Broken ankle recovery

Went to outpatients last Thursday.

I broke my ankle and foot 7 years ago, as I am Mrs impatient and not very good at sitting around I was up, showered and dressed every day (showered with one leg out of the cubicle wrapped in cling film)

Managed the stairs albeit slowly.

Unless you have been told by your medical team to stay in bed upstairs in your position I would be moving as much as possible interspersed with resting with leg elevated.

Being inactive can be just as bad as being over active.

Like GG says - good luck with your recovery

I also broke my right foot and severely damaged my left knee February this year.

Orthopaedic boot on one leg, thigh to ankle splint on the other.

I cannot function unless I feel clean, therefore negotiated shower, hair wash etc., and came down stairs on my bottom 😹

Had to keep both legs elevated a lot of the time, but I was assured by my friendly physio that moving was necessary to avoid clots, stiffness and muscle wasting.

I broke my ankle years ago. I've still got the metal screws etc in it, but its been no prob)lem since mending. But, and I was young then, I did not feel safe at all with crutches and used a walking frame all the time.
Do not sit around, move the leg or you will get a DVT. Best wishes

I did the One-Foot-In the shower One-Foot-Out thing when I fractured my ankle: not at all easy keeping the cast dry, but I lived in a bungalow so that made things a bit easier.

My problem was when I discovered a hairline crack in the cast - I just would not leave it alone and fiddled with it to such an extent that I loosened the cast enough to make certain a return visit to the plaster technician. And a right telling off.

Thank you for all your advice. I will certainly take it seriously and try and move about more. My other problem in the first week was diarrhea so had to be near the bathroom. That was exhausting.

A physiotherapist should have come round to to teach you how to negotiate the stairs.

You did manage to get upstairs, getting down is a bit more tricky but yes, you need to move around.

Do you have a downstairs loo so you need to only negotiate the stairs twice in a day?

windmill1

I did the One-Foot-In the shower One-Foot-Out thing when I fractured my ankle: not at all easy keeping the cast dry, but I lived in a bungalow so that made things a bit easier.

My problem was when I discovered a hairline crack in the cast - I just would not leave it alone and fiddled with it to such an extent that I loosened the cast enough to make certain a return visit to the plaster technician. And a right telling off.

You can buy rubber covers for your leg for when you shower. Someone lent me one and I also bought a sturdy shower stool.

Follow the advice you were given. If you weren't given any- ask for some from the professionals.

Not allowing bones to heal correctly can cause problems further down the line.

A few years ago i had an operation on right leg and told not to shower for 6 weeks, I lasted two days. The leg was covered in bandages that I shouldn't get wet, so I stuck it in a bin bag and used duct tape to seal the top, put a bath towel on the floor of the shower and did that every other day, what a palaver but I washed my hair at the same time every 4 days or so. .. However after two weeks the bandages looked dirty and I just had to put up with it, sure it was a bigger health hazard.

Try one of these:
limboproducts.co.uk/

Ugly but fantastic!

I've always suffered from depression and it's been kept under control but for the last 2 years a series of unfortunate events have really taken it's toll on me.

I'm under the Mental health team but they just keep changing my tablets and adding more. I really don't know what to do. I feel so low all the time. It's getting that I don't want to get dressed or go out. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks 🙏

NotSpaghetti

Try one of these:
limboproducts.co.uk/

Ugly but fantastic!

I found some but couldn't post pictures, NotSpaghetti.

Well done!

Louloub
I'm sorry to hear that. However, your post might get lost on here, it might be better to start a separate thread.

The accident happened when I fell in the bathroom (upstairs) and the ambulance took me out on a stretcher. I also got ambulance transport for my appointment and was carried back upstairs. No downstairs loo sadly. I was hoping for advice from a physio at my appointment but it took so long resetting and replastering twice. Still haven't decided if I need surgery or not

Thanks for that I'm still finding my way around 🙂

I used a limbo one! It was terrific!

I’m reading this whilst resting as I fractured my ankle on 10th August. No cast for me but a boot and then a follow up phone call from the hospital with instructions. These were to rest as much as possible for 2 weeks, using the boot to move around but only when necessary. Then next 2 weeks weaning myself off of the boot. Next to weeks returning to normal activity. Was also advise to do hip and ankle rotations, leg raises etc etc.
I wish you a speedy recovery

Unless your partner is a medical doctor his advice is not worth taking.

Do what you feel comfortable with until you have been back for that check-up.

Best wishes for recovery.

My friend ignored advice and walked, now she limps, and has hip problems

Hello Louloub. As your post will be lost in the thread you're on at the moment I have asked Gransnet HQ to transfer you to the Black Dog Forum. The grans on there will help you.
I'm so sorry you are so very low.
Thinking of you.

I just shuffled downstairs on my bum till I got the hang of the crutches. Nurse showed me how to use them not a physio. She said I was the worst person she'd ever seen trying to use crutches. She wasn't joking. I healed really well, no after effects but when I broke a metatarsal it was a different story, still painful over five years later.

Good luck.

Louloub. Gransnet can't transfer you to the Black Dog Forum.
I've tried to send you a PM but I think you're not accepting them.
I suggest you start your own thread on Black Dog. Lots of people there who understand and can be helpful.