I Broke My Ankle | Getting Around On a Knee Scooter and Crutches

How did I break my ankle? How do I get around and do my daily activities when I can't put weight on 1 leg? Find out some hacks on how to make life more accessible when you're getting around on crutches and a knee scooter so you can still maintain a bit of your independence.

⏱️TIMESTAMPS⏱️
0:00 How I broke my ankle
1:35 What my ankle looked like & visiting urgent care
3:48 How to use crutches
5:16 Orthopedic doctor appointment
6:44 Tips to help your bone heal
8:19 Navigating your house on crutches, a knee scooter, and chairs
10:20 What to wear with a cast
11:06 Getting out of the house with a knee scooter
12:32 How to make showering with a cast easier

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Stock photo used:
Close-Up Shot of Holiday Cookies - ​​Photo by Jill Wellington from Pexels
Home Office Interior - Photo by Oladimeji Ajegbile from Pexels
Aerial View Photo of Parking Lot - Photo by Mwabonje from Pexels
Close-Up View of a Person's Hands Getting Wet from the Shower - Video by Yaroslav Shuraev from Pexels

[heatherkeeton]

I broke my left foot 2 years ago. Then 2 weeks ago I broke my right foot. We have extremely similar stories! I was walking my dog and tripped for a hole in the ground. A friend gave me crutches, I used an office chair to get around, then got a knee scooter. Got a chair for my shower.

[jeaninegawthrope]

Good job! I just broke my fibula while hiking the glacier in Iceland.
My Mass General Brigham doctor had just given a lecture at Harvard on weight bearing on this Weber 2 fracture. The new theory is that bearing weight helps the ankle heal in better alignment. It hurts but I'm slowly doing more. We shall see how this theory works.

[elizabethpeterson]

This was almost 11 years ago for me. I broken my left ankle in a bad car accident. I wore 3 different casts for my ankle. My parents helped me in recovery from it. I used a wheelchair and even a walker. My ankle was much worse than yours. My foot was dislocated a little bit. Even a part of the leg bone looked liked a knuckle under the skin. I didn’t take to many showers. I did used body wipes and a shampoo cap to washed my hair. Sometimes dry shampoo. I wore splint cast for 2 weeks, fiberglass cast for 4 weeks, and the boot till the end of July. During that month that I was weening off the boot cast. I was in a good spirit during that whole thing. I remembered missing out the warm weather from late winter to summer. That Year didn’t have spring. When I got out it felt good. I was cooped up in the bedroom for the first 2 weeks, another 4 weeks, and again 2 weeks. When I started PT just a little bit over 2 months that I started to walk again. It was a slow process for me since I was 41 years old at that time. So far that I can talked about it or even joked about it, too. Even my sister was about to see me after the accident. My injury at that time wasn’t life threatening. My father said that to my sister that I will be fine with them. I only had 3 people who saw me at that condition that I was in in the beginning. My grandmother saw me during Easter time in a wheelchair with a cast on my left leg. I can drive a car but, I did need help in getting in or out of a car. My grandmother forgotten that my leg was in a cast. My mother picked her up. I still have the 2 scars on my ankle from surgery. I have a plate that is broken in 2 and a few screws still in it. I do walked a little bit different time to time. Sometimes that I get a little flare up on that ankle. I don’t know how to used that scooter for it. I didn’t used crutches which that I knew how ti used them. I’m pretty tough on pain. Having a broken ankle is the worst pain ever in my life. I have been always careful in not hurting that ankle. I sprained my right ankle in a really bad fall just outside of my apartment.

[akitalove]

I broke my L-ankle almost a year to date from your injury, 12/06/2023. I had it confirmed at the ER and was lucky enough that crutches were available and placed in a boot device, I was given an Orthopedic MD to follow up within 2-3 days. I was seen two days later, very briefly about 4-5 minutes max, and advised to place no weight on this ankle. I had never used crutches before and he just handed me information to see a PT to learn, I remained in the Boot due to a previous experience with a cast and told him I was unable to tolerate it well, I don't think he appreciated this. I did fully recover from the previous injury due to my following the exact instructions given, again the MD this time was not happy having to remove the cast stating " I'll probably see you for surgery" I won this one Doc. Long story short, I was given more information with your thoughtful video and hope this helps others in the same predicament. I was not told about ways to help facilitate the recovery, I had only increased my Vit-C and didn't even think about the Vit-D or increase of protein. Thank you again!

[je]

Thank you for the info. Dealing with a broken leg here.

[nwkruss]

Thanks for telling your story. Very helpful !

[miladorotea]

I’m going to have ankle surgery in 3 days. I’m a retired nurse so I made a list of things I needed and got.
3 hand grips, a small bench with handles, a non skid mat for the floor for the shower. Also I turned the water off to the shower head so I can use the hand held one. Then I moved all the toiletries from the wall and placed them in a container on the floor. I placed a non skid mat outside the shower with a doll nearby Also put the crutches nearby. Got a guard rail for the toilet. And a biggie, removed the shower door
I have a 1 story house that has tile floors throughout Removed area rugs
Got a Walker and zip tied a corrugated shelf Got a Walker and bought knee scooter and a cover and put my iPhone holder on the scooter. I had a friend bolt a ramp at my front door as well as to the patio
Living alone I had to make sure everything was easy to access
I practiced showering and using the scooter
Your video was helpful

[deniseinsocaldeniseinsocal]

I broke both my ankles while hiking Diamond Head in Hawaii on vacation. My left was a hairline, my right was dislocated and completely broken in three places. Flying home was a challenge. Surgery at home a few weeks later at home in California. two plates and 12 screws. Completing PT now.

[bryanmaier]

really awesome! you make the cast look amazing! you can even paint your toes to match!

[jeffreymiller]

Speedy recovery wishes...you make it look so easy.

[isightcast]

Great crutches guide! You know how to use them

[m.taylor]

Also, there are metal stirrups the ortho doc can attach as an extension to the bottom of the cast to allow slight weight bearing on the stirrup without it putting pressure on the ankle.

[m.taylor]

I would not wear socks on the good leg while using crutches as it is a slipping hazard. Rolling down that makeshift ramp seems risky as it is uncontrollable.

[blueomega]

Hoping for a speedy recovery Jelena! Love the blue hair btw 😁 - I read in another comment you think the chemo weakened your bones, wonder what the answer is for this, increase calcium intake or something 🤔 - also yay for no surgery

[kellytrundle]

Hi. I hope you heal quickly.
I’m wanting to connect with you, but I’m not sure how. I had my ileostomy reversal on Oct 4, 2021. I also overcame stage 3 colorectal cancer. It’s coming up on 2 years since initial symptoms.
Thank you so much for posting these videos.

[judithwidman]

I also have a walker with a knee sling. That helps getting out of shower and the car better.

[brandonshaw]

I missed this
Hope you are all good now💐

[jackdavide]

Get well soon! I hope the healing is going well. Any idea when you might be able to get back to running?

[useralex]

When will you have your cast removed? I was in a cast too. I broke my wrist and thumb playing soccer. I had my third cast removed months ago.Have a full and speedy recovery.Have a wonderful day

[mytwocents]

Thanks so much! I broke my ankle and have to have surgery in about 8 days. This really helped me as I live alone and will be non -weight bearing for several weeks. The knee scooter looks like the answer and thank goodness, no stairs in my apartment. I ordered a shower bench from Amazon and it is fantastic. It is a challenge to learn a new way to function through the recovery period. Great tips and I appreciate it, so much!