Rehabilitation of an Ankle Fracture

I have a partially shattered talus and had my ankle fused. I would suggest stationary bike to start. Ballet moves will improve your upper (thigh) muscles. I could use advice on dealing with pressure building in the ankle that would normally be relieved by cracking the joint.

I fractured my talus 5 months ago. I am in rehab now but finding it difficult to get walking again.
I would appreciate some advice.
thanks

i had motorcycle accident 2 weeks ago where i sustained a small fracture through the posteroinferior and medial edge of talus and transverse fracture of the medial malleolas+subluxation at the midtalar joints i am curently in plaster and am wondering what are the best ways to hehabilatate such an injury anything i can do to make it heal quicker how long will i be in plaster no surgery was performed stayed in hospital for 1 week i have no pain or swelling now can you please give me some advise will try anything as i need to be mobile asap. thank you

I fractured my talus 5 months ago (non displaced in the body of the talus). Still in a boot and using crutches. Any tips for rehab (whenever I get to that point!) would be much appreciated.

Stretching is the most important. Swimming helps too. Strength would be the last thing to worry about. Massage is important. How is the blood flow? If no AVN just work hard at it. It takes a good year to walk correctly if not longer.

I had a type II Talus fracture from a motorcycle accident. I was on an external fixator for two months. I was told not to bear any weight the whole time I was on the fixator. After the two months, I went to physical therapy. It’s been three months and I am still pretty stiff. What I do is try to stick to my physical therapy schedule as much as possible. Apply heat using a heat pad (buy from CVS that is micro-wavable). I take the highest dosage of my pain pills two hours before I do physical therapy at night. This helps me push really hard and get some range of motion before going to sleep. Also, stretch and get the range by working very at it and soon after, do resistance exercises to make the range permanent and gain strength over the newfound range. Feel free to email me. I’m hopeing to run someday but at this point, it doesn’t seem like it’s going to happen any time soon. I am praying to God that I don’t get AVN. God bless all off you. If you guys are riders and going back to riding, please wear high boots with metal plates re-enforcement.

I had a Hawkins 3 or 4 (there is some disagreement) fracture of the talus a year and three months ago in a car accident. I was non weightbearing for eight months and had two surgeries, but my ankle is still causing me severe pain. I have AVN and I know that is part of it, but I really was hoping to find out if there are any shoes that might help the pain. I REALLY want to avoid a fusion as I am only 26 and still can’t run or hop or walk long distances. Crazy bone to break, right?

i fractured my talus and damaged my ligaments severly. I found swimming and cycling for a few weeks helps immensly. after that i was pushing harder with my stretches that were provided for me and i’ve also found very hot baths and keeping the foot warm is a must. its been 3 months now and im 2-3 weeks from playing regular footie again. i hope i can help somebody speed their recovery

Just wanted to let everyone know there are some cases that are not all gloom and doom! I had a non-displaced talus fracture on Oct. 11, 2008. I read as many articles on this as I could find and quite honestly was getting pretty depressed. My doc was kind enough to let me use a walking boot, which I still had from an avulsion fracture a year ago, rather than putting me in a hard cast. He still said no weight for 6-8 weeks. Surprisingly, after 3.5 weeks, I was able to walk in the boot with minimal pain, so I abandoned the crutches. Went back to doc after 5 weeks, and he said swelling, pain, and motion appeared to be a couple weeks ahead of schedule. He said I could begin working out of the boot. I have only put it back on 1 day since Nov. 17 and that was because the ankle swelled that day for some reason. Nov. 23 (6 weeks from injury) I was able to walk through the woods to deer hunt with my boy, and next week, I plan to be out as long as I can stand it. I definitely have pushed this injury harder than the doctor suggested, but after he looked at the foot, he thought it was healing faster than he expected. I may pay for it later, but for now, I am still in pain yet seeing improvements every week.

On July 30, 2008 I fractured both my talus’, wore an external fixator for three weeks, required internal fixation, and was none weight bearing for 4 1/2 months. I was very fortunate not to develop AVN on either side. I am now able to walk normally most days but still can’t jog. A few of thoughts on recovery: 1) Stretch a lot. I thought I was but then developed plantar fasciitis in my left foot which has interferred with my PT. 2) try a bone growth stimulator 3) Excercise/PT as much as possible. 4) Work to regain balance. Don’t push it and keep stretching.

I was in an motorcycle on Feb 8th, had what was called a fucture of the left talus. I don’t know what all that meant but after the first hospital they did x-rays and ct scans on the ankle. What told that the talus bone was fucture in 20 pieces, I think the doctor was over stating it but whatever, was also told that the foot was out of joint and the the muscle, tendons and everything else was all out of wack. Was transferred to a second hospital that handle trama. The next day I went into surgury and had to have some of my hip bone grafted to the talus bone. Spent a week in the hospital before I was released. Went home in what I would guess was a walking boot but was told no walking or pressure on the foot so to make sure they gave me a walker instead on crutches. On February 25th went back to the doctor had the stiches taken out of the foot and the staples out of the hip, had new x-ray and than was put in to a cast again told not to walk or put presurre on the foot. I go back to the doctor on the 25th of March. It will be 6weeks by the time I go back to the doctor since my accident. Every day the foot tinges and ackes and everytime I put the foot down it feels like it is getting swollen and turns bright red. I guess bc I put in the air all day long. I dont know what the doctor is going to tell me on the 25th but hopefully it will be good news bc one day I would like to walk and maybe ride a new motorcycle ” as long as my wife doesn’t know”. Has anyone had this kind of facture of the talus and if so can you tell me how it is turning or turned out for you.

I sustained a non-displaced fracture in the body of the talus in the spring of 2006 and was non-weight bearing for almost 6 months. I spent that time working on core strength and I think that helped my recovery. In rehab I started with walking in a pool – alot – then progressed to swimming and biking. Lots of squats and lunges. Walking on solid ground came only after a couple of months. The ankle ached and swelled after significant walking for about a year and a half post rehab. Took almost 2 years to get back into heels. I can run now 5-6 miles a week but am scared to do more. Doc said probably no running but I’m grateful I can do some. Wondering if anyone else with injury has been able to run significant distances post recovery? My fracture was not complicated and did not require surgery.

Ruben: We are very close in time frames. Finally, I am 3 days walking withOUT any aids, crutches/cane. Dr appt today – being told no AVN – had Hawkins 3 dislocate/T-Fracture so very high rate of AVN. I have been so careful and continue to elevate my foot every night in bed on a pillow. Hope you’re doing well too – not ALL Talus fractures are gloom and doom. Still a long way to go but am improving – thankfully.

i had a carwreck last summer
and shattered my talus. he said it looked like a bomb had went off in my foot. and instead of replacing the the broken peices, i now have a 2 cm chunk of bone missing. It bothers me still everyday and somedays i walk with a limp. I cannot run or jog at all.

Well, here it is, 8 months to the day of the car wreck… Just got the dx today -AVN is present. NOT good news. Mobility and swelling look good but Xray – not so good. Very disappointing and feels like a death sentence for my career… Still thankful to be alive after that drunk driver almost took us out.

I suffered a trimalleolar fracture with open reduction and internal fixation 16 weeks ago. I have been out of the cast and in a boot for the past two weeks and gradually trying to improve weight-bearing and range of motion. After reading everyone else’s comments, I feel less frustrated with the seemingly slow progress I have been working so hard for. Goodlord what have we done to ourselves!

HI Guys,

I fractured my right ankle (fibula) about 2weeks ago. The doc gave me 4 to 6 weeks for the fracture to heal. I’m currently in a walking boot but NOT bearing any weight on it at all. I was told if I want it to heal properly, it is better not to bear any weight until at least at 4 weeks. What do you all think? I read about the mother that went hiking, etc and she even confessed she may pay for it later because she started walking too soon.

I guess patience is the key…

If anyone was working at the time, how long before anyone went back to work? I’m an office worker and I don’t think I could take work on at the moment.

Like someone said, ‘What have we all done to ourselves?’ hahaha – Oh well, that’s the price we pay for being active I guess.

ALWAYS do what your doc recommends. My fracture was very different than yours but if your doc says don’t walk on it or don’t bear weight – there is a good reason for that advice. I was non-weight bearing for 12 wks then it felt like i had to re-learn how to walk – I am STILL limping, 9 months later.

Hi, It’s 10 weeks now since my accident which left me with a broken talar neck (Hawkins 2). The silly thing is I only fell about 6′ from a ladder. My plaster was removed at 6 1/2 weeks, but I’m still not weight bearing, but am slowly gettig some movement back. I’m at the hospital tomorrow for my next checkup to see how the fracture is healing. I’ll keep you all posted and just can’t wait to start walking again…one day….

Well, just back from hospital and so far so good. I’m going to be at least 14 weeks non weight bearing, but I am about to start intensive physiotherapy. Each stage is that bit closer to taking my first steps again Can’t wait

I shattered my talus 6 months ago and after surgery was left with 2 screws and a pin. I had a Hawkins III. I am able to walk with a slight limp, but this injury is life altering. I know I will never be able to run. I am hoping to ride horses again someday but I am waiting until I am at least 1 year post-op. I just got back from the Doctor and there seems to be a good blood flow to the talus. My only problem is one of the fractures is not healing. Anybody out there have that issue? All in all I am thrilled with my progress. I am still on the Ultram and probably will be for some time.

F.Y.I. 47 year old male. On Feb/08/09 I fractured and dislocated my right talus in a motorcycle jump gone BAD.I needed an open reduction/internal fixation surgery that left me with 2 screws,No weight bearing for 12 weeks and some nerve damage. 9 months later i’m only about %75 recovered. The good news is it looks like no AVN. The bad news is after 16 weeks of P.T. I still have quite a bit of pain,and pins and needels feeling on the bottom of my foot and in my toes.I walk with a limp and I also developed plantar fasciitis,that requiers me to wear a removable cast at night. I am still not back to work. I work for Fed-ex and would be on my feet “ALL DAY”. I stretch and ride my Mt. bike as P.T. but I still can’t even walk for more then an hour without a lot of pain and swelling. I have broken arms and legs in the past,but never has it taken even close to this long to heal. I remember the doc telling me after the surgey it would be 9 months to a year before I would be back on a motorcycle. I just though he did not like bikes! Well,lets all keep working at it. It’s way to early for the wheel chair… ALSO: For you newbees that are freshly broken… I used a devise to get around without crutches called I-WALK-FREE. I found it in a moto-x mag. I bought mine on e-bay. and it was worth every penny.You strap it to your leg and you can walk without crutches.But you do walk like a pirate…

Hi, Just wondered how others have got on driving since a talar neck fracture? I drive quite long distances in the UK for my work and was wondering if I should get my car adapted so the accelerator can be opperated with my left foot, as I’m not sure what the movement and strength will be like in my right foot since the break. Thanks Colin

Colin -We are close in time frames – 2/5/09 – Hawkins III dislocated, double fractured talus. I just found out after 8 months that AVN is present – Pain is back and increasing significantly. Totally sucks. Am back at work but… I have 6 screws and a plate. I will probably limp all my life or until I have to get ankle replacement. I am no longer in PT, they can’t help any more. I do my own PT by walking in the pool and daily walking. Lots of remaining nerve damage too, numbness and tingling on bottom of foot.

I was hit head on by a drunk driver, was lucky to survive with “just” a broken ankle. This IS life altering and career ending in some cases..

Sorry – I meant John (#22), we are close in time frames.
Colin: I busted up my left ankle so driving is ok – although I could not drive for 4 months post accident.

I has surgery May 5th 2009 for a shattered Talus (Hawkins III) I thought I weighed 50 ilbs when I went to reach for a blanket on a high shelve. Needless to say I jammed the injured foot and broke the shelf. I am worried that I did something bad to it. Weight bearing has become painful and uneven ground is unbearable. Anybody re-injure after surgery?