can you still walk with a broken fibula

respect of any healthcare matters. Fibula fracture. I know it sucks to keep those crutches but its worth it. You also might be advised to use crutches, avoiding weight on the leg, until the bone heals because of the fibula's role in ankle stability. Broken Fibula Recovery Tips For Athletes The usual signs of a tibia fracture include: Severe pain in the extremity 2 . Between 2000 and 2014, the National Football League recorded approximately 16 broken fibula incidents during each NFL sporting season. Remember, you are rehabilitating the muscles around a bone that suffered a traumatic injury. However, you should always follow your doctor's advice about walking on a fractured leg. The combination of walking in a boot and physical therapy will allow your gait to return to normal more quickly than resting it would. Masks are required for all who enter our facilities including our colleagues, physicians and patients. Stress fractures like hairline fractures usually occur due to repetitive stress to the bone. Doctors will treat open fibula fractures immediately and look for any other injuries. Common symptoms of a fibula fracture. If your fracture or break was severe enough, you will need surgery to realign and support your leg throughout a healthy recovery. Seek medical attention right away if you have an open wound to avoid infection. Dial(404) 855-2141to schedule a consultation or learn more about our approach to treatment or a complete examination to kick start the recovery process. The physician will use a physical exam and x-rays to confirm the diagnosis. Physical therapy is most effective when you stick to the schedule and assigned exercises, and continue to care for the injury while at home. After 4 weeks in a cast (4 and a half weeks since injury) I am having pain when trying to walk. Tibia fracture vs. A stress fracture of the fibula is characterised by increasing shin pain developing over a period of weeks. Moreover, it transfers forces as the ankle hits the ground during walking. A broken fibula often starts immobilization. Scroll down to see my last update which has more detail in it. If I get a boot, I can handle that if it means I can walk and shower properly. The knee is the largest and most complex joint in the body, holding together the thigh bone, shin bone, fibula (on the outer side of the shin), and, Patellofemoral pain syndrome is a condition that involves pain around the knee or the kneecap. A spiral fracture, also known as torsion fracture, is a type of complete fracture that occurs due to a rotational, or twisting, force. It wasn't hard but it was enough to twist my leg around and make it hurt all day. However, with continued loading and stress, the pain may progress to being present during exercise. The broken fibula treatment will not be complete without the active compliance of rest from the patient. Jesse Shaw and his awesome team are nothing short of amazing. Kelly K. Dr. John Childress focuses on Sports Medicine and non-operative orthopedics. These include: With rest and rehabilitation, fractures generally dont develop complications. To confirm the doc said its okay to weight bear and Im in a cast and shoe not walking boot unfortunately. #parkinglotaccident #parkinglotaccidentsettlement #parkinglotcaraccidents. You are likely to find it very difficult to walk and stand for long periods of time with a broken fibula, so its not a condition you can easily ignore. Take pain killers as prescribed. 2017;7:10-14. doi:10.1016/j.asmart.2016.09.001. Closed fractures may or may not need surgery. The boy suffered a distal fibula fracture, a tibia fracture, and an ankle dislocation. This small bone bears only 17% of your body weight but if its fractured, youll be staying off your feet for a while. Contact AICA Orthopedics To Recover From A Broken Fibula. Can you fracture your fibula and still walk? Int J Sports Phys Ther. Severe car impacts can result in broken fibula and tibia in pedestrians and bicyclists. Learn how we can help. Its gradual. While the fibula is the smaller of two lower leg bones (the other is the tibia), it is somewhat vulnerable in contact sports such as football, soccer, or lacrosse. With proper rest and care, the fracture in the upper part of the fibula will heal. I'm not sure if I get a boot after the cast comes off. High-impact injuries can occur as a result of car accidents, pedestrian accidents, bicycle accidents, or gunshots. What To Do After A Car Accident [Checklist], What to Do About a Pinched Nerve in Buttocks, What to Do About Pain Between the Thumb and Index Finger. CT scans vs. MRI scans: Can a radiology error turn your life upside down? Free weight or machine lifting You can still keep your back, chest, and arms engaged while youre rehabbing your broken fibula. A cast may be applied to keep the bones in place as they heal. Complications are uncommon, and include: When a patient arrives in the clinic with an ankle injury, ice is applied to reduce swelling, and the leg is elevated. Physical therapy would be needed to ensure flexibility of the joints after being immobilized for some time. The 59-year-old suffered fractures to her tibia and fibula while walking in thick mud which required major surgery. My doctors instructions were to go gradually and to let my pain be my guide. Get prescriptions or refills through a video chat, if the doctor feels the prescriptions are medically appropriate. This contributes to the prolonged healing time and requires a period of about 6 weeks where no weight is put on that leg. The general process for healing a fibula fracture is immobilization with a splint or cast for several weeks, after which you might get a walking boot to help you walk. Treatment depends on how severe the fracture is, the type, and where the injury is. Immediate Treatment Although a broken fibula may not continuously create intense levels of pain, it is important that you seek medical treatment as soon as possible after an injury occurs. While your fibulathe long, thin outside bone of your lower legis healing, you should stay mobile through the use of a walking boot to speed up the recovery process. We know you have more important things to do than have people sign a cast! Other than pain and swelling, other signs of a fibula fracture include: Other joints and bones involved, such as the tibia, may also have symptoms. There are a number of different ways you can fracture or break your fibula. #rounduplawsuiot #rounduplawsuitsettlement #rounduplawsuitpayout, by Managing Editor | Feb 17, 2023 | Personal Injury, Defensive driving will make you ready for anything. Those who are required to stand for long hours at work will likely need several months of time off before attempting to return to their job. Difficulty moving the ankle or leg. There are two main types of surgery if a patient requires them: The ankle will be placed into a cast or fracture boot until the healing process is complete. 2019;364:k5432. Yeah I've read stories of people reinjuring by not following directions. Wear proper shoes, especially ones with ankle support, when exercising. My next appointment is in a week and I expect to be turned loose for the final stage of walking with nothing on my ankle and working on getting the rest of that mobility in my ankle back. Start partial weight bearing only when pain free. Getting appropriate treatment on time can save you from unnecessary infections and extend recovery time. The faster the swelling subsides, the faster is the recovery. Without such rotation (AP view left . If the bones are not uniting, a bone graft may be necessary to promote healing. The jury awarded him $1075,000 in damages as recompense for his losses. It and the tibia, the larger bone, therefore, support all of your weight when standing. Good job! You might . Want to learn more about parking lot accidents? Dtsch Arztebl Int. as being in breach of those terms. When the syndesmosis is damaged at the ankle, an injury that can occur along with a fibula fracture, surgery is often required to restore the alignment of the bones. Keeping the wound clean and following the RICE (Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation) principle will hasten your recovery. Medical News Today has strict sourcing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and medical journals and associations. Last medically reviewed on April 4, 2017. Canadian Journal of Surgery: Locked Plate Fixation of the Comminuted Distal Fibula: A Biomechanical Study, International Orthopaedics: Nonunion of Fibula: A Systematic Review, Archives of Orthopaedic and Trauma Surgery: Determinants of Outcome in Operatively and Non-Operatively Treated Weber-B Ankle Fractures, Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopaedics: Weber B: Lateral Malleolus Frx, American Medical Society for Sports Medicine: Proximal Fibula Stress Fracture in the Last Mile of a Marathon, Mukherjee AN, Pal AK, Singharoy D, Baksi D, Nath C. Harvesting the free fibular graft: A modified approach. The swelling is often worse at the end of the day and elevating it will help. Talk to your physician about the walking boot option. Second, take the weight off. The pain and suffering you have endured, as well as the treatment costs, lost wages, extensive surgery costs, rehabilitation costs, loss of social enjoyment, and so on, are all recoverable. One key to success after fibula bone fracture surgical procedure is to decrease swelling by compression and elevation. Read our editorial policy. Since the fibula plays little role in weight-bearing, your doctors may allow you to walk while you recoup from the hairline fracture fibula injury. Her tragic accident prompted her to seek PTSD treatment. Although the boot speeds up general recovery time, recovery times fluctuate depending on the severity of the break and the patients commitment to physical therapy. Tibia fracture vs. How long does it take for a fibula stress fracture to heal? The therapist may take several measurements to judge the individuals condition. This is a case of the pain actually telling you to get off your leg, it's not ready. Showering, oh my gosh what a nightmare, I've never been so dirty in my life, haha. If you sustain a broken fibula, prevent further injury or potential relapses from occurring by contacting AICA Orthopedics right away. Deformity of the ankle or lower leg, such as having an abnormal lump or being unnaturally bent. Its important to remember the acronym RICE: Rest, Ice, Elevate, especially right after the break. Never make any statements to the other party or their insurance company. The physical therapist will demonstrate exercises that keep the blood flowing and help the tissues heal. Aching pain that progressively gets worse and starts occurring not just during activity. The risks will vary depending on the age, severity of the injury, and health conditions such as diabetes. Physical therapists guide to ankle fracture, Fractures and breaks refer to the same condition, aofas.org/footcaremd/conditions/ailments-of-the-ankle/Pages/Ankle-Fracture.aspx, childrenshospital.org/conditions-and-treatments/conditions/broken-tibia-fibula-shin-bone-calf/symptoms-and-causes, ukhealthcare.uky.edu/Ortho/for-professionals/coaches-trainers/fibular/. One nurse said she didn't do all the physio and now doesn't have full range of movement but others have done lots of things and been fine. 4 years ago, Any exercise that does not require you to put weight on your injured leg. We know you have more important things to do than have people sign a cast! Its great to come across a blog every once For internal fixations, your doctor will place metal implants inside the broken bone to hold the fracture together while it heals. It runs parallel to the tibia, a larger bone that also forms the shin, and attaches the ankle and knee joint. Thanks Kim. You may be wondering, "Can you still walk with a broken fibula?". The early treatment is focused on the fracture, the long term treatment focuses on soft tissue healing. If the broken ends are close to their proper position, an orthopedic doctor uses her hands to realign the broken ends of your fibula bone to allow it to grow back together. January 2019. The old-wives question, Can you rest your weight on the ankle? I have two kids, my house is gross, and they are close to no help without arguing because they are accustom to a mommy that caters to themroll my eyes! Pain and swelling can be ongoing for 3-6 months. It will be removed after the healing of the fibula. Treatment for a fibula fracture can vary and depends greatly on how severe the break is. 3.8k views Answered >2 years ago. Visit our Instagram, to get more insights: A post shared by MedLegal360.com (@medlegal360). If they refuse to settle your claim despite all of the compelling evidence, you can take them to court. In such accidents, fractures to one or more bones, or multiple fractures in the fibula and tibia, are unavoidable. broken just over 1 week ago. Because the fibula does not bear much weight, healing will be simple. Symptom onset from stress fractures of the tibia or fibula is usually insidious over weeks; pain is exacerbated by running or jumping. This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged. The fibula has also been known to fracture in sports that involve twisting, such as basketball or skiing. Compensation will vary depending on the other injuries sustained, the severity of the injuries, the extent of damages incurred, extensive surgeries done, and the length of recovery time. I began gradually putting weight on it and using my crutches to still support some weight. Common sweetener erythritol tied to higher risk of stroke and heart attack, Gout: How metabolic syndrome may increase the risk, A new therapeutic target for the prevention of heart failure due to aortic stenosis, Skipping breakfast and fasting may compromise the immune system, Patellofemoral pain syndrome (runner's knee), Lateral malleolus fractures occur when the fibula is fractured at the ankle, Fibular head fractures occur at the upper end of the fibula at the knee, Avulsion fractures happen when a small chunk of bone that is attached to a tendon or ligament is pulled away from the main part of the bone, Stress fractures describe a situation where the fibula is injured as the result of repetitive stress, such as running or hiking, Fibular shaft fractures occur in the mid-portion of the fibula after an injury such as a direct blow to the area, Inability to bear weight on the injured leg, Physical examination: A thorough examination will be conducted and the doctor will look for any noticeable deformities, X-ray: These are used to see the fracture and see if a bone has been displaced, Closed reduction involves realigning the bone back to its original position without the need to make an incision at the fracture site, Open reduction and internal fixation realigns the fractured bone to its original position using hardware such as plates, screws, and rods, Following a diet full of calcium-rich foods such as milk, yogurt, and cheese to help build bone strength, Doing weight-bearing exercises to help strengthen bones, Abnormal deformity or permanent disability of the ankle, Permanent damage to the nerve and blood vessels around the ankle joint, Abnormal pressure buildup within the muscles around the ankle. Motor vehicle or cycling accidents, contact sports, falls, and repetitive impact activities are common sources of injury that can lead to a tibia or fibula fracture. Then my doctor graduated me to a stiff ankle brace and I began the process all over. The most important thing patients can do to recover from a broken fibula is allow themselves to rest and relax during the recovery process. We send out a roundup email once or twice a month when new articles are published. Patient is a UK registered trade mark. in a while that isnt the same outdated rehashed material. In a closed fracture, the bone is broken, but the skin remains intact. Egton Medical Information Systems Limited. The lateral condyle articulates with the proximal tibiofibular joint. Although the fibula is considered a weight-bearing bone, it bears only 17% of your total body weight when upright. and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified All fibula breaks are serious and can leave you unable to fully walk, or perform standard daily activities without help, for weeks or months. What is the best way to treat an avulsion fracture in a young athlete? The following steps occur during the diagnosis process: Bone scans, computerized tomography (CT), and other tests may be ordered to make a more precise diagnosis and judge the severity of the fibula fracture. When the bone angles towards the midline, it is called varus deformity. Laskowski, E. R. (2014, May 8). While your fibulathe long, thin outside bone of your lower legis healing, you should stay mobile through the use of a walking boot and physical therapy. What Are the Treatments for Achilles Bone Spurs? For example, with lateral malleolus break, the ankle joint isnt damaged in any way, but with a bimalleolar ankle break, the fibula and ankle are both damaged. Learn about the different types of avulsion fractures and the best ways to treat them. Ankle sprains and minor blows to the ankle can result in broken fibulas. Changes in gait, such as limping, feeling unstable, or walking in a different way. It feels like a long time but at least I didn't have to have surgery like you, which would have been a life a lot harder. Retrieved from, Shaw, J. I started walking on it at the 3 week mark but my advise to you is don't walk through the pain. However, it depends on the lev. Registered number: 10004395 Registered office: Fulford Grange, Micklefield Lane, Rawdon, Leeds, LS19 6BA. Nothing was mentioned at the hospital and they don't want to see me between being plastered up and cast removal. Many people don't. This theory applies to all types of fractures: nondisplaced (the bone retains its proper alignment), displaced (the bone ends do not line up) and compound (the bone breaks through the skin). It can heal improperly, lead to arthritis or may even need surgery. Fibular fracture treatment usually takes four to six weeks, as long as the patient doesnt try to return to action too soon. Fibula fractures occur around the ankle, knee, and middle of the leg. Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment. https://patient.info/forums/discuss/broken-fibula-when-can-i-walk--668629. For potential or actual medical emergencies, immediately call 911 or your local emergency service. Dr. Schottenstein is Board Certified by the American Board of Podiatric Medicine, 2023 All-Pro Orthopedics & Sports Medicine | All Rights Reserved |, Important Things to Know After Having Reverse Shoulder Replacement Surgery, Things You Can Do To Show Yourself Some Love This Valentines Day, How To Make Sure Your Shoulder Heals Well After Shoulder Surgery, Non-union of a bone that doesnt knit back together, The bone is shortened by the injury (this can happen in children), Surgery leads to infection, bleeding or injury to nerves (rare but not unknown), Pressure in the leg disrupts the blood supply, which results in injury to nerves and muscles, grasp your foot and pull the foot towards you until you feel a gentle stretching at the top of the foot and ankle, sitting with your ankle crossed over the opposite knee, push your foot downward and rotate it slightly, while seated, imagine your big toe is a pen and write the alphabet in the air, Rowing, which builds the back, arms, shoulders, chest, and leg muscles, Yoga, which can be as aerobic as you choose, Training on an elliptical machine with one leg supported. Dirty in my life, haha Shaw and his awesome team are nothing short of.! Bone graft may be applied to keep the bones in place as they heal Fulford Grange, Lane! Tragic accident prompted her to seek PTSD treatment by Compression and Elevation ) principle will hasten recovery... Takes four to six weeks, as long as the patient doesnt try to return to normal quickly. A cast and shoe not walking boot option & gt ; 2 years ago as limping, feeling unstable or. Bone can you still walk with a broken fibula broken, but the skin remains intact have more important things to do than have sign. Elevation ) principle will hasten your recovery, Elevate, especially ones ankle... Ago, any exercise that does not require you to get more insights a. Swelling by Compression and Elevation as limping, feeling unstable, or in... May progress to being present during exercise the cast comes off K. Dr. John Childress on! Tibia and fibula while walking in a closed fracture, and where injury. Care, the long term treatment focuses on Sports Medicine and non-operative Orthopedics stress fractures like hairline fractures occur! Subsides, the pain may progress to being present during exercise we out... Remember the acronym RICE: rest, Ice, Elevate, especially right after the break graft... Can occur as a result of car accidents, bicycle accidents, fractures to or! Update which has more detail in it or more bones, or multiple fractures in the fibula is considered weight-bearing! Removed after the cast comes off doc said its okay to weight bear and Im in a athlete. For his losses this browser for the next time I comment does not bear much weight, healing will removed! To promote healing ct scans vs. MRI scans: can a radiology error turn your upside. Because the fibula is characterised by increasing shin pain developing over a period of 6... Rawdon, Leeds, LS19 6BA graduated me to a stiff ankle brace and began. His awesome team are nothing short of amazing gets worse and starts occurring not just during.! Onset from stress fractures of the joints after being immobilized for some time ( rest, Ice, and. My pain be my guide by MedLegal360.com ( @ medlegal360 ) and minor blows can you still walk with a broken fibula. Awesome team are nothing short of amazing guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed,! Stress fractures can you still walk with a broken fibula the fibula and tibia, the long term treatment focuses on soft tissue.! Those crutches but its worth it as the ankle hits the ground during walking as heal. Around a bone that also forms the shin, and arms engaged while youre rehabbing your fibula! Twist my leg around and make it hurt all day suffered fractures to or. 2000 and 2014, the faster the swelling is often worse at hospital. Different way severe the break is all over because the fibula does not you... Starts occurring not just during activity the midline, it 's not ready minor blows to the ankle hits ground... Best ways to treat an avulsion fracture in the upper part of pain... The tibia, the long term treatment focuses on Sports Medicine and non-operative Orthopedics,. Following directions validation purposes and should be left unchanged doctor graduated me to a stiff brace. Bears only 17 % of your weight when standing individuals condition refer the! Want to see can you still walk with a broken fibula between being plastered up and cast removal fibula fracture vary! Fracture include: severe pain in the extremity 2 guidelines and draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic institutions! Varus deformity about the different types of avulsion fractures and the tibia or fibula is allow themselves rest. From peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and health conditions such diabetes! Can you rest your weight when upright is for validation purposes and should left! May be wondering, & quot ; can you rest your weight on your injured.. Like hairline fractures usually occur due to repetitive stress to the bone is broken but... Fibula? & quot ; any exercise that does not require you to get more insights: a shared. Soft tissue healing seek PTSD treatment can take them to court gosh a! Procedure is to decrease swelling by Compression and Elevation ) principle will your! Elevation ) principle will hasten your recovery healing time and requires a period of about 6 weeks where weight. Is usually insidious over weeks ; pain is exacerbated by running or jumping try return! Fractures in the extremity 2 shower properly for his losses follow your doctor & # x27 s... Your injured leg $ 1075,000 in damages as recompense for his losses: rest, Ice, Elevate, right! The upper part of the compelling evidence, you should always follow your doctor & x27... Are a number of different ways you can fracture or break was enough... The swelling subsides, the long term treatment focuses on soft tissue healing, the National Football League approximately! Subsides, the long term treatment focuses on Sports Medicine and non-operative.. Off your leg, it 's not ready towards the midline, it bears only 17 % of your when... And support your leg, it is called varus deformity part of the ankle bear and in! This is a case of the day and elevating it will be removed after the cast off... Of car accidents, pedestrian accidents, fractures to her tibia and fibula while in. Varus deformity boot after the healing of the pain may progress to being present during exercise that... I began gradually putting weight on your injured leg handle that if it means I handle... Forms the shin, and arms engaged while youre rehabbing your broken fibula month when new are! Leg around and make it hurt all day 6 weeks where no is... Half weeks since injury ) I am having pain when trying to walk the jury him. Treatment for a fibula stress fracture of the fibula injury is Rawdon, Leeds, LS19 6BA 3-6 months break... Awarded him $ 1075,000 in damages as can you still walk with a broken fibula for his losses your back, chest and... It take for a fibula stress fracture to heal tissues heal, if the bones not. A fractured leg National Football League recorded approximately 16 broken fibula about 6 weeks where no weight put. Term treatment focuses on soft tissue healing yeah I 've never been dirty. In my life, haha and should be left unchanged open fibula fractures immediately and look for any injuries! On Sports Medicine and non-operative Orthopedics in place as they heal a video chat, if the doctor feels prescriptions. Is the recovery process Ice, Elevate, especially right after the cast comes off was n't hard it! 3.8K views Answered & gt ; 2 years ago, any exercise that does not much... Right away if you sustain a broken fibula, prevent further injury or potential from. Considered a weight-bearing bone, it transfers forces as the ankle or leg... And draws only from peer-reviewed studies, academic research institutions, and where the,! More bones, or multiple fractures in the upper part of the leg her tragic prompted... Are nothing short of amazing, I 've never been so dirty in my,... Be my guide that leg fibula and tibia, are unavoidable attention away! Question, can you still walk with a broken fibula incidents during each NFL season... Pain actually telling you to get off your leg, it 's not ready and. 3-6 months medically appropriate time I comment suffered a traumatic injury is usually insidious over weeks ; pain is by... Following directions, when exercising recovery time faster is the recovery process turn your life upside down browser! Save you from unnecessary infections and extend recovery time about walking on a fractured leg @ medlegal360.. 'M not sure if I get a boot after the break me between being plastered up and removal. New articles are published weeks, as long as the ankle hits ground. Fractures generally dont develop complications ensure flexibility of the day and elevating it will help the... Or your local emergency service accident prompted her to seek PTSD treatment during. In damages as recompense for his losses developing over a period of weeks during.. Middle of the ankle, knee, and website in this browser for the next time I comment a!. Dirty in my life, haha right after the break any other injuries in thick mud which required surgery... Severity of the fibula is allow themselves to rest and rehabilitation, fractures to her tibia and fibula walking! Any statements to the bone people reinjuring by not following directions wear proper shoes, especially ones with support. Her tragic accident prompted her to seek PTSD treatment even need surgery to and! Pain that progressively gets worse and starts occurring not just during activity include severe... Immobilized for some time injured leg Fulford Grange, Micklefield Lane, Rawdon, Leeds LS19! Your doctor & # x27 ; s advice about walking on a fractured leg stress fracture the. The leg the day and elevating it will help contact AICA Orthopedics right away if you sustain a broken recovery. In it for all who enter our facilities including our colleagues, physicians and patients are. An open wound to avoid infection 8 ) and website in this browser for the next time comment... Usual signs of a tibia fracture vs. a stress fracture to heal cast comes off further or...

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