How I Am Recovering From One Broken Ankle and One Sprained Ankle

Broken Bones

Now, this may not be a big deal to most people, but this is my first experience with a broken bone—unless you count a fractured nose from a car accident. I don't count that because there was nothing the doctors could do about it, and I didn't have to change my daily activities.

How ironic that I have recently been writing articles about positive thinking techniques, only to have to depend heavily upon those techniques to get me through this difficult time.

RICE (Medicine)

How did you spend Memorial Day? I spent part of it visiting Urgent Care. See, talented as I am, I had twisted one ankle the night before while walking into the kitchen, only for my other ankle to then twist and completely give out, causing me to collapse to the floor.

I'm not real big on medical appointments, so I just decided to apply the RICE method—rest, ice, compression and elevation (thanks to my husband's quick thinking). The next morning, I visited Urgent Care, where they placed splints on both ankles, as they had no real casts or medical walking boots.

Within 48 hours of an injury, you should start using ice. You can use a plastic freezer bag filled with ice and water for molding or a bag of frozen vegetables such as corn or peas. You should layer a towel between your skin and the ice. Never leave the ice on the injury longer than 15-20 minutes to prevent frostbite.

Then, wait 40-45 minutes to allow tissues to return to normal temperature and sensation before icing again. Repeat the steps. The ice helps reduce or slow the swelling, and the numbness sensation will ease the pain. This technique helped me so much, especially in those first couple of days. Even now, icing helps my sprained ankle.

Thanks again to my husband, he decided to roll out a desk office chair to the car to get me into the house since I was told by the medical doctor that I had broken both ankles with multiple fractures. I was given a prescription for a wheelchair. I don't think many pharmacies or medical supply stores would be open on Memorial Day, so this chair on wheels was the next best thing, a brilliant idea. The chair with wheels is also very helpful in small areas where a wheelchair wouldn't fit, plus it is adjustable, which comes in handy, too.

Desk Chair with Wheels

Placing a bath towel on the desk chair's seat helps for many things, too, such as just drying off your hands. The advantages of an adjustable desk chair with wheels:

• Easier to brush your teeth since you can adjust it higher
• Easier to style your hair or put on make-up
• Easier to take a sponge bath
• Easier to just wash your hands
• Easier for a man to shave or for a woman to prop her legs up on something to shave her legs

Crutches Versus Walker Versus Wheelchair

A trip to the orthopedic doctor the next day proved that I only had possibly broken one ankle and sprained the other ankle, which was good news. The doctor felt some of the other fractures had either been there for awhile or were too slight to count. However, he did not want me using the wheelchair my husband had gotten earlier in the day. He said it is not a good idea to spend a lot of time in a wheelchair because it can start causing you all kinds of medical issues such as pneumonia.

I have to admit, a wheelchair can be kind of fun for a little while, and it sure helps get me around. It just takes some practice to maneuver around! You must be careful not to get your arm and hand caught in tight places when turning the wheels yourself. I sometimes find my arm caught between the wheels, walls, or furniture. Wouldn't want to cause yourself more injuries.

Also, sometimes, my cast will slide off the footrest since my current wheelchair doesn't have any type of strap on the footrest, so duck tape comes to the rescue. By placing some duck tape on the bottom of my cast, it seems to keep my cast from slipping off the footrest so much.

You need to keep moving as much as possible instead of being so sedentary. The doctor wanted to fit me with crutches and then mentioned physical therapy with them since I had voiced some concern about possibly injuring myself further by trying to use crutches. Obviously, I'm not the most coordinated person from the injuries I just endured, so we settled on a walker even though I'm not elderly. I feel a walker is a safe bet for me, hopefully. Better safe than sorry, right? I now have a below-the-knee cast on one leg, thank goodness it is below the knee, and an air splint on the other leg. Things could always be worse, right?

Time Heals Wounds

Difference Between Sprained (Damage to Ligaments) or Broken (Fractured) Ankle

Recommended

My Experience Using the Paxman Cold Cap During Chemo

Poll

Dry Shampoo and Other Convenient Products

The orthopedic doctor told me to stay off both ankles. Now, if you ever had a problem similar to mine, you know what a pain it can be to not be able to stand or walk and do things for yourself.

So far, I have found out that I actually like using dry shampoo even though I didn't particularly care for it months before when I bought it just to try. It is something I have heard people recently mentioning especially from the reality t.v. world. Never knew those little disposable mini Wisp toothbrushes we had bought for our son for a summer camp would come in so handy. Nothing like brushing your teeth on the couch.

I also found out that you can cover your cast with a tall kitchen garbage bag by taping it at the top so your cast doesn't get wet while you shower. Personally, I have found that the quick-tie bags work best for this, since you don't have to bother with the tape. Also, I put a towel on the top of my leg, so the towel can catch any water going in the direction of my cast. You can sit on a bath chair to help with your shower or bath.

Just make sure you have everything within reaching distance such as: shampoo, soap, razor, towel and washcloth. You may also want to use a pitcher to collect water to help rinse yourself off. This seems to help me a lot. Also, make sure you have a towel or a good rug on the floor, to keep from slipping on all the water that can possibly escape from your shower.

Also, in a pinch, baby wipes are a convenient and fast way to clean off your toes sticking out of the cast when you are not bathing. This way, you don't have to worry so much about getting your cast wet with a wash cloth.

Thank goodness, I had recently purchased some wide leg cargo pants. The zippered pockets really come in handy to hold your cell phone so it won't fall on the floor which you possibly couldn't get to with two injured ankles. Plus the wide legs make it easier to get over the cast and splint.

Shower Chair and Walker

I went ahead and ordered some things from Amazon. Did you know you can even order a wheelchair from Amazon? I recently ordered one to help me with going long distances since using the walker goes so slow and I'm not that good at it, lol. Also, glad I happened to notice that some wheelchairs can be moved by the patients by turning the wheels themselves and some cannot. Other wheelchairs can only be pushed by another person. Glad I didn't make that mistake since I want to be able to move myself along if needed.

Awesome to know if you are in desperate need of a wheelchair or most medical supplies for that matter, you can easily order these items from Amazon. How convenient! I also decided to order one of those bath chair benches for the shower and the walker. I also read you can use a lounge chair if you have a big shower in place of a bath chair. I thought that was a good idea, too.

Shower Chair

Poll

Want to Be Separate

The "want" to be separate is definitely something I have been thinking about. I am someone who likes to be alone at times. I find the quiet enjoyable. Well, at this particular time in my life with two injuries, I kind of like having people around because I need the help. It is much appreciated; I would be lost without people being around at this point to help me.

Hope

So what do you think I've been using to help me deal with these injuries? Positive thinking techniques and prayers—as well, of course, as Aleve for swelling and Extra Strength Tylenol for pain. My goal statement: I will allow myself to heal quickly and correctly. I never knew all of these positive thinking reinforcements would become so beneficial, but they sure have helped me to have a more positive attitude about this unfortunate situation.

Luckily for me, the orthopedic doctor said it was a perfect break, meaning the bones were still all aligned, so I should not need surgery. Yay for me, right? He does have to keep an eye on the bone, though, to make sure it heals properly.

Hope

Pain

Pain is like a warning light in our car. At first, it is alerting you to a problem that might need to be fixed, like a broken bone. After that, pain can become more of a memory or thought of what was, and can make us feel we are in more pain than what we actually are.

Our negative thoughts or memories can cause us to have more physical pain so we need to rid ourselves of those negative thoughts. By listening to audios by Hale Dwoskin, it has helped me ease that physical pain of a broken bone (or the memory of it) so much.

Further Reading

I'm so glad I have been practicing positive thinking before all this happened because it has helped me to be more positive about my situation. It is helping me deal better with what life has given me at this point. The techniques and positive thinking have given me a "crutch" to lean on mentally at this trying time.

If you would like to read more about positive thinking techniques, please see my first article: "Introduction to Freeing Yourself From Your Problems."

Please feel free to comment or ask me any questions, and I will try to respond. Thank you for reading.

This content is accurate and true to the best of the author’s knowledge and does not substitute for diagnosis, prognosis, treatment, prescription, and/or dietary advice from a licensed health professional. Drugs, supplements, and natural remedies may have dangerous side effects. If pregnant or nursing, consult with a qualified provider on an individual basis. Seek immediate help if you are experiencing a medical emergency.

Questions & Answers

Question: How long will I be unable to walk after having the hardware taken out of my ankle?

Answer: If you are talking about hardware, I did not have any hardware.

However, my husband had hardware from a compound fracture (his bone came out of his leg). He had a pin across his ankle to connect the two bones. Once the hardware was removed, he was able to bear or tolerate some weight on his ankle right away. Furthermore, he also had to have some physical therapy.

However, everybody is different and you need to follow your doctor's medical advice.

© 2017 Tomi Smith

Comments

Tomi Smith (author) on May 30, 2018:

KapriAnn, thank you for reading my article and for commenting. Glad to know that I am not the only one.

My ankles seem to be doing okay now, but I did do some physical therapy on both ankles for about six months. Sometimes, I just get little aches now.

It was the first doctor at the urgent care that told me to stay off my feet. The orthopaedic doctor didn't want me using a wheelchair, but I would still use it for long distances. He wanted me to use the walker to move around, so I wouldn't be sedentary. It was really hard for me to use the walker too, but the brace on my sprained ankle helped to support my ankle some. I believe it was a little painful on my sprained ankle too at first.

Hope your sprained ankle starts feeling better so you can bear some weight on it. Wishing you a speedy recovery.

KapriAnn on May 28, 2018:

Hiya, I broke one ankle and sprained the other all in the same go, just over a week ago. So having found your article is really reassuring to read I'm not the only one struggling with "life's little problems"

how are your ankles now? Your very lucky the break was clean, i wasnt that fortunate and had to have a plate and screws fitted.

I am wondering though... why did the orthopaedic doctor advise u not to walk on either foot but then also advised you not to use a wheelchair?

I can't get around with my walking frame (im too clumsy for crutches too lol) as my sprained ankle is too painful to weight bare and I'm not allowed to put any weight on the broken one, so i have to use the wheelchair to get anywhere at the moment.

I hope your well now ☺