Reply With QuoteWas surgery suggested?
Member
Rehabbing Ankle Injury
Hi all,
A few weeks ago I was involved in an accident in which a UTV rolled and landed on my right leg. MRI's show a longitudinal tear in my peroneal brevis tendon, a tear in the anterior talofubular ligament and an occult fracture in my medial malleolus bone. I am 31 years old, 5'8 and weigh 170lbs. Before the accident, I was squatting 360lbs, deadlifting 405lbs, pressing 140lbs and bench pressing 200lbs. I'd like to know if anyone has any experience rehabbing these injuries as I have been getting very little from the doctors (surpise surprise) on when I can start lifting and using the leg normally again. I'm currently in a walking boot and am doing my best to utilize the ankle as much as possible on its own. Any tips or suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
TMPHBITEU
Was surgery suggested?
Member
Not as of yet. The orthopedic specialist is waiting for a second round of imaging to track the healing progress before determining if surgery is necessary on the tendon specifically. The ligament and fracture should heal without surgical intervention provided there are no further issues.
TMPHBITEU
Just continue to train, advancing as the pain permits.
Member
Even if there is a fracture? I know training through tendon and ligament issues is feasible and can assist in the healing process but I was not sure how the excess weight, especially with squats and deadlifts, would affect a fracture.
TMPHBITEU
If you can stand the pain, you are not displacing the fracture. I'm not suggesting that you start with a PR set of 5. But it won't hurt you to wait a while.
Member
That was my concern. I wanted to make sure I wasn't further damaging the fracture by lifting. I appreciate the input!
Member
I lifted on a broken fibula, a through break down near my ankle, and ended up causing significant problems (non union that might need surgery yet). Something about displacing the blood clot and the constant flexing of the bone undoing the repair progress.
However, I did not have it in a cast because I didn’t know it was broken, I just assumed it was a sprain and carried on with one of those lace up ankle braces. Now I’m in a walking boot and the doc said walking is good because some compression encourages growth, but that the boot doesn’t take enough weight off to allow me to do any weight bearing exercise.
For me the pain was never bad during the lift, but my foot would swell up a lot after. So now I use swelling as a guide. I’ve been able to get away with some light leg extensions and hamstring curls with the boot on, but if I push it to the 5-8 rep range, the swelling comes back.
Also, just a plug for FRC (functional range conditioning) practitioners over a traditional PT and before you go too far down the surgery route. I saw a PT who gave me a bunch of dumb 3x12 exercises more fit for a grandma and didn’t help at all with ankle pain or stability after 6+ weeks. One round with the FRC practitioner and my pain was cut in half, and the exercises use progressive overload. Then I sent my mom to her, as mom has had shoulder pain for 10+ years and been to everyone under the sun, and mom similarly has had huge improvement that will likely let her avoid rotator cuff surgery.
One last piece of advice - the boot the doc gave me SUCKED and was so uncomfortable. I bought a different one on Amazon for $75 and it’s infinitely better.
Starting Strength Coach
It depends on the fracture. If they just put you in a cam boot, I’d be willing to bet you had an avulsion fracture of the distal malleolus. If that, indeed, was the fracture you sustained, you treat that like an ankle sprain.Originally Posted by LShane
Member
I had an x-ray last week and it showed no fractures this time. Not sure where it went since the MRI “allegedly” showed one but hey, I’ll take it. Back to squatting, starting with lower weight as the swelling still exists so my range of motion isn’t great. I appreciate the advice on this issue though and look forward to getting back on track!
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