Update-Broken Ankle-1 Year later
So its been about a 1 year (and a month) since I completely broke my ankle (broke every bone and dislocated it) and I’m proud to say my ankle is basically healed. I have scars on both sides of my ankle and it still swells bigger than my non-broken ankle but overall I can do everything again that I could do before I broke it. In fact I have started running at the Gym and it holds up well. Every so often my ankle will tell me if I’ve done too much by causing some pain or if the weather is changing. I still have all of the metal in my ankle as I figure that I’m going to at least enjoy the summer before deciding if I want to get the metal removed or not. Any of you out there who have broken an ankle before do you still have the metal or not? Is it as simple a procedure as the doctor says to remove it? Do I have to go back on crutches at all?
HI TO ALL , I HAD AN OPEN GRADE 4 HAWKINS FRACTURE OF MY RIGHT ANKLE IN JANUARY OF 2003 AS OF THIS DATE IT STILL HAS NOT HEALED I HAVE HAD 13 SURGERIES CONSISTING OF OSTEOTOMIES FOR AVASCULAR NECROSIS AND OSTEOMYELITIS, MY SUBTALAR HAS BEEN FUSED AND MY ABKLE HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED TO BE FUSED 2 TIMES,I NOW HAVE 7 SCREWS AND 2 PLATES IN MY ANKLE AND AM USING AN EXOGENOUS BONE STIMULATOR IN A LAST DITCH EFFORT TO HEAL THE ANKLE ……….I HOPE IT WORKS IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE FREE OF SO MUCH PAIN!!!
Thanks JAN,
Good to know your hardware came out really easily after a year and half!
I can’t wait to get mine out, I know its going to feel alot better. My ankle is really inconsistant, some days I don’t even notice the injury, other days I’l get sharp pain with every step. Last wk I was feeling pain on the inside of ankle near the pin, when usually its the outside near the plate.
Trac,
I would be interested to hear why you need the surgeries you talked about. I thought that maybe one of my screws came lose and that was causing the pain. It ends up that it is all nerve related. I am now taking Lyerca to calm my nerves. (Lyerca is actually an anti-seizure med, but used for other things) The Dr. does not feel comfortable taking out any plates at this time. I just can’t seem to drop my crutches completely. I have too much pain at times. It feels like I am walking with a broken leg. My ankle is giving me more problems then my knee. How is it for you? Did you get your full range of motion back in both areas? What type of therapy worked best for you? I am hoping to start pool therapy soon. Do you have any specific exercises you would recommend? Thanks!
Mike,
It had been a year and half when I had mine taken out. It came out very easily the doctor said.
I don’t think two years would make that much difference.
I had the plate on the outside of my left ankle with 5 screws. 1 screw on the inside. I walked the next day.
I still say it was the best thing for me to do.
My ankle would hurt when I stood up to walk if I had been sitting down for any length of time. It actually had pain for every step I took. Just more sometimes than others.
Hope all goes well for you
Jan
Hello to all the ankle breakers! I usually post on this site, but wanted to say Hi. I especially wanted to say Hi to Nancy, as we had almost identical injuries. I, too, was a double crush and spent months in an external fixator and in a nursing home. It was nice to read someone else who had gone through this, but I am also sorry you had to go through this. I am going in 5/21 for a double tendon transfer and ankle fusion. (my accident was 7/09/07) – will have another nursing home stay. I chose to have my metal removed and do not regret it for a moment. It was painful afterwards, but proved to be less pain in the long haul.
Take Care everyone!
Peace,
trac
Bruce,
Do you think getting hardware out after 2 years is too long? I had my stuff put in Aug. 2007 so coming on 2 years soon. How long you figure it takes to grow into the body and become difficult to remove?
JAN,
Thank goodness I’m Canadian, $10,000 US for this surgery. damn, lucky to say its free here, should be free everywhere.
I find working out and doing cardio does help my ankle. I also find it very sensitive if I bump the plate, and if I drive for long periods of time it’l hurt to walk after, using cruise control helps for that lately.
I hope its not too late to get this crap out, I just canceled a June 24th appointment to go on vacation and attend my good friends wedding. I’m meeting my surgeon at end of the month and will update on how he feels about removal two years after. Just hope I can get a new appointment soon now.
So glad I found this site! We have a nice community here, hope everyone is doing well!
Hey Niko,
When the plate and screws come out it’s a little weak at first cause of the holes, just as you suspected. That’s why you go easy at first. The holes fill in pretty fast and after a few months I think it’s at least as strong as a normal bone.
Hey Everyone!!
When they put the plates and screws in the broken ankle, its for support and over time the bone fuses back together correct?
If so, how strong is or would that bone be if one decided to have the plates and screws removed? Since everything grows around it!
I’ve got more broken ankle experience than I need and I’m writing just to support any one who is suffering with this now. I took some comfort in similar blogs when I was injured. My hope is to make some of what I went through of value by helping others. I’ll be as brief as possible and tell my story in two separate entries so as not to have too much to read at once
12 years ago I had a nasty fall climbing cliffs in the White Mts. My foot was wedged between two rocks and I fell sideways. I ended up laying on the edge of a cliff with my foot pointing east and my knee facing west. I took 35 volunteers 8 hours to get me down. I am of course eternally grateful to them. Did I mention this was Father’s day?
I finally got to this 60 bed hospital and they asked if I wanted surgery there or go back to closer my home and a more Boston like hospital. I’d had enough of a journey already and said just do it here and now. That turned out to be a brilliant decision.
Every doctor that’s looked at the X rays since then has said, “Wow – nice job on the surgery”. Turns out that this bitsy hospital was in the middle of dozens of ski areas and they did broken ankles, legs and wrists one after the other from November to April every year.
So 4 days in the hospital, 6 weeks laying down no weight bearing followed by 6- 8 weeks of intensive (often painful ) PT. To me PT is a must to get as much as you can and be as compliant as you possibility can. Do your exercises and you’ll have a better outcome.
A few months after the fall I was hobbling around without assistance. I was told I’d never run or a back pack. I do both no problems. I’m not a star at either and you know what? I really wasn’t before either.
I couldn’t figure out if I should have the plate out or not. There was no clear medical advice on the issue. It didn’t bother me that much. Putting ice skates or tight boots on was pretty uncomfortable and banging the ankle was a unique shooting pain. Other than that I just kept postponing the decision and eventually the plate just became part of me.
That’s something you need to keep in mind the plate and screws do latterly eventually become part of you. Everything gets grown over and grown in and after a couple of years, I think, getting them out is going to be way too hard. That’s my opinion not that of a trained medical professional.
I will say this. After 12 years no one is interested in removing this hardware now and I’m confident I’d be better off without it.
Before I close I’d like to remind those of you currently injured to be nice to your caregivers. I know you may be in pain, depressed and jealous of folks running around, working, playing and doing errands. It’s hard to be dependent on others. Share your feeling of course. Just don’t be mean and appreciate that they are doing the best they can to help you and to pick up the chores you’re not able to do at this time.
Next week I’ll write about my second broken ankle which occurred two year ago and provided some new learnings.
Hello Folks. It’s been a long time since I posted here and it appears a lot of this blog is missing.
I just wanted to say that I am doing better each day thankfully. I experienced two broken ankles, screws, plates, etc… and the swelling and pain while it varies in intensity it is still very much a part of life now. My pain issue is attributed to having very little cartiledge in may ankles so it is more of an arthritic pain I would say.
I am 43 and weigh 295. I am an honorably discharged Marine. I could not stand being unable to get around. I got way too heavy and the depressed. I finally decided to go back to my Marine Corp mentality of “F” IT! It can’t eat me!
For the last 2-1/2 months I have been doing cardio workouts lasting 30 minutes to 65 minutes a workout. The elliptical machines are my favorite as it has less stress on the ankles. The automated programs such as weight loss and performance test keep the workouts challenging. I was told by my ortho that I would never be able to run again. I am running on the treadmill in short bursts. Granted it is not pounding the street but it is running and it is a victory for all ankle breakers out there.
While it seems weird, my ankles hurt way less as long as I work out at least five times a week. If I miss the gym due to travel (work) I can really feel it. I am not taking anything for joints at this time.
This is what I am doing to cope and it is working for me. I know it will not work for everyone but if any of you are where I was mentally and want to say to hell with it and go for it, be sure to start slow and remember it is a marathon and not a sprint race.
Good luck and hang in there everyone. It is the mental aspect of this as much as it is the pain and the brain determines a large part of the outcome. Stay mentally strong and you will succeed.
Hi,
I broke both my ankles over 2 years ago and the left one still has not healed completely. I can walk on it some, but not a whole lot. The dr. actually took out my ankle joint, so I have no ankle there, it is just fused. He wants to do another surgery, but I do not know how that would be possible. That would be my 4th surgery on my left ankle. God willing, it will heal completely on it’s own.
Celinda
Mike,
I broke mine Sept of 07. 1 pin on inside and plate and 5 screws on the other. As I said I had my hardware removed in March. It was bothering me with every step I took. I couldn’t believe the difference after I had it taken out. I am going for a 6 week doc appt on Thursday for an xray to see how the holes are healing.
The scar tissue over the long scar is still tight tho
The total cost of the surgery was a little over $10,000. So I hope you have insurance.
Hi all,
I broke my ankle Aug 2007, One pin on inside and plate with 7 screws on outside. I’m looking at removing the hardware this fall or possibly winter, (2 and half years after the initial break) wondering if theres more complications the longer I wait?
I just canceled a hardware removal surgery for this June, I’m meeting with the Dr. at the end of May still though. Hope canceling my appointment wasn’t a mistake and removal 2.5 years later isn’t a problem. Thanks. Best of luck to everyone suffering with this anoying injury.
in jan I suffered a trimallior fracture which consists of breaking both leg bones and the ankle . I have the obligatory screws and plate holding it together and was not allowed to bear weight for over 2 months. my doctor told me if I choose to have the metal removed I would have to once again be non weight bearing for 6 to 8 weeks. I am going to keep the metal in unless complications occur. good luck
Kim, that happend to me too and had walked with a limp and constant swelling and throbbing inb my ankle. It got to the point to where I could not walk without relying on my crutches. I went got 2nd and 3rd opinions and I had to have my ankle rebroken and reset. I was off by 6 degrees and incision was not healing right and nerves were a mess. Since my rebreak, removal of hardware I am so much better where as I can where a slight 1 inch heal, flip flops, but not 100% there and never will be. My advice is that I woulod see a NEW DR.
Nancy,
I had the screws and plate taken out of my ankle on March 18th 09.
It was an hour surgery and an hour recovery, then I went home. They did a nerve block at my calf.
I used a boot for one day, then I walked on it. They have warned me not to twist it or sprain it for 3 months.I did not hurt my knee tho
Hope this helps
On August 25, 2008, I was hanging a bulletin board in my classroom and fell off a ladder. I had five fractures and two dislocations. My 16 year daughter is the one who called 911. My 12 year old son was also there to see my knee cap area look like a hollow bowl and my ankle hanging off to the side. I had a right tibial plateau bicondylar fracture and a right ankle trimalleolar fracture. The radiologist stopped counting at 20 fragments. I had a cast put on my ankle and an external fixator put on my leg until swelling went down for the final surgery. The final surgery was 8 1/2 hours long and resulted in 4 plates and 23 screws. My Dr. calls me a double crush victim. Very few people have both ankle and knee injuries on the same leg at the same time. My tibial plateau fractures put me in a wheelchair for 3 months.(I then went to a walker and am now alternating between crutches and a cane.) After 2 hospitals and 2 nursing homes, I got to go home. It is now almost 8 months later and I am still experiencing a lot of the pain everyone is talking about. My most recent is numbness in my leg when I wear a Dynasplint for both extension and flexion. I woke up with major pain on the outside of my ankle. I am now starting to think it is a loose screw and the splint was rubbing on it and causing some nerve issues. I have a Dr.’s appt Monday. If it is only this screw will they tightened it or take it out? Will it be outpatient or a hospital stay? I have not read through all of the responses, but I am wondering if anyone else has had both extensive ankle and knee injuries? If so, how are you doing? How long did it take you to walk without the aid of a cane? Do you have a normal gait? Thanks for any insight you can provide!
Thanks so much Ana…. I was really wondering if what I was feeling was normal. You are so right about knowing the weather!!!!
Hello Niko,
Yes it’s very normal for your ankle to swell up. Mine still does after 6 years and 2 surgeries. But nothing like the first year. I couldn’t get into any shoe, just wide sneakers. I also know the weather better than any weather channel available. I can tell you when it’s going to sprinkle and when it’s going to pour rain for days. The cold makes it hurt as well. It gets better and soon you will be able to wear the ankle socks. Keep the foot elevated wherever you are and as much as possible. Good luck and keep us posted.
Hi all!
I broke my ankle last July, fell down my basement stairs.When I had my xrays taken they thought I had a break in maybe three or four places. I had to wait two weeks for my surgery because my ankle was swollen so badly. When it was time for my surgery they cut my ankle open and discovered that I had more breaks. I had 6 or 7 breaks. I now have two plates one on the outside of my ankle and the inside. So I have two plates and thirteen screws. Sorry I cant remember the exact number. The whole ordeal was very painful for me from start to finish. When they took my stitches out when I out of the cast…….. that was the worst I mean absolutely worst pain in my entire life. I had 2o stitches on the outside and 5 on the inside. I never ever want to go through that again. Even now I can feel when its going to rain because my ankle will hurt. It still swells which I dont like and sometimes light pain. I have just gotten to the point as to where I can run up some stairs on the ball of my foot!
I cant even wear ankle socks because my ankle will swell around it…….is that normal????
Frank,
See if there is an option to remove the hardware. I did after 1 1/2 years and after two weeks it is doing great with little or no pain.
My screws were irritating the surrounding tissue.
Hope this helps.
Hello All,
I am Frank, 32 broke my ankle about 1 year ago – and basically did this on a dirt motorbike over a jump and flat bottom’d out and did what they call in the medical world a Fibula Plafond – basically commpressed my ankle on the ball of my ankle if that makes any sense – Doctor described it as a MUSHROOM effect as i landed on it – Anyways i had surgery they placed 2 screws on the inside of my right ankle and placed it in a cast for 13weeks!
When i took the cast off my leg was skinny and ungly looking and all the muscle was dead, i felt like poo for a few days and trying to walk on it was not allowed for a few more weeks but when i did get to walk it hurt like hell….!
Anyways after 1 year today 1/04/2009 i started to run and play soccer but its rather soar still – how can i get more strength in my ankle again with no pain?
Please help should i seek another scan to see whats going on?
Kindest Regards
Frank
Well it has been 11 days since I had my hardware removed.
Instantly it felt better without it. The xrays showed that a couple of screws had been moving around irritating the tissue.
It has been 3 days since I had my stitches out. I got to take a shower on Friday. My ankle is swollen alittle and bruised but I can walk with no cane or walker.
My advice to the 70 year old. If she can have surgery, talk to an orthopedic surgeon and see if her bone has healed and get the hardware out.
I am 54, and it has been a little over a year and a half since I broke my ankle. 6 screws and a 6 inch plate later.
I will continue to update my progress
hi. if anyone has advice , it would be appreciated. my mom broke ankle in 2 places over a year ago. she has plates and screws. there are good days and bad days of pain. all of us on this site know this. she was presecribed percaset for the pain up until a month ago. 1/2 tablet a day if that she took. like i said, everyday it hurts her, but some worse than others. the percaset takes the edge off for her and i am fully supportive if it helps. she is almost 70 yrs old. she has a dr’s appt in a few weeks and wants to ask for another prescription of pain killers. one bottle lasts her a long time. why do dr’s sometimes have a problem giving out pain killers? i mean my mom’s dr never broke his ankle! and heck, she is 70 yrs old practically and if it helps, at this point of her life why not? how can she talk to her dr about it?
Hey its been almost 3 years for me since I broke my ankle and the hardware is still in. I figured my ankle would be stronger that way, plus being a student pilot in the service, I didnt want to go under the knife any more than I had to. It hasnt given me any trouble, however if i reach down there, I beginning to think it might be coming loose a bit. But I can still do everything I did, so no big worries there.
Glad to have found this website.
I broke by tibia and fibula on September 15, 07
I screw on right side. 5 screws and a plate on the other.
There were good days and bad since the first day I could walk again normally. (never normal) Soooooo
Yesterday March 18, 09 I had the hardware removed.
The nerve block they gave me behind my calf hasn’t worn off yet. I came home right after the surgery, with an ace bandage, walking boot and walker. I am to use the boot for two or three days. I can walk already without the walker, but like I said I have not yet.Then I will see the doctor again to see the stitches. I will post more as the days go on.
ASMAE,
Well you are doing very fine..way ahead of the crowd actually. Most of us were not allowed to walk on the broken leg until after 6 weeks, then partial weight only for a while. I can empathize with the crutches. they were horrible & hurt my hands badly. But hang in there , you a doing just fine. You definitely will be able to walk normally. I assume you may still be dealing with the trauma of this aweful experience so it feels like just a complete horror show for the time being.
As far as the screws, they may not even have to be removed, depending on where they are and what they were put in for. About 80% of plates and screws in ankles are never removed. If they are removed, than usually it will be after 6 months or, in most cases, a year. Some more details would be helpful here.
Meanwhile, try to stay of the foot and be very patient. Things will definitely improve over time.
Anklequest.
Hello everyone, on the 18 Feb 09 i broke my ankle and had surgey the next day, I had 2 screws put in and i was in a cast for 3 weeks then i was put in a moon walker for the following 3 weeks, i think its like an air boot, i was meant to be in a cast for 6 weeks but it became to much to deal with, the cruches were causing me pain every were my Dr said its the cruches so i asked for the cast to be removed i can say the Dr and consultant were not happy at all but i couldnt take the pain any more. I am atill using the cruches but its more comfortable with the boot, i have tried to walk on my leg without the boot and its realy painful, am due to go back to the royal in edinburgh for an x-ray and physio but i think i will still need the aid of at lease one cruches, can anyone please advise me how soon can i have the pins removed i had surgery on the 19 feb 09? and will i be able to walk without aid? do i need any ankle supports? am scared that i will never walk properly again, if i have the pins removed will i need a cast again? will i need cruches? please advise
Hi, glad to find all this info. You all are smart enough to know what the medical names are for what happened to you. I know this: my foot turned all the way around with a bone on the inside jutting out…emergency surgery after a long emergency room painful ordeal wherein lots of ER staff were trying to “put the bone in place”. I woke up from surgery with pins on the inside of right ankle and a plate and screws on the outside…also complications of surgery with my voice box damaged, aspirated blood from that damage and suffered pulmonary and congestive heart failure. Casted for three months, then a boot, no weight bearing for four months, etc. So glad to find you folks…the screws on the outside of my right ankle are so painful that every minute of every day I am hurting. Love to hear from anyone who can share info…I too was told initially, I had a Non union of the bone on the outside…two weeks later, told that indeed I was healing…I just never am without pain and swelling. I am happy to find you all.
I broke my right ankle in 3 places 12 Sept 07. Had an external fixatetor. On 3 Oct 07 3 plates and 12 screws wrer put in. Months later still a lot of pain. My Doctor told me, nothing else could be done and set me to pain managment.
Last month I went to a differnt doctor, the exrays showed a couple of the screws were to long and causing pain. 5 March 09 I went in to have the screws taking out, they ended up taking all the hareware out. They remove so much scare tissue.
18 March 09 is my next appt.
Hi, It’s Sylvia again. Do remember….there’s a BIG difference between a simply ankle break, a “Bi” break and, a “Tri” break. My experience is due to a Trimalleolar ankle break. Depending on the type of break…we will all experience different degrees of pain and deformity. As I stated previously, I have a rod, plate and thirteen screws. My left ankle is noticebly larger than the right one. I have constant discomfort due to developing RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy) in the left ankle and, so on. I choose not to take anything for pain as I’ve learned to accept and live with this. I know when to elevate my foot and rest now. Prior to this injury..I jogged five miles daily, operated my own business, was very active. Since, I jog approximately fifteen minutes on my treadmill (this took some time to do), perform floor exercises, swim and perform water exercises (this is the best because your weight gravitates and not much weight is applied to your ankle area!) I’ve hired two employees to assist with my business as I am unable to stand for really long periods of time without swelling and, I’ve given up on hiking. For anyone with a Trimalleolar break, I can relate to the pain and discomfort. I wish to share this with you…..place a twenty pound bag of rice or dry beans in a container and, every morning and evening for fifteen/twenty minutes …dip your foot into the container until it’s contents (beans/rice) is above ankle area. Now, swirl your foot in circular motion ; clockwise and counter clockwise. This is therapeutic and is one of the exercises I was given by my physical therapist to perform at home. It’s done wonders and have prevented the stiffness and constriction many of us endure after such a break.Again, I wish you the best. I enjoy reading the many stories shared on this site. I’ve learned no matter what degree of break one might have…..your goal should be to go on and, simply be grateful for what you CAN do! Stay focused!
Hi Kim – I used to think my ankle was going to stay a big tree-trunk like structure, but after 1-1/2 years, it’s nearly back to normal. I don’t think it will ever be exactly right again (I have screws and plates and a problem with my achilles tendon due to trying to walk with little or no calf muscle, etc.) – but you will get better in time. Stretch that calf muscle and it will help with the mobility of your ankle and foot. The swelling and pain on the inside of your foot will lessen in time. Ice and rest help with that.
Don’t give up!
Dear Sylvia (Espejo)
Thanks for your letter. I am sorry to hear what happened to you. It sounds as if you have managed to process your awful experience. My hat off to you for your courage. Your letter made me feel less unusual and less like I am ‘just a wimp’. So thanks!
Regards, Lindy
HI, I EXPERIENCED A TRI-LEFT ANKLE BREAK APPROXIMATELY NINE YRS. AGO AND STILL HAVE PAIN. I AM WALKING BUT HAVE NOT RESUMED TO MY “NORMAL” ACTIVITIES. INSTEAD, DUE TO THE PAIN WHICH LIMITS MY MOBILITY, I’VE GAINED WEIGHT. I ALSO BEGAN FEELING A BURNING SENSATION AND TENDERNESS IN THE AREA OF THE BREAK. I SEEN MY PHYSICIAN AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH RSD(REFLEX SYMPATHETIC DYSTROPHY). I HAVE A PLATE, ROD AND THIRTEEN SCREWS. MY WHOLE LIFE CHANGED AFTER THIS “CAREER ENDING” INJURY. “CAREER ENDING” IS HOW MY ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON DESCRIBED MY BREAK. I’VE ADJUSTED THOUGH AND AM GRATEFUL FOR WHAT I CAN DO. I DO NOT TAKE ANY MEDICATION FOR PAIN AS I DO NOT WISH TO BECOME DEPENDANT ON ANYTHING AND DEAL WITH THE SIDE-EFFECTS….BESIDES, I HAVE ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH! I’VE EXPERIENCED DEPRESSION FOR YEARS AFTERWARDS AND FINALLY CONCLUDED, IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORST (AMPUTATION)! JUST TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME IS MY ADVICE FOR OTHERS AND LOOK AT THE BRIGHT SIDE. DO AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AND REST WHEN YOUR ANKLE DEMANDS YOU TO REST! GOOD LUCK AND BLESSINGS TO ALL.
hi i had screws in and a plate and i was arranged to go to the day clinic and get them removed so i went along only to be told they took the metal out but my whole ankle was infectedv MRSA yh i dont no how i got it maybe because my fracture was a compound fracture(open wound) i was in a motorbike accident i broke all bones in ankle dislocated my leg so my leg looked like a letter basically and all my tendons lassued round my ankle so im very lucky to still have my ankle and that was 2 years ago nearly it happened on the 23/03/07 but basically guys of course your gonna have trouble with your ankle when you brake it 95 percent of all ankle fractures are complex brakes and need surgery so guys just basically thank god you still got your ankles and you can still walk good day everyone
ps. i still get pain occasionally but hey id rather have that than no ankle
It is a real mixture of interesting, comforting and a bit depressing to read this site. I was in a car accident 18 months ago 17.07.07. I was driving and a truck passed another truck on a blind rise – and we had a head on colision. It took them and hour and a half to cut us out of the car and then because we were far from anywhere it was 5 hours before I got to the hospital My kids got there an hour earlier. My daughter was unconscious for two days with multiple injuries. My left ankle was half severed. I had a tib/fib break and as the doctor so elegantly put it, had cornklakes in there. The plates can’t be taken out. My right knee needed bone replaced and new ligaments put in.They had to give me 4 pints of blood.I also developed an infection in the wounds which took weeks to heal probably because of all the antibiotics they had to give me. My right knee was also badly hurt. I needed bone relacements and new ligaments. I took my first steps in November. The doctors are all very pleased with their work and I really am grateful for being able to walk but I just can’t seem to ‘get out of pain’. I went to a LOT of phsio and did well. I do not take pain pills often – only when work has been just too much for my legs and I can’t sleep from the pain. I can’t stand for very long, my ankle still swells if I walk more than usual, I have to go up and down steps like a toddler – one foot, one foot. My foot feels like someone is holding onto it hard most of the time and when it is really sore my ankle and foot seem to ‘burn’ I think that the nerves are refering pain quite merrily too. The injury site is still very painful to touch. I tried yoga but was in severe pain after a session even though the instructor assured me that he ‘knew all about how to help people like me”. I try to exercise a little each day and have stayed as active as possible but the constant pain is just getting me down. The pain has improved but it is still very much there and I get blank looks from doctors about it – so I have given up on them. One thing I have noticed is that quite a lot of people health profesionals included seem to find it easy to prescribe pain and advice to others – just do this exercise or that- which is driving me mad!I realise that I will probably not be able to climb Kilomanjaro or go back to Spanish dancing and getting up and down off the floor will always look funny and be awkward because I can’t bend my knee more than 100% but I wonder if anyone has had similar experiences and has some message of hope or if not that a little true empathy would help! I wish anyone still in casts and wheelchairs strength and courage.
Hello,
I’m glad I found this site. I broke my ankle 5 1/2 years ago and have a plate and six screws on the outside of my right ankle. It took me almost a year until I could run and resume normal activities. The ankle has ached from time to time over the years but nothing earth shattering. Three days ago it started to hurt and became progressively worse, by the time I went to bed it was throbbing. The following day it became very painful and caused me to limp. When I got home from work I took a good look at the incision site and discovered it was red, swollen and very tender to the touch; pulling my sock up and down made me want to howl! I got in to see my ortho the next morning – after some X-rays and probing he said that I probably have a stress fracture underneath the plate. I am scheduled to have the plate removed in four days. I asked if the hardware had come loose and he said no but it was best to remove the metal because it probably contributed to the stress fracture – has anybody heard of something like this happening?
Thanks – Don
Going to try again to post a comment. I have tried four different times and for some reason it wont post. Thank you Ashley for the info about the hardware removal. I went to the doc on Monday, he ordered a CT scan and nerve test on my ankle to see where the pain is coming from and then he said he will proceed to remove some of the hardware and possibly do a nerve and tendon release. Did you have to be put in a cast or stay off your foot after the hardware removal? I am a little nervous, it has been since last May that I broke my ankle a trimalleolar fracture with widening of the ankle mortise. He seems to think that the mortise is still widened too much giving my ankle to much play and causing it roll.
The CT scan showed lots of bone fragments and that one of the screws was really loose, but that is all the info I got from the technician, she wouldn’t tell me anything else.
Tisha, I hope your son gets alot better, I know it was rough on me and I cant imagine having a child have to go through this, good luck!!!
Well, I guess thats all for now, take care every one and hope to hear from ya soon!!!
KIM
Hi, I originally broke my ankle bimalleolar fracture in December 2007, I had alot of trouble with my mobility after the healing therefore, i went and had it all taken out in October 2008. I feel great ! It you get the option to have it removed do it. I had to see my ortho for less than 1 month after the plates, pins and screws were removed just for follow up and he commented that it was amazing the difference. I recommend it.
Hi,
)but the day he put his cleats on his ankle and leg swelled and we had to start icing it down again and he started limping which he hasn’t done since november. Now he can not run at all we are going back to his doctor today because he is having so much pain in his ankle but I wonder if it is the hardware because the pain he describes is from the bone out, and sharp but not running up and down his leg. I am so ready for this to be over with, he is very athletic and this is driving him crazy….anyone have any suggestions?
I’m sorry for all of you but here’s my story….mar 08 my son (14yrs)slid into second base and broke his tib/fib and ankle..had surgery and 2 screws in his ankle and lots of problems with replacing and casting his leg. After months of cast and therapy his doctor released him to play football in September, he was still limping, at his first practice he broke his leg again:( We changed doctors,big mess the orginal doctor said he shouldnt be playing they didn’t give him a release, I however have the hand written release. Anyway this time around he was given a bone growth stimulator and in november was walking again and it was healed better than the first break. His doctor told him to gradually start running which he did a little. After christmas break his doctor released him for sports, they started baseball and he was running with everyone,no problems,(remember gradually increase, he didnt he jumped right in and took off
Hi Kim.
I had a similar break..tri, with a plate with 7 screws and a pin on the inside…5/4/08.
I also had some problems with the pain on the inside (and it sometimes seems to ‘burn’ even at night). As far as being ‘normal’ again, I don’t expect it. We all have very different reactions from the breaks which are all so different! Some people seem to recover within a year or so, others never do.
My pains vary each day. On a bad day, I take some Aleve, which helps. I can walk, somedays with almost no limp, other days it is hard to walk at all. I also was told I was doing just fine! Bottom line is, I keep working it, have no expectations to be the same again, nor do I expect that ankle to ever look like the other. The nerve damage is strange to deal with, but seems to get less annoying as it becomes more the ‘norm’ of today. (Mine feels like I have a vise on my lower foot and little feeling including hot and cold!). You (and your husband) have to accept that your break was a severe one and you can just hope that it will continue to improve as time goes on but you have a new ‘normal’ developing! I accept that and just keep trying to improve it. Best of luck..
How long I have needed to find this site. I fell down my stairs on 5/24/08 resulting in a trimalleolar fracture with widening of the ankle mortise. If that wasn’t bad enough the nurse tried to set the bones in the triage room with no pain medication before they could get me into an ER room with a ortho present.
After finally getting fixed up well enough to go home to wait for surgery, I had to wait three days to go and have a plate and seven screws put in. I wore a plaster cast for 4 weeks, then an aircast for 8 weeks, and then a brace for another 6 weeks. In the middle of all of this fun filled adventure I went to therapy where I was introduced to a whirlpool, and of course the incision was not fully healed and it got infected. It took 7 weeks to get the infection cleared up completely.
The surgeon who did my surgery was involved in a very bad accident about three months into all of this and I have had to see a physicans assistant since then.
So eight months into my ordeal my ankle is still giving me alot of problems. The inside area hurts all the time, I have pain up through my big toe, I still have bruising around the top of my foot at the base of toes, and my ankle does not look anything like the left. It actually looks deformed, the lower part of my right leg is visibly bigger than the left leg.
I can’t help but feel depressed about it all the time, I feel like I am never going to be “ME” again. I walk with a limp, I can’t enjoy the things that I use to do, its like I am having a pity party for myself everyday.
My husband gets upset, he says things like you should be better by now, things along that line, and that just depresses more.
When I go to the doctor he just says, “The x-rays look great!!”, “Come back in a couple weeks”, “Take these anti inflammatories”…..and so on.
Please, if anyone has any advice, I could sure use some.
Hi Josh, I posted a response to you on the other site. Hello to everyone else. Ana nice to hear from you. We would love an update on how you are doing these days. Lois
Hi Josh, You sound like a great guy, I hope your wife is lucky to have you. I took oxycodone for almost 2 months, only concern was—was I going to be addicted afterwards, but I was fine. The most frustrating thing is not being able to do anything, feeling helpless. Just be there for her, always ask if there is something you can do for her, basically just love her Josh, its sounds like you truly do becuz only someone who does would want to take your pain.
I fell off a ladder over 20 years ago. Compound fracture. Had crews and plate put in and on crutches with cast.
Left most of the screws and plate in (they did take one screw out a couple months after the surgery).
Never bothered me until I started to wear high (higher than ankle) stiff sided boots. While my right ankle feels normal the friction on my left ankle rubbing against the inside of boot is bothersome. So, I kind of leave that left side a little more loose. Or get boots with more inside padding next year.
In hindsigt, I would have opted to remove the screws and plate just because of this issue. Also, the skin on the ankle is rougher than on the ankle without the plate and screws. Could be a friction or allergic (foreign object) type reaction.
Josh, I’m glad to hear your wife is feeling some relief from the pain. I took oxycodon for over a month and didn’t have any problems with it. It worked great for the pain. Hang in there, things will get better slowly but surely.
Josh, Please beware of Oxy! I took it extensively for 2 days after my surgery (it did NOT help with the pain) and then had 4 days of very drastic side effects! (See my detailed post above if you need more info). I would recommend getting off the oxy immediately and get something like vicodin. I took the oxy every 4 hours and Aleve in the middle (taking one of the two meds every 2 hours). I was in excruciating pain for 2 days and the meds did NOT help. The oxy caused nightmares while taking them, vomiting and sweats and insomnia for 4 days after stopping them. One lousy week. Remember to have her elevate the foot ABOVE the heart (lower really doesn’t help much). I am 8 months from my breaks/dislocation and surgery….good luck!
Thanks,
My wife did get better medication from the doctor (oxycodone), and it helped much more. Monday was a rough day. I feel awful. I wish I could take the pain for her. Nothing makes you feel more helpless than watching your spouse suffer…
HI EMILY, I TOO HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 4 WEEKS, BUT I NEVER HEARD OF THEM NOT IMMEDIATELY PUTTING A SPLINT ON IT. AND THEY KEEP POSTPONING——DO YOU HAVE INSURANCE? IF SO MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET A SECOND OPINION, I DID. HANG IN THERE
Emily, I know what you’re going through. I had to wait four weeks for my surgery. It sucks and it’s so much pain. I’m not sure why they’re doing it too you but my reason was the swelling and I had fracture blisters in the place they needed to make the incissions. All I can say is keep going to the doctor after your surgery and make sure that you get to physical therapy ASAP. I didn’t have insurance so I couldn’t afford all my doctor visits and couldn’t afford PT until much later. That may be why I’m having so much trouble. Best of luck to you!