How long on crutches with a broken ankle?

76544567

I broke my ankle last week playing basketball.
Not liking the crutches and general immobility.
Give me hope. How long do I have to spend on crutches?
Going mad stuck in the house because my hands are raw from the crutches.
Watching movies and looking at the internet. Even have to work from home, which I hate. Im going mad. How long?

Dtp1979

Surely this is a question you would've asked the doctor??,

76544567

I havent been to the doctor yet.
A&E just patched me up and said see ya, wouldnt wanna be ya.
I didnt think to ask any questions. And I assume everyones experience on crutches was different.
Im looking for hope not exact science.

bear1

You're certain it's broken and not fractured?
At least a month I'd say anyway.
God love ya if it gets itchy down there.

76544567

bear1 wrote: »

You're certain it's broken and not fractured?
At least a month I'd say anyway.
God love ya if it gets itchy down there.

Yep, x-ray showed it broken. Maybe a fracture is the same thing though.
4 weeks. I can take that. Someone else told me 6 weeks. That would be a nightmare. I hear you can get off the crutches after maybe 3 weeks and just hobble around. That would be nice.

Dont mind me. Im just bored out of my skin sitting in bed.
On the bright side, i get lots of sympathy meals and cups of tea

Stheno

Put some padding on the crutches or get some finger less gloves

I think 4-6 weeks would be normal

76544567

Stheno wrote: »

Put some padding on the crutches or get some gingerbread gloves

I think 4-6 weeks would be normal

Good plan.
Ill try that. Thanks.

Trying to think of ways to brighten up the downtime,
Might use it as an excuse to go somewhere and spend the time sitting in a sunny climate instead of rainy Kildare where I live at the moment.
Nice day in the garden yesterday though - with a thick blanket

It seems like the kind of thing only a doctor can answer..

76544567

Deleted User wrote: »

It seems like the kind of thing only a doctor can answer..

Thanks.
I'll be sure to ask him on Tuesday.

Sofiztikated

4 weeks?
6 weeks?

Nah mate, only answer for you is a shotgun, and a nice trip to the glue factory.

76544567

Sofiztikated wrote: »

4 weeks?
6 weeks?

Nah mate, only answer for you is a shotgun, and a nice trip to the glue factory.

If that stops the itch

Im in.

Zaph

Did they tell you when to go back to the hospital to get the cast off? You'll probably be on crutches for a week or two after that happens. You'll need to find out if you need to do physio when the cast comes off, so the best thing is to either go to your GP or contact the orthopedic department in the hospital you went to.

76544567

So its Whiskey first. Then shotgun.
Thanks all. I wont be able to post after that

Toastytoes

It'll likely still be sore when the cast comes off and you'll need to ease back in to walking on it so won't necessarily be done with the crutches straight away. That was my experience anyway. Might be different tho if you can put weight on it in the cast. I wasn't allowed. I was using the crutches for far longer than the 6 weeks I had the cast on.

Tom Mann Centuria

Have you got a full plaster or just a backslab? Four weeks for a straightforward fracture is about average if keep the weight off it, but none of of us can see your Xray, what bones are involved, or where the fracture is so we're guessing.

Colser

My son was 6 weeks on crutches last year with a similar injury..it's a nightmare..we put the foam stuff that you see on some heating pipes on the handles ..showering was a nightmare..big black bag taped on and his leg sticking out the shower door on a footstool..he couldn't carry his schoolbag..fierce awkward getting in and out of the car...I was fit to break his other leg after the 6 weeks ðŸ˜

Kevincavan83

Yeah a good idea is get someone to head to Woodies (or other stores) and get some pipe insulation foam and tape it on.
Depending how bad injury is you probably be able to put some weight on it im week or so. Ask hospital for a physio appointment or if thats too long look into it privately

Tom Mann Centuria

Hospital will give you stuff called collar and cuff to wrap round the handles if you ask.

My name is URL

Depends on the break. I was in plaster for 8 weeks and then had one of those boots on for 3.

Though I had surgery and pins inserted

Cool_CM

Not going to lie, the start is a complete bollocks and you'll be doing a lot of sitting around and elevating of your leg - but I was off the crutches and using just the boot about 3 weeks after surgery. Broke both sides of my ankle just before Christmas and had plates, screws etc put in.
4 months later and swelling is still an issue, but I can walk normally and relatively without pain.
It does depend on where you broke it, how they patched you up though - was told that it will take as long as it takes. I've literally just gone through this so feel free to shoot me a PM if you want to ask about anything.

razorblunt

4-6 weeks,you might get a moonboot if you're lucky.

Buy tennis racket grips for the handles.

Don't rush off the crutches either, FFS!!

corner of hells

Break your other ankle as quickly as possible , this'll help with pain , balance etc.

I "ahem" know someone who managed to break both wrists at the same time.

biko

Until Christmas*



*I am a doctor

Zaph

corner of hells wrote: »

I "ahem" know someone who managed to break both wrists at the same time.

I met someone once who did that. He said the worst part of it was having to get his mother to wipe his arse.

My name is URL

Reminded of that famous Reddit thread

beveragelady

Get the best cycling gloves you can afford. They've gel pads and all sorts of shock absorption built in, but they don't make your hands too sweaty.
Also, look at getting a kneewalker. (Google it.) You won't use it all the time but it makes a huge difference when you're out of the house.

SEPT 23 1989

Hopefully it sets right and they don't have to re break it.again with a surgical lump hammer

76544567

76544567 wrote: »

Going mad stuck in the house because my hands are raw...from the crutches.

Just added some dots there.

Mrs OBumble

Ya probably shouldn't be working either, not even from home.

Shoulda listened to the doc you saw in A&E.

jamesbere

Fill a dish with warm water, pour in a full bottle of TCP and soak your foot in it for an hour, it will help the healing.

JillyQ

I broke my ankle a few years ago. Was in a cast for 6 weeks and had another two weeks on the crutches after the cast came off

qo2cj1dsne8y4k

I broke mine a few years ago, 4 bones and a dislocation. I was 6 weeks in a cast and needed crutches I'd say another 3/4 weeks.
Spent my free time trolling chatrooms

bear1

bear1 wrote: »

You're certain it's broken and not fractured?

Broken and fractured mean exactly the same thing. A bone can be displaced or not, and resetting or reducing a fracture means realigning the bone. A compound fracture is when a broken bone penetrates the tissue and skin, which adds the complication of an open wound and the possibility of infection.

How long you're in crutches depends on each individual case.

Beyondgone

Candie wrote: »

Broken and fractured mean exactly the same thing. A bone can be displaced or not, and resetting or reducing a fracture means realigning the bone. A compound fracture is when a broken bone penetrates the tissue and skin, which adds the complication of an open wound and the possibility of infection.

How long you're in crutches depends on each individual case.

A neighbour of mine broke his ankle. He pretty much skipped the "taking it easy while you're on crutches" aspect. It didn't heal properly and had to be rebroken..then again and surgery. He was laid up for 6 months or more in the end. Probably wisest to take it reeealy easy for the first 4 weeks for the fastest heal.

Candie

Candie wrote: »

How long you're in crutches depends on each individual case.

That's pretty much the only advice. Listen to medical experts who have read your file or seen the X-rays. The ankle is fairly complex, have seen people break bones and hardly notice it, others get bad sprains and are completely screwed for ages when running.

If it provides any inspiration, some English runner a few years ago won a pretty big mountain race. On 2 broken ankles.

And don't give up work. Unless you're an athlete.

Cool_CM

Beyondgone wrote: »

A neighbour of mine broke his ankle. He pretty much skipped the "taking it easy while you're on crutches" aspect. It didn't heal properly and had to be rebroken..then again and surgery. He was laid up for 6 months or more in the end. Probably wisest to take it reeealy easy for the first 4 weeks for the fastest heal.

As somebody else said, every case is different - I was told that the way that they did my surgery meant that I was put in the boot straight away and was encouraged to weight bear 'as much as tolerable'. Lost the crutches after about 3 weeks and was walking in shoes with no boot after 8 weeks. Started physio after that. Was told by a consultant in Cork that had it happened down there that I would have been put in a cast for 6 weeks and then in a boot afterwards for another few - pretty happy that I broke it in Dublin!

One eyed Jack

Cool_CM wrote: »

As somebody else said, every case is different - I was told that the way that they did my surgery meant that I was put in the boot straight away and was encouraged to weight bear 'as much as tolerable'. Lost the crutches after about 3 weeks and was walking in shoes with no boot after 8 weeks. Started physio after that. Was told by a consultant in Cork that had it happened down there that I would have been put in a cast for 6 weeks and then in a boot afterwards for another few - pretty happy that I broke it in Dublin!

What's the idea of the boot then? I thought it was so the person could get around without a crutch and the boot would still provide enough load bearing support? I've only really seen them around lately, like the last few years or so maybe? They wouldn't work for me though as it's my hip and knees are fcuked so I'm having to use a crutch to get around the last two decades, well used to it now, but was just curious about the moonwalkers

Can't really add anything for the OP that hasn't been said already, except get well soon OP, and follow the advice of your doctors and the physio!!

Cool_CM

One eyed Jack wrote: »

What's the idea of the boot then? I thought it was so the person could get around without a crutch and the boot would still provide enough load bearing support? I've only really seen them around lately, like the last few years or so maybe? They wouldn't work for me though as it's my hip and knees are fcuked so I'm having to use a crutch to get around the last two decades, well used to it now, but was just curious about the moonwalkers

Can't really add anything for the OP that hasn't been said already, except get well soon OP, and follow the advice of your doctors and the physio!!

The crutches were essentially more for stabilising and confidence after about a week or so. I started not using them around the house but it was about 3 weeks before I would leave home without them. The boot basically meant that I could take it off and change my dressing as needed and gave me the support I needed to start walking on it properly once I felt like I could. Also meant that I could start doing little exercises that the doctor gave me after a few weeks. Physio said that I'm basically back to full flexibility, but still have to keep doing the exercises for that as I managed to do some ligaments too. Can't really complain though, was able to walk up the Giant's Causeway last week - a few months ago I couldn't even make it to the counter to make a cup of tea.

annascott

Go to your doctor and ask about physiotherapy. It can be the difference between regaining full mobility or being left with a permanent weakness.
You will probably be able to walk unaided before you can drive or wear high shoes. Six to ten weeks is the norm depending on the severity of the injury.

Mrs OBumble

[Deleted User] wrote: »

And don't give up work. Unless you're an athlete.

Or if your doctor says to. Some breaks are worse than others and recovery can be delayed by the stress.

LordSutch

Six weeks.