For instance, you can physically raise the injured body part too high. You can also elevate your injury for too much time every day. Physical therapists can help you determine the appropriate elevation height, and they can help you learn how long to elevate your injury as well. Even better, a physical therapist can offer effective treatment options that go beyond elevation. For one thing, elevating an injured body part helps blood and fluid flow away from the injured area.
This is helpful because it can help reduce swelling. In turn, reducing your swelling can also decrease the inflammation and pain of your injury. However, elevating the injured area too high or for too long can have several consequences. Raising your injury too high can decrease blood flow too much. If the doctor gave you a prescription medicine for pain, take it as prescribed.
If you are not taking a prescription pain medicine, ask your doctor if you can take an over-the-counter medicine. Prop up your leg on pillows in the first few days after the injury. Keep the ankle higher than the level of your heart.
This will help reduce swelling. Do not put weight on your ankle unless your doctor tells you to. Use crutches to walk. Follow instructions for exercises to keep your leg strong. Wiggle your toes often to reduce swelling and stiffness. For example, call if: You have chest pain, are short of breath, or you cough up blood.
You are very sleepy and you have trouble waking up. Call your doctor or nurse call line now or seek immediate medical care if: You have new or worse nausea or vomiting. You have new or worse pain. Your foot is cool or pale or changes colour.
You have tingling, weakness, or numbness in your toes. Your cast or splint feels too tight. You have signs of a blood clot in your leg called a deep vein thrombosis , such as: Pain in your calf, back of the knee, thigh, or groin. Redness or swelling in your leg. Watch closely for changes in your health, and be sure to contact your doctor or nurse call line if: You have a problem with your splint or cast. You do not get better as expected.
Current as of: November 16, Home About MyHealth. Include Images Large Print. Being off your feet for weeks can be frustrating, but this period of non-weight bearing activity is a crucial part of the recovery process.
Walking on a broken ankle too early can prevent it from healing correctly and may make the injury worse. Fortunately, there are a few different mobility devices that can help you to stay mobile during this challenging phase. Traditional crutches are easy to get a hold of and relatively inexpensive. Many people use crutches after ankle surgery or while recovering from an ankle fracture.
However, they are tiring to use and can cause pain in other parts of your body, particularly your arms and hands. Traditional crutches are also restrictive because they require the focused effort of your hands and arms. Because of these limitations, people are often tempted to walk on a broken ankle too soon, causing further problems. Knee scooters, also called knee walkers, are another option to stay mobile while recovering from a broken ankle.
They are more efficient than crutches and require less upper body strength. They are also bulky, which makes them challenging to transport. The iWALK hands-free crutch enables you to walk unaided with full use of your hands and arms. It functions like a temporary lower leg so you can go about your daily life as usual while recovering from a broken ankle. It can be used on stairs, slopes, uneven terrain and in the shower. A medical study [4] found that nine out of 10 patients prefer the iWALK crutch to traditional crutches.
Moreover, studies show the iWALK simulates normal walking in a way that engages upper and lower leg muscles while immobilizing the foot.
Research proves that muscle activity boosts blood flow, and that speeds recovery times. Engaging lower leg muscles while using the iWALK also may mitigate muscle atrophy, which is unavoidable using traditional crutches or knee scooters.
Remember to rest and elevate your ankle whenever possible during your recovery. Gently move your toes and bend your knee regularly to prevent your muscles from getting stiff. As tempting as it is, try not to put anything down your cast to scratch an itch. It may get stuck or cause damage to your skin, increasing the risk of infection. In the shower, balance your injured leg on a stool or use a hands-free crutch like the iWALK.
Over the counter painkillers such as acetaminophen e. Tylenol or ibuprofen e. Before starting any medication, talk to your doctor to ensure they are safe for your unique medical needs.
It takes around six to 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 daily activities by around three months. Endurance will improve over time and as your strength improves. Most people get the green light to slowly start putting weight on their leg around six weeks after breaking their ankle.
It generally takes six to 10 weeks for a broken ankle to heal. Conditions like diabetes and nicotine use can slow the healing time significantly, potentially even doubling the amount of time it takes to heal from a broken ankle. You should be able to resume your normal daily routine around three months after breaking your ankle. It can take several months to regain strength and range of motion in your ankle.
Most people use crutches after ankle surgery but other mobility devices to consider include knee scooters and the iWALK hands-free crutch. Kevin D. About the author — Dr. Martin specializes in orthopaedic surgery of the foot and ankle. In addition to his practice Dr.
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