Broke my ankle but have a desk job: when is it safe to return to work?

[KBird]

Has anyone here broken their ankle before? I don’t need surgery, but it’s non-weight -bearing and is quite painful. I work a desk job, and don’t need to stand a lot, but to get to the office might be problematic, and I can work from home temporarily.
How long did you wait to go back to work? How long should I wait to go back to the office?

[ChiTown33]

Yes. And i was 45 when i did it. So you probably heal faster.

I'd say it depends on your overall strength. I mean the more you move the better. Keeping that blood flowing will help the healing process. But of course you want to be safe. Expect that it will swell. Probably for the next 6 months even. I had a plate with screws put in mine. If you look at it is still 5 years later, slightly visually bigger than the other one. But the pain was minimal, and the strength in it returned pretty fast.

I can't give you an exact number because i just happened to catch covid during the pandemic when i broke my ankle, and had surgery. That landed me in quarantine. So when i got out i was back to work almost immediately. And i had a standing job. But i did have a month layoff in quarantine. So it's hard to say how fast i would have bounced back. I do know i progressed really fast through physical therapy though.

[molonski2]

There are many elements to this and without knowing complete detail of height , weight , fitness , so as per Nathan's answer for this one your doctor needs to guide you on timeframe.

Now , the other side is the more you move the better ( blood flow ) but you need to do that safely..

Work from home for a week , see the doctor during this time , and keep the office informed , they will appreciate that.

[Screenwriter]

Once you have a walking boot and crutches you can easily maneuver with, I'd think it'd be OK. But if there's any danger of you stumbling getting to and from work, don't go.

[jazzy34]

This is a conversation you need to be having with your doctor. You'll get a million different answers on here, which could be dangerous.

[Massageman]

8 weeks is the typical minimum, but you need to visit the doctor handling your case to be sure of what he/she wants to do.

[Purpleronnie]

Haha , what a strange question to post to random strangers on the internet.


The points have been made already but just to give my 2 cents I would be guided by a medical professionals advice whilst trying to be flexible to your employer assuming you value being employed.


Would have thought this was commons sense though … apparently not

[Orion84]

Are you able to use crutches? If so, I don't see any reason you can't go back to work right away.

I had surgery on my foot, and went back to work the next day. Desk jobs are non-strenuous, so the only hard part is getting to the desk, itself, and the crutches can help with that.

[OneViewpoint]

Bones and meat injuries both heal up in about 6 weeks. But an ankle involves a joint and tendons. You have a conundrum. The longer you wait to get back to moving the joint, the longer a full recovery will take. And you may never get full mobility back. But the sooner you start moving the joint, the more short term pain you'll have. How much pain can you tolerate?

[Lesbologist]

I rolled my ankle once but didn't break it. I went to the hospital and they gave me crutches. Couldn't stand on it, like you. Shit sucked. But since you have a desk job, you could work... I mean if you can drive to work.

[NathanDavis]

would be a good idea to speak with your doctor about this instead...

since they are the ones you will have to go follow up for recovery, healing, therapy and all that...

[Mark_Est]

Take a week long vacation.

Sure you can work and do stuff on it. But your health is more important. And if you dont get it healed right it will bother you all your life.

[whocares1972]

Go see a chiropractor. Ask for Red Lazer therapy. You will be healed quickly. Follow their plan for recovery. Start water exercises too.

[Calyptomaniac]

How many doctors do you think hang around a place like this?

[darkcloud1945]

Your MD is the only one qualified to answer that question. Not here, there could be something that needs to heal or strengthen by not using the ankle, for a time that your doctor knows best.

[najekim]

Screw going into the office. WFH as long as you can. I WFH and haven't had a need to go into the office for about 4 months now. Get a lot more work done from home.

[TonyMetal___86]

I hope that you get well soon and don't rush it to get back, give your ankle enough time to heal than go back!

[douride2]

This is a question better answered by your doctor then by a stranger on any site like GAG.

[Anonymous]

What am I, a doctor? Unless you're literally bed ridden you can work from home. If you can't walk without crutches, you will struggle getting back to the office.

[Iron_Man]

When you can walk again, how did you break your ankles both at the same time?

[Nikki1989]

Let your doctor make that call.

[exitseven]

Your doctor should have told you this.

[In_Trance]

You can head back to work the following day

[eagle1951]

when your Doctor tells you

[LiamS95]

Ask your doctor.

[jahaims]

The next day