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?
Good Morning to all my broken ankle friends,
I broke my ankle 4 months ago and had surgery on June 5, 2009. Recovery has been slow. Physical therapy has helped. I have an appointment with the Doc on Monday Sept. 28 to discuss having the hardware removed. It is uncomfortable, sometimes causes pain and I walk differently than I did prior to the break. My last appointment with the doc he told me blood clots and infection were possibilites due to my age (70). Not sure is I should live with the discomfort or go for removal of the “stuff”. Any older patients our there? What has been your experience?
Nancy, Maria
I’ve had shattered ankles on two separate occasions. I’m pretty sure your hip problem is from walking funny.
I tried to walk fast and got knee problems both times. I’d take a step and throw my “good leg” out fast and far, hyper extending the knee. Most likely PT would help you. I ended up going to PT 4 times a week – 2 for the knee and 2 for the ankle.
The lesson here is when recovering focus on walking as normally as possible even if slowly and small steps.
Nancy,
I have my plate in from 14 yr ago and I don’t like it – too late to get it out now. My plate from two years ago was removed and I’m much happier. Recovery was not that bad, nothing like the original injury. It took some weeks and I did go to PT – not a big trauma.
.
This is my first post here. broke my ankle a year and a half ago. Maria, I also have hip problems now. Sometimes I can barely walk because of my hip pain. seems to have started after the break, I attribute it to hopping around with a walker for five weeks and then walking funny for a while.
My metal plate is really bothering me now. I’m seeing a doctor in a week about getting it out. I’m scared about it because I don’t want to be hopping around again and make my hip even worse. Anyone have any words of encouragement?
Hi All!
Hi Nancy, sorry it took so long to reply.
I do still have nerve pain, yes, but not to the degree I did prior to all of the testing. I take Neurotin. It helps. What the test was helpful in determining was where and to what extent I had nerve/muscle damage, and how to treat it. My dr. was definitely able to treat it to a better degree after the test. As far as calming down, I can’t answer that except to simply relax and understand that this will help you in the long run. I kept repeating that to myself. Good Luck to you!
Healthy Healing to all –
trac
Hello, It’s been a while. Hope everyone is doing well. Just a quick question…Did anyone develop a hip problem after recovering from a broken ankle?? Thx!!
Trac,
What kinds of things did you learn from the EMG? Do you still have nerve pain? What is the best thing to do to calm down nerves? Thanks, Nancy
Hello, fellow anklebreakers,
I am a regular poster on the other site. A quick summary — 2 yrs ago, I broke and dislocated both ankles (the left was a closed fracture, the right was a compound fracture), shattered every bone in my right leg, incl. knee, and shattered my left arm and hand. I have used aqua therapy extensively and found it to be the most productive form of therapy, so I have to agree with you completely, Nancy, and I, too, recommend it to everyone I know. I have had the EMG test, I would like to tell you that it is painless, but it is not. It is the most painful, annoying test I have had thus far. I’ve had a couple of them. I think if I tell you how horrible it is, maybe you will go in dreading it and come out saying, “that wasn’t too bad”
I will stress to you how important it is to be relaxed when they ask you to, because if you squeeze your muscles, it makes the test more difficult, thus take longer. However, that all being said, the information gained was valuable. I will be thinking of you.
Good Luck to everyone else and happy healing!
trac
It has been a few months since I last wrote but I have some new questions. A year ago I fractured my knee in two places and my ankle in three places. I was having too much pain and did not want to get rid of my crutches 8 months post op! After being put on Lyrica once a day it all changed. My nerves calmed down and I could do more. About 6 weeks ago all the pain started coming back. They doubled my dose of Lyrica but it did not help. Today my pain has been nonstop and all my trauma docs were at a conference. I went to a general Dr. and she ordered an ultrasound and an EMG. My ultrasound came back as normal. (no blood clots) The EMG test will be next week. Has anyone had this test?
By the way, if you want painless therapy that feels amazing, go to pool therapy. I was trying to do stuff at an LA Fitness on my own but then started going to a hospital for pool therapy. I wish I had gone in my earlier stages of recovery. I highly recommend it.
Just got my metal plate and seven screws taken out yesterday. Back on crutches, I was told recovery would only be a wk, but right now i’m having difficulty moving my foot up and down, no movement side to side, and can’t put much preasure on it, much less walk. When i try to move my foot up, the side where the metal came out just aches. Anyone know how long till I have movement and can walk again? JAN said in a preview post that she was walking in sandels just two days later. Happy for her, but def won’t be that fast a recovery for me.
Dont give up JT. It does get better. Do your pt right and rest your ankle as much as you can. Let it heal. You will not be in pain when they remove the pin and you will have more mobility, so look forward to that. The plate I dont know cos I still have mine.
Take care
Mario
I just broke my ankle two months ago and they put a screw and a plate in me. they are going to take the screw out in october but I have to wait 6 months to a year to take the plate out….this has been the worst experience.
Hi Anklequest
I hope you are starting to feel better and I know what you mean about the drugs. Too me it seems like a long road but the drugs they gave me seem to make it harder to heal. So I stuck with advil but even advil would get to me after awhile. My prayers are with you and may God speed your healing.
Hello Everybody,
I forgot to mention that when I went to therapy they did get me a tens unit and it helps me with the pain and aches. Sometimes I use it once or twice a week. Also I did get a step stretcher too. I am glad I found this site to share our stories. I found another website that helped me realize that I wasn’t alone in this experience and it is http://www.pponline.co.uk/forum/talk-injury/broken-ankle-injury
Alot of others share their stories at that website.
May God speed your healing.
Will continue tomarrow.
Have more details….
All the best to everyone..
Anklequest
3rd post…cont…
Surgery was Monday. On Tuesday I still could not feel my leg due to the block. Finally Tuesday evening things began to get better and i began to feel my ankle. My husband had been told by the doctor to be sure to give me the pain medicine (oxycodone–not percocet since, as it turns out, I cannot take asprin type drugs) before the block dissapeared or I would be screaming in pain. Well, so I took the oxycodone and went to sleep for the evening, hearing voices, and feeling no aches and pains at all (felt quite odd since I do have normal aches and pains). The next day, Wednsday, I had a co-worker scheduled to come over so we could work on writing a proposal. I’d taken another two tabs by then. By then I was feeling completely out of sorts, occasionally dizzy, and some other symptoms. I could function and we did plow through ideas, but, I was definitly less able to “think” of vocabulary words related to the project and my coworker said I was a bit more “agitated” than ususal. I told her occasionally how I felt and she, after 4 hours, suggested I get some rest, which was a good suggestion. The out of sorts feeling for me was so intense that I became determined not to take anymore oxycodone and thereafter just took 2 tylenol every 6 hours. In retrospect, I feel the oxycodone really did a number on my brain, and I hope not to have to take it again. For my first surgery, the morphine did the same.
Anklequest
Hi again.
Now an update on my arthoscopic ankle surgery on Monday. (Sorry it took a while but for some reason things got busier, people over, etc and I got more tired in the evening.)
First, background for the new posters: I’ve been posting off and on for about three years. I broke my ankle about 3 1/2 years ago–trimalleolar fracture– and also ended up with a severe external wound which could not be stitched and didn’t heal for 6 months. I was 61 and in excellent health..running, hiking, extensive gardening,and all that stuff. At first I thought, after one year that I would be OK but gradually things didn’t improve any more. Then, about 6 months ago, things really started to worsen and I could see a more misshapen ankle. So I went to one of the best docs in the NY area and was told I had severe arthritis in the ankle. In April I had a cortisone shot and again in June, with only about 3 weeks effect, so in July, after a vacation trip to California with problems walking, I decide to go for the recommended arthroscopic surgery.
Lee, one of the posters on this board, was very helpful in providing information about arthroscopic surgery, and that was definitely a great encouragement to me.
I did not need my hardware removed, as that was not, and still is not, causing any problems. My problem is that the bottom of my tibia was likely damaged, but i will find out more next week when I go back to get stitches removed.
More to come,
Anklequest
Hi Everyone!
Linda, thanks for sharing your story. It sounds ever so familiar. My opinion, anyone with the severe break you had should never work standing on your feet for longer periods of time again, as your ankle will never be the same. I hope that you let your co-workers know that certainty, for it can make a difference in how they feel towards you. I too had to remain off my ankle completely for 6 weeks without a cast so completely understand what you went through.
My boss broke her ankle walking her dog in the cold snow on new-year’s day in a quiet suburban cul-de-sack. She was eventually discovered by a laundry truck. Luckly, despite the fact that she had a trimalleolar fracture now some 5 years ago, she is doing very well, has little arthritis, and walks without a limp at age 58. She lucked out with a most excellent surgeon who fixed the ankle perfectly. So some can fare quite well, and then others like me
who haven’t done as well.
Will continue with several separate pieces as my longer posts often dissappear,
Anklequest
I forgot to add that the first six weeks I kept my foot elevated and only got up to go to the bathroom. I kept my foot very still and never put weight on it for first six weeks. Also the doctor put me in an aircast. Bless you all in your healing.
Hi
I broke my ankle in all three places Jan 10, 2009. Ice was under leaves and I was walking a pit bull. I slid on the leaves with the ice under it, the pavement caught my foot and I heard snap crack like the sound of a branch. I looked at my right foot and it was turned to a 3 o’clock position. I left my cell phone at home. I tried to get up and my foot fell right out of it socket and I fell back down. The dog was jumping all over me. I adjusted my foot myself and tried to crawl but was in too much pain. A man or should I say an angel drove up in a truck and said Ms. are you alright and drove me too safety. I was 53 years old and they operated on me immediately. Now I am 54. They did surgery and put in a woodnail on my left side of foot, a plate bracket and several screws on the right side of the foot. I broke all three bones in the ankle (fibula, tibula, and the other one). I was out of work for four months. My job is standing for eight hours straight. I had to get the doctor to give me a note to sit at work. It seems the doctor and co workers do not understand that you need to be able to stand, stretch, sit or walk when you break your ankle. It’s almost as though they feel you should be back to normal in 8 weeks. I did therapy for six weeks but the best therapy is biking. It gave me back my range. I try to bike or walk 2 to 5 times a week for 40 min per day. Now that I am back to work I have to walk more than bike. But to me biking is better. I try to stay away from the pain killers because they depress me and if I have to I take advil. I try to eat right and keep the weight off. Biking gave me back my range. I even bought a bike that folds from http://www.citizensbike.com. I keep it in my car so I can bike anywhere. I also do my abc’s with my foot. Lately I am thinking about removing the hardware because of the tightness and muscle pulls, aches that comes if I stress the ankle too much. But I am afraid that it will end up worst if I do remove the hardware because the doctor said he doesn’t know if it will work until he opens up the ankle again. Well thanks for letting me air my story and bless all of you with your healing.
Hi Everyone!
I broke my ankle skydiving on 6/26/09, broke it in 3 places and tore both of my ligements. I was put in a thigh high cast at first, but once the doctors noticed it wasnt set correctly in the cast, they opted for surgery.That took place on 7/10/09. Im in a walking boot but still havent been ok’d to bare weight on my foot. I believe my ankle was almost shattered.
I am back at work with the help of crutches, but I am anxious about when I walk again. I go to the doctor Friday after 1 moth after surgery.
-Will I be walking aout of the Doctors office that day? How does that work?
-Will I take my first steps during PT?
-Also, my doc told me to stop smoking. I have, but I want to start up again. Call me crazy, but Im really stressed out.
P.S.—I’ve gone through this whole experience by myself. No family or relationship. I’ve even managed to learn how to drive with my left foot (right is broken). This injury has taken more of a mental toll on me then physical. Im only 29, and my life feels like it came to a screeching halt!
7/31/09 Hi everyone. I got my staples taken out today from when I had my hardware removed 7/23/09. The sites are clean but itch alot. The nurse applied a few steri strips and said to let them fall off naturally. I don’t see any drainage so I think the strips will fall off soon, one has fallen off already and the day is not over. I am walking ok but I can feel my ankle is not completely healed. Its swollen a bit now but is not hurting. The doctor said this was my last visit unless complications arise and that I can walk without restrictions. I’m going to the mall now and test my endurance. Will keep you posted. Hilda
Sorry, more to add. No bath for a month. Stitches can’t get wet. Stitches came out very easily in two weeks. Wore like a butterfly bandage then for about another two weeks til they fell off. Foot is not swollen nor did it feel as stiff. Just be sure to rotate it with the alphabet to keep it mobile.
Hi all.
It’s been 4 months since hardware removal. 5 screws and a plate on left side of ankle and a long screw on right side. The surgery cost about $11,000. My insurance paid for it because I was having more pain with it in.
I am not entirely pain free, some swelling still but not as much. The recovery was awesome. I was walking in the boot immediately after surgery(I woke with it on) I had it on for only one more day before I wore sandals.
I still catch myself watching where I step, the doctor said that would eventually go away.
It will be two years in September since I met with the gopher hole in my backyard. It has been a journey and the best to you all with prayers.
Jan
Question, how long is the recovery time for hardware removal? OMG, I dont want to go thru the same pain as i did before and after the surgery..it was soo painful, it took a toll mentally and physically..
Yes indeed, here here!!
I dont like the stiffness, sometimes I have good days and I definitely cant walk around my house in a regular house shoe…I wear a flipflop that has a arch support on it. Its just a regular thick soled one from walmart. It allows me to run up and down the stairs when I in my house without pain.
After reading others posts about hardware removal…I decided to look into it….I just heard that there is downtime with the procedure. So I am just waiting to see how others experiences have been..
Like you……my break was very bad from the time they removed my gymshoe in er to the time they removed my stitches!!
I definitely don’t want to feel that again..
Guess we are all in the same boat. Its been over 7 months since I broke mine and its terribly frustrating not to see any improvement. I guess it will be some time before I can remove the hardware and to be honest I am not looking forward to it. The thought of another operation does not make me feel any better.
Hi Tiniko, thanks for the reply, its been awful from day one, breaking it was the worse, but now im experiencing all type of pain around my ankle, it stays swollen, i have a lump that never comes down, no matter how much ice i put on it, cant do much walking, standing, very unstable here as well.
Hey Iris….
Yeah, you broke your ankle a month after I broke mine and I have two plates and many screws as well. Sounds like we are in a similar position. I am looking into getting my hardware removed. I am able to right slightly, can walk up hills correctly and still unstable. Yes I as well have the pain on top of the foot although it is periodic.
Hi everyone, sorry to hear of your pain, i broke my ankle in 3 places on aug 1, 2008, had surgery, i also have 16 screws,plates, i did therapy but i really didnt follow thru, its almost a year later and im still in alot of pain, im going to see if the doctor can remove all the hardware, because i believe its causing me to have alot of pain, my pain is on top of my foot. has anyone experience this? I am still limping, i cant run, its very depressing.
Hi Niko, I just had my hardware removed 7-23-09, I’ll let you know when I’m healing. It’s only been 6mos since I broke my ankle. Hilda
Hey all!
It has finally been one year since I broke my ankle. Although I am still not able to wear anlke socks…my progressed has improved. Now seeing that everyone is getting their hardware removed, I was thinking the same. I have two plates and I think like 7 to 8 screws. I don’t have the same movement as my other ankle and I see others say that removing the hardware allows that. How long is the recovery time with removal, because with my hardware I am still unstable!
Hi Mario, It sounds like you are right. The hardware in your leg is foreign to your body and probably saying get me out of here and I’ll perform for you.(smile) Of course, I don’t know for sure, only you know what you are feeling in your leg. It would probably be worth it to talk to several surgeons or medical doctors to get their opinions. keep me posted. Hilda 7-24-09
Hi Hilda,
I’m glad your surgery has gone well and that it is behind you now. I hope you manage to rest and get back on your feet in no time. I myself am not happy with my recovery. I can walk and do most things but I cannot run and my left foot can’t do what my right does. I still have a plate on the side of my foot (shin) and I was hoping I would not have to undergo surgery to remove it but Im doubtful now.
Keep me posted
Mario
7-24-09 Hi Mario, thanks for the advice, its 3:45a and can’t sleep. I had surgery yesterday and my hardware was removed from my left ankle. I was told not to bear weight on it for 48 hours and given a prescrition for tylenol with codiene for pain. I only had local anesthesia this time and the pain after recovery room was not much but more of a burn sensation at the entry site, the nurse gave me a tylenol with codeine before I was released and I took one before I went to bed. Thanks to you I haven’t walked on it. Like you I was anxious to tell my spouse every time I could walk better only to later find I’d overdone it and the pain would take over. I forgot to say that when I was having pain using my cane in my first note that I used one cruthch and sometimes two depending on the distance I was walking. I’m glad I found this site, its good sharing the experience with someone whose been there. Will keep you all posted until I can walk well. Hilda
Hi Hilda,
After I had the pins removed from my ankle I noticed a big improvement and the pain subsided a bit. If, like me you are sent home immedeatly please dont make my mistake: I was walking around telling my wife how better I felt…..until the anaesthetic wore off and I was in agony for a couple of days. Take it easy and keep moving it, do your exercises and if in pain take painkillers (dont be a hero like i did, not worth it). I wish you best and a speedy recovery.
07-20-09 Hi everyone, I slid on the ice and broke my left ankle in 3 places and disclocated a bone in my left foot exactly 6 months ago January 20,2009. The dislocated bone was put back in place the same day in ER but surgery was done 2 days later. My cast was removed March 2,2009 and I was given a walking boot and started therapy with cruthes until I was given a cane to use. While trying to use this cane I walked the way the therapists told me to walk and my left knee begin to hurt on the right inner side and severely in back of knee in May 2009. When I told the therapist, they said they were treating my ankle not my knee, so I stopped therapy which I had been in for 3 months. I started taking motrin 800mg every 6 hours which gave me a lot of relief. The pain came and and went but I didn’t want to take so much motrin. When I visited the Dr. on July 13,2009 he said to take aleve 2 a day and my pain has greatly subsided. I got a good regular gym shoe that had padding at the ankle and I can walk ok without my cane. When I walk barefoot it feels funny like I need more support so I just put on that gym shoe. I have six screws on my outer ankle and one long screw on my inner ankle and a plate. My Dr. has scheduled surgery for 7-23-09 to take the hardware out of my ankle and hopefully I’ll be able to walk more normal. The Dr. says recovery is quick like a week or two. How about any of you, have you had a similar experience?
Thanks Ana,
I’m sorry to hear you have to undergo a 3rd operation, hope it goes well it relieves some of the pain.
I am trying hard to get better. My mistake was to ‘ignore’ my therapy for some time as my wife and I had our first baby in february. The change that brought was so much I had very little time for myself. Now I am fighting a stiff joint which is proving to be a hard and painful battle.
As regards returning to soccer I am a bit negative. Apart from the pain and the fact that its impossible for now to run etc, I think mentally I’m too scared after the injury. Seeing my foot so out of place has left a scar that won’t heal easily. I must admit I’m quite a baby when concerning hospitals and the time I spent there was horrible, especially the 2 and a half days waiting for my operation. Also, and I’d love to hear opinions about this, I feel that if I go back and god forbid get injured again I will feel very guilty towards the people around me, especially my wife. It’s a battle between the fear of another injury and the craving for a sport I’ve been doing all my life.
Dear Mario,
I am a soccer coach for my little one who is 4. I broke my ankle 6 years ago. 6 screws, a plate and 2 pins. Two years ago I had the hardware removed and arthritis is building including osteophytes which I will be removing soon for the 3rd operation. I am in pain a lot, and I receive cortisone shots every now and then which helps tremendously. What you are feeling is normal, it’s not the break but the recovery afterwards. Physical therapy is the best remedy, it helps with the tightness you feel. Try and do the excersies while you are watching tv, or day to day activities. Don’t give up. During soccer practice I run with them, I do everything I tell them to do, jump,sit ups. I wear a brace and it hurts but I never show that to my kids. I am never giving up and even though I obviously can never play like I did in high school, I really try to. Don’t give up if soccer is your passion, healing takes time, but if you give up it will never happen. Please keep me posted, I would love to hear about your recovery. Thanks to this site, you can see you are not alone.
I’m just browsing, looking for other people who also have my problem. I broke my ankle on the 27th December 2008, during a soccer game (the ankle was pointing the wrong way). It’s 6 months now and though I am able to work and do most things I’m still in a lot of pain. I’m trying to do as much phisio as possible but every morning my ankle is stiff and sore, so I have to start over again. I don’t have 100% mobility either. If I put my foot flat on the floor I can only move my knee outwards a few centimeters. I’m really frustrated and nearly sure I’ll never play soccer again.
When does it end?
Hi all. I usually post on the other site (broken ankle – 2 years later). I was just catching up here. I broke my right ankle – 3 places – screws and a plate on September 23, 2007. One year later, on Nov. 4th 2008 I had the hardware removed and don’t regret it for a second.
Just 2 weeks ago, I fell and broke my LEFT ankle! No surgery – only broke the fibula in one place (only lol). So, here I am again, on the couch feeling sorry for myself
. Anyway, at 3 am this morning when I could not sleep, I wrote a poem and thought I would share. Hope it makes you smile:
It all started with going for a walk in the park.
Then my foot met a hole and everything went dark.
The pain was intense, as I looked at my foot.
“Go get the car”. I will stay put.
The ambulance comes – oh, what a scene.
But I don’t care – just give me morphine.
The lights are blaring – the bumps hurt so much.
You need an x-ray – my foot – please don’t touch!
You have a bad break they tell me with care.
Go home – here’s some crutches – they give me a pair.
We go home in the car. The ride is hard – “Oh my”.
Every bump and curve makes me want to cry.
We finally get home and I try to walk to the door.
After 3 steps with the crutches-I want no more.
I look up all the stairs. I feel so dumb.
I then decide, I’ll go up on my bum.
At the top of the stairs I say ouch.
Then I look for my destination and start for the couch.
For the next few weeks, the couch is my home.
While I sit and wait to heal my bone.
I can’t get my coffee. I can’t get my lunch.
Someone cleans my kitchen – thanks a bunch!
Sometimes I feel that I am so alone – so stressed.
Then I see a picture of an amputee and I feel so blessed.
My friends come to visit – they call and they talk.
Soon I’ll be up and able to walk.
It seems so far away – but I know it will come.
Soon I’ll be up and this all will be done.
Erika
Hello everyone and especially the person who said that her or his (sorry I deleted the letter from my inbox and it is no longer on the site) ankle was not healing. When I was in hospital nearly two years ago after my car accident and my ankle was half severed I was in a ward with a young woman of 23. She had had her ankle all but severed two years before and was having her 20 something surgery as it had not healed and there had been lots of complications. It was so hard for her and I am grateful that my ankle and knee, while they still give me quite a bit of pain have healed fairly well – but at 48 I know that healing is slower and perhaps not as good as when you are younger – also the severity of the injury can make things harder as one can see from the young woman I met in hospital.
So all I have to offer you is sympathy and my prayers that your bones will heal. They young womans last surgery proved successful and she is much better now.
It does make it hard for your loved ones when you take a long time to heal. I unashamedly kept my wheelchair for a longer time so that I could do things like clean a bit, even do some cooking, shop -I did all my 2007 Christmas shopping from presents and food in my wheelchair – something immpossible on two crustches with two gammy legs. I have even made changes to my work so that I can spend more time sitting.
It can be difficult when your exeperience is still so closely with you. People not in your situation can get a bit impatient and just expect you to be fine. It can make one feel a bit lonely, frustrated and even like a wimp – but I promise you you are not a wimp – it takes courage to cope with all this pain and trauma!
My 18 year old daughter who was also badly injured in the crash wrote this poem.
Afterwards by Ruth Kruger
Crash
Glass, metal, blood, pain, confusion…
Everyone
Cares, helps, cooks, visits,
at the beginning.
You move on,
Or are pushed.
No one likes to see self-pity’
Afterwards.
So you tell yourself
It’s over.
When it isn’t
Youre strong, you’re fine, you’re over it,
When you’not.
No-one
Likes to see self-pity,
Afterwards.
(This is not to say we are not deeply grateful to all our friends and other peopel who gave us so much help and support. We had a survivor party a year later to thank everyone.)
What happens to us matters less than how we cope with it! Be proud of your survival and coping skills.
Thanks for the replies. Very interesting. I find the meds work but they seem to wear off quickly due to the body getting used to them. I, was, of course on IV morphine from the time of accident Jan 2 up until several days of leaving the hospital and going to the skilled nursing facility. Then it was percocet and a 30 MG slow release morphine pill every 12 hours.
I gradually got down to 15 MG slow release morphine and percocets every 4 as called for. Since I had an external fixator in my pelvis I had to remain bed ridden and largely immobile for 3 months. Often I would go long stretches with no percocets or would take them at night.
Now when I am up and working that ankle it seems to hurt worse despite being first released for PT at the end of March. The initial physical therapy effort went so well that I was released on 16 April.
Oh….a great idea for icing an ankle that is cheap and easy….purchase a large bag of frozen peas and use that as your ice bag ..or several. Use and place back in the freezer much cheaper than all those pricy speacial made icing devices sold at the pharmacy.
I thought I posted but I dont know where it went.
When I still had my cast, I had oxycodone, hydrocodone, morphine and motrin. I took myself off because there would be times when the meds would wear off and my leg would randomly jerk and I could not control it and I would be in more pain then after that. It always seemed to happen when I would find a comfortable position to sleep or lay in while elevating my leg. That random jerk always woke me and and the pain always resume. It felt I was being stuck over and over on my leg with needles.
I also took many pain meds too. Lyreca is used after the bones are completely healed, but the pain is still there due to nerve issues. My guess is you are still at the pain med stage. Another advantage of Lyreca is it makes you very tired, so I really sleep soundly. I had not done that since pre-accident.
Lyreca. I will have to remember that. I was taking Oxycodone but have been downgraded to Vicodin.
Sometimes that seems inadequate or only lasts for a short time and I can only take eight a day.
I know too much of the narcotic stuff is not good due to a prpensity for addiction or at minimum mild dependency.
I’d sure like to be pain free enough to function for an full nine or ten hour period without taking more than the recommended dosage over that period.
(I dont do that but its tempting at times)
It has been almost 9 months since I fractured my ankle in 3 places and my knee in 2. The Dr. kept telling me that my bones were healed, but I kept telling him I was in too much pain to walk without crutches. Since I started Lyreca a couple weeks ago, I have really progressed. I barely use my crutches and my pain is so infrequent compared to before. Lyreca is used to calm the nerves. I am finally believing that I will walk with a more normal gait some day. I also think pool therapy has helped.
Thanks Niko. I am just sick and tired of being a gimp and was looking forward to a quick progressive healing.
I sit in front of my computer at work (just started back last week) I intend to sit longer and spend less time walking around starting tomorrow.
Yes Kevin, you are still very early in the healing stage, so it will take time. Everything basically has to repair and regrow such as tissue and veins because your ankle bone was not the only thing that suffered damage. Especially if you had a bad break you will need time. You must remember to keep you leg elevated (As my good friends of this board has informed me
. I broke my ankle July 5, 2008 and I still swell and limp from time to time. Dont rush it though, the healing of bones is something we cant control. My doc said the swelling is because the veins are in repair mode to be able to carry blood normally, but since they are healing it only so much they can take which causes the blood to collect in one area instead of moving along.
I was finally able to run up some steps on the ball of my feet as of two months ago. I too have two plates and lots of screws..I know it seems like its a bad situation with the pain on and off.
Trust me it will get better. I was very frustrated with my ankle and just wanted everything to be the way it was. Since I have found this site….my progress is getting better and I know it takes time. It hasnt even been a year for me yet!
Its a slow process Kevin, but hang in there and you will do ok!
Hello everyone. I broke my ankle badly on Jan 2, 2009. Surgery was done about three four days later due to extreme swelling. They put an internal fixator through the ankle in the interim I believe. I had many other injuries ..broken neck two vertebrae at C7, My pelvis was dislocated and broken, the right shoulderblade was broken, tendons on the right wrist were cut and surgically repaired.
At this point in time the ankle is my limiting injury.
I guess bad ankle breaks take forever to heal completely? I have two plates one for the tibia and another for the fibula and an even dozen pins and screws.
I was immobile for three months and then allowed weight bearing PT. I progressed quickly to just using a cane but in the last few days the ankle seems to be more sore,swollen and painful. Is this a norm for bad breaks?
I have heard some folks have pretty good degrees of pain for up to nearly a year. I am only at 4.5 months. Today it seems I need to regress to a walker.
For the last four days I ice the ankle every evening twice over two three hours for 15 to 20 minutes each.
Is it normal to have good periods and bad periods like this?
Katherine,
I am so sorry for all the pain you have been through.
My prayers go out to you. I do hope this last option does the trick.