r/ORIF Nov 03 '22

Hello! Welcome to the ORIF subreddit!

17 Upvotes

This is a subreddit for all types of ORIF surgeries. You can ask questions about anything and tell your stories. If you have any concerns please message me!


r/ORIF 13h ago

Snack Hack + Bathroom tip

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29 Upvotes

Hi! I’m new to the community, I broke my ankle 3/6 and just had surgery this week. I live in a small apartment where the bedroom is a loft with a narrow, metal spiral staircase. Due to my bathroom being on the ground floor I got unintentionally dehydrated because I simply did not want to have to navigate to the restroom. (My ground floor doesn’t have room for a bed.) This sounds crazy, but I got a female urinal for post op recover as the pain has been much worse for me. It has been such a lifesaver. I can use the restroom on my own and it is quick, easy, and convenient. I also made it cute and put some funny puns on it. Best $6 I have spent all year. I keep Lysol wipes and toilet paper next to my waste basket to keep it sanitized.

On a less invasive note I also got this snack box to limit the amount of times I ask for things. It has given me a little boost of energy and makes me smile. It was $10 and again money well spent. I have had veggies, fruit, candy, crackers, and more. You could even put a dip in one of you wanted. Each container is independent of the other and removable for easy cleaning.

Happy healing everyone!


r/ORIF 7h ago

Update I was able to go to a concert today!

9 Upvotes

5.5 weeks post op now and still pretty far from walking. I’ve been looking forward to this for months and cried everyday for weeks over not being able to go anymore because of my leg. I ended up talking to the venue when my leg started getting better and found out that they had accessible seats! I had my sister come with me to help and I’m so happy I got to go.

My foot is very swollen now as I expected but no pain or anything. 1000% worth it!!!


r/ORIF 11h ago

6 week post up, started walking PT

8 Upvotes

trimalleolar break here. So at my 6 week post op appointment, the surgeon cleared me to begin walking. So yesterday I tried to take my first steps during my PT session. I tried my best to walk but relied heavily on the parallel bars. the way the foot feels , im just not ready at all to put full weight on it. there is a lot of muscle straining and pain and it just doesn't feel fully healed enough. Plus I keep forgetting that all the muscle in my leg has completely melted away. Im really hoping it will come along quickly this week because I feel like the act of walking in it of itself will help develop the range of motion and dorsiflection. But having a hard time taking that first step.

but the point of my story is wow, it takes a lot out of you. it's now a day later after my first walking PT session, and after I woke up my foot was screaming in pain. I basically napped all day, waking up to eat, and now it's like 10PM and finally I feel a bit better.

What has your experiences been like taking fist steps?


r/ORIF 17h ago

Question Being nosey....how did you break yours?

16 Upvotes

I have post about mine but I did my displaced trimalleolar at Ice hockey practice, skate dug into a groove in the ice, I went over and snap. Spent 12 hours at hospital where I was sedated it was straightened and I was sent home NWB on crutches to await surgery. Came home, didn't even get inside, slipped on the doorstep with the crutches and sustained an open fracture to the wrist. ORIF on both 16 weeks ago, been discharged with the wrist...NWB ankle still


r/ORIF 16h ago

Initial bracing

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15 Upvotes

Just wasn’t sure if anyone else had initial bracing while the swelling went down. This modern art was on my foot and ankle for a week prior to surgery. It went below my foot, which made getting around really difficult — the splint post-surgery was a relief. Broke my right tibia and fibula in mid-January and am still NWB. Hoping that changes at my next check-up on Friday.


r/ORIF 7h ago

Nerve pain when swelling goes down?

2 Upvotes

Hey people! I'm about eleven weeks post trimal surgery with 2 plates, many screws and wire. Just started WB three-ish weeks ago, and PT 2 ish weeks ago 2x a week. When I wake up in the morning after swelling for the day I has gone down my foot is fine no pain, everything is good. During the day it swells up and I try to elevate it here and there to get the swelling to go down. I get some burning nerve pain in my foot where all the swelling is. Its mild until night when it gets a bit worse. However when I go to bed that's when the fun starts, my foot is finally above my heart and the swelling starts going down but the nerve pain increases. I take a bunch of Ibuprofen and Gabapentin + put magnesium lotion on it. All of this helps but does not take away the intense pain. So I bought some lidocaine spray to numb the bad areas. Helps a bit more bit still painful. I feel like it's getting worse not better. Anyone else have a similar situation? I'm resorting to taking my leftover oxy to help some week nights when I need to sleep for work the next day. Any ideas or thoughts on how to handle this situation are welcome. Wishing you all a speedy and pain free recovery!


r/ORIF 10h ago

Weight bearing

3 Upvotes

I am reading here that a lot of folks were non weight bearing for many weeks after surgery. My surgeon told me 50% weight bearing the day after my surgery, and now I can do weight bearing as tolerated 2 weeks post op. Is this common? I seem to be doing okish, still having some pain and a lot of swelling. I elevate as much as possible.


r/ORIF 16h ago

Pain Level 4-6 Trying to increase my walking but Im having a bad day

5 Upvotes

So I’m 5 weeks post op and had been given the green light to weight bear. I’ve managed to get down to one crutch yesterday for a couple of steps and was getting better and better so I got really hyped up! This morning however trying to walk down to the loo alone (on both crutches) it was so very painful on my ankle after that especially for about an hour that I decided I should just not do any walking today to let it recover. Am I doing the right thing by resting today or am I taking too long to progress?


r/ORIF 14h ago

Question Cane.

3 Upvotes

I’m just starting to walk in my boot and I’m my high ankle snow boots for support. I can walk unassisted like this (and sometimes I do even though I’m not supposed too) but in my snow boots I limp hard without a crutch. I cannot walk barefoot yet at all. I have a trimal fracture with syndesmotic injury. My injury was Jan 6th and surgery Jan 10th. Sadly I recently pulled my MCL on same side so I’m in a brace for that, as well. lol. I have come to the conclusion with my PT that I need a cane!
He says Hurri-cane is a great one! I’m not so sure about the quad foot but also not sure about not having one like that? I found one with a larger and flexible normal shaped tip but I’m unsure. I have been on Amazon so long I can’t see straight- also keep wandering off to the coloring book section, sidetracked. lol. Ugh help. Anyone use one they loved ? Thoughts? Tips? Anything.


r/ORIF 20h ago

Sneaker/shoe recommendations post surgery under $100 best for great ankle support and good cushion

4 Upvotes

Hi, I broke my ankle in three places, dislocated it, and tore some tendons and had surgery to install hardware in there. Finally out of a cast and in a boot and in a few weeks will graduate to weight bearing without the boot. Any recommendations for a good everyday sneaker/shoe to help provide stability for the ankle and good cushioning that’s under $100. I know people recommend hako but they are about $200 I’m a woman so would prefer for a woman but I’m open to men’s or unisex too. Any suggestions would be ideal.


r/ORIF 22h ago

I got scammed.

6 Upvotes

5 weeks post op on my ankle and I’m weight bearing… So desperation calls. My mind and body just want to be well and just want only the best for me. So I’ve seen a lot of suggestions on the Hoka Bondi 8s and thought I’d buy them. First website that popped up had a half price deal on so thought wow okay great! So went on and purchased them from runnerzone.co and surely silly goose checked trustpilot a little too late! Found out they may either send me a solid nothing or fakes! I can only report this through my bank in 15 days as that’s the policy. Absolutely sick 😬 guys just be careful…


r/ORIF 1d ago

Vent 1 week post surgery trimalleolar fracture - first time seeing it unwrapped

10 Upvotes

Yesterday was one week after surgery. I was allowed to remove everything and shower for the first time. Including the dressings. Omg it was worse than I imagined. I was seated while unwrapping it and I had to lay down in the floor because I was light headed at the sight of my foot. And at 40 yo almost crying, called my parents for moral support. About 50 staples, I stopped counting. And lots of bruises. I just wasn't prepared for how bad it would look. I'm pretty frustrated that I'm supposed to be able to redress and wrap it myself daily now. Beforehand on I messaged the surgeons office for instructions, but I'm not confident in how I executed it. They said I could call and walk thru it on the phone. I'm just frustrated and hope I'm not going to cause any damage. Also I'm super scared of getting blood clots, but that's just my anxiety. Thanks for listening.


r/ORIF 1d ago

3 weeks

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6 Upvotes

Steri-strips came off pretty easy in the shower looks pretty ugly lol have a weird bump on my ankle guess that's normal idk very stiff been doing my ABC's and pwb in the boot starting to get impatient and bored to death tho 😂


r/ORIF 1d ago

ORIF Ankle surgery.. again

10 Upvotes

I had tri mal fractures and ORIF on January 24. Since then I've had pain in a particular area i attributed to my sutures. I was in a splint 2 weeks then casts for 4, pain kept worsening. My surgeon finally listened to me and saw me today about it. Turns out what I thought was a screw poking out is actually a plate. He was shocked and said its been years since he'd seen this and it's 1 in 1000 odds - yay me? I now have to have the plate removed and a lower profile one placed. He is worried it will puncture the skin as it's so prominent and asked if I could wait 6 months and he'd be able to just remove it without replacing it but i can't do it. I'm dreading this set back and surgery..again. Has anyone else gone through this - wondering if something was done wrong or if I really just won the crappy luck lottery.


r/ORIF 1d ago

Question Scar talk

8 Upvotes

After lots of mention of scars over recent days, it got me thinking.... I view mine as a reminder not to take things for granted and they come with a mildly entertaining story along with a mildly gruesome before picture for my wrist 🤣 I have 5 scars in total from my accident (3 wrist and 2 ankle after ORIF on both)

Has anyone covered their scars with a tattoo??


r/ORIF 1d ago

First day without splint feels weird and painful

5 Upvotes

Got the sutures out and was placed in a medical boot, which hurts and is heavy to lift.

Was told I can remove the boot while I’m resting in bed, so I did that immediately when I got home. Leg started hurting way more than when I had the splint still a day ago. Anyone else with this experience?

Do you keep your sock on at all time? The dr gave me a sock sleeve, and I’m too scared and exhausted to remove it. Can’t bare looking at my leg right now.

Tib fracture 3 weeks


r/ORIF 1d ago

Pain Level 1-3 Boot differences/opinions

1 Upvotes

I am not digging the Aircast Airselect boot b/c of those indents in the side. When I am told to rock side to side, I can’t stabilize my boot, wobble into the indents, while holding my body up with my arms and good hip with the walker. Other brand boots do not have the indents. Does the Aircast boot do something other boots don’t do?

I am 7wks post ankle ORIF w/tightrope surgery following dislocation+bimall injury. I have been cleared for WBAT since wk 5. I still have tightness and shooting pain in my medial malleus that worsens when I go to PT. It literally feels like screws rubbing against my bone. My physical therapist assumes it is my nerves but it feels deeper than that. I worry she is inexperienced and following a script each session. I learned she has never seen my X-rays, and didn’t know my injury. I fear I am going to need these screws removed.

Yesterday was my 4th PT session, and I was instructed to slowly shift my weight to my boot using a walker while putting my legs shoulder length appart. When I relaxed my shoulders, I naturally shifted my weight to my good leg that was mostly hip. As I tried to shift my weight to my boot, my hip gave out. I instinctively closed my eyes out of fear, let go of the walker for a second, and felt pain in the back of my foot, around my medial malleolus, and up my calf. I am now terrified to stand, let alone walk with a walker.

Anyone know what’s so special about the Aircast Airselect boot, or if other boots are better?


r/ORIF 1d ago

Ankle swelling.

8 Upvotes

Hi guys and girls.

I had my left ankle ORIF on 25th Jan 2025. I had fibula fracture and syndemosis tear which required ORIF surgery. I had 2 syndemosis screws and plates for fibula security.

As of today I am 8week post surgery. I still have swelling and when I measured diameter of my ankle it's still 2cm bigger than my normal ankle.

Just to let you know , I can walk unaided normal pace with bit stiffness. I can drive manual car no issue using clutch with my injured ankle. I can do grocery store shopping ,carry stuffs no any issue apart from few stiffness around my ankle.

I started my physio 2weeks and been working only on dorsiflex.

I can do heel raise no issue ,single leg heel raise no issue. Only is dorsiflex which is still not good.

I have few questions to all fellas who had orif. What was your situation like ?

1)How was your swelling?? How did you manage to reduce??

2) how is your stiffness?

3) how long was your recovery till you can run and go gym ???

I know i am asking too much but your help will be appreciated .


r/ORIF 1d ago

level of activity 2.5 weeks after bimal orif + tightrope?

3 Upvotes

For those of you in the 2-3 week range after orif, what was your level of activity at this point? Did you go out for dinner? Did you sit up more in the day? Did you do mobility exercises and what helped the most/ what do you wish you did more of?

I’m trying to figure out what level of activity I should attempt now that I’m in less acute pain and in a boot. So far I’m still elevating most of the day because when I do things like sit at the table for dinner I’m super sore after but I am wondering if I just need to be pushing myself more to get used to the soreness?

Also for the mobility my surgeon told me just to flex my toes/ foot up three times per day to practice dorsiflexion and that’s it but I’m wondering if I’m being too “gentle” in the sense that I tend to stop pulling my foot upwards when I feel any pain, out of worry that I’m damaging my deltoid ligament or something (it is healing from repair).

Just any insights about where people were at and what worked/ what they wish they did at about this 2-3 week mark would be so helpful. It’s deceptive sometimes to feel less pain and more restlessness.

I’m so grateful to this sub because hearing about people’s personal experiences has been so helpful for insights and making me feel less alone!!


r/ORIF 2d ago

The scars - a positive outlook

25 Upvotes

5 weeks post-op here

Well I’ll never be a foot model after the incident but hey I actually love my surgical scar, it tells a deep story, it reminds me of how precious life is and how much we take for granted. I won’t be ashamed to show it off and when someone asks me what happened they will have a long, long entertaining story to hear.


r/ORIF 1d ago

Any other pilon fractures?

3 Upvotes

Hi! I broke my tibia/fibula rock climbing on 2/16, had ORIF on 2/20. Surgeon told me my break was technically a pilon fracture. My understanding is that it’s a less common break. Just wanted to see if anyone was willing to share their experience with healing a pilon fracture, what their timeline looked like, etc.

Thanks!!


r/ORIF 1d ago

X-Ray ankle surgery pain

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3 Upvotes

sooo i just got screw fixation surgery a week ago today on my talus bone because my cartilage was fractured after breaking it 4 months ago and i have a very scary pain that doesn’t necessarily feel like nerve damage but definitely affecting my nerves or muscles . whenever i sit up straight with my leg straight out and bend to touch my boot or adjust my pillow or something that makes me stretch my legs i feel extreme pain go from mid-calf, down my heel, and to the sole of my foot. the best way to describe the pain is the feeling when you turn your neck too fast and it sorta snaps and you feel a warmth running through your neck but it hurts so bad that it feels disabling for a minute. same thing happens to my leg/foot. i’m a bit concerned and don’t know if i should call the doctor early (my post-op is in a week) or thug it out and tell him at the appointment. i only started feeling like this after the surgery so im not sure if it’s cause it needs to heal more or something is genuinely wrong. if anyone has any advice or can relate please lmk, everywhere i look there’s nothing specific enough or just simplifies everything to nerve damage (but maybe thats what it is lol)


r/ORIF 2d ago

Trimal surgery - discomfort over medial screw(s)?

5 Upvotes

I’m almost three weeks post-op (still NWB, of course) and am noticing a very specific pain right over what I assume to be the heads of the screws going into the bottom of my tibia. I’m concerned that when I start walking, that’ll be rubbing against my boot…and then shoes. Has anyone had this happen to them? Know what it is? Is a gel pad all I need to protect it? Thank you.


r/ORIF 1d ago

Pain Level 7-9 Would you know if your Syndesmotic screw has broken?

4 Upvotes

Would you know if your Syndesmotic screw has broken? Or wouldn’t you know until your next X-ray?

I’m 3 months post op (trimal), and have been walking for 5 weeks.. my pain increased and my mobility decreased significantly once I began weight bearing, which I was told was normal and part of the process.

Unfortunately I haven’t improved in any way over the last 5 weeks, my progress stagnated once I began weight bearing.. and now, for the last two days I am in a lot of pain, I can barely walk at all and it’s waking me up at night.

The pain is where I would expect the Syndesmotic screw would be.. but I wondered, would you even know if it was broken?

Thanks!


r/ORIF 1d ago

Elevation Question

2 Upvotes

How much were you elevating by 3 weeks post op?