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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[@elizabethpeterson1644]

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.

[@je9833]

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

[@miladorotea2338]

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

[@SurvivorJelena]

I hope you're doing well post-surgery! Sounds like you are a great planner and got everything prepped to make life easier afterward.

[@akitalove22]

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!

[@nwkruss1917]

Thanks for telling your story. Very helpful !

[@SurvivorJelena]

You’re welcome!

[@deniseinsocaldeniseinsocal9510]

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.

[@SurvivorJelena]

Oh man! What a memorable (in a bad way) vacation. How long have you been doing PT?

[@jeffreymiller9706]

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

[@SurvivorJelena]

Thank you!

[@jeffreymiller9706]

@@SurvivorJelena it absolutely stinks, but you make it look so good.

[@bryanmaier6104]

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

[@SurvivorJelena]

Thanks! 😀

[@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.

[@jeaninegawthrope117]

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.

[@isightcast7468]

Great crutches guide! You know how to use them

[@SurvivorJelena]

Thank you!

[@doberman_mom6422]

How many weeks were you in before using your scooter and how did you manage it with your cast on? I tried using the scooter but I feel like I’m going to break the cast and it’s very uncomfortable.

[@blueomega2853]

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

[@SurvivorJelena]

Thanks, Blue Omega! I do take calcium and Vitamin D daily, and the pounding of running should at least strengthen the bones in my legs/feet. Otherwise, wrap me up in a bubble wrap 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@jackdavide5742]

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

[@SurvivorJelena]

Thank you! It seems like it’s healing well. I’m not sure yet when I’ll be ok to run. I don’t have any races that I was hoping to do this year, so I’m not in a rush. I want to make sure I’m strong enough to not hurt myself more before running again.

[@jackdavide5742]

@@SurvivorJelena Absolutely...take time and avoid re-injury,which is always the problem earlier in healing. Then strength training before endurance. All the best!

[@judithwidman7837]

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

[@kellytrundle2914]

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.

[@SurvivorJelena]

You’re welcome 💙 You can find me on Instagram or my email address on my About page here on my channel.

[@RRRoseRotts]

Thank you for your video. I recently dislocated and broke two bones in three places my ankle. It has been so hard for I was told I wouldn’t have you to bear weight on it for at least 5 to 6 months and I won’t recover for a year. Your video helped me. I just have one question that no one has been able to answer I broke my ankle almost a month ago and I keep feeling some thing under my skin, this started before my surgery so I know it has nothing to do with that, but is this normal? Did you feel anything under your skin like moving a round? The best way for me to describe. It is like a little vibration movements. I don’t know when I say air bubbles people get the wrong idea.

[@SurvivorJelena]

Oh my goodness ouch! No, I didn’t feel anything like that under my skin. Maybe it’s a nerve twitching/playing tricks on you 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@narjesahmed4404]

Last two years I got diagnosed with rare tumor in my spine so they did biopsy but I got left side nerve damage down to my foot. I have difficulty balance and I use can and also I deal with chemo too. Last 3 weeks ago I fell and I broke my left ankle and they did surgery but I got more numb and can’t move a lot my leg. Also when I try to move my leg it’s keep stretching and pul by its own. I asked the dr and said it’s fine. Does anyone was dealing with stretching and putting by it’s own and does will go by time. They told me after week 4 I can put some weight but I’m super scared and nervous.

[@useralex21]

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

[@SurvivorJelena]

I had the cast removed a few weeks ago. Now I’m in a walking boot or a lace up ankle brace.

[@brandonshaw7619]

I missed this Hope you are all good now💐

[@SurvivorJelena]

I’m at about 90%, but a less active person would have said they’re completely better months ago 😅

[@user-me4um3km2z]

I appreciate you sharing, but have a question. How did you get your scooter in and out of your car? I broke my ankle about 3 weeks ago and don't know how I am going to get to work.

[@SurvivorJelena]

I was skillful at carefully hopping from the driver’s side to the trunk 😬 An automatic tailgate helped too after getting the scooter in.

[@andrewla7107]

its cool that casts come in different colors. do you only wear the cast when you use crutches or do you also wear it when you use the scooter?

[@SurvivorJelena]

The cast doesn’t come off, so it’s worn when using both the crutches or scooter.

[@andrewla7107]

@@SurvivorJelena did you ever get a shoe to wear over your cast? they are usually made from canvas material and come in colors like blue, black, tan , and gray.

[@SurvivorJelena]

No, I didn’t get anything like that. I just used a really stretchy slipper sock over the end to keep my toes warm.

[@andrewla7107]

@@SurvivorJelena cast shoes come in both sandal and shoe type. it would be cool if they also came in a clog type with an open back. it would need elastic to help hold it on.

[@matthewclabo9365]

Beautiful though... how long a cast or boot

[@SurvivorJelena]

The cast for 4 weeks, unknown how long in the boot. Until I get my ankle stable and a little stronger? 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@johnmerrick6180]

Jelena you are so awesome.

[@SurvivorJelena]

Aw, thank you ☺️

[@mytwocents848]

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!

[@SurvivorJelena]

I hope your surgery is successful and you’re on the road to healing. A shower bench is great, even without a broken 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.

[@andrewla7107]

when i was about 13 years old there was a girl in my class at school who had a purple cast on her leg with a canvas blue cast shoe. when we signed her cast she kept saying "dont touch my toes". she told us that her ankle sock wouldnt fit over her cast. she ended up getting a bigger tube sock to wear over her cast. she even kicked a soccer ball with her casted foot. i wonder how bad that would have hurt her toes or the in injured area.

[@SurvivorJelena]

Ouch! Mine hurt when it was resting on the floor in the car and we went over bumps! I can’t imagine how much it would’ve hurt to kick a soccer ball. I suppose that could be the difference between a 13 year old and a 40 year old healing 🤷🏻‍♀️

[@andrewla7107]

@@SurvivorJelena i have never had a cast on my leg but i did have one on my arm when i was 25 years old, now im 39. thats how long ago that was. the cast didnt really bother me. it was the dry scaly skin after it came off

[@goldenrule3261]

Did you had a displaced fracture or no?

[@SurvivorJelena]

No, it wasn’t displaced.

[@rneustel388]

I fractured my left ankle in 2015, and the hospital er splinted the ankle and sent me to the orthopedic surgeon. When they looked at my xrays, I had severe arthritis, and they made the decision to fuse the ankle. They told me I would have constant pain, stiffness and swelling in the ankle if I just went with a surgical repair of the fracture. I wasn’t able to use crutches because of severe shoulder arthritis, so I mostly used a wheelchair outside the house and a walker inside. I was nonweight bearing for eight weeks after surgery and three weeks from injury to surgery. I would love to have used the knee scooter.

[@SurvivorJelena]

Ouch! How is it feeling today?

[@rneustel388]

@@SurvivorJelena It doesn’t hurt anymore, but I do have a lot of stiffness and swelling if I’m up all day on my feet.

[@gangstafish25]

You only need one crutch to go up and down stairs. Ask me how I know.

[@kennethmontoya7111]

I underwent 2 foot surgeries on both my feet and my feet were swollen

[@SurvivorJelena]

Ouch! How long were they swollen for?

[@kennethmontoya7111]

@@SurvivorJelena I was swollen for a while!

[@allencooke2356]

are you still in the cast? if could you make a video showing it more?!?

[@SurvivorJelena]

The cast came off in January

[@allencooke2356]

oh it is off? you missed out of makeing some great videos of youself in the cast!! with alot of views!

[@matthewclabo9365]

How's the ankle feeling now

[@SurvivorJelena]

Still slowly recovering. It’s still swollen and I’m not back to running yet.

[@matthewclabo9365]

@@SurvivorJelena still using a brace or anything

[@SurvivorJelena]

I use the lace-up brace when I know I’m going to be on my feet for a while, but not around the house.

[@BigN137]

Brok my ankle again for the 3rd time... gonna be in a cast for about 3 months

[@taniamunne1714]

Thats not good a leg in a cast. I think you are strong enough to handle it. But what a beautiful straight toes do you have very nice shaped. Get well

[@-Its_just_sam-]

Honestly, I just want a cast and crutches 😭

[@SurvivorJelena]

It's not as fun as it looks.

[@pizzapartytime1826]

Nooo. I had to train my brain not to do hard stops. We literally did drills once a week . Also I am going to use a scooter due to poor balance and chronic pain. .

[@SurvivorJelena]

Good idea. No more hard stops for me 😅

[@sassstevens3296]

2:08 bro are you

[@nollaigire2367]

That was a nasty break, seems unusual for a break to happen so easily. 🤔 maybe consider a weightlifting program to strengthen your bones when you recovery fully from the break ?

[@SurvivorJelena]

I did do weight lifting in addition to my regular running. We’re wondering if my cancer treatment, more specifically the chemo I did, weakened my bones and contributed to my ankle breaking more easily. 🤔

[@nollaigire2367]

@@SurvivorJelena yes I thought this too, /powerlifting need to use really heavy lifts to increase bone density, also I believe (unproven though) that eating a lot of eggs everyday will improve white&red blood cells in the body, thus increasing strength & recovery, wish you a speedy recovery 💪 💙 🙏 ❤ 🇮🇪

[@dchat6574]

Did you not allowed to put your broken leg on the floor

[@SurvivorJelena]

Nope. No weight at all on the broken ankle to make sure it healed properly.

[@dchat6574]

@@SurvivorJelena Is tha pain another reason to walking on one foot...

[@SurvivorJelena]

Probably, but putting weight on it while it’s broken could push the break and cause it to not heal properly.

[@dchat6574]

@@SurvivorJelena Well. When break a leg, does the doctor say don't weight on the foot, what is your experience?

[@SurvivorJelena]

@@dchat6574 I’ve never broken a leg, so I don’t know.

[@theoabbot8822]

Yap, yap.

[@Jo-qp3jn]

OMG! You talk too much about unimportant stuff. This video was totally unhelpful for anyone using a knee scooter which is part of the title of your video.