Plates/screws in right ankle

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skonger
skonger Posts: 26 Member
in Fitness and Exercise
Anyone on here have any experience with trying to get back in shape after a serious accident?

9 months ago I was in a serious motorcycle accident, fractured sternum and broken ribs, crushed ankle that now has two plates and 10 screws. Started weight bearing after three surgeries and walking 3 months ago, still have a very limited range of motion with the ankle.

Before the accident, I was an avid runner and it's iffy about me ever running again. I've since gained 20lbs and have muscle atrophy on the lower right leg. I'm trying to get back in shape and find I'm limited on what I can do.

Has anyone else went through this type of trauma and found some exercises more helpful then others. I do go to physiotherapy three times a week but it would be great to hear from anyone who has went through this firsthand as well.

I'm expecting miracles and to be running tomorrow and I know that's far from reality.....

Replies

  • AverageJoeFit
    AverageJoeFit Posts: 251 Member
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    Shattered my ankle playing football. Plate and screws the whole nine yards. After physical therapy I was able to get range of motion back, but my ankle would hurt after being on my feet more then an hour.

    After 5 years of dealing with that I elected to have the plate and screws removed and it made walking and running for over an hour not even a bit painful.

    I'm training for my first half marathon coming the first weekend in may.

    Just my story and history.
  • LC719719
    LC719719 Posts: 1 Member
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    I had ankle surgery 9 months ago. Physical therapy 3x a week until last week. Still not at 100% but am able to do most everyday activities and work out at the gym. I was so out of shape from this injury. Started working with a trainer a month ago because l was afraid of hurting myself in the gym. I have already had great results in toning but no weight loss yet. Get to the gym and focus on upper body and core if your ankle is limiting any lower body work. Trainer has me doing circuit training, so cardio mixed in with weights. For cardio I started with just 2 min on an arm bike then have worked my way up to longer amounts of time. I can also do the bike and rower. So just figure out what you can do and start with that. The first two- three weeks were really hard and exhausting but at one month I feel in much better shape already- but still have a long way to go. I also used to run and have had to put that aside for now at least and focus on what I can do. I gained 15lbs from being sedentary while things were healing and hoping to lose it as I get in better shape
  • Alisonswim46
    Alisonswim46 Posts: 208 Member
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    Yes! Plate and 8 screws on my ankle. I did PT for a year to get back into running! Keep at it, go slow, do your exercises your PT gives you. I walked a lot and swam to build up to running. I broke my ankle two years ago and just ran an 8:27 mile last night!I'm faster now than I was then! Probably because of my bionic ankle!
  • RachelElser
    RachelElser Posts: 1,049 Member
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    swimming is a good one for joint issues because it's low impact, so I would imagine it'd be a good place to start.
  • sgt1372
    sgt1372 Posts: 3,982 Member
    edited March 2017
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    I still have a plate and 6 screws in my rt ankle which I broke while motorcycling in LaPaz, Baja Sur, Mexico around 30 yrs ago. Road all the way back to Nogales, AZ, loaded the bike onto a trailer by myself and drove back to San Francisco, unloaded the bike and returned the traiker b4 I even saw a doctor. LOL!!

    Surgery was done the next day by a renowned specialist. Foot was in a plastic boot for 3 months. No exercise possible during that tine. Rt calf atrophied. Wasn't into lifting or exercise at that time. So, did nothing about it

    Rt calf still measures slightly smaller than left calf but leg strength is well balanced. Could have done single calf raises ad infinitum to try to rebuild the size of the rt calf (and still can) but it doesn't bother me.

    So, FWIW, I'm an example of "it'll be ok even if you do nothing" to rehab the leg. ;)

    Good luck, OP!

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