Question - Broken Ankle (swelling after cast removal)

I broke my ankle playing football over four weeks ago and just recently got my cast off. When i broke it i severly twisted it and ended up laying on top of it, while it happened i felt several small pops then a larger one. The doctors told me i had a spiral fractured fibula and gave me a walking cast.

Once i had the cast put on my foot, it swelled and turned black and blue, leading me to believe i probably sprained it really bad on top of the break. I was able to walk on it after the first week and a half.

Now it has been two days since the cast was taken off and i am able to walk on it quite well as compared to another team member who broke the same bone two weeks earlier. He however doesn't have the swelling that i do around my ankle, which is what i'm asking about.

The swelling is quite hard and is mostly in the area below the joint, is it normal for my ankle to still be swollen and if so how long until it starts to go away?

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Question - Broken Ankle (swelling after cast removal)

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Oct 25, 2009
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ankle fracture
by: anto

i fractured my ankle playing soccer on 8th of september had my cast off 5 weeks later told to wear a air boot for couple of weeks ankle still swells up and can be quite sore can feel it tingling when i walk and i have a limp told i cant have physio for another couple of weeks p.....d off.

Oct 21, 2009
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swelling after cast removal
by: Anonymous

Hi there,

Just wanted to comment that I broke my ankle back in July (an avulsion fracture of the fibula, no surgery required said I was lucky), and after my aircast was removed and I was allowed to walk on it, it was quite swollen. I believe it's quite normal, the swelling for me has went down in a month and a half, so just know that it will get smaller but could take awhile, but if there's anything that doesn't feel right then I would worry, but if it's just really swollen, I would say it's safe to assume that it's pretty normal :)

Oct 21, 2009
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Swelling after broken ankle
by: Anonymous

I, too, had a broken ankle the end of July, 2009.
It was the talus medial side and bad sprains on the lateral side which also involved the top of my foot and the tibia. I had a cast on for 2 weeks; then they determined that the ankle joint was stable so they put a boot on. I had that sucker on for another month and a half. Had to use crutches non-weight-bearing for one month and then weight bearing with one crutch for another 3 weeks. There was a huge range of motion loss, weakness and lots of swelling. It really helped when I could walk without the crutch and started stationary recumbent biking and water exercises (everyone should try this -- it's so freeing -- I taught water aerobics for 15 years -- it will help improve the mobility much faster.) Physical therapy exercises are a must -- don't stop doing them. I continue to ice and elevate whenever it gets sore and I've been on it too long. I do believe that it will take a year before it feels completely normal.

Oct 10, 2009
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ankle crack
by: Anonymous

i fell of my bike and fractured my ankle. The next day i got my temporay cast off and then got a propper 1 on 4 weeks later i get my cast taken off its healed but i cant walk my ankle tingles and my ankle is weak can people help me??

Oct 01, 2009
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Swelling after cast is removed.
by: Hilda

I broke my angle 5 weeks ago. I slip off a tiny step,and heard my ankle pop. My injury was so bad my doctor said if I would have broken just by 1 centimeter higger I would have needed surgery. Well my cast just came off about 5 days ago. But, I have a question. Is it normal for my ankle to be swollen? Even though i can walk on it.

Sep 21, 2009
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broken talus
by: Anonymous

I broke my talus bone on July 23, 2009. I was in a hard cast for 6 weeks and then I was put into a walking cast. I only wore the walking cast for about a week when I should have continued to wear it for at least two months. However, I can walk on it quite easily with minimal pain. My foot all the way to my shin is very swollen (especially the ankle) Can I expect this to last a while longer? None of my shoes fit my big fat foot....

Sep 03, 2009
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6 weeks and finally out of my aircast
by: Anonymous

I had an avulsion fracture of my right fibula back on July.23rd ( sliding into 3rd base playing softball ) This is my 2nd day out of my aircast and I have swelling or I guess more like water retention in the ankle area, I'm assuming this is normal, as there's no pain present, although my foot is a bit stiff from my baby toe to the heal, and a bit of pain present when I walk but only along that side, which i assume again is normal after being in the aircast for 6 weeks, I have a call into my doctor to see if this is normal, just wondering if anyone else has experienced this? and is it normal?

Aug 31, 2009
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How did you fracture?
by: Anonymous

Did you fracture your ankle while wearing those shoes?

Aug 15, 2009
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ankle fracture
by: Anonymous

I fractured my ankle about 9 weeks ago and had my cast removed 2 days ago. My ankle is swollen and I can't fit in my shoes. when will I be able to wear my normal shoes again? Also I am female and I like to wear heels.

Nov 20, 2008
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swelling after fracture
by: Bart - SII

It is very normal to have swelling after a fracture like this, especially if there was an associated sprain as well. After being in the cast for 4 weeks, the body has absorbed much of the fluid part of the swelling and now what remains is the solid parts - blood cells, scar tissue, etc.

It will likely start to go away over the next few weeks as you begin to use your ankle normally, walking and doing exercises - however, it is very common to have some swelling remain for months or even years after a bad sprain or fracture.

Massage over the swollen areas may help to reduce it. Also, exercises that strengthen the ankle and work on range of motion may help.

Bart