How to Cope with a Broken Ankle when You Live Alone

If you are reading this article, it is likely that you or someone you love has a broken ankle. I am healing from a broken ankle myself, and want to share what I have learned. When you live alone (or alone with young children) and have broken your ankle, anything that makes it easier is a blessing. If this article helps even one person living alone with a broken ankle, then it will be more than worth the time I have put into it.

In the first week with a broken ankle, be prepared for a lot of pain. It is likely that the emergency room physician will put you in a splint, which will be your only protection until you can get into the orthopedist (probably at the start of week 2). This means that any pressure at all on the foot with the broken ankle will cause blinding pain, so be very, very careful. If you live alone, or alone with young children, call on any and all help available to you, and have those friends pick up your ibuprofen, pain pills, and all the groceries you will need for a week, and do not plan on going anywhere until it is time to go to your orthopedist appointment.

Since you will only be able to manage the hop-swing method on your crutches in week one, plan to go up and down stairs on your bum with your bad foot in the air. And pray or beg or send positive vibes when it is time to get back up off the ground again. If you have good upper body strength and a fit body, you will have a clear advantage over those who do not. However, if you are fat and weak, don't lose hope...you will be surprised at how fast your strength builds in your arms and good leg! (I speak from experience.)

Once you can bear a little bit of weight on the leg with the broken ankle, it will be easier to maneuver stairs in an upright position. When going down the stairs, bring the crutches down a step first, followed by your bad leg, and then the good leg. Repeat. When going up the stairs, support your bad leg on the crutches while bringing your good leg up a step. Then follow it with the bad leg and crutches. Repeat. Don't worry, it does get easier with practice.

You will be sent home from the ER with crutches, but they don't have to be your only support. An elevated toilet seat will be absolutely worth any expense (and you can likely borrow or rent one from a hospice or a medical supply store), as will a walker. They may make you feel feeble, but face it....right now you are. Anything that can make life easier right now is a must-have, and it is time to set your pride aside. The walker provides more stability than crutches, which is especially crucial during week one, when your ankle is less protected, your body is more traumatized and fatigued, and your muscles have not yet built up strength to compensate for their new movements.

Whether or not you have carpet in your house, a good rolling office chair (or two) with no arms is a valuable tool. When on carpet, be sure to wear a shoe on your good foot for extra traction. You can either sit on the chair, or kneel on it with your bad leg. Experiment and see what works best for you. If you have a second rolling chair, you can elevate your bad leg on it, even while sitting on another rolling chair to scoot around the house. It won't take long until you really don't care how it looks and are instead grateful for the added mobility the chairs provide. If you don't have a rolling chair and can't afford to buy one, post on your local Freecycle, because many people have extras they won't mind passing along. (This is true not just for chairs, but other supplies as well. I was loaned a walker and given a rolling chair in response to my Freecycle post.) For those with more disposable income, a leg scooter (also known as a leg trolley or knee walker) is the high-tech version of kneeling on a rolling chair, with the added bonus of handlebars and maybe even a basket! This will help you retain a bit more muscle tone in the thigh of the leg with the broken ankle.

During the first week, and for the weeks after that when you are in a plaster cast, keep lots of baby wipes and washcloths on hand to spot clean in between bathing. Bathing is difficult enough in certain circumstances that it may be necessary to stick to spot-cleaning only, with regular visits to a hair salon for a quick $5 shampoo as needed. Once you are out of your cast and in the cast-brace (you know, that giant black orthopedic boot with hinges and a Frankenstein complex?), then you will be able to remove it to bathe for real again. (And keep some baby powder on hand to help deal with the sweat and stink in the cast-brace.)

Shop online as much as you can during this hard time, and don't hesitate to ask for help. People will likely offer in the first week or so, and then think you have it all handled after that. If you live alone, you may need to swallow your pride and remind people that things are still difficult. Many ankle fractures are accompanied by significant soft-tissue damage and will take months to heal, and that is a long time to live off of frozen meals and chewing gum. If people want to help but don't know what to do, ask them to put gas in your car, or bring a meal, help with pet care, or do a load of dishes or laundry for you.

Having a broken ankle is a painful and humbling experience, and it is a challenge like no other. During times like this, you learn who your friends are, and you will likely find an inner strength you never knew you had. Living alone with a broken ankle is even more challenging, and I hope some of these tips will be helpful. Happy healing!