How can I walk after broken ankle?
After your fractured ankle has healed, your doctor will remove the cast and allow you to bear more weight on your ankle. You may be using an assistive device like a quad cane or crutches to walk. At this point, your physical therapist can fully evaluate your ankle to help provide the proper treatment.
How do you regain mobility after broken ankle?
How do you start walking after a fracture?
Properly-fitted crutches or a walker will help you get around during this time. Some types of fractures can heal with weight bearing, but you will likely wear a rigid boot to provide stability for walking. When you are ready to walk unaided, it’s important not to overload your bone.
What helps broken bones heal faster?
A healthy diet is one full of vegetables, fruits, lean protein and water. In particular, calcium, vitamin D and protein will be important during the bone healing process, so be sure you’re focusing on food sources rich in these nutrients, including dark, leafy greens, broccoli, fish, meat, yogurt, nuts and seeds.
How long does it take to walk normally after a broken foot?
Activity. As you recover, your provider will instruct you to begin moving your foot. This may be as soon as 3 weeks or as long 8 weeks after your injury. When you restart an activity after a fracture, build up slowly.
What happens if you walk on a broken foot too soon?
Until you see a doctor for a diagnosis and treatment plan, you should not walk on a suspected broken foot, because walking on a broken foot too soon could cause more damage to the foot.
Can I walk on a broken foot after 4 weeks?
Many people continue to walk on their injured foot despite having a fracture. This can cause further damage to the foot or toe. The patient may have been walking around on a broken bone for weeks. Sometimes, stress fractures don’t show up on X-rays for up to 2 weeks after the injury.
How long will I be off work with a broken ankle?
It takes around 6- 10 weeks to recover from a broken ankle. During this time, you will probably need to wear a cast or boot. Most people are able to walk normally again and resume their everyday activities by around three months – endurance improves over time and as your strength improves.
What is the fastest way to heal a broken ankle?
Ankle Fracture Treatment Self-Care at Home
- Stay off the injured ankle so you do not injure it further.
- Keep the ankle elevated to help decrease swelling and pain.
- Apply cold packs to the injured area to decrease swelling and pain. Do not apply ice directly. Cold packs are effective for up to 48 hours.
Why does my broken ankle hurt more at night?
Bone stress injuries occur because of an unfamiliar increase in physical activity and is related to overuse, under recovery and several considerations that result in the bone not being able to keep up with the required adaptations. A fracture can result and this will cause pain at night time.
How long before you can put weight on a broken ankle?
Your provider will tell you when it is OK to place any weight on your injured ankle. Most of the time, this will be at least 6 to 10 weeks. Putting weight on your ankle too soon may mean the bones do not heal properly.
How do you shower with a broken ankle?
How to Shower With A Broken Ankle
- Recruit Help. Whenever there’s someone around to help you out, make sure they’re standing by your side when you’re getting in and out of the shower/tub.
- Try to Take Baths As Often As Possible.
- Shower with Confidence.
- Clean Your Boot/Cast.
How long will my ankle be swollen after fracture?
The foot and ankle become swollen, painful and can no longer hold any weight. It takes several days or weeks for the swelling to go down completely, and can take months for the ankle joint to fully recover from the fracture.
How long does pain last after broken ankle?
For most foot and ankle operations, tenderness and swelling can take 3-4 months to resolve, while for more complicated procedures, the recovery may take a full year (or more).
Is pain a sign of healing?
New Study Demonstrates That Pain Is Important to Wound Healing. A new study found that cells in the body actually respond to pain.
Why is my ankle still swollen after 3 months?
But swelling that persists for more than three months may be a sign of trouble. The lining of the capsule surrounding a joint is called the synovium, and anything inside the joint that irritates the synovium will cause it to secrete fluid. Swelling inside of a joint is often a sign that something is causing irritation.
Does a broken ankle hurt when healing?
Chronic pain after the healing is complete
When you suffer a fracture, it will eventually heal and recover to the point that you no longer experience pain. Unfortunately, this does not happen for everyone. Some people may continue to experience pain long after the fracture and soft tissues have finished healing.
What does a broken ankle feel like?
With a sprain, you feel pain. But if you have numbness or tingling, your ankle is most likely broken. Where is the pain? If your ankle hurts or is tender to the touch directly over your ankle bone, you probably have a fracture.
How do you strengthen a broken ankle?
Ankle dorsiflexion
- Sit with your affected leg straight and supported on the floor. Your other leg should be bent, with that foot flat on the floor.
- Keeping your affected leg straight, gently flex your foot back toward your body so your toes point upward.
- Repeat 8 to 12 times.

David Nilsen is the former editor of Fourth & Sycamore. He is a member of the National Book Critics Circle. You can find more of his writing on his website at davidnilsenwriter.com and follow him on Twitter as @NilsenDavid.