Hi Sue,

So if i'm guessing correctly you rolled your ankle horribly on the edge of a rock or something else. Fractured the distal fibula and knocked the medial part of your tibia off. Plate and screw fixation for the fibula and one or 2 screws into the tibial fragment. Really common ankle fracture scenario, and the 6 weeks non to partial weight bearing with crutches and most likely a fracture boot are pretty normal. 6 months to kicking butts and taking names would be about right also. Stiffness is the biggest hurdle with this type of injury, as it directly affects your pain, strength and co-ordination.

Unfortunately there are no magic cures, just common sense and hard work. If you smoke quit - it slows healing, once the wound is completely healed you may be able to swim until weight-bearing is allowed. Eat your spinach and stay healthy. A cycle (stationary bike) will be of immense use so look for a cheapie. Physio will also be very important and we all use very similar protocols, most of which are designed in conjunction with surgeons. Ask your specialist if he has a preferred physio, otherwise start asking around. Word of mouth is gold in these cases.

Acupuncture, ultrasound, electrotherapy, magnets, crystals, or any other form of voodoo rubbish will not help so if that's all the physio uses go somewhere else. You will need a combined approach of what is called manual therapy and graduated exercise to achieve and excellent recovery, and you will need to be patient.

My 2 cents

Sue,
There are some real medical professionals giving advice here and some who are not.
Take all advice with caution.
Hope you heal quickly.

sboardcrazy said..

DAM71 said..
Hi Sue,

So if i'm guessing correctly you rolled your ankle horribly on the edge of a rock or something else. Fractured the distal fibula and knocked the medial part of your tibia off. Plate and screw fixation for the fibula and one or 2 screws into the tibial fragment. Really common ankle fracture scenario, and the 6 weeks non to partial weight bearing with crutches and most likely a fracture boot are pretty normal. 6 months to kicking butts and taking names would be about right also. Stiffness is the biggest hurdle with this type of injury, as it directly affects your pain, strength and co-ordination.

Unfortunately there are no magic cures, just common sense and hard work. If you smoke quit - it slows healing, once the wound is completely healed you may be able to swim until weight-bearing is allowed. Eat your spinach and stay healthy. A cycle (stationary bike) will be of immense use so look for a cheapie. Physio will also be very important and we all use very similar protocols, most of which are designed in conjunction with surgeons. Ask your specialist if he has a preferred physio, otherwise start asking around. Word of mouth is gold in these cases.

Acupuncture, ultrasound, electrotherapy, magnets, crystals, or any other form of voodoo rubbish will not help so if that's all the physio uses go somewhere else. You will need a combined approach of what is called manual therapy and graduated exercise to achieve and excellent recovery, and you will need to be patient.

My 2 cents

I don't have any boot etc on just a compression bandage and I can still do my chiro execises ( core exercises / breathing /twisting torso).I can also massage the foot regularly. Is it normal for the the lower leg to be badly bruised? It's only just subsiding now after a month..I don't think the bruising happened in the fall- can it be from the operation?
I've been using a towel resistance thing to pull my foot up and down but should have started sooner as its pretty stiff. seems ok until you compare it to the other foot. Have an exercise bike + a rower at home. Don't smoke. 30mins to closest heated pool so won't be able to do that much as I am relying on working partner for transport. 1hr to beach so that isn't an easy option either but will keep it in mind.
Will probably have the physio at the hospital but my chiro is very good. She relies mainly on maintenance exercises to strengthen core/ fix breathing etc and a bit of manipulation ( although that was for my upper back issue so she probably won't touch my foot.)

Hi sue,

I replied to your PM. Regarding worrying about your core exercises is insignificant at this time. No amount of breathing will facilitate your ankle recovery - sorry to be blunt, but I have little regard for Chiropractic care, especially in this instance of a significant trauma.

Bruising - hell yeah it happened at the time of injury. It takes a while for it to make it to the surface of the skin. buy some hirudoid from the chemist it breaks it down pretty quick (faster than arnica). Heat and soft tissue massage are also helpful. Stationary cycle it seems is for you.

if your happy to pay for chiro - do yourself a favour and pay to see a private physio. The outpatient physios in hospital are overburdened.

darryl

DAM71 said..

sboardcrazy said..

DAM71 said..
Hi Sue,

So if i'm guessing correctly you rolled your ankle horribly on the edge of a rock or something else. Fractured the distal fibula and knocked the medial part of your tibia off. Plate and screw fixation for the fibula and one or 2 screws into the tibial fragment. Really common ankle fracture scenario, and the 6 weeks non to partial weight bearing with crutches and most likely a fracture boot are pretty normal. 6 months to kicking butts and taking names would be about right also. Stiffness is the biggest hurdle with this type of injury, as it directly affects your pain, strength and co-ordination.

Unfortunately there are no magic cures, just common sense and hard work. If you smoke quit - it slows healing, once the wound is completely healed you may be able to swim until weight-bearing is allowed. Eat your spinach and stay healthy. A cycle (stationary bike) will be of immense use so look for a cheapie. Physio will also be very important and we all use very similar protocols, most of which are designed in conjunction with surgeons. Ask your specialist if he has a preferred physio, otherwise start asking around. Word of mouth is gold in these cases.

Acupuncture, ultrasound, electrotherapy, magnets, crystals, or any other form of voodoo rubbish will not help so if that's all the physio uses go somewhere else. You will need a combined approach of what is called manual therapy and graduated exercise to achieve and excellent recovery, and you will need to be patient.

My 2 cents

I don't have any boot etc on just a compression bandage and I can still do my chiro execises ( core exercises / breathing /twisting torso).I can also massage the foot regularly. Is it normal for the the lower leg to be badly bruised? It's only just subsiding now after a month..I don't think the bruising happened in the fall- can it be from the operation?
I've been using a towel resistance thing to pull my foot up and down but should have started sooner as its pretty stiff. seems ok until you compare it to the other foot. Have an exercise bike + a rower at home. Don't smoke. 30mins to closest heated pool so won't be able to do that much as I am relying on working partner for transport. 1hr to beach so that isn't an easy option either but will keep it in mind.
Will probably have the physio at the hospital but my chiro is very good. She relies mainly on maintenance exercises to strengthen core/ fix breathing etc and a bit of manipulation ( although that was for my upper back issue so she probably won't touch my foot.)

Hi sue,

I replied to your PM. Regarding worrying about your core exercises is insignificant at this time. No amount of breathing will facilitate your ankle recovery - sorry to be blunt, but I have little regard for Chiropractic care, especially in this instance of a significant trauma.

Bruising - hell yeah it happened at the time of injury. It takes a while for it to make it to the surface of the skin. buy some hirudoid from the chemist it breaks it down pretty quick (faster than arnica). Heat and soft tissue massage are also helpful. Stationary cycle it seems is for you.

if your happy to pay for chiro - do yourself a favour and pay to see a private physio. The outpatient physios in hospital are overburdened.

darryl

Not thinking about them from the ankle perspective but for keeping chronic upper back condition ok. I used to get headaches if I couldn't stand or walk around so I don't want that coming back to haunt me when I'm forced to sit all day.. Thanks for the advice PMs.I just wish I hadn't been so out of it when I was getting physio advice just after the accident.. b endone.. I probably would have been doing more earlier.
I'm researching local physios. I didn't think much of chiros either but she's been great treating my previous issues not just a bone cracker..

Update - 9 week mark . I can walk without a limp if I concentrate and go very slowly with small steps inside the house or on flat ground.Outside on uneven ground I'm still using crutches a lot mainly as safety and only c 5% weight to even out the strides.
Using an exercise bike to help lose the few kilos piled on when sedentary. Walking around walking trails on property..
Getting chiro once a week and doing exercises regularly and they are really helping and reducing the swelling.

I was going to a physio ( public) but he seemed to be into no pain no gain whereas the chiro is taking it slowly with very small incremental exercises so I get the same benefit with less pain. She's into DNS for those of you who understand it..Off painkillers.
1st time in the pool today - boring but helpful.
I'm going to start using the rowing machine too. I was hoping to start kayaking this week but was told a few more weeks + same for going on a boat and sailing. ( I'd bludge and helm only). Marina boarding only - no way to get from a dinghy up ladder..
I can stand for periods , stand on one leg for short periods and also drive an auto car. I'm almost good enough to start driving the manual. So a long way to go but boy it's nice to be able to get around without crutches at times and have 2 hands to carry stuff!
I still have the tent to keep sheets off the feet but will probably get rid of that soon.
The worst bit has been seeing all those great PB W fronts with long runs at Budgy and missing out..Argh!!!!!!
Aiming for mid November back on the water. It better be a good summer for wind..

MikeyS said..
Don't worry Sue. Your misfortune has assured everyone else's good winds. Consider yourself the sacrifice to Huey.

I'm contemplating my first sail after 8 weeks in a VacoPed boot (great piece of kit), plus a few extra strength building weeks after a broken navicular (foot) bone, in virtually identical circumstances to Boombender. With the wisdom that should come from being in our decade of life, I think it comes down to knowing when you are confident that you don't go out too early and set yourself back even longer by being too eager. Medical advice plus intuition. So to answer your question how long?- same length in months as a piece of elastic in cm.

Not sure about with a broken tib/fib, but with my injury being able to do some mountain bike hillclimbs on bitumen, and swims to keep cardio fitness up has been great.

Ah injuries!- the price of being active. Hope you heal soon.

They had the best season for year! Pb city.. grr

MikeyS said..

sboardcrazy said..

MikeyS said..
Don't worry Sue. Your misfortune has assured everyone else's good winds. Consider yourself the sacrifice to Huey.

I'm contemplating my first sail after 8 weeks in a VacoPed boot (great piece of kit), plus a few extra strength building weeks after a broken navicular (foot) bone, in virtually identical circumstances to Boombender. With the wisdom that should come from being in our decade of life, I think it comes down to knowing when you are confident that you don't go out too early and set yourself back even longer by being too eager. Medical advice plus intuition. So to answer your question how long?- same length in months as a piece of elastic in cm.

Not sure about with a broken tib/fib, but with my injury being able to do some mountain bike hillclimbs on bitumen, and swims to keep cardio fitness up has been great.

Ah injuries!- the price of being active. Hope you heal soon.

They had the best season for year! Pb city.. grr

Hah! I hate to say I told you so, but.... Well done on taking it for the team.

grr.. It got to the stage where I wondered why I tortured myself looking at the results..
For example one day - 14PB's (a lot have been swallowed up in more epic days since).. 4 sailors over 40kts 2 sec..
gpsteamchallenge.com.au/sailor_session/show?date=2016-07-23&team=9

Dear Surfer,
This is just a misfortune. Don't worry you will be fine in a few months. Seas are waiting you for windsurfing. Take care. Bye...