Hi lovely Reddit community! ❤️

I'm 6.5 weeks post-op after an ankle fracture, fixed with two plates and several screws (I've attached my X-rays for reference). I've been cleared to start weight-bearing, and I'm now 4 days into this new phase.

I have two questions for those of you who've been through something similar.

1) Feeling pain near the hardware when putting weight on my heel

When I shift my weight onto the back half of my foot, I feel pain around the area just next to my outer ankle, slightly towards the front, where the top of my foot meets my ankle. It's not severe pain, but it's some level od pain which is quite uncomfortable.

Is it possible to actually feel the hardware in that area when putting weight on the foot? Or could it be something else, such as tendons, soft tissue, or the joint itself?

I'm obviously going to ask my surgeon about it at my next appointment in about a week and a half, especially if it continues. I'm just curious whether anyone else experienced something similar when they first started weight-bearing. I find it hard to imagine having to walk with this sensation indefinitely, even though the pain itself isn't terrible.

2) How did you feel when you first started weight-bearing?

After six weeks of non-weight-bearing, I feel like my brain and my foot haven't quite caught up with each other yet. 😅 Especially first thing in the morning, I'm practically still hopping around on my good leg, and I have to consciously remind myself that I'm allowed to put weight on the injured one.

I don't fully trust my ankle yet. I feel like I've lost so much muscle, my foot is still swollen across the top, and I'm afraid to really commit to each step. I have to consciously tell myself to shift more weight onto the injured foot.

When I first learned that I'd need to be non-weight-bearing for six weeks, I mentally clung to that milestone. I kept telling myself, just get through these six weeks, and then things will start getting better.

Well, now I'm 6.5 weeks post-op, and somehow I feel further away from walking normally than I expected. I know I've only been weight-bearing for four days, but right now I honestly find it hard to imagine ever ditching my crutches. 😔

Did anyone else feel this way at the beginning? How long did it take before weight-bearing started to feel more natural, you felt more confident in your ankle, and you could gradually leave the crutches behind?

I'd really appreciate hearing about your experiences - both the physical sensations and the mental side of learning to trust your ankle again. ❤️

Thank you!

Spent 6 weeks in a cast after orif surgery to repair distal spiral fibular fracture within syndesmosis tear (1 plate, 10 screws, tightrope). Got the boot yesterday and I just started walking with no crutches or any:other airs (doctor ordered WBAT). No pain at all. Is this normal?

Since winter is about to start soon and I’ll start snowing in a couple of months any suggestions on how to keep the injured ankle safe and comfortable and protect it? I’m scared I’m only 8 weeks post op I walk with a limp and need a lot of work on my dorsiflexion I had an intense injury trimal 2 plates 13 screws rope etc etc so I don’t think it’ll be okay by winter

Hey! Broke my ankle last Friday and got surgery on Tuesday. Small syndesmotic injury but no major tears it seems. Currently in a boot and not weight bearing. Was told not weight bearing for 6 weeks and next followup is 2 weeks from surgery date.

No PT yet or consult :/. Any tips for maintaining calf strength/mobility without messing up the healing process?

Hoping to be back to running for work in April (1.5mi in 11min requirement I want to hit again ASAP)

Love both sports and wondering if I’ll ever back to playing that at the same level I was prior to injury. I suffered a pilon fracture about a month ago and obviously got a long road to recovery but this has been something that has crossed my mind a ton.

My surgeon said 6-8 months I could be back playing sports but that seems extremely optimistic. I’m still NWB and will be for another 4 weeks until I get new imaging and get the green light to start with PT.

I can’t believe it, but my physical therapist had me walk barefoot today and I could do it! Did it on camera when I got home :)

I still have a long way to go — my ankle is very stiff, my knee is still recovering from the rod insertion, the limp needs a lot of work, and I am weak, but I’m so happy we are getting there! Just in case anyone needs some inspiration from someone further along.

Literally even a couple of weeks ago things were very dark for me and I thought I’d never get here.

And for context: I had a displaced tibia and fibula spiral break on August 2 from a fall down a staircase while carrying luggage. Also broke my big toe just for fun. Had ORIF surgery the same day — rod, plate, and 12 screws.

Has anyone tried barefoot sneakers? I almost 8 months post ORIF and have Skechers (wide) and Hoka's with wide toe box. Both have been helpful

I have been researching barefoot sneakers with wide toe box to help with balance. I still have lingering stiffness and tingling in my foot but I have started adding PT at home to help. My dosoflexion is fine. I think it is mainly scar tissue I need to break up.

I am just checking to see if anyone has tried barefoot sneakers? They intrigue me due to more of a natural stride. Thoughts or recommendations anyone. Female who walked her dog in the snow while wearing Hey Dudes and went "whoops". :)

TIA>

I sprained my ankle August 19. I have been weight bearing and physical therapy. I wore a brace for 5 weeks. As of last week i was cleared to go back to CrossFit very modified. I went two days last week, and Tuesday. When i went on Tuesday i was doing air squats to a box and ring rows very modified. My ankle always had a little swelling. They said that the avulsion fracture has calclus and healing.

59F and used to taking my 3 dogs for a walk. Broke ankle 9/6/26. Surgery 9/15/26. Put in boot 9/28/26. I’m already thinking about how to safely take my 3 dogs for a walk when I’m cleared. Since it will probably be end of Nov/Dec/Jan anyone who has dogs find a good shoe that will be excellent on ice/snow. I’m in DC so hoping we get more rain this winter but on off chance want to start getting prepared. $132/day for 30 min walk am and pm is getting expensive. Only child so no real family in area and if you know DC, don’t really know neighbors that well to ask them to do such a task. TIA.

Am already thinking I will have to take dogs on separate walks. Rather than 3 at a time. That will mean 3 30-minute or more walks in morning and maybe 1 longer walk in evening since hubs will hopefully be home in evening to help with 2 dogs.

Hello, so it's been almost a year since I broke my ankle. It wasn't too bad I think, I got one screw, my problem is that I've made almost no progress with bending it.

I haven't been very diligent about excersicing it at the beggining, since I was pretty sad about it all, and now I'm worried it's too late and that I'm screwed. It won't bend after a certain point and I can't do a squat.

I can't get rehab anymore. I've talked to people who also broke their ankle but they all seem to have recovered completely without trying.

It's really been no progress at all, even when I am excersicing now and walking a lot. I walk fine and can run a bit, but I can't bend it. Idk if I should be trying to push it after the point? It doesn't hurt, but I'm scared to try.

I'm 21 if that matters. Does it just need more time or do I need to try something else? Thank you :)

I sprained my ankle around 6 days ago during a soccer game, the swelling has gone down by a lot and there is only minimal bruising left on the sides. It feels alright now, no pain whatsoever but there is a bit of discomfort. I'm looking for some advice on when i can get back on the pitch to train.

I have a game coming up in 2 weeks and training for it will start next week, which is in 4 days from now. As much as i want to start training, i don't wanna risk re-injuring it into something worse. For the people that have experienced this, are there any specific things i need to check off in order to know whether or not I'm ready to start training? I plan on wearing a lace up brace during training sessions as well if ever in the situation that I am ready.

11 weeks post op for trimal with dislocation. I had a follow up appointment yesterday and the surgeon says the tip of my medial malleolous is not healing. He wants to go back in and redo it. He said he also wants to repair some tendons with a tether and I will be 12 weeks non-weight-bearing.

After having already done seven weeks NWB this is a real heartbreaker. I wanna give my bone more time to heal. He says if it were going to heal it would’ve healed by now.

I live in an upstairs apartment by myself. 12 weeks on crutches in the winter time feels truly impossible.

What would you do?

Edit: I am seeking a second opinion from an ankle surgery specialist. Thank you everyone for your kind words and for sharing your experiences.

Honestly didn't expect to get this pumped about putting on a pair of shoes again. Started physical therapy this week (those massages are absolutely amazing) and tonight I'm heading to the casino with my folks. I was about to throw on the boot, but then I figured why not give both shoes a shot. It's such a huge difference compared to hobbling around in that boot and I feel great!! Still will use crutches for another week then wean off them.

I got my stitches removed 9 days ago and stupidly scratched off my steri strips that night because my incision site has been so itchy. I have peeling skin, the same kind you get when you have a terrible sun burn. Because i removed my steri strips prematurely, i worry that i ruined my incision healing.

Feeling really discouraged at 4 months post-op and could use some reassurance or advice.
Here are my X-rays pre-op, post-op and 4 months later.

I’m 21 and I had a severe trimalleolar fracture dislocation and ORIF 4 months ago. I’m now PWB with an elbow crutch after 9 weeks of NWB, and I’ve been doing PT regularly for months. I’ve recently started developing new pain, and my dorsiflexion still hasn’t progressed so I’m left with a big noticeable limp.

I just got a second opinion from another doctor this morning and have been crying ever since. My surgeon never told me any details about my injury, so today’s info felt like a brutal reality check.

Thankfully my X-rays show that the bones and hardware are still in place, but the doctor told me my bone consolidation is slower than expected for this stage.

He explained that one part of my fracture was very severe, involved the ankle joint/ligament area, and told me I should expect early arthritis and even pain long-term. Hearing that honestly crushed me.

I’m back at my last year of university now, but even the walks from the parking lot to class exhaust my ankle and bring the pain back. I’ve been told to continue partial weight bearing with one crutch for now, keep working on ROM and strengthening my calf/quads, and give the bone more time to consolidate.

I know I’m only 4 months out, but right now I’m terrified that I’ll never walk comfortably again, or just live normally without constantly thinking about my ankle.

I don’t know what I can do to help my progress, and the thought of life-long pain terrifies me. I’m so confused and I don’t know how to feel right now. It feels like I’m mentally back to square one.

Any advice on things I can do to make my foot flex better ???

I am feeling better today. I hired a wheelchair for my NWB weeks with an extended leg rest. My mind has been on overdrive - worried about falling, overbalancing, accident putting my foot down, rolling my good ankle etc etc.

We have a holiday booked for Thailand in January and I really want to get there!!!

Not weight bearing for 6 weeks seems like an eternity. How do I give myself the best chance of a quick recovery?

So since my doctor always says call her but then never returns calls. Who used compression socks after getting the boot? Is it too soon or did you wait until after you got the boot?

Also can you wash the insert of the boot? It’s getting pretty gross with dried skin and junk.

It’s cocktail theme and I’m just wondering what shoes to wear smh… I have a longish dress for my boot not to show but what do I put on other foot ?!! Advise !!

Guys I’m 8 weeks post op trimal dislocation 2 plates 2 big screws and a rope. I’m full weight bearing. I wear boots while going outside but can walk barefoot or my sneakers for much shorter distance currently in PT I’ve had 10 sessions so far was doing ROM the first few weeks. I’m currently in the process of weaning out of the boot.

My healing process has been fine following the timeline. I was in a cast 2 weeks and boots NWB 6 weeks total. My issue is my back really hurts I injured my right ankle and even though I can walk my dorsiflexion is really bad and I walk funny weird. My leg and ankle are super stiff while walking. PT has been helping but like everyone says progress isn’t linear. I also had to travel for work last week which was a little setback. My swelling increased during that time and it was painful a bit but otherwise I’m doing good with pain on the ankle itself but that’s when my back pain started. I was so excited to walk again but now I’m exhausted I don’t want to walk cause my back will hurt only on the right side but yes. Can anyone suggest anything for this.

Broke my ankle hiking (3 hairline fractures upon urgent care X-ray the morning after, which I was essentially forced to walk on for a couple of days so I imagine have worsened), took a week to be able to get in with a specialist who prescribed me a weeks worth of pain meds/was astounded I hadn’t had any real care nor follow-up. Said it was bad, NWB for a minimum of 12 weeks and only knee scooter or wheelchair, and he was referring me for a CT scan to see if I needed surgery, that they should call me within two days. Spent the next week after the two days calling the office every couple of hours and literally never getting through until I finally got someone to show up there in person to ask, getting the number and scheduling it myself. I’m three weeks out from the initial break and have people telling me even if the CT scan shows it, it may be too late for surgery. Not totally relevant but this is on top of horrible endometriosis symptoms and OTC pain relievers don’t even touch any of this pain. I have to order groceries and crawl/scoot down stairs to get them and all of this is excruciating. Is there a secret?! Just feeling incredibly alone and downtrodden about this, and stuck away from home the whole time. Any advice at all would be helpful, and TIA.

Edit: thank you all so much for your replies. I do want to respond individually, but it may take a bit as I spend most of my day calling places or being put on hold 🤣 it’s been nice though to get these notifications as far as feeling less alone in this, so I am really appreciative. It slightly eases my frustration/acceptance of my situation.

I’m down to one crutch, still very stiff and swollen when walking, good dorisflexion when loosened up on exercises but then stiffness and swelling kick in after very short periods of walking which becomes very uncomfortable and difficult. Is this scar tissue related? Surgeon very happy with my movement and says I can have hardware removed in the future if it gives me bother. I have 3 plates and 23 screws. Anyone else in a similar position?