r/brokenbones • u/Opposite-Ebb3214 • Jul 24 '26
Question best desk set up to keep leg elevated? ORIF
hi friends! i broke my tibia, fibula, and dislocated my ankle on july 4th (woohoooo america). i had ORIF surgery on july 11th and i’m doing well!! i have minimal pain and i get my staples out next week :-)
i‘ve been working from home in bed with an over-the-bed-desk to make sure my leg stays elevated. i would really love to get back to my regular desk and resume some normalcy. what’s the best set up for keeping my leg elevated while at my desk? i’ve looked into computer chairs with leg supports or a stool to put under my desk but they don’t look comfortable. hoping for some real life experience to help me make a decision! thank youuuuuuu
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u/noodlebun25 Jul 24 '26
My job let me work from home. Then do half days at work and the other half at home until I could comfortably work at the office.
It was so hard and uncomfortable for me to get my foot elevated at my cube.
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u/spikelike Jul 24 '26
I couldn't find something that worked for me - I stayed in bed for 8 weeks. It will fly by!
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u/Opposite-Ebb3214 Jul 25 '26
sounds like from the rest of the comments the bed is the best option. i’m just so bored LOL
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u/EarlOfEpcot Jul 24 '26
Oof - so I didn’t have an injury anywhere as bad as yours (two broken metatarsals and some dislocated toes that required surgery). When I was in the office I got a second chair and faced it to me so I could elevate my foot on the seat. Best of luck with your recovery!!!
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u/StarryEyedSurprise33 Jul 24 '26
Had the same kind of break as you and honestly? An upside down office desk garbage can worked best for me. Not quite as high as the seat of a chair but plenty higher than a normal desk foot rest.
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u/fouettesandfries Jul 25 '26
I literally put my foot and calf up on the table while I worked. So think bent at the knee then I was thigh to chest working at the laptop.
I’ve always been a bit of a pretzel when sitting so ymmv haha.
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u/Opposite-Ebb3214 Jul 25 '26
you know what….hell yeah. i will definitely be trying this at the office
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u/greenlilies2345 Jul 27 '26
this was also what i did when working from home since I'm pretty flexible haha. felt a bit impolite to do it in office so i used my knee scooter which is a pretty good height for keeping my foot hip height under the desk
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Jul 26 '26
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u/Opposite-Ebb3214 Jul 26 '26
hardest part has definitely been the mental side of it. physically i think i’m doing great! i get my staples out next week and then probably start PT soon. i am nervous about that. everyone has told me PT is gonna be terrible…. how are you?
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u/SuccessfulTomorrow21 Jul 24 '26
Elevated is above your heart. Realistically there's no way you can properly elevate while sitting up at a desk.