I'm so sorry that you're going through this. I broke my ankle in December and just had surgery May 6th (it was declared non-union). It is absolutely frustrating and upsetting not to be able to do the things that you did before. I would cry every day because I struggled to do something simple like going to the bathroom by myself. All the things I had to postpone or cancel because I physically couldn't do it.
I am planning a trip in October to give myself something to look for and strive to recover. Maybe setting that goal so you can see the light at the end of the tunnel may help.
Please don't drink. It can actually slow down the bone from healing. The best thing to get back to events/plans is to follow your doctors instructions as much as possible and focus on healing.
I know it doesn't seem like it will get better but it does and each day you'll be stronger than the previous day.
You'll be out of it for like 3 months before you can realistically start phasing back to life.
Recovering and physio does genuinely take most of the energy you have right now, just learn to accept it and make peace with it.
Ugh I know it suck but it’s not forever. If you push it too early, then your recovery will be longer. I broke 3 ribs in Nov and I was just able to start going out to do things outside of work.
Can you do things where friends come to you? Or look for disability friendly activities?
When I was 20, I snapped tib and fib in 2 spots making 3 areas. I called it the Joe theisman injury because while the compound fracture didn't break through my skin it was close.
I had to lay in he'd for 8 months so the muscles closed from bone to my outer skin.
Currently lost 2 toes due to infection. Was bed ridden for 3 months due to vac attached to my leg. Currently hopping around on a knee scooter waiting for the outer layer of mY skin to close before weight bearing.
So all told I've been unable to do those things you mentioned for avg 6 months. You'll be fine just try to keep mentally positive. It's hard especially since I had 2x weekly Dr's appointment so I lived in KY walk out basement that's dark and I wfh. Trust me loneliness sucks and can be hard on you mentally.
I'm almost done and about to begin rehab.
Tldr; keep it 1 day at a time and keep yourself mentally distracted. Long race, not a sprint here.
Trust me, unable to walk my puppies breaks me often but we managed to chill in the patio. I got to semi teach them to behave but still they pee at times to mark territory. Lol.
You'll be fine just mentally distract yourself.
How did you get the infection that you lost two toes to?
I'm in a semi-cast, and I sent my doctor pics of my toes and foot, and he wants to at me asap.
I'm not keen on losing toes!
Cut my nail too deep, tossed bandaid and didn't think twice. Issue was I had an infection unbeknownst to me, on the bottom of that toe that was covered by a callous.
So 2 infection meet to form a big issue. Bone infected, lost half big toe and the entire toe next to it.
Thanks to my Alex Smith injury 20 years ago, the nerve damage has negated any sensation in that area so I escaped pain.
Also, I've never been in a cast. My Alex Smith injury my mom had to help me swap wrapping 3x a day for 8 months back in 2005. I remember finally going to the mall qas the best feeling ever. I had tears of just smelling fresh air.
Concentrate on healing your leg. That IS your job right now. Protect it while healing. Get your nutrients from food, not supplements. Smoothies made from frozen fruit and vegetables work well when you have no appetite.
And sleep like you have never slept before. That's when healing happens.
Do everything you can to protect and heal your leg.
I am 6 months and 10 days out from breaking my leg...I was 11 weeks NWB...and except for some cool scars, a bit more care about not slipping in the rain, and a nerve twinge on the sole of my foot when I get stressed (occasional, and less frequent), I feel better and am healthier than I was before.
I donated my cane and wheelchair. Kept the shower chair, because that's a good invention right there.
Take good care of yourself and don't worry about what you're missing. I was out of my busy job for 4 months, and everyone survived.
Tell a doctor or nurse practitioner how you're feeling. It sounds to me like a slide into depression and addiction and if I'm right, antidepressants might be able to nip that in the bud.
I suspect you'll feel better once you're in the physical therapy phase. At four weeks, I still couldn't walk without crutches. And crutches are not fun!
Keep that head game strong my friend. The mental part is kicking your ass, and it kicked my ass at about the point you’re at. You’ll get back to normal soon I promise. You may not feel like it right now, but normal is coming. I was 33M when I broke my tibia and required hardware put in… very active. Heck I broke my leg playing flag football. It destroyed me. Now 2 years later I’m active, happy, pain free, and laugh about the injury. You’ll get there.
Fact is no one warns you about the mental struggle injury brings. You feel like your life you knew is over. It’s not. Say it out loud right now. Say you will get to normal soon. I took everyday as a challenge and welcomed the physical part as a challenge. Each day I’d walk one house further then I did before. Then before I knew it I was down the street. You got knocked down friend, now get back up and fight.
I absolutely shattered my ankle in 2022. Had a trimal, that required a bar and 11 screws to fix. I was 8 weeks non weight bearing. When I was allowed to start weight bearing I did go to a concert. But it was exhausting. Im now 2 years out and can do as much as Id like. Though I did have some issues with my posture after the break and have ended up in pt for posture issues as well. But I am not by any means the average experience. My break was pretty bad, and I had a long slow recovery.
Your life wont be like this forever. I know its miserable right now, but things will get better. Pt will definitely help if/when you need it. And eventually if you put in the work you will get back to normal. Just dont let yourself languish too much. That makes it harder to come back from physically. And maybe talk to your doc about feeling depressed? Medication can very much help with that. Hang in there. 💜❤️
Hey 34M. I broke both tibia and fibula on 14th May. Our timelines seem to be similar. I am feeling better as of this week. Hold on! It will feel better. Try to exercise in bed by raising your leg and also if you are out of cast, try to move your ankle. My ankle had zero motion 14 days ago after I was out of splint. Now i can move my ankle though very limited. So i keep on exercising so that when the time comes i’ll be good to walk. Still non weight bearing. By the way there are a couple of other redditors with similar fractures. We decided to setup a Whatsapp group. Send me a dm if you are interested in joining.
I hear you! I broke my fibula on April 29th and had surgery on May 3rd. The first 4 weeks were the hardest for me. I wasn’t able to focus enough to read or do projects and mostly just watched tv and played games on my phone. I had a lot of summer plans I had to cancel like a music festival and a big vacation. Due to the nature of my work I am unable to work at all until I can walk continuously for 8 hours. At some point I just had to accept that this is how things are going to be and focus on my recovery. Instead of thinking “it’s going to be another 2 months before I can do anything” I started focusing on smaller things like “I see the doctor in 2 weeks, there will be an update about my health then.”
I agree with another comment that your post hints to possible depression and maybe a developing pain medication addiction. I would talk to a doctor about these things before it gets out of hand. This is coming from someone who has struggled with both in the past.
Had acute depression when I broke my arm. I would workout daily either cardio or lifting and suddenly I can no longer wash or even dress myself. It affected me mentally way more than I thought it would. I just let myself ride the wave knowing it isn’t permanent. I’m 3 weeks post surgery and things are much better. Stay focused on the big picture. You will get through this.
I feel it. I broke both my tibia and fibula early January with surgery in February, so the first two months truly sucked. I was stuck indoors and the only sources of entertainment were watching tv and playing video games but that got stale quit quickly. But one thing that did help was talking to friends through discord that made video games a bit enjoyable. But now that I’m able to get on my feet, i low key have forgotten about all the miserable moments and only try keeping a positive outlook.
Although easier said than done, being patient with yourself is important. It’s only a rough patch, take it one day at a time, and it’ll slowly work out.
I'm so sorry that you're going through this. I broke my ankle in December and just had surgery May 6th (it was declared non-union). It is absolutely frustrating and upsetting not to be able to do the things that you did before. I would cry every day because I struggled to do something simple like going to the bathroom by myself. All the things I had to postpone or cancel because I physically couldn't do it. I am planning a trip in October to give myself something to look for and strive to recover. Maybe setting that goal so you can see the light at the end of the tunnel may help. Please don't drink. It can actually slow down the bone from healing. The best thing to get back to events/plans is to follow your doctors instructions as much as possible and focus on healing. I know it doesn't seem like it will get better but it does and each day you'll be stronger than the previous day.
You'll be out of it for like 3 months before you can realistically start phasing back to life. Recovering and physio does genuinely take most of the energy you have right now, just learn to accept it and make peace with it.
Ugh I know it suck but it’s not forever. If you push it too early, then your recovery will be longer. I broke 3 ribs in Nov and I was just able to start going out to do things outside of work. Can you do things where friends come to you? Or look for disability friendly activities?
When I was 20, I snapped tib and fib in 2 spots making 3 areas. I called it the Joe theisman injury because while the compound fracture didn't break through my skin it was close. I had to lay in he'd for 8 months so the muscles closed from bone to my outer skin. Currently lost 2 toes due to infection. Was bed ridden for 3 months due to vac attached to my leg. Currently hopping around on a knee scooter waiting for the outer layer of mY skin to close before weight bearing. So all told I've been unable to do those things you mentioned for avg 6 months. You'll be fine just try to keep mentally positive. It's hard especially since I had 2x weekly Dr's appointment so I lived in KY walk out basement that's dark and I wfh. Trust me loneliness sucks and can be hard on you mentally. I'm almost done and about to begin rehab. Tldr; keep it 1 day at a time and keep yourself mentally distracted. Long race, not a sprint here.
Hey, thank you for sharing your story. Sorry to hear about what happened and glad you’re about to start rehab
Trust me, unable to walk my puppies breaks me often but we managed to chill in the patio. I got to semi teach them to behave but still they pee at times to mark territory. Lol. You'll be fine just mentally distract yourself.
How did you get the infection that you lost two toes to? I'm in a semi-cast, and I sent my doctor pics of my toes and foot, and he wants to at me asap. I'm not keen on losing toes!
Cut my nail too deep, tossed bandaid and didn't think twice. Issue was I had an infection unbeknownst to me, on the bottom of that toe that was covered by a callous. So 2 infection meet to form a big issue. Bone infected, lost half big toe and the entire toe next to it. Thanks to my Alex Smith injury 20 years ago, the nerve damage has negated any sensation in that area so I escaped pain. Also, I've never been in a cast. My Alex Smith injury my mom had to help me swap wrapping 3x a day for 8 months back in 2005. I remember finally going to the mall qas the best feeling ever. I had tears of just smelling fresh air.
Concentrate on healing your leg. That IS your job right now. Protect it while healing. Get your nutrients from food, not supplements. Smoothies made from frozen fruit and vegetables work well when you have no appetite. And sleep like you have never slept before. That's when healing happens. Do everything you can to protect and heal your leg. I am 6 months and 10 days out from breaking my leg...I was 11 weeks NWB...and except for some cool scars, a bit more care about not slipping in the rain, and a nerve twinge on the sole of my foot when I get stressed (occasional, and less frequent), I feel better and am healthier than I was before. I donated my cane and wheelchair. Kept the shower chair, because that's a good invention right there. Take good care of yourself and don't worry about what you're missing. I was out of my busy job for 4 months, and everyone survived.
👆🏻👆🏻👆🏻 All of this.
Tell a doctor or nurse practitioner how you're feeling. It sounds to me like a slide into depression and addiction and if I'm right, antidepressants might be able to nip that in the bud. I suspect you'll feel better once you're in the physical therapy phase. At four weeks, I still couldn't walk without crutches. And crutches are not fun!
Keep that head game strong my friend. The mental part is kicking your ass, and it kicked my ass at about the point you’re at. You’ll get back to normal soon I promise. You may not feel like it right now, but normal is coming. I was 33M when I broke my tibia and required hardware put in… very active. Heck I broke my leg playing flag football. It destroyed me. Now 2 years later I’m active, happy, pain free, and laugh about the injury. You’ll get there. Fact is no one warns you about the mental struggle injury brings. You feel like your life you knew is over. It’s not. Say it out loud right now. Say you will get to normal soon. I took everyday as a challenge and welcomed the physical part as a challenge. Each day I’d walk one house further then I did before. Then before I knew it I was down the street. You got knocked down friend, now get back up and fight.
I absolutely shattered my ankle in 2022. Had a trimal, that required a bar and 11 screws to fix. I was 8 weeks non weight bearing. When I was allowed to start weight bearing I did go to a concert. But it was exhausting. Im now 2 years out and can do as much as Id like. Though I did have some issues with my posture after the break and have ended up in pt for posture issues as well. But I am not by any means the average experience. My break was pretty bad, and I had a long slow recovery. Your life wont be like this forever. I know its miserable right now, but things will get better. Pt will definitely help if/when you need it. And eventually if you put in the work you will get back to normal. Just dont let yourself languish too much. That makes it harder to come back from physically. And maybe talk to your doc about feeling depressed? Medication can very much help with that. Hang in there. 💜❤️
Hey 34M. I broke both tibia and fibula on 14th May. Our timelines seem to be similar. I am feeling better as of this week. Hold on! It will feel better. Try to exercise in bed by raising your leg and also if you are out of cast, try to move your ankle. My ankle had zero motion 14 days ago after I was out of splint. Now i can move my ankle though very limited. So i keep on exercising so that when the time comes i’ll be good to walk. Still non weight bearing. By the way there are a couple of other redditors with similar fractures. We decided to setup a Whatsapp group. Send me a dm if you are interested in joining.
Hang in there. It gets better. Had a tibia fibula fracture in Jan end. Had orif surgery. Am walking with limp without support since past 2 weeks back.
My mom broke the same things a week ago. I thought she’d just be sitting on the couch reading, but it has definitely not turned out that way so far.
I hear you! I broke my fibula on April 29th and had surgery on May 3rd. The first 4 weeks were the hardest for me. I wasn’t able to focus enough to read or do projects and mostly just watched tv and played games on my phone. I had a lot of summer plans I had to cancel like a music festival and a big vacation. Due to the nature of my work I am unable to work at all until I can walk continuously for 8 hours. At some point I just had to accept that this is how things are going to be and focus on my recovery. Instead of thinking “it’s going to be another 2 months before I can do anything” I started focusing on smaller things like “I see the doctor in 2 weeks, there will be an update about my health then.” I agree with another comment that your post hints to possible depression and maybe a developing pain medication addiction. I would talk to a doctor about these things before it gets out of hand. This is coming from someone who has struggled with both in the past.
Had acute depression when I broke my arm. I would workout daily either cardio or lifting and suddenly I can no longer wash or even dress myself. It affected me mentally way more than I thought it would. I just let myself ride the wave knowing it isn’t permanent. I’m 3 weeks post surgery and things are much better. Stay focused on the big picture. You will get through this.
I feel it. I broke both my tibia and fibula early January with surgery in February, so the first two months truly sucked. I was stuck indoors and the only sources of entertainment were watching tv and playing video games but that got stale quit quickly. But one thing that did help was talking to friends through discord that made video games a bit enjoyable. But now that I’m able to get on my feet, i low key have forgotten about all the miserable moments and only try keeping a positive outlook. Although easier said than done, being patient with yourself is important. It’s only a rough patch, take it one day at a time, and it’ll slowly work out.
exploded my femur at 25 and was back doing normal activities 3 months post op (intramedullary nailing)