A week ago today my wife slipped while we were out hiking out dogs. It was icy but we had made it to a road that runs through the Army core property we hike daily. My female shepherd pulled her and she slipped and ended up with a Tib/Fib/Talus break.
Have to say she's one tough SOB as we were a 1/4 mile from a trail head. I got her to it and my daughter picked us up. ER set the bones, saw the foot/ankle surgeon next day and surgery is booked for Wed this week.

She is struggling mentally with the no weight bearing aspect of this injury, the foot ankle guy reset the break in a very weird position to help close the break in preparation for the surgery.
My wife is a 5 day a week boot camper, dog hiker and does on avg 20k steps a day and being shutdown is literally making her despondent. I'm handling everything for her, all household stuff, got her a knee roller but I'm watching her get angrier and angrier at her self.

Generally we hike the dogs off leash but there was a lot trail users out including fat bikers so we had them leashed up, when the female shepherd pulled she should have let go of the leash but didn't`and her anger and frustration is coming from that.

I'm looking for advice on what recovery will be like for her, and maybe on how to deal with all the negative emotion she's dealing with. I've been with this women for 25 years and I`ve never seen her like this mentally.

Thank you in advance.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: liner,

Do you know exactly what surgery she is having? Are they putting pins in to help set the bone, or does she need repair to the ligaments in her ankle?


I’ve had 13 surgeries on my left ankle and foot over the course of the last 30 years since being injured in the Army.

It sounds like she is active. So that’s a plus. It also sounds like she doesn’t have an injury history, also a plus


Make her follow directions the doctors give you and take the meds.

People try to be “tough” and not take pain meds. It’s bullshit. Very few people in this country are dying because they get addicted to post op pain meds. People are dying because they’re taking fetanyl off the street. I assume that isn’t you and her. So take what they give you, how and when they give them to her, and follow their instructions on how to transition off of them. Properly used they will help with her recovery. Trust me.

And do the PT. Exactly how they tell you to. If you don’t have a good PT find one. They are as important as having a good surgeon.

She will probably casted/splinted and non weight bearing for 6-8 weeks. It will suck. Be a good husband and take care of her. When she can start to move around and put some weight on it, help her, but make sure she doesn’t over do it.

Once therapy starts, active people tend to recover more quickly. Just make sure she doesn’t try and go too fast and re-injure things. This is where a good PT comes in again. There is no “one size fits all” PT for any injury. There are certainly procedures, but their efficacy and application will change based on the patient. A good PT will have her going with what is appropriate to her


Real talk, you’re looking at probably 3 months until she is starting to really begin to resume what she was doing before the injury. Again, ease back into it. This is the voice of experience. (Beyond my leg, I have a prosthetic shoulder, and my right leg is full of pins too. Only my right arm doesn’t have titanium in it. If there are mistakes to recovery to be made, I’ve made them)


Good luck!

Kevbo thank you

Good questions on type of surgery- I couldn't go in to see the surgeon with her and she didn't ask what I would have asked. Pins for sure, there has been no MRI so no idea on ligament damage. The 6-8 weeks non weight bearing is going to be majorly difficult for her. I travel for work, we have 2 German Shepherds that need a ton of exercise and a multi floor house with a 2nd floor bedroom. I've been carrying her knee scooter up and down the stairs for her along with crutches.
We do gave a 17 year old daughter who has been helping but she is not home a lot due to school/sports and work.

My father in law broke his Tibia and Fibula around 14 months ago. Unfortunately his breaks where not clean and had one puncture the skin. As a result of his injury he had 2 surgery's to repair the bones. The first involved an external fixture with a follow up surgery two weeks later to permanently set the bones and install the hardware.

Most of the Physical Therapists that have seen his X-Ray have expressed that it's one of the worst or worst they've seen. Based off of that information his recovery is far from typical and more or less a worse case scenario.

He is back to working full time again, however he was off work for a solid 8 months (maintenance in a feed mill). He has limited range of motion and will have a limp for the remainder of his life. The pain has gotten better over time (I think the hardware should be removed personally), but he has learned to live with it. At this point he is able to do the majority of the things he used to do without much issue.

Every break is different and everyone's recovery is different. From what it sounds your wife is extremely active which will be a huge benefit. Follow doc's orders and don't be afraid to push it when the time comes. I wish her the best and hope that she has a speedy recovery.

quote:

Originally posted by 98XJRC:
My father in law broke his Tibia and Fibula around 14 months ago. Unfortunately his breaks where not clean and had one puncture the skin. As a result of his injury he had 2 surgery's to repair the bones. The first involved an external fixture with a follow up surgery two weeks later to permanently set the bones and install the hardware.

Most of the Physical Therapists that have seen his X-Ray have expressed that it's one of the worst or worst they've seen. Based off of that information his recovery is far from typical and more or less a worse case scenario.

He is back to working full time again, however he was off work for a solid 8 months (maintenance in a feed mill). He has limited range of motion and will have a limp for the remainder of his life. The pain has gotten better over time (I think the hardware should be removed personally), but he has learned to live with it. At this point he is able to do the majority of the things he used to do without much issue.

Every break is different and everyone's recovery is different. From what it sounds your wife is extremely active which will be a huge benefit. Follow doc's orders and don't be afraid to push it when the time comes. I wish her the best and hope that she has a speedy recovery.

Thank you

That sounds like a really horrible break.

She'll be in a wheelchair for weeks . Crutches for many more . This is going to take a while . Watch her carefully . Nighttime trips to the bathroom etc. will take your assistance . Baths will be dicey getting in and out . I've been there with my own wife . Whatever you do , don't let her fall .

Had a serious lower leg break in the 80s. To the point where a group of Doctors were standing at the foot of my hospital bed and discussing amputating my leg in the same way you would order a cheeseburger. Fortunately, a very good bone specialist came to my rescue. And he brought with him a lot stainless steel plates and screws! The event shaved 8 months off my life, not including the PT. I can still walk OK and run a little bit, but my right leg is shorter now. And I have reduced flexibility in my ankle and foot, thanks to scar tissue from multiple surgeries to install and remove hardware. Consult a bone specialist, follow his instructions and work hard at PT.
Bonus: When they took the plates out of my leg, I had the Doc turn them over to me. I made keyrings out of them. Still use them!
Also: Damn did all that stainless steel transfer the cold to my bones in the winter!
selogics points are all right on, too.

SC's wife broke her ankle BADLY back in September and Tabitha had to live with them to take care of her for a full 12 weeks after the surgery and take her for her followup doctor visits. She had to have a titanium rod inserted up through her tibia and screwed in on both ends. They didn't even bother with the broken fibula, just let the muscle hold it in place to heal.

They bought a used hoveround for her to get around with during her time off her leg.

So 2 years ago I fell in the bedroom. It wasn't that bad,so I thought. I somehow hobbled to the bathroom to take a shower. Passed out in the middle of it and fell on the bathroom floor/bathmat. Wife came home from shopping sometime later. Found me on the floor. Helped me hobble to the car and thence to the ER. It was only a really bad sprain. "Only".

My wife now tries to help me by parking as far away as she can to increase my pain. Its not really been 2 full years yet, but going on it. I spend a bunch of time in my recliner. Yes, they sent me to PT. I liked the girl, she was both nice and cute. Those are the good things from the entire event. The girl part. My ankle is still got half a grapefruit on the outside.

How long does it take? I'll let you know if it ever does..

I broke my leg and dislocated my ankle after an encounter with a deer while riding my motorcycle. I needed surgery to repair the leg and ankle, it was 3 months before I could attempt to walk on the leg and 6 months before I was able to walk without the aid of crutches or a cane. The ankle injury took the longest to heal, after 8-9 months I was still walking with a noticeable limp and experiencing pain and discomfort. After 16 months I'm walking normally but the ankle still gets stiff and sore sometimes when I lay down for a while.

when i broke my right fibula in jan '06. i was in bed for 2 weeks, crutches for two weeks, 2 weeks hard-boot, then pt.

combination of plates/screws both sides.

hardware was removed + repair of atfl ligment in 2016.

it was may '06 before i returned to work.

I got a plate and screws in a similar break a few years ago. I took me about a week to get the swelling down enough for the surgery. After surgery it was pretty much 90 days of little to no movement for me. Then started physical therapy, did that until the VA stopped paying the bills and the PT office fired me as a patient, so about 60 days twice a week. I was cleared off the braces and crutches somewhere around 4 months after surgery, but ordered to not do anything that hurt.

I'd say by 6 months I was moving pretty good with a cane, and at around 9 I could ditch the cane most of the time. 2 years later, or maybe its been 3, I can sort of run again, but I didn't every get back full movement. I've done some hiking, and most people can't tell my limp. I get pain frequently, and can't keep up with my kids. All in all, for turning my foot around backwards and dealing with the VA, I figure I have it pretty good.

You need to apply for a temporary Disabled parking placard . You'll need it . The info can be found on Massachusetts website .

quote:

Originally posted by liner:

I'm looking for advice on what recovery will be like for her, and maybe on how to deal with all the negative emotion she's dealing with. I've been with this women for 25 years and I`ve never seen her like this mentally.

Thank you in advance.

I CAN empathize. In November 2019 my wife, of 25 years, was at her parents' house and "missed" the last step, but caught her foot on the edge of the carpet and broke her ankle in three places. That was a LONG night in two urgent care clinics. I bought her a new lazy boy recliner the next day and said "welcome to your new home." And she was chair-bound for 2.5 months, including the surgery with two rods and about 18 screws permanently added). In the meantime, her Dad died in Decemeber 2019 and her Mom had to be moved into a 24/7 care facility because she was 13 years into a diagnoses of Alzheimer's and needed 100% care.

It was TOUGH, but she's tough, I took care of her, and 2+ years later she has some wicked scars but is maybe 90% recovered. I suspect your wife will pull through with flying colors. Just be supportive, patient, let her vent, and let the doctors and PT folks do their part. Best of luck in this difficult time, but it too shall pass...

Just sent you an e-mail.

I had a compound fracture of the tib/fib in my lower leg along with my femur in two places. I had an external fixater that connected 6 pins. After that mess came out I had a series of three different casts. I was heavily into bicycling at that time so my leg seemingly healed very quickly but I was in my early 20’s at the time.

Several months after the last cast I went snow skiing on the advice that my Dr. said it would be fine. I re-broke the tib/fib and just got a cast the second time.

On her long term expectations I guess everyone is different but I’ve never had an issue with that leg what so ever 30 years later, even playing hockey and basketball.

She is probably in the initial stages of grief over the limitation she feels she gave herself. I’m not going to lie it will be a bummer for a while but with each improvement in mobility her spirits will get higher and higher.

A lot of racers in the sport I love go through a tib/fib break. Some of them worse than others. One of my heroes had it happen. And he was racing 6 weeks later at the highest level. One of the bones went through the skin.

A positive attitude is a must and a willingness to eat clean and do all PT necessary. They make upper body machines to use while this goes on to keep your upper body working and active. Maybe a gym membership and using some cables for shoulders, back, and arms. So I’d suggest working out.

It sucks but mental is the biggest issue. Have to turn the negative into positive telling yourself, hey me, I’m gonna bust ass at PT and recovery and come back stronger. I had shoulder surgery several years ago. Before surgery I said I’m going to do anything and everything necessary and got back to what they told me would be in a year, in 5 months flat. Shit happens. Just have to get a positive attitude and go to work. It will take time and diligence but she can do it. Just be positive, over and over with positivity.

Instead of a wheelchair, I've seen people use this roll thingie that they put their knee on top of it to carry their weight and they scoot with the other foot.

^^^^^^^^^^^
Called a knee scooter. Wheelchair is needed too.

I can't advise on how this injury will affect her, but I can provide a wealth of experience in the rehab afterward.

You may or may not know that in 2018 I contracted Clostridium difficile and spent a month in a coma and almost five months in a physical rehab facility.

Suffice to say, like mine, her recovery will depend on how much she puts into the physical recovery process.

It starts with doing everything and more than the physical therapist directs. When I arrived at the rehab I couldn't stand or walk. The lead PT, Erin, told me that if I did everything they said, I would be there "at least six months." Take about a kick in the balls. So I made an agreement with her that I would come to the PT gym every morning to do what I needed the staff to do (e.g., learn to walk again). I'd come back every afternoon to do what I could on my own (e.g., lift weights, ride the exercise bike for people in a wheelchair). She blew me off thinking I would be LIKE EVERY OTHER PATIENT IN THE PLACE and would barely do what the PT staff said to do. Four weeks later, she comes to me to tell me I need to take a day off per week to give my muscles a chance to recover, for I am already walking short distances, and I'm hitting the bike and weights every afternoon. Then I began to see a change in their attitude toward me. Erin was able to challenge me hard enough I'd take it seriously, while not injuring myself by doing more. Needless to say, this attitude, accompanied by action, got me out of there is just under five months.

The battle since has been to keep that momentum, when you suddenly have a life to lead, with work, chores, personal life. I did a horrible job there, but of late the little progress I've made since getting out of the rehab has begun to add up and I am doing better, albeit a "better" I might have reached a year ago.

Tell her it is up to her. She'll get out what she puts in.

I emailed my phone number if you or she would care to chat.