I really admire your attitude though and wish I was a bit braver! If a broken ankle heals improperly, it may result in ankle arthritis, which is why restoring the alignment is necessary to a full recovery. While we may not give you a hard-and-fast answer regarding your return-to-driving timeline, we can at least highlight all the safety issues involved so you can make a better, more informed, decision. ... You can return to driving. I've set myself a target of end Nov to be off crutches and pushing myself with the exercises til I c physio next week. What your doctor will do is monitor the healing process with repeated X-rays. How long it takes to recover from a broken ankle A broken ankle usually takes 6 to 8 weeks to heal, but it can take longer. unfortunately it's my right foot, don't think I'm brave enough for a scooter. Claramarie. When surgery is not recommended, it will take at least 6 weeks for the bone to heal. A broken ankle occurs when too much force is placed on the ankle. Here is what to do. I'm not back at work yet but like you I drove there and local public transport is not the best. Follow Posted 5 years ago, 5 users are following. So I had to learn how to drive again. Just want to get back to normal and losing patience . and Privacy Policy and steps will be taken to remove posts identified
Unfortunately, there’s no one answer. One of the first questions we hear after seeing a patient with a fracture is: how soon after breaking my toe, foot or ankle can I get back to driving? Gravity is a beast that can’t be fought, and as the blood rushes down to your broken place- you will surely do what the doctor says. ©2021 Prairie Path Foot & Ankle Clinic, All Rights Reserved, Reproduced with Permission. The authors also concluded that patients can drive safely 4 to 6 weeks after right total hip arthroplasty or total knee arthroplasty. 3 weeks is too less a time for any fracture to heal. Why custom orthotics may be what you need. After weeks in a cast, strength in your foot and/or ankle will be diminished; you’ll therefore want to wait 20 Truths about Life After Foot and Ankle Surgery . The only safe way to test out your readiness in this type of instance is to practice driving in an empty parking lot: if the cast does not seem to be affecting your ability to brake or apply the gas pedal, and if you aren’t experiencing distracting discomfort, it is likely that you will be safe behind the wheel but, of course, there are no guarantees. According to a recent study sighted in the New York Times, a shocking 35% of surgeons don’t discuss post-operative driving safety with their patients; apparently, they’re afraid to take any stand on driving out of fear that they’ll be held liable if a patient decides to drive and gets in an accident. Try our Symptom Checker Got any other symptoms? 2. I was told to partial weight bear and next appointment 12/11. If the broken ankle is clean, no shifting of the bone and doesn’t require surgery, the broken ankle will heal within a six week period with proper medical management. • Braking function reaches acceptable levels about nine weeks after surgery for most ankle fractures and about 18 weeks after articular fractures (fractures that … There are some clear no-nos, of course: if your right foot is in a cast or brace, you absolutely should not drive. Registered number: 10004395 Registered office: Fulford Grange, Micklefield Lane, Rawdon, Leeds, LS19 6BA.
The most common causes include: Trips and falls. Having broken leg and ankle on different occassions, the leg took about 3 months and the ankle was closer to 5 months (but did a fabulous job on that one). I broke my ankle bones in three places on 8/9 after having a plate and pins and three weeks in hospital I am now at the stage of wearing an air boot and walking NWB with crutches. As may a police office, if you happen to get pulled over while driving with a fracture. Although I've been driving for many years I've only ridden scooters on holidays in Greece and didn't feel that safe. how long after a broken ankle can I drive. If the left ankle is broken, you can drive once you once you have stopped taking narcotics. I have an appointment on Friday and hoping for physio soon. After the initial cast, The bone did displace so I had to have a couple of screws put in. It may be treated with a plaster cast or surgery and full recovery usually takes between 8 and 12 weeks. A severely displaced ankle fracture will require surgery, possible plates and screws. thanks, unfortunately my right ankle too. When the Doctor says to elevate, you darn well do it. The rest of your … it has been 4 weeks since. Traffic codes vary from state to state, but in many jurisdictions it is illegal to drive if there is something that impedes normal driving ability, such as medications or an injury. TORONTO — Patients who undergo operative repair of right ankle fractures should be advised not to begin driving until nine weeks postoperatively, according to a study which made use of … © Patient Platform Limited. Always speak to your doctor before acting and in cases of emergency seek
Even if your injury doesn’t directly affect your ability to drive, if you’re not sleeping well or are just feeling a little bit off, it may not be safe for you to get behind the wheel, regardless of your physical ability to do so. It blew my mind even more that he wanted me to be 100% weight bearing in two weeks, when I was currently 0%. Hey im in my 5th week of my cast , for my broken ankle & i have 1 more week & my ankle is burning so bad MD yes this is a common problem. Broke my left ankle over 30years ago but didn't need surgery so it was totally different experience to this. Use of the forums is subject to our Terms of Use
Extended appointment time are available by request. As a result, patients should not return to driving until their foot or ankle is fully healed. 5 users are following. 1. Conditions like diabetes and nicotine use can slow the healing time significantly, potentially even doubling the amount of time it takes to heal from a broken ankle. please answer i am going away and i need to drive there ! Broken limbs and driving You must tell DVLA if you’ll be unable to drive for more than 3 months because of a broken limb. Broken Ankle Recovery Time Broken ankle recovery time after surgery takes about six to eight weeks, although pain can lessen after two to three weeks. At 4 weeks, exercise activities are initiated in a swimming pool and on a bike. Only you can decide when you’re really ready to drive after an injury like this, but we hope that you’ll involve your doctors in the conversation, so we can keep you safe during and after your recovery period. I drive for a living so unable to work still, my foot is constantly swollen. It happens when you fracture three different areas in your ankle called the malleoli. I was exactly the same, i thought that once the cast came off id be a bit stiff but after a few weeks be back at work. Once your cast has been removed, regardless of which leg was immobilized, don’t assume that you’ll be able to drive immediately. Among their conclusions: most studies say that braking function returns to normal four weeks after right knee arthroscopy, nine weeks after surgery … What does swelling in my foot and ankles mean. All rights reserved. Think you may have stepped on something and now it may be in your foot? Equally, if you’re on any kind of narcotic pain-killers, you should not get behind the wheel. After weeks in a cast, strength in your foot and/or ankle will be diminished; you’ll therefore want to wait until your walking has returned to normal before even attempting to drive. The doctor will tell you: how … This was one of the questions on my mind during my broken ankle rehab after a trimalleolar fracture. 6 weeks after initiation of weight bearing after a major lower-extremity fracture 9 weeks after surgical management of an ankle fracture. Whenever you are driving with a painful injury like a broken foot or ankle, even if you are doing so after your cast has been removed, you must also be aware of your mental acuity. its because of the cast. Patient aims to help the world proactively manage its healthcare, supplying evidence-based information on a wide range of medical and health topics to patients and health professionals. Why aren't over the counter orthotics getting rid of my pain? When you’ve broken a bone in your foot or ankle, you’ll obviously be concerned about your mobility, but you must always put safety before concerns about being inconvenienced. I'm now in an aircast and am touch weight bearing only and hope to have the cast off in 3 week (some 9 weeks after the initil accudent). Driving With a Broken Foot: The Don’ts Patients facing surgery for a broken ankle are often concerned with how long it will take them to recover. In a few months I'll be zipping about in my mini, walking my dog and get my life back to normal. The first 48 hours were the most bewildering of my life. Anyone - even the President-elect Joe Biden - can have foot pain! Losing your balance may lead to trips and falls, which can … When can I drive after recovering from a broken ankle? Doing so would be the equivalent of driving after a night of heavy drinking. Hard to be positive all the time, I've been in tears and felt pretty low esp at the beginning when I was NWB but realise it's only temporary and there's a lot of people worse off than me. 5 years ago,
While these are general suggestions, every individual’s recovery time will vary, so talking to your doctor about driving (and checking in regularly during your recovery) is the best way to ensure a safe return to motoring. 53 years experience Orthodontics. Common sense should always come before any other considerations; when in doubt about your ability to control a car, it’s always wise to turn to a friend family member…or, when all else fails, Uber or Lyft! Review your local traffic laws to make sure it is legal to drive with a broken ankle. Rate your own pain levels before reaching for your keys—if you’re at a five or higher, you may be distracted by discomfort, lowering your reaction time in traffic. Driving is important to many people's social and professional lives, so when a person's right ankle or foot must be immobilized after an injury or surgery, … Raking leaves should be seen for what it is - an activity with special demands that you only do a few times a year and only for a few weeks each year. as being in breach of those terms. Driving after a broken ankle It’s illegal to drive with a cast or a boot on either foot. it is tempting but in the event of an accident the insurance company wouldn't pay and worse still, you could get fined and points on your license. Even if your injury doesn’t directly affect your ability to drive, if you’re not sleeping well … There is just no way to drive safely with this kind of obstruction to your driving foot. A 26-year-old male asked: how long do i need to wait to drive after broken ankle surgary ? Which kinda blew my mind because I could barely move my ankle. When I became FWB I was legally allowed to drive but couldn’t since my car has a manual transmission which requires the use of both feet. If you take anything away from this article, your Elmhurst podiatrists want it to be this: whenever you are driving with a painful injury like a broken foot or ankle, even if you are doing so after your cast has been removed, you must always be aware of your mental acuity. How do I know if my ankle is broken or cracked? Can you fully recover from a broken ankle? Even if a doctor doesn’t tell you not to drive, the police can still pull you over and fine you if they believe you are not in full control of your vehicle. I do sympathise with you, but I wouldn't attempt to drive without consulting the hospital. The Grey Areas of Injured Driving A broken ankle is a relatively common injury, often caused by twisting the ankle, falls or a sports injury. No weight-bearing is permitted until 4 to 6 weeks. If stability is your top priority in a pair of shoes you are looking for, … There are many circumstances that affect recovery time, but in general, it is normal for patients to require 12 weeks before they can resume normal daily activities after having an ankle fracture … Hours are subject to change. I broke my ankle 6 weeks ago in a very minor slip coming down the corrie headwall on the Ballhulish Horseshoe. A broken or fractured ankle is painful and will reduce your mobility. I have been so frustrated at not being able to walk, or drive, it has caused me to feel depressed at my never being able to walk or work again! Gordon successfully underwent surgical stabilization of his fractured tibia and dislocated ankle and is on the road to recovery that will include many hours of physical therapy in hopes of resuming his professional basketball career.
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