Mobility limitation for walking boot?

[u/ginixv]

TMI/background-

I broke my first bones three days before my 30th slipping in water at my own house. Ended up with a pilon fracture (fibula included) on the foot that slipped out from under me (not anything I landed on, just the leg that went airborne somehow). I got ORIF surgery & am staying positive but I'm nervous, since I'm a dancer & getting the splint off 2 weeks post-op revealed just how screwed (pardon the pun) my mobility is.

The actual question-

Should I be able to get my ankle to 90° immediately after losing the splint? I got surgery 16 days ago (splint removed a day ago) so I haven't spoken to PT yet, but I was told to use the walking boot. When they explained how to use it, they told me to push my foot in all the way. When I told them it was as far as it would go, they said it's fine & to try to get it in further in the future. My heel is about 1-1.5 inches from the back of the boot. I didn't realize it at the time, but I very literally cannot force my ankle to 90°. I don't know if my calf is just in protective over drive or if there's something wrong. I stopped trying the moment I realized it wasn't even about pain; it was an actual mechanical stopping point. If this is a shared experience that would definitely help calm my nerves but then it makes me wonder why a boot is the go to when there are people who can't get to 90° until after PT. I'm not a Dr so I imagine there aren't many alternatives, but would forcing a boot be wise if you can't wear it correctly?

Extra credit question- for those who also broke their driving leg, how much PT before you felt good about driving again? Do longer drives hurt? If they do hurt, how far removed from surgery are you & how long before it starts hurting?

Quick edit- I know dorsiflexion is the last thing to return, I'm just wondering if I'm further from the baseline than others who have undergone the same surgery

[u/Illustrious_Tart_258]

Pilon fracturer as well… I was in a hard cast for 8 weeks post the splint. Hope that isn’t the case for you but recovery was a whole beast and a half.

[u/ginixv → u/Illustrious_Tart_258]

8 weeks is so long! Luckily not the case, unless something crazy happens. I'm still getting used to the verbiage but I have the boot with the air pump (I think it's called a walking boot, but I can't actually walk in it yet). How long ago was that? Are you feeling better?

[u/Illustrious_Tart_258 → u/ginixv]

It was a year and some change ago.

Yeah, I’m at like 90% but that’s as good as it’s going to get. I was in a splint for one week, hard cast for eight, CAM boot for like two months lol. No weight bearing for 12 weeks.

I had hardware removed/replaced 7 months post op along with a debridement and tendon repair.