In 2024 I suffered a Weber A fracture, a distal fibula break. At the time it was managed non-operatively and, after time and rehab, I was able to return to football later that year. For a while it seemed okay. But by the time preseason rolled around and running loads climbed to about 35 km a week, the ankle began to tell a different story.
I was dealing with ongoing pain, swelling and a sense of instability. I could get on with training and play by taping the ankle and using heel lifts, but afterwards the joint would swell and be sore for days. I found myself relying on tape to run; if I forgot to tape I could feel the ankle giving way and the anterior impingement flaring.
What I tried before deciding on surgery
Before I committed to an operation I exhausted reasonable non-operative options. I used taping regularly, added heel lifts, and followed progressive strengthening and mobility programs. These strategies reduced symptoms at times, but they didn’t fix the underlying problem – I still had mechanical instability and developing bone spurs that were driving anterior ankle impingement.
The turning point was functional and objective. I could feel the impingement worsening over a few months— running felt limited – and my knee-to-wall dorsiflexion was a stark indicator of imbalance: 0 cm on the right (injured) side versus 12 cm on the left. As a clinician, those numbers and that functional deficit spoke clearly: there were anatomical and mechanical issues that conservative care wouldn’t reliably reverse.
Making the call
Being a Podiatrist didn’t make the decision any easier, but it did make it clearer clinically. I felt confident surgery was the right option – to remove the bone spurs causing impingement and to address lateral ankle ligament instability. Bone spurs don’t vanish by themselves, and after that period of time, ligament repair would be very limited. Surgery felt like taking back control rather than surrendering to an incurable problem.
Early recovery
The first few weeks were tough. There’s no sugarcoating it – you will be in pain, and you must rest. I was in a cast early on and noticed how quickly mobility and strength decline when you immobilise a joint. What surprised me most was how quickly these things returned once the cast came off and rehab started: mobility and strength can come back faster than you expect, provided you follow a structured plan.
That said, the initial phase required patience. Managing pain, protecting repairs, and slowly rebuilding confidence in the ankle were daily tasks.
What this experience changed in my practice
Going through surgery myself changed my mindset. I still strongly believe in trying and optimising non-operative care first, but it was a good reminder that surgery shouldn’t be treated as a last-resort failure. When there are clear anatomical changes – in my case bone spurs and ligament instability – surgical intervention can be a reasonable, evidence-based step to restore function.
Practical lessons from rehab
Rehab is not just exercises – it’s habits. Building consistent, specific routines made the days and weeks pass more quickly and productively. I broke the program into hourly or daily tasks, so each session had purpose and measurable progress. That structure helped with motivation and adherence, which are huge drivers of outcomes.
What I’d tell someone in your shoes
- Gather all the options: conservative care, surgical options, expected timelines and realistic outcomes.
- Ask for opinions if it helps – but be prepared for different clinicians to frame the problem differently. That’s normal.
- Take charge of the decision. Weigh the evidence, your goals (sport, work, daily life), and how much the issue is limiting you now and in the long term.
- If surgery is elected, commit to the rehab plan – it’s where the results are made.
Final thought
Surgery healed an anatomical problem that conservative measures were unable to fix, and it allowed me to stop living in tape and uncertainty. The experience reinforced a balanced view: conservative care first, but not to the exclusion of sensible, timely surgical intervention when anatomy and function demand it.
If you’re wrestling with a similar decision, I get it – and I’d be happy to walk through the pros and cons with you from both a clinician’s and patient’s perspective.
You can book online with our Sports Podiatrist Mitchell in Thornbury if you are suffering similar ankle injuries or call 9480 9435!