Lucy's broken leg in season 5...

I was just wondering if someone who knows can tell me whether or not Lucy's leg was really broken in so many of those season 5 episodes? I know she did really break her leg in a skiing accident around that time, but depending on the month of the break, her leg could have been healed by the time filming began. So, maybe her leg was healed by the time filming began, but because the news of her broken leg was out, it was decided to incorporate it into the story line?

Also, I notice that in s.5, episode 7, I believe, she began walking with the cast, and she has a sharp, like high-heal of sorts on her cast. Was that common back then, or just an odd detail the writers dreamed up?

So far, I LOATHE season 5! The stories are darker/truly negative, and not funny. But, if those broken-leg scripts were written spur-of-the-moment to incorporate a real broken leg, then I can understand. Anyone who can tell me whether that was the case, please reply.

If Lucy's leg really was still broken during those episodes, what a trooper she was! People have commented on her vanity in the past, but agreeing to work---with a broken leg---AND being seen on camera in that condition to, well, it seems quite far-removed from vanity. What a trooper! I sure wouldn't have done it!

Please excuse typos/funny wording; I use speech-recognition that doesn't always recognize!