Question 1

i have a non-displaced fractured fibula. on crutches & in air boot.  this happened 12 days ago.  the ankle & foot still very swollen.  is this normal?

Accepted Answer

Yes: Doris,

It will take 6-8 weeks for the fibula to heal. Swelling should gradually diminish. To help, think RICE: Rest, Ice (my favorite ice is frozen peas), compress, elevate. This should help keep the swelling to a minimum. If the pain is too severe, or you develop numbness or inability to move the foot, please see your doctor. Hope this helps!

Question 2

fractured fibula right ankle oct.29 after cast, boot and now air splint i am having pain in achilles tendon, heel and lower leg. what could be wrong?

Accepted Answer

Oui ou Non.: There might be nothing wrong with your leg other than the cumulative results of having to recover from an ankle fracture and all the compensatory changes associated with the change in walking patterns.

Question 3

i had to have two screws in my ankle and also have fractured fibula.  still really hurting after five weeks in cast.  is this normal?

Accepted Answer

Pain to Ankle: Your pain should be vastly reduced after 5 weeks. You might ask your surgeon about a possible nerve entrapment assuming that the bones are healing well.

Question 4

had stress fracture in foot. wore boot  1 mo. 4 mo. later foot still swollen tho doc said bone healed. no pain just noticeable swelling not improving.?

Accepted Answer

Stress Fractures: Can cause long term swelling.  Repetitive trauma to an area that underwent a stress fracture will continue to have stress-induced swelling.  If you are not wearing an orthotic in your shoe that helps to displace pressure and impact trauma away from the fracture site, then you will continue to have stress-type symptoms in that area, including post-injury swelling.

Question 5

surgery? should this be properly aligned. broken fibula 2 places ! broken fibula, mid lower section top break, still in alignment but fracture. lower break separated and off to the side not in alignment but. back of heal and ankle burning. i have a splint

Accepted Answer

Without : Without seeing the images, it is difficult to know how much of the fibula is broken and how displaced it really is.  The symptoms you're having sound like part of the peroneal nerve is irritated--either from swelling or from the fracture.  Most of these injuries are stretch or bruising injuries, called neurapraxias, that resolve with time, usually about 3 months.  Occasionally, a nerve can be severed, but usually there is muscle weakness to show the more severe injury.

In principle, fractures of the fibular shaft are left to heal without surgery.  We can remove a large portion of the fibula as bone graft without significant adverse effects, so we know the mid-portion of the fibula does not provide structural stability.  The closer to the knee, however, the more likely to affect the common peroneal nerve and the closer to the ankle, the more likely the fracture will affect ankle stability.

There are key ligaments that stabilize the ankle in the area known as the syndesmosis.  These ligaments can take longer to heal than a fracture or lower ankle injury.

Talk to your treating physician about the location of the fractures relative to the important structures.

Question 6

fractured fibula, high ankle sprain 5 wk. no surgery, immobilized, no weight. still having signif. foot swelling, numb toes and darker color top foot.

Accepted Answer

Let me explain: The fracture have not healed yet, the numbness have to do with some nerve  injury could be around the knee or down, the swelling could expected and also the discoloration is expected.
Talk to your doctor if you have nerve injury from the fracture? Or some thing else.

Question 7

should my fibula fracture still be swollen 6 weeks out? i am still on crutches and in an aircast. i am pointing and flexing my foot now per dr orders?

Accepted Answer

: Yes still normal to have swelling 6 weeks post fracture if no physical therapy was performed. Contrast bath  therapy. Ask doctor when ROM can start , range of motion exercises   Weight bearing should be started soon. Follow up need to be taken.

Question 8

had a non displaced fractured fibula about 4 to 6 inches above the right ankle... is surgery necessary?

Accepted Answer

Maybe: Is truely nondisplaced then no surgery necessary. If it is have then surgery. Even 2 mm of displacement can lead to prolonged healing up to 16 weeks.

Question 9

should i be walking on my ankle brace with a fractured fibula?

Accepted Answer

Depends: On where on the fibula the fracture is and if displaced or not. Consult with your orthopedist.

Question 10

what are the best clues of a fractured fibula? i'm having a hard time telling if i broke mine or just have a high ankle sprain.

Accepted Answer

Talk to your doctor : If you had injury to the region of the fibula and pain persists, you need an X-ray. Talk to your doctor as the longer you wait, longer it will heal.

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Doctor answers about:

I fractured my fibula at the ankle 6 weeks ago and wore a boot for 4 weeks it is still swollen why

A member asked:

I have a non-displaced fractured fibula. on crutches & in air boot. this happened 12 days ago. the ankle & foot still very swollen. is this normal?

A member asked:

Fractured fibula right ankle oct.29 after cast, boot and now air splint i am having pain in achilles tendon, heel and lower leg. what could be wrong?

A member asked:

I had to have two screws in my ankle and also have fractured fibula. still really hurting after five weeks in cast. is this normal?

A member asked:

Had stress fracture in foot. wore boot 1 mo. 4 mo. later foot still swollen tho doc said bone healed. no pain just noticeable swelling not improving.?

A member asked:

Surgery? should this be properly aligned. broken fibula 2 places ! broken fibula, mid lower section top break, still in alignment but fracture. lower break separated and off to the side not in alignment but. back of heal and ankle burning. i have a splint

A member asked:

Fractured fibula, high ankle sprain 5 wk. no surgery, immobilized, no weight. still having signif. foot swelling, numb toes and darker color top foot.

A member asked:

Should my fibula fracture still be swollen 6 weeks out? i am still on crutches and in an aircast. i am pointing and flexing my foot now per dr orders?

A member asked:

Had a non displaced fractured fibula about 4 to 6 inches above the right ankle... is surgery necessary?

A member asked:

Should i be walking on my ankle brace with a fractured fibula?

A member asked:

What are the best clues of a fractured fibula? i'm having a hard time telling if i broke mine or just have a high ankle sprain.

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