Broken ankle - support boot or not?
Discussion
Lady Balfour broke her ankle six weeks ago and has been on crutches. She returned to A&E this week because she has been in pain and they said "ah the fracture has moved. Should be ok now though".
At no point have they offered her a support boot.
If she puts any weight on it at home it hurts, but wearing lace up boots helps.
Does anyone know why A&E didn't give her a boot and whether there is any reason why I would not buy her one myself from Amazon?
Note: It's Mother's day next week and this could kill two birds with one stone.
Depends on where the fracture is in her ankle. At 6 weeks you'd expect it to be healing. Some ankle fractures we don't give boots to as supportive footwear is enough and treated more as a sprain. The boots increase the risk of blood clots too. Has she not been spoken to by fracture clinic?
K77 CTR said:
Depends on where the fracture is in her ankle. At 6 weeks you'd expect it to be healing. Some ankle fractures we don't give boots to as supportive footwear is enough and treated more as a sprain. The boots increase the risk of blood clots too. Has she not been spoken to by fracture clinic?
I am not sure whether she was referred immediately when she went to A&E. I was not with her.Thanks for the information.
z4RRSchris said:
I've been seeing a top notch foot doc as I shattered my heel.
the "boot" is to protect you from the surroundings / others. Its much easier to do nothing if you can and sit on the sofa. If you need to be up and about for some reason, then boot.
She needs to be up and about.the "boot" is to protect you from the surroundings / others. Its much easier to do nothing if you can and sit on the sofa. If you need to be up and about for some reason, then boot.
z4RRSchris said:
get the boot then, and crutches. or ask the doctor (i know NHS ones are rubbish)
having a fractured foot, and being up and about dont really go together, or you may do some more damage.
Cooking and ironing won't be easy on crutches. having a fractured foot, and being up and about dont really go together, or you may do some more damage.
A bit concerned about the thrombosis risk mentioned above.
When I broke my leg/ankle and was in cast for six weeks, I was given an anti-coagulant injection to poke my stomach/arse with daily.
Please stress to your partner that consistent physio/rehab exercises when it’s out of the boot/cast are key to regaining full mobility. I was fortunate to have a great PT to guide me, and being religious about using resistance bands & doing stretches meant I was able to be back playing football around seven months after the injury.
Half an hour a day rehabbing it, massaging the swelling and using ice is such an investment.
Please stress to your partner that consistent physio/rehab exercises when it’s out of the boot/cast are key to regaining full mobility. I was fortunate to have a great PT to guide me, and being religious about using resistance bands & doing stretches meant I was able to be back playing football around seven months after the injury.
Half an hour a day rehabbing it, massaging the swelling and using ice is such an investment.
Not something you can easily get advice for online as it depends on what she was diagnosed with. I had a type A weber fracture, recovery 6-8 weeks (still hurts a few months later) and was given a boot to wear and told to rest first few days then be as mobile as possible. After four weeks I moved to an easier to use brace from amazon as the boot was a pain and it wasn't hurting. After 6 weeks I got an easier brace again that is just like knee supports that I wear during running/squats etc (mostly because I'm nervous of it going again).
So first step is to find out what she had, then you can find loads of guides on recovery method.
to add..there were also exercises I needed to do (stretches/rotation etc) from day 3, then more impact work from week 6 to aid recovery and minimise long term impact.
So first step is to find out what she had, then you can find loads of guides on recovery method.
to add..there were also exercises I needed to do (stretches/rotation etc) from day 3, then more impact work from week 6 to aid recovery and minimise long term impact.
Edited by ozzuk on Monday 4th March 16:21
ignore everything you've read so far.
Where is the #?
Base 5th mt - no boot needed
Lat mal - boot needed
anywhere else - ? depends.
pretty much end of.
However after 6 weeks i'd be expecting union so probably - no boot needed
if you buy and fit a boot from amazon etc - you're likely to be causing more problems than you're solving.
Have you a photo of the XR you can share ?
Where is the #?
Base 5th mt - no boot needed
Lat mal - boot needed
anywhere else - ? depends.
pretty much end of.
However after 6 weeks i'd be expecting union so probably - no boot needed
if you buy and fit a boot from amazon etc - you're likely to be causing more problems than you're solving.
Have you a photo of the XR you can share ?
scotlandtim said:
ignore everything you've read so far.
Where is the #?
Base 5th mt - no boot needed
Lat mal - boot needed
anywhere else - ? depends.
pretty much end of.
However after 6 weeks i'd be expecting union so probably - no boot needed
if you buy and fit a boot from amazon etc - you're likely to be causing more problems than you're solving.
Have you a photo of the XR you can share ?
Hi Tim. Thanks, but we don't have the images.Where is the #?
Base 5th mt - no boot needed
Lat mal - boot needed
anywhere else - ? depends.
pretty much end of.
However after 6 weeks i'd be expecting union so probably - no boot needed
if you buy and fit a boot from amazon etc - you're likely to be causing more problems than you're solving.
Have you a photo of the XR you can share ?
Bill said:
scotlandtim said:
ignore everything you've read so far.
Except this bit... 
Bill said:
You'd be better looking at something like an aircast A60 splint rather than a boot.
Louis Balfour said:
Lady Balfour broke this about two months ago and still needs to use a single crutch. If she carries a bag of shopping (for example) it leaves her in pain.
She is still sans boot.
Is this normal? Seems like quite a long time.
I have bad news. I broke mine in 2022. Mine still hurts every day and I have limited mobility in the joint and a weakened calf. I went to hospital, got my x-ray, was some type of Weber, got a soft boot and a leaflet and that was the extent of my NHS treatment. I went to a private physio and even ended up getting a private MRI to see why and the answer was, you're old, your ankle isn't in great shape anyway and you'll probably be getting early arthritis in the joint.She is still sans boot.
Is this normal? Seems like quite a long time.
I'm mid 40's now. Sadly, I don't heal like a 20 year old. I'm of the opinion that it's about as good as it's going to get now and will gradually get worse from here on in. Not what you want to read, but sadly, sometimes a full recovery isn't on the cards.
Gassing Station | Health Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff