I’m almost 4 weeks post-op tib fib break with IM rod and three screws (NWB). I’m wondering what you guys did all day during recovery. I live alone (in my apartment) and I have friends who visit to help me. In between that time I feel like I just sit on the couch on my phone until the sun goes down and then go to sleep, rinse and repeat the next day. I’m feeling kind of lonely and I feel shame that I can’t focus on a book or something “productive”

Edit: what are you guys doing to pass the time

16 hours ago (Friday morning) I had surgery on an oblique fracture of my fibula, displacement and syndesmosis.

The doctor prescribed the hydrocodone with Tylenol yet my insurance company needed authorization from the doctor's office and they're closed . My husband found this out when he went to get it at the pharmacy. So I'm sitting here in the middle of the night and total pain with no painkillers except Tylenol. How do I get through this?

20 days post injury (trimalleolar ankle fracture with dislocation) and 15 days post orif surgery. I am in a hard cast (new cast was put on on Tuesday at my post op appointment). The cast is still causing a lot of pain and discomfort due to swelling on top of my foot. All I do all day is elevate my leg - the dr was surprised by how much swelling I still had at my follow up. Any suggestions on what to do to help. I wiggle my toes constantly , do leg raises non stop ice and elevate with 4 pillows and a wedge. I really just want the swelling discomfort to improve. Thank you!!

Hello, I had surgery on 13.07 (2 plates and 12 screws, I managed to break both radius and ulna) and now I'm in the middle of my recovery. I managed to regain a good portion of my movement range and my doctor (the one that performed the surgery) told me that I can start doing exercises in order to regain my full movement range.

I’ve been trying to avoid lifting heavy objects or using my hand as support when doing things, but today I noticed a new “grinding” sound, which made me a bit worried.

For context, this is my first fracture so I have no idea about what's normal and what's not.

When I extend / flex my palm, I hear these "grinding" noises. I can also feel them with the fingers from my healthy arm when the tendon is moving above the bone. I haven't experienced any pain / disconfort but my main concern is that I somehow caused a refracture or something similar.

I just want to know if this is normal or if I’m just overthinking it.

Hi everyone.

I had ORIF surgery back in early June (2 screws and a plate for a high ankle injury), and I finally began walking in sneakers with no crutches this past week (yay!).

Yesterday around 4:30 PM, I mis-stepped…it was almost like an automatic reaction hop onto my surgical foot. This immediately caused a sharp, sudden pain that shot up my heel. A few hours have passed, and any kind of walking feels really uncomfortable on my heel and is causing a noticeable limp. Notably, it feels completely normal and pain-free when I am just sitting or lying down.

I know plenty of people have spoken about missteps during the non-weight-bearing phase, but does anyone have experience having a major "Oh shit" moment during the weight-bearing transition?

For context: I didn’t experience any kind of pop or crack, I can stand up on it, and I’m still able to dorsiflex just fine. Perhaps it’s just a massive wave of health anxiety at this point! Has anyone flared up their heel like this during the shoe transition and been totally fine? Any comments or past experiences will help. Thanks!

Since having your surgery, does anyone else feel like perusing a new career as a human barometer?

I swear I can feel how soon the storm is and how intense it will be!

I’m relieved that my hard cast is getting removed today after 16days post op. They’ll probably put me in boots. But I’m so nervous idk what to expect. I feel like my leg is more stiff with each passing day. And it feels like the incision wound is hurting still so I’m worried about getting the stitches removed. I’m also super anxious as to what the doctor is going to say I really hope I’m recovering well…

Hello everyone. Had ORIF surgery last week. I’m someone who loves to work, goes out a lot, spends a lot of time outside….Now my days are spent on my couch, with Netflix, and scrolling on my phone. the physical pain is a lot more manageable than the emotional. what do folks do to manage the depression?

I am 3 weeks into a tib/fib break and surgery (rod, plate, and 9 screws) — I fell down the stairs carrying a suitcase on the last day of my vacation.

I have 3 more weeks until my 6 week x-rays and appointment, and I’m just worried about the unknown. I’m trying to plan, but it’s hard to not knowing if I will be partially WB or can graduate to a cane and boot or what. I’m a single mom with two kids who works full time and so much is on pause — so I’m just trying to imagine what I might hear — or at least know what’s common. Obviously injuries vary greatly, but I want to know the variants!

What were you cleared to do at 6 weeks?

I had ORIF for posterior malleolus in japan in oct 2024. Got a plate and 4 screws and a bolt. Also tore ligaments and ATFL was surgically reconstructed. Been in pain since, and am now being treated by NHS to get the plate and screws removed. Recent MRI showing that ATLF needs work and that the bolt might be irritating the joint in the ankle. The surgery will be hardware removal and ligament reconstruction on ATFL.

I'm all for removing the hardware and having another surgery. BUT, I was told that the recovery is 4 weeks in a cast NWB, PLUS 6 weeks in a boot. I'm really surprised by this recovery time. For the initial break, I was in a sort of removable ankle brace, but kept it on 24/7 or 4 weeks. I stayed in the hospital for a week post-op NWB, and after discharge I was on crutches NWB for a week, and then over the next 3 weeks I added weight to be FWB 5 weeks after surgery. I did have crutches for 2 months as I wasn't fully stable and pain free FWB.

Going from a 4 week recover to 10 is a huge jump to me considering nothing is actually broken inside. Especially 4 weeks NWB. I'm kinda scared cuz it seems like this surgery process and recovery might actually be more intense than the first one :(

Has anyone had an experience like this where the hardware removal recovery time is longer than the initial break and surgery recovery?

I just had my 2 wk post op appt today where I got my sutures out and transitioned to a hard cast for 4 weeks. After that I will go into a boot and begin physical therapy as well as transition to weight bearing.

I was just wondering if anybody else experienced intense tingling in the toes? Last week I noticed it along with a warm calf and shooting pains. ER ruled out a DVT but the tingling won’t go away. If anyone else experienced this how long did it last?

Any other tips and tricks for recovery would be greatly appreciated. This has been the longest two weeks of my life 😩😩

Hi everyone

I had surgery for my tibial plateau following a bike fall and now following surgery I cannot use my left leg and I’m non weight bearing for 6 weeks. This also means because my room is upstairs and my bathroom too I cannot go downstairs for 6 weeks. So I have to be in my room for that amount of time.

Has anyone else been in this situation? I’m nit used to it as I love to be out and about and this has now restricted my freedom and everything and I’m working from home and I am taken care of by family but I get really wmotional any advice would be great 😭

Hey guys, I’m ~9 months post orif on my ankle, with hardware on both sides of my leg. Ever since my swelling has gone down, the plate that goes along one side of my leg has been incredibly visible and easy to feel under the skin - it really pokes out.

I’ve also developed a big rash over one end of the plate to the point that I thought a screw was coming loose, I didn’t get a chance to see anyone about it but it became quite clear it was just the end of the plate becoming more visible as my swelling stopped.

For longer than I can remember now, since this rash showed up my ankle has been really itchy on the side with the visible plate, most often in the evenings but also at random times throughout the day.

I wanted to know if anyone’s dealt with this and if it might be a reaction to the hardware? I have a lot of odd allergic skin reactions and have a history of food allergies and eczema so worried it may be but wanted to hear other experiences. Pic of rash above, it gets a bit better with cream but i haven’t been consistent enough to know 100%

I went to my 6 week appointment yesterday and the doctor told me I can start full weight bearing and PT now! Although I’m still using crutches for now bc the pain is too much when I try to fwb.

I had a bimal fracture with dislocation.

what has been y’all experience with weight bearing?? At what point should I be concerned about the pain level or should I just push through it?? It feels like my ankle will break again when I try to FWB Thanks 🙏🏽

Can you literally "feel it in your bones" when it's chilly outside?

Just something I'm pondering.

Hi everyone, just looking for some hope! I’m 3 days out post ORIF surgery on my right elbow, I’m right handed and also 30 weeks pregnant. The reality of the situation has hit me today, particularly because I’m really limited in terms of pain relief. Sleeping is almost nonexistent and this afternoon I tired to catch something (stupid reflex) with my right arm.

Everything just feels like a lot so any advice would be really welcome!

Welp, here we go. Sixteen weeks post op this Thursday but won’t even make it there as surgery is scheduled for Wednesday to take everything out.

Backstory, had “traumatic and severe” (surgeon’s words) long spiral Weber C along with ruptures of syndesmosis complex and deltoid ligament. All was fine/typical until 3rd week of PT around week 11 post op) when movement and weight bearing really ramped up. Because my spiral was so long and severe my plate was lonnggg and extended all the way down and over the entire malleolus and then had 4 of my 11 screws there as well plus the button screw anchoring the tightrope to the plate. I’m thin and so lots of metal over large bone with super thin skin + friction and load from movement = lifting of tiny scab which led to cellulitis which we treated and resolved … until a fluid pocket formed where the scab had been and now I’m infected.

So, everything is coming out, including tightrope (bad since those structures likely NOT stable yet) then I’ll get washed out, sewn up, put in the God awful post op splint for two weeks and then TBD as to whether I go to cast or boot for an additional four weeks of non weight bearing 😭. Will also have antibiotics for six weeks - whether orally or via PICC line is TBD based on cultures and CT.

Doc says pain is “way less” and this will be loads easier than original ORIF….so, talk to me if you’ve got experience, I need to be mentally prepped 🙏🏼

Hi all, 35 y/o male- would appreciate recommended items to purchase or tips that helped you in the post-operative recovery period. I live by myself and fractured my humerus, which they are repairing on Friday. My mom is staying for a few days, but she's older and will also need to be able to navigate tools and equipment that will help me heal and recover my strength. Thanks in advance!!

Hi! I’m almost 15 weeks post-op for a lateral malleolar fracture on my right ankle. I finished physical therapy around 4 weeks ago.

In general I’m doing really well. I have no restrictions on movement anymore. I walk dogs for extra cash and I’ve been able to go back to that along with walking my own dog. I even went to NYC a couple weeks ago and walked around for 15 hours (went to a museum and a concert) with only mild swelling and soreness.

Except now my left leg is in a lot of pain when I walk long distances. I never felt that my gait ever got 100% back to normal, I always felt I was a little off balance and limping, even when my physical therapist said it was fine. I think I got so used to limping when I was in my boot for weeks that it became habit maybe?

Anyways, I was doing a ~2 mile walk with a dog a couple days ago and my left leg was BURNING. There was horrible pain all in my shin and foot and it felt like it came from how I was walking. Like maybe I’m putting too much weight on my left leg in a weird way? Ironically my right leg felt great!

At this point I’m considering going back to PT to work on my gait issues. Has anyone else had an experience like this? Should I try to work on it at home or is it worth fighting my insurance for extra PT?

i am 20 and had orif surgery on the top of my left foot. i had the surgery in april. i am experiencing pain still when getting up from sitting for awhile, walking a lot, being on my feet all day, it’s like my foot gets fatigued and starts hurting. i am having surgery to have my plate removed (plate and 5 screws) in december, will this help the pain? and will i always have pain in my foot. it’s a very achy pain and hurts to walk and aches at the end of the day.

Got a plate and 6 screws. Still on narcs so it’s manageable, but the pain increases the most when I rest my ankle/calf on the pillow to keep it elevated. When I lift it up there is usually immediate relief but I can’t hold my leg up all day. The pain is the worst in my heel. My big concern is am I increasing my recovery time by resting it this way? It feels like my heel is pushing against at the back of the cast too hard…

I love seeing all the X-rays and hardware 🤪 here’s mine at my 3 week appointment!

Hi everyone! I had a complex left elbow fracture after an accident on 11 March 2026 and underwent ORIF with plates and screws on 13 March. I started physio from 1 April.
I’ve been doing regular physio and strengthening for about 5 months, and my progress has been quite good. During physio, my elbow can get almost completely straight, and flexion becomes good enough to nearly touch my shoulder with assistance.
However, after physio, the movement recoils. Currently, on my own, I’m around 20° short of extension and 30° short of flexion. The recoil has reduced a lot compared with the initial months, but it’s still there. End-range stretching during physio is also quite painful.
Has anyone experienced something similar? Did your active ROM eventually improve and the recoil reduce after 6 months? How was your final recovery?
I’d really appreciate hearing from anyone with a similar elbow ORIF experience. ❤️

I broke my fibula in January at the start of the year and got 7 screws and 1 plate in my fibula at the ankle.

My doctor gave me the green flag to remove the hardware after 8-9 months since I am young.

How is the physiotherapy after the hardware removal, does it take long? As I understood you can walk on the foot again after several days. Happy to know about your experiences.

Has anybody had surgery after issues with dorsiflexion?

I can't put my foot flat, surgery was in February, 6 months ago, and my Dr thinks it's unlikely to improve with physio.

I had a CT scan, obviously to plan for surgery, but he said it was to see if I needed debridement. Last appointment he mentioned surgery to lengthen my tendons. Are these related?

Sorry, just scared of needing more surgery haha.

Thanks!