Fractured Fibula, Dislocated Ankle, ORIF Surgery
This sucks. I had been hitting it hard; running and lifting daily. And, then in a single instance, it all came to a temporary end. As I deal with the initial phase of my first really debilitating injury, I ask for the advice of any of you that have experienced the same.
I completely dislocated my ankle. There is a gap between my my talus and my tibia and the talus is pushed to the side. Moreover, I fractured my fibula about an inch and and half below my knee. From the site of the fracture, the fibula is also split from there, down its length, nearly all the way to the ankle.
I am scheduled for two surgeries on Christmas Eve morning. The easier of the two, repairing my ankle, just requires a pin being shot into the dislocation, pulling the joint together, like a clamp. My fibula is going to require an incision so that the surgeon can adhere a plate to to the bone with screws (those in the know like to refer to this procedure as an ORIF) and insert a screw at the site of the fracture to secure that section of the bone.
From what I have been told, I will only be in a full leg cast for about a week. However, I will be totally non-weightbearing on my injured foot until the pin is removed from my ankle in six weeks.
Has anyone else experienced a similar injury? If so, how did you cope with being sedentary? How bad was the lower body atrophy during recovery? How long after becoming weightbearing were you able to exercise the leg again? Were you ever able to push the ankle to pre-injury limits (squats, leg presses, running on pavement, etc)?
Thank you! All comments are appreciated. Here are some pictures of the injured foot a week later, on my birthday nonetheless, for your viewing enjoyment.
[img]http://img44.imageshack.us/img44/8474/foot1v.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img97.imageshack.us/img97/5178/foot2m.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/1449/foot5.jpg[/img]
[img]http://img41.imageshack.us/img41/7756/foot4t.jpg[/img]
Full Recovery in 3 months
Brief and, probably final, update (You may notice that this seems directed to a different audience. It was; I originally wrote it for another forum and did not feel like rewriting specifically for BB. Thanks for following):
I had posted previous updates as to my condition.
I fractured my fibula and dislocated my ankle late last year. I underwent ORIF surgery on December 24, 2009. I also had a pin placed in my ankle that was removed in February of 2010.
I would not advise my methodology to everyone. However, I am a very active, extremely healthy young male that adheres to a strict diet and fitness routine. I do not know if these factors aided my recovery. I do know that I pushed my recovery in the sense that I began weight-bearing as quickly as medically possible, began walking when comfortable and, soon after, resumed running.
By February of 2010, just about two months after surgery, I was able to walk without a cast. It is now mid-March and I am able to run, jump, and have full confidence on my injured leg. My doctor placed my date of my Maximum Medical Improvement at April 15th. I am basically fully recovered now though.
I know most others are having results different than mine. However, my injury was pretty severe. I suffered a complete fracture of the fibula just below the knee, and, along with the dislocated ankle, had bones chips scattered internally throughout my lower leg.
Nonetheless, my recovery has been prompt and complete. I hope this gives others hope.