How to Walk on a Broken Ankle

A broken ankle is when one or more of the three bones making up the ankle is broken. These three bones are called the fibia, the tibula and the talus. A break can happen in many ways, from a fall or a blow. See your doctor to find out whether you have indeed broken your ankle, since a severely sprained ankle sometimes feels as if it is broken. Symptoms of a broken ankle include swelling, bruising, pain and a sense of the ankle being dislocated. You may still be able to walk on an ankle with a minor fracture, which is why this is not a reliable indicator.

Instructions

How to Walk

• 1

  Determine how severe the break is. If it is minor and the ankle is not out of place, you may avoid surgery. But it is unlikely that you will be able to walk on it right away. According to the Web site of the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons, "some physicians let patients put weight on their leg right away, while others have them wait for six weeks." It seems to be more common to stay off the foot, however. If the ankle is broken as well as out of place, surgery is almost always recommended.

• 2

  Ask you doctor if you can put weight on your ankle. If you wear a cast or a boot, he is likely to say yes. According to the Web site of the University of Michigan Health System, "If the fracture is not too severe, you may be able to walk in the cast after a short period." You may need to use a cane or crutches for a while, though.

• 3

  Do not try walking sooner than recommended and make sure you do everything to rehabilitate your ankle after surgery. If not, you may have to undergo another surgery. The Institute for Foot and Ankle Reconstruction at Mercy states that "if the ankle is not repaired correctly or does not heal well, arthritis and deformity of the ankle can occur. Some of these patients will have no other option but to have the ankle surgery redone."

• 4

  Expect your walk to be sub-par for many months. Limping is common. Some individuals take up to two years to get back to normal. Sticking to your physical therapy program is key.