I broke my tib/fib 9wks ago. why are my ankles so swollen?
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dang. no good. tib/fib fx's stink! swelling is a normal stage of healing. so you've been non-weightbearing for 9 weeks? that's a LOOOONG time for your legs to not be getting the exercise they need. did you have surgery to correct the fracture? if the affected leg is really sensitive, it could be from being casted/splinted for so long. i'd gently rub it with a washcloth when bathing to scrub off any dry skin and desensitize the area. keeping your feet elevated is also a good idea. ever heard of 'ankle pumps'? sit in a chair with both feet on the floor. slowly raise your heels up until only toes are on the floor, kinda like stomping your heels up and down. go up as high as you can and then come down. this is a way to naturally have your calf muscles pump out some of the swelling. don't wear tight socks or shoes for a while either. let your body try to move the edema around on its own. age is also a factor and if you are a diabetic, you could have a slow go at healing. good luck and remember not to over-do it right now! too much walking and getting around will only exacerbate the swelling. :)
Hi Deborah, yes after getting the cast off a broke ankle when you attempt walking it's quite common to suffer from inflamed ankles for a while.
I broke my ankle a few years back and if I recall correctly it was a good 6 months before I didn't suffer any swelling in the ankles.
Just make sure that you elevate your legs to help reduce the swelling and don't over do things.
In time you'll notice it's better but our bodies take a long time to heal sometimes and we're all unique in our healing.
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