek1

COX 1 & 2 inhibitors delay fracture healing; therefore, no NSAIDs until the bones are reunited.

I have the same injury.I was wearing Alpine Star Tech 5 MX boots, so I doubt the Sidis would have helped.
At 9 weeks post surgery for a nail ( not titanium) down the medullary space of the tibia and no other fixation, I still have no bony union evident. I have used a comprssion stocking and a " moon boot" (neoprene wrap around with two lateral stiffening rods/velcro straps and no articulation of the ankle). Less swelling into the foot this week. I wish I was 20 years old again, not 57!

I hope you all heal well too.

Yesterday I had my 3rd recheck, 40 days since my bimalleolar ankle fracture/repair. My ankle is still remarkably swollen, but less than 2 weeks ago, and is getting much closer to a normal coloration. When viewed on the radiographs the bones appear perfectly aligned and there is a nice even joint space. If not for the plate and screws one would think it was a radiograph of a normal ankle. The orthopedic surgeon told me it was time to walk. She suggested initially using the boot when outside, but try a shoe when indoors, and as I gained confidence in using my ankle to shed the boot. I was given a prescription for physical therapy and sent on my way for 5 weeks.
Although prepared for the difficulty of learning to walk again by several posters on this thread, it is somewhat depressing at how difficult the task appears to be. While in the boot and using crutches I'm able to move about well; however, I do not bear full weight on the foot and the boot inhibits flexibly. When in a shoe the best I can do is stand. Any movement requires the use of crutches and very limited weight bearing. My ankle is incredibly stiff. The pain is moderate and primarily involves my heel bone, like a bad heel bruise, and the point where the screw goes up my tibia. I sense it may be some time before I'm ready to stop using the crutches.
My niece and her husband are physical therapists, but live on the West Coast. They have advised me to seek out a DPT, OCS. I've since learned this represents an individual who has a doctorate in physical therapy and is certified in the rehab of orthopedic injuries. I've located a couple PTs with these credentials in the area, but will wait until after Xmas to go visit and select one.
No one has mentioned it, but I was wondering if swimming with flippers on wouldn't be a good exercise to regain flexibilty in my ankle?

I'm pursuing a DPT myself. Thanks for sharing your recovery journey here.

I would not pursue any kind of resistance training for it, progressive (aqua) or weighted, until you talk to a DPT.

Generally, you want 0 resistance when reestablishing range of motion in a new injury since agonist and antagonist muscles should be plenty in early recovery phase. But, find a good PT and put your recovery in their hands. A sportsmedicine specialist is a good place to find a DPT/Ortho as well as a staff that understand you want to fully recover (as most active people do).

I dont know about the flippers but I was told to go walk in a pool. I never did it but Ive heard from others it made a considerable difference.

I started walking assisted with crutches in the boot.....went on a family vacation that required walking alot (and also drove)......it swelled up considerably. Did that for about a week before I started walking without the crutches....still in the boot. After about 1 week like that I started walking in the house without the boot, in regular shoes. REALLY weird feeling......I know what your saying. The foot doenst even seem like yours....seems like a stump.

Swimming worked for me,

I found that holding the side of the pool and kicking with both my legs my ankle felt loosened up after.
It felt great for a few hours after being in the pool then my ankle would stiffen up.

Cycling and swimming are both non impact and I found both helped me a lot.

Not surprising. Work on the abdominal area. Spine neutral front to back and side to side. Hips straight and true.
Good luck.

for a broken ankle, you sound like there is something much worse going on...
These breaks are typically routine. Hope it is nothing you can't overcome.

Mate you will be fine, just takes time, move it as much as you can just before pain, same stepping on it, the swelling can take several months to go, just keep positive about it, is a big part of recovery, human body is amazing overcoming injuries. Eat well, plenty of water and keep the skin around ankle expose to fresh air. easy just be patient.

Days 1 and 2 of "touch down" turned out to be the worst days for walking by far. By day 3 I was able to walk (hobble) around in the boot unaided by crutches and drove my '88 Toyota 4Runner which is a 5 speed. I ground a few gears, but the 4Runner has 341,000 miles on it and needs a new tranny anyway. Because of the elevated rigid sole walking in the boot was problematic. On day 4 I ditched the boot for the only shoe that currently fits my swollen foot. As soon as the local thrift shops open I'll be looking to see if anyone has donated one of Grandpa's canes.
My heel still hurts like hell; worse in the morning. After doing a little research it appears I have a pretty classic case of plantar fasciitis (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantar_fasciitis). Perhaps I should have asked the Hun to flex my foot before the cast was applied. My very tight Achilles tendon is the primary suspect regarding the cause of the plantar fasciitis. I'm hoping the physical therapy resolves this issue.
All things considered I believe things are progressing reasonably well.

Back in 1991 I broke my ankle on a Killer KX 80, I was 29 yrs old been riding since I was 8.. doin a lil wheelie bike drifted to the side went down with my foot under bike. pulled foot out & it was turned all the way around backward's OUCH!!!!! Amazing what a body does in shock..Just knew the next 6 month's were gone, Long road lots of pain & therapy later able to go back to work.I was more less walk with a broken ankle pain was awful, my employer was a butt about leave of abscense.. With 1 screw in ankle,pain was bad.After a month or so had to get a leave of abscence more surgrey. #2 Surgrey have to remove screw put in 7 screws & plate Fused ankle, Sold my old 81 YZ 125 bad move there waiting it back now for the history of bike, 1st year watercooled & last year of monoshock. thought my riding day's were done....Fast Forward to 2006 got back on the bike's bought a 06 KLR 650,Rode fine and enjoy riding & living it up..Dec 08 bought a new 07 KTM 950 Super Enduro having a awesome time on this Big Bad Bike.....The most pain I had was the nerves reconnecting felt like Shock therapy , Had to tell my self out loud it does'nt hurt but oh it did.... Have a Speedy recovery don't give up on the bike's ,, Ride to Live Live to Ride

Yesterday, 46 days post fracture/surgery, I saw a physical therapist. He took numerous measurements of my ankle with both a tape measure and a goniometer. The measurements included the degree of flexion, extension, and medial and lateral rotation. The two measurements with the largest deviation from normal were the medial rotation, 15 degrees shy of normal, and flexion, 25% shy of normal. He advised me to purchase some compression socks that come up to the knee and provide 30-40 mm Hg pressure. He told me one issue with my kind of fracture was that the inflammation from the fracture/plate prevents the distal fibula from moving slightly back when walking, thereby creating an abnormal gait.
A heating pad was placed on my ankle for 10 minutes then I was shown a series of 7 exercises that I was instructed to repeat 3 times a day. The only exercise that elicited pain was one where I placed the ball of my foot on a step and using body weight held my ankle in flexion for 15 seconds, repeated 5 times with a straight knee and again with a flexed knee. The pain was both a dull ache from the Achilles tendon and the front of my ankle, and a very sharp pain from the point where the screw was inserted in my medial malleolus. Surprisingly the fibula was pain free.
After the exercises were complete an electrical stimulator was attached at 4 points on my ankle and my ankle was wrapped in a cold pack for 10 minutes.
Ankle's a litter sorer this morning, but manageable. Heel still hurts like hell. Onward!

Sounds like you have a pretty good PT there.

Keep that good attitude.

I came up 3/4 of an inch short on the left leg from the crash & broken ankle, Sound's like you got a lot better attention & care for you in the electric shock therapy & thing's going for you, Keep on keepin On....

You can find those socks on line and some bicycle shops carry them. Check here.

Also lots of stuff on line for plantar fasciitis devices and in the back of running magazines. I have used something like this. You sleep in it and it keeps the muscle stretched at night.
Click here.



I bet your PF is just because you are all out of whack from the injury. Tight hamstrings, which most men have, are also a culprit.

Keep healing.