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Broken legs and ankles heal better if you walk on them within weeks

(www.scientificamerican.com)
611 points sohkamyung | 2 comments | 19 Feb 25 12:36 UTC | HN request time: 0s | source
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Aromasin ◴[19 Feb 25 15:08 UTC] No.43102894[source]▶
I can certainly attest to the consequences. I unfortunately shattered my ankle and broke my back simultaneously, which meant I didn't walk on my ankle until 6 months after the incident. As such, even 10 years later my ankle is a constant irritant to me. I have next to no dorsiflexion beyond a straight leg now. No ankle mobility means persistent pain in my hip, knee, and back on that side, and I'm only 29. God bless the NHS for saving my life at the time and not charging me a penny, but despite my best efforts I can't get any further treatment now to improve the flexion. I'm counting down the years until I can finally afford further surgery and get some quality of life improvements.
replies(2): >>43106531 #>>43107872 #
Panzer04 ◴[19 Feb 25 21:22 UTC] No.43107872[source]▶
What surgical treatment do you expect to improve your outcome?
replies(1): >>43111278 #
1. Aromasin ◴[20 Feb 25 04:54 UTC] No.43111278[source]▶
An ankle arthroscopy leading to debridement of the joint. I have some bone or scar tissue that is causing impingement, meaning my tibia doesn't glide along the top of the talus like it should do. There's little I can do to fix the arthritis in it now, but I can at the very least free to some movement such that the rest of my body isn't limited by my lack of mobility.
replies(1): >>43112151 #
2. Panzer04 ◴[20 Feb 25 07:50 UTC] No.43112151[source]▶
Brutal. Hope you can make the best of it and the arthritis doesn't advance further.