Broken ankle - is this bad? Poss not relevant for NL but still!!

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Christmas Crumpet

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Broke ankle hunting on 26th June when youngster bucked me off. I fractured the medial malleolar which is the inside ankle boney bit that sticks out. Had it pinned and was told to non-weight bear for 6 weeks. I started shuffling along without crutches about a week ago - i.e not standing on bad foot but sort of pushing it along floor because I was so fed up of having to hop everywhere.

It hasn't hurt since and I'm not actually walking on it properly. Am I going to have done any damage?!! I assumed that because it hadn't hurt at all I was fine but I saw my doctor friend last night who was appalled I was shuffling!!

Any experiences from anyone else with broken ankles?
 
I did what I was told and still having major problems a year later, I now have to have replacement joint.
But then I did fracture my fibula too which is where the main trouble is coming from now

Stop doing it now!! If it goes wrong it can be awful
 
firstly ouch. but should you not be weight baring by now if you did it in June?! that’s a lot longer than 6 weeks ago. sorry if I am being dim
 
Ahah that makes more sense! In that case behave, seriously not worth being naughty now and ending up limping forever!

Hadn't even occurred to me about the hunting in June! must be very tired!
 
Its just the little bony bit that sticks out on the inside of your foot. Its had 2 pins in it and when I went back after 2 weeks the doctor said it was looking really good and you couldn't even see the fracture any more.

I was under the impression that you needed to keep it moving - i.e wiggling toes etc to get blood flowing. I am not walking normally by any stretch of the imagination but am using my toes a bit to balance on whilst sliding foot along the floor!!

I think it was a fairly simple break and was put back together with 2 pins - no plates or vast number of pins. Am probably completely wrong. Will find out on Monday when go back for my 6 week check up!!
 
Hi i broke my ankle same as you in Jan 09 . I also had 2 pins
put in. Had cast on for 6 weeks I had to use crutches for about a month after cast came off. I got so fed up as i thought once cast was off it would be ok. It took me about 3 months to walk with out a limp. I had alot of physio which really helped. Even now it still aches if i do too much
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Sorry forgot to mention I wasnt allowed to put any weight on it for 6 weeks. And when the cast came off the pain was bad for weeks when i tried to walk.
 
There's a reason for you being told not to weight bear for 6 weeks. Even if the bone has been pinned, the new bone growth is still reforming (and will be for a few more weeks yet) and is not yet at a stage where it is strong enough to take any strain. By weight bearing - even doing your "little shuffle" - you could potentially damage this newly forming bone.

People say it takes 6 weeks to build new bone - and at 6 weeks it's a good way along - but it's actually not fully "hardened up" until around 12 weeks.

Sorry, I know you're frustrated - but don't put weight on it - and DO use the crutches until the doctor advises you it's okay not too.

I broke my fibula just above the ankle last June, so I know exactly how unbearable the non-weight bearing/plastered up time can be, but for your own good, put up with the frustration and don't do things too quickly. A little bit of frustration now (which won't seem half as bad in hindsight) is a far better thing to have than a badly healed bone.
 
I broke my right ankle very badly on April 1st 2008 (I broke mine in 3 places and severely tore the tendons and ligaments). It was a good 6 months before I felt remotely comfortable using the ankle and about 18 months after the accident before I felt 'normal' using that foot. As long as up to a year after the accident I would get terrible pains in the joint in the evenings. I really feared it would never get fully better, and I'd have a permanent limp or 'awkward walk'. But it has gotten better. Best thing I did was follow the physiotherapists advice to practive regaining my balance on that side and to walk correctly. All in all, I spent 3 months unable walk at all, 6 months more walking with a stick, followed by another year of aches and pains if I over did it. Now finally I feel it's almost 100% normal again. I can even wear highish heels again!
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It's a long road ahead. Inevitably no where near as long for you as it was for me, but it's best to rest the ankle for as long as your are advised to initially. Long term or permanent damage is not something you want to contemplate now, is it... so rest!!!!!!
 
My OH broke both malleolar powerkiting and had them pinned - he was actually given a walking cast to strengthen it up once they were happy that it was knitting as the cast takes a lot of the strain but the weight helped to increase density.

Best thing to do is speak to a physio/sports therapist or orthopaedic specialist (prefeably not a Junior doctor who is on their orthopaediac rotations!!) Failing knowing any of them ask your vet - horse bones and human bones are pretty similar and I would trust my vets opinion!!
 
Am back hopping everywhere!! Am hoping a week of shuffling won't have done any harm. I'm a secretary so spend most of my time sitting down at my desk and then lying on the sofa when I get home out of pure laziness.

It doesn't stop me watching my horses out of the front door and dreaming about getting shoes back on them and going for lovely summer rides getting them fit for hunting next season!!

Thanks for advice from everyone. Much appreciated.
 
You shouldn't weight bear until you have a weight bearer plaster on, that will have a heel and you'll be given a special shoe to wear. Until then you must not weight bear as you may damage the position of the fracture. BE PATIENT!!
 
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