Help with an ORIF injury please?

[poptarts]

Hi,
At the end of january I broke my ankle in 2 places and displaced my foot. I had an ORIF with 9 pins, a bolt and a bar to correct it, and was put in a short cast.

After around 6 weeks I had the short cast removed but still was told not to walk until the bolt was removed. I had the bolt removed about 3 months after the original injury (around april) and was told not to walk for a few days. On my next consultation I was told I had no ligament damage and was ok to leave hospital care.

I had no physio on my ankle and although I can now walk, I still can't run or maintain a swift walk for any distance. I can't wear high heals (even extremely small heals, around 1/2 inch) as the fibular side of my leg starts to ache rather painfully. When I rotate my ankle it also makes a strage "poping" crack noise which feels rather strange (although it doesn't hurt).

Is there anything I can do to speed up my recovery? What exercises should I be doing to regain my full range of motion? Should I go to my GP with my concerns (not being able to walk quickly, strange noises, pain when wearing heals) and see if I can get refered to a local physio?

Thanks in advance!

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[physiobob]

Basically you need a lot of rehabilitation. You need to go into your local sports or orthopaedic physio practice and formulate a plan together.

[poptarts]

Thanks bob booked a dr.s appointment for tomorrow for a referral to a physio. Anyone know if screws are routinely removed? I don't fact being cut up again but 2 of the rest right on the ankle bone and really hurt if I knock them because they are so exposed.