physio problems after fibula fracture

[2dogwalker]

I fractured my fibula on 17th Dec, a stable fracture curving up from the ankle joint. I was put in a temporary part cast and after a week put in a walking toes-to-knee cast with a shoe. I was told I could bear weight as tolerated so by 3 weeks after injury I was gradually weightbearing more around the house without crutches. The cast was removed at 5 weeks and I was allowed to just walk on it. My ankle was swollen, very stiff, and walking was painful but I found I could do it if I took smaller strides and took my time. I did flexibility exercises through the day and built up to walking 10 minutes outside with no crutches. I felt I was doing well steadily but I knew I needed to build up calf strength etc.

At 7 weeks I had my first physio appointment. I told him my main problem was pain when I tried to stand on tiptoe and that was affecting my take-off. He gave me standing calf stretches to do - with straight and then bent leg. These are difficult to do as my ankle is stiff and also swollen in front. He told me to push through the pain and hold for 1 minute, sets of 3 times, 5 times a day. Also he told me to do 3 sets of 15 unilateral calf raises, 3-4 times a day. He watched me try to do one -having to take a lot of weight onto the nearby couch - and just said "remember to come down slowly". It was agony.

I have been struggling to do these new exercises for 3 days as well as the flexibility I was doing, and I was doing things like standing on one leg for balance, walking on heels etc. I have to clutch the banisters or the table to do the unilateral calf raises as it is so painful there is no way I can take the weight. I end up in tears due to pain and feeling a failure. With the calf stretches I am only just able to feel slight pull in the muscle as my main sensation is a lot of pain from the front of the ankle where the swelling is squashed. Since starting these my ankle pain is worse, bothering me at night now and my walking seems to get worse.

Am I just being a wimp or is it too fast too soon? How much pain is one supposed to push through? I am dreading going back to see him again on Friday (it will be 8 weeks then).

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[2dogwalker]

Me again!

Have seen a private physio who says I am well on track with my recovery - ahead of schedule even. No way should I do these exercises that cause intense pain, they are not even the most needed ones for this stage. She says exercise should be hard work and possibly some discomfort but they should not cause intense pain and lasting after-effects. So I shall do as she says, take it more gently while my ankle recovers from the crazy calf raises, and then get back on track with my walking etc. Gradually I will be able to do tiptoe but my calf is not grossly wasted or tight so no panic for now.

OK...so I'll have to pay but I feel much happier about this more careful approach that actually takes account of the state of the ankle. A more experienced physio.

[2dogwalker]

Thanks for the help!!! .................................................. .................................................. ........