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?
Kevin lots of luck to you….
Kevin, Glad to hear from you. I’ve thought about you several times in the past couple of weeks. You sound very good. You are so brave and I’m glad you are doing so well and have such a positive attitude. Bless You!!!
Kevin, you are a champ and a true inspiration!
hi to all of you and thanks for sharing your stories. A special salute to Kevin. My injury is two years old now and I’m finally running again, even though in pain. The internal ankle ligaments did not fix properly and I was told not to play soccer again, still I’m glad I’m better as the injury was quite ugly. I too was told to keep the metal work unless it caused pain.
I would like to wish you all good recovery and a great Xmas time.
Kevin I am happy to here that you are doing well, I applaud you for your strenght, you have a very positive outlook. Continue with that same attitude, you will be fine. I had surgery in January, to remove one of my srew, but be ankle is still not doing well, My doctor is suggesting ankle replacement, bone graft or fusion. I am in a state of confusion, don’t know which option to choode, sine the bone did not heal and has deteriorated since the scred removal in January. I am having serious pain especilly in the mornings. I went to see another Dr. and he suggested that I wear a removable fusion brace to see if that’s one of the otpion I would like, but after wearing tha brace all day and removing it the ankle actually feels worst, because after the brace is removed at the end of the day you foot want to turn and it’s extremeny painful…Does anyone ever wear a removable fusion brace, let me know what your experience is like…
Kevin,
I am so happy to hear that you are doing well. It is good to hear that you are happier. Hang in there. Happy Holidays.
I apologize for my typos and spelling errors they result from poor finger placement on the keyboard.
Monday Dec 13, 2010
Several weeks post surgery and my pain levels after the amputation are greatly reduced….not gone but reduced. I take a dirg called “Gabapentin” that is to help reduce the incidence of phantom pain. It must be working because I am not emperiencing any of that. All my pain in isolated directly to the stump. I expect to see the initial fitment of the first prosthesis some time in early January 2011. I have a sleeve and socks that stratch over the stump to compress it and protect it as it heals and shrinks. I am, in effect, happier now than I have been in nearly two years. The two year anniversary of the accident approaches on Jan 2, 2011. I am feeling very well and I am appreciative of all the good wishes of all of you on this blog.
I hope all of you with breaks out there current or old are progressing ……
Thanks,
Kevin Burke
hey
I completely broke my ankle in september of 2009 and hardware was put in. I have a plate on the outside with 5 screws and 2 screws on the inside. I am very seriously considering having the hardware taken out. it is causing so much pain and discomfort I just cant tolerate it anymore.
Krystin, It was a long & slow road, but no hardware or surgery for me. Mine wasn’t dislocated, well it was very, very slightly moved but not so much that the two breaks needs screws and plates. I did a whole lot of laying around for the first 8 weeks and was in a splint for first 6 1/2 weeks due to awful swelling. Then laid around a lot more for another 4 weeks. Didn’t really get mobile much until I had my boot. Had what they called a walking cast for about 4 weeks but couldn’t really walk on it since my foot wasn’t angled at 90 degrees and made that leg too long compared to my left leg.
Good luck with the exercise band, it really helped stretch my tendons back out.
Kristyn,
I have a plate and 8 screws on the outside and two screws on the inside. My doctor says he doesn’t want to remove the plate and screws if he doesn’t have to. He does want to take the other two screws out so I have a little more movement. But I don’t even know that the hardware is in there. I hardly have any pain at all. I love it.
Deana and Wendi,
Thanks so much for the advice!!I am going to try out the Ugg boots this wknd in the morning, when the ankle is not too swollen and see what happens. And I will definately try the band exercise with the ball of my foot. That is where it is soooo tight. I have noticed too, that when I stretch before I walk, I walk alot better without limping as much!! Now did any of you have hardware put in or removed?? Ok, well Happy Holidays and thanks again for sharing your info!!
Krystin,
My bi-mal break was on June 30th. I’ve been wearing UGG like boots except they are more like the fit shoes with a slight rocker bottom, not near as high as the Sketchers or others but enough to help stretch that achilles tendon that was not active while in the splint, cast & boot. The thing that helped me most to get past the limping phases was a very long band that I would place at the ball of my foot area and then pull up on each side to flex my foot and hold for 20 or so seconds and do this while watching tv. I think that was why I kept limping and after a few days of doing this it was pretty much gone. I did the PT for a week or two but wasn’t impressed, most of the stuff I could do myself for free. Some morning the first 10 or so minutes out of bed, it takes some steps to & from kitchen and this and that to loosen up knee/leg/ankle and get it going but hopefully that too will go away and I’ll walk normal from a.m. to p.m.
Good Luck!
Kristyn,
It was a year in August that I broke my ankle and dislocted it. I found that tennis shoes where the most comfortable but it took a while for me to get used to them. I still am sore and I still sometimes walk with a limp. it depends on how cold it is outside. It hurts the most when it is cold. I live in Calfornia but it does sometimes get cold here. I ride my horse which requires boots to be put on over the ankle and I can get my ankle out of them. Uggs should be fine. You should have no problems getting your ankle out. It might take a little bit but I think you should be fine. I hope everyone else is doing good and happy Holidays.
Hi Everyone,
My name is Kristyn. I broke my ankle over the summer: a tri-mal fracture and dislocation. I had the surgery in July and I have a plate on the outer side and 2 screws on the inner ankle. My life was totally turned upside down from this injury. I mean I have never had surgery before, not even a cavity! I am 29 yrs old and my doctor has me doing PT on my own. Now I am about to go back to work, but I wanted to know how long it took you guys to start walking without a limp? I mean it has been almost 5 mths since this happened, and I walk with a slight limp. My ankle still seems a little stiff, and still swells!! I am also wondering what kind of shoes might fit comfortably? I bought a pair of Ugg ankle boots, but I am afraid to put my foot in, because i think my ankle will get stuck! Any advice on the limping or shoe issue would be greatly appreciated….I am sure you all understand what this is like!! I wanted to wish you all a great recovery…… Thanks so much!
I have decided that this year my new years resolution will be to not complain about how my ankle hurts at times and to appreciate the fact that I am fully functioning and able to move around like I used to. Kevin I hope you are doing well, I am sure this is a hard time for you, and I know you will do great! I have been thinking about you since I read your story, and I know that you are probably sitting in the hospital with a positive attitude and thoughts of the future! Good luck with your recovery! Please let us know how you are when you start feeling better! It is frigid cold here today and I am wondering if I am going to be able to ski this winter, are there any skiiers out there, and how did u do getting the ski boot on after breaking your ankle?????
My prayers and thoughts to Kevin today. You are a very brave and positive young man!
Thinking of Kevin today – your comments have been an inspiration and certainly made me sit up and think how lucky am I? I hope you are recovering well from your surgery and wish you all the very best.
Trac,
Thank you so much for your post. I am so scared, how long has it been since your fusion? How long was your recovery? Blessings to you too… Thank you.
Dear All and especially Kevin
You are in my prayers today Kevin. May everything go as well as possible. I admire your positive attitude. It is helpful although I am sure that there will be times when things are more challenging than is easy to cope with. At times I have found it so – be kind to yourself at these times. May you have strength, lots of support and love from those around you.
I am three years away from the car accident where both my legs were crushed. I still walk a bit funny (and need a stick for long distances and rough ground) especially when I walk fast (which I like to do) and there is pain – and will have to have more surgery on my ankle at some point. But I am always grateful to just still have life. Keep safe all, Lindy
Oh my, Trac, I’m so glad you weighed in here and your words will be such a comfort to Kevin. Your positive outlook is amazing and, even though you’re still getting through the first stages, you sound good and looking forward. I have such admiration for your strength and have to admit that I’m feeling very sheepish about complaining lately about my injuries (yep, a complete whine party, minus the cheese tray).
My guess is that Kevin is in a dark place today, so let’s all send our best healing vibes his way for a speedy recovery and a return to a pain-free normalcy. He has a long road ahead of him, as most of us have had in varying degrees, and I think there’s no better comfort than knowing that others understand…which we all do.
Judy
Hello, all!! Esp. Kevin, I usually post to the 2yr site, but started on this one
my accident was 7/07, I broke and dislocated both ankles & left forearm and wrist. I shaTtered every bone in my right leg and my right foot was actually an open fracture, connected by a tendon. What I am writing about is, I too, had all the surgeries, complications, etc, and, Kevin, I had my BK amputation on 11/08/10. I, too, see it as a great thing.I have not really walked in 3 years. It sure will be nice to, huh? I’m home,back to doing everything, have been since 3 days after surgery. (Truth told, I did justhave a cry over how hard it is to make my bed and how I’m back to first base — AGAIN — HA!!). Stay in touch, Kevin, while not great to see you go through this, it is so exciting to find someone who has and is experiencing so much similar.
As to the fusion? Yup, it hurts, you will curseyour choice. And, then, you really will be pain free and you’l be recommending it to others. I became totally free of pain. Good Luck!!! Blessings to you!
Trac
Kevin..love your attitude! Be so glad you are able to keep your knee!! It makes all the different with prostetics. My father lost his leg above the knee and does really well…still drives with a left foot adapter in the van,still plays golf and still does yard work. It takes longer and takes alot out of him but it’s actually better than the pain he had before. of course he’s well into his 60′s so recovery was slow and steady. He said the knee is what he misses most so I guess it must be true. I hope that your surgery goes well, recovery is progressive and your pain is controlled. Good luck and let us know how you’re doing!! My one year ankle injury anniversary is tomorrow and I still have problems but I know it could always be worse. Same with your situation. May not feel like it on some days but keep pushing forward!!!
diane
Hi everyone, I just wanted to share that I just recieved the statement with the details of the costs for my ankle surgery, I have a plate and 12 screws, my ankle now is valued at about $6,000.00 and that is just the metal not the other surgical costs…..wow…thank god for insurance! Anyways, I am all healed up, back to normal, the only pain I have is when there is a drastic temperature change, I am on my 5th 12 hour day in a row, pain free! I am an ICU nurse and always on my feet, I am not sure what has allowed me to have an easy recovery, but whatever it is, I am thankful for it. I have a 3 yr old and a 5 yr old and I can again keep up with them. I hope everyone recovers well, and Kevin, good luck, you attitude is amazing! I wish you the best!
Happy Holidays to everyone!
Hello Everyone…
I havevn’t posted in a while… I had a very bad break and no luck. It’s been 7 years since my first surgery (wave runner accident), and it’s been 3 years since my 2nd (to remove hardware). Arthritis has settled in… I am only 34 with 2 growing and very active boys one is 13 the other 6. I used to be very active, now not so much the pain gets the better of me. I’m scheduling an ankle fusion for January, and I am so scared. I am afraid of the recovery and what my limitations will be. Has anyone had an ankle fusion? Does anyone know anything about the recovery and if the pain will really GO AWAY…. Please help.
Dear Kevin:
I am so deeply saddened by your post and also humbled by your positive attitude and strength of spirit. I wish you a speedy recovery and a future without pain. Please do come back to post as soon as you can to let us know how you’re doing.
With great respect,
Judy
This is a response for Kevin: You have my respect and admiration, Kevin. Your attitude is good, and you will do well with your prosthetic leg because of your positive thinking. My husband suffered injuries like yours 23 years ago. He did not lose a leg (his hip was crushed) but he can’t walk at all now. When my ankle was broken into pieces 16 months ago, I continued to remind myself that it could have been worse. Now, I read your post and am again reminded that life is not about what happens to us, it is about how we respond to it. God bless you, Kevin, you’re in my prayers.
My orginal injury was Jan 2, 2009…..I suffered many injuries including a badly dislocated and broken pelvic ring along with a very nasty pilon fracture of the right ankle.
After multiple surgeries and a fusion effort and more complications than I care to go into detail about…tomorrow I am losing my right leg below the knee.
Mine is not atypical but is indeed the result of a very nasty high energy break. The surgeon who did the first work was surprised he could find as many pieces of the ankle as he did.
Anyway …I look forward to a new life with a prosthetic leg …..and the ability to walk and live without pain and feeling crippled.
Hi people! I’ve had very much the same! dislocation fracture plate screww’s and loads of time off! I’m not saying i never enjoyed the time off, I did, sat around watching tv, playing games and enjoying seeing my family a little more, even if i was a little house bound! I’m due to have my plate removed next tuesday and then it’s time to finish the insurance claim. were i’m going take the family on a well earned special holiday for allways being there when I needed them, If you gain anything out of this experiance, is you know who your friends and family are, Only the other day did i giggle with my partner about the time’s she had to remove all the dead skin from underneath the plaster, The joy’s as she call’s it.
There were time’s when you feel down, there are times when you feel pain, there are times when you want it all to go away! Hopefully for all of us it will in one way or another,
Now after almost two years of thinking what will happen if i fall on the leg, stand funny on something or get kicked of the children,Jump off a wall and land on my bad leg! Well I’ve had all that and i’m still standing, I now train at least 7 times a week, took boxing back up after a 20 year let off and started running again, all with the plate in. It’s very much a mind game, and i’m fighting back, And the best of it all,after all this training to improve my mental state over a bad accident, I’ve lost over 10kg and looking better then ever! Dont let it rule you!!! your a stronger person now then you have ever been, Use that inner power to move onward and upward!
It has been 4 1/2 months since my injury, I work 12 hour shifts in the ICU, my swelling has completely ended, and the pain is gone, I feel normal! I hope everyone is healing and hanging in there, I see my ortho surgeon at work sometimes and he is amazed at how well I healed, thanks to exercise I got better so quick! Good luck to all! Happy healing!
Maria, I am sorry to say that I am a few weeks from my 3 year anniversary. I slipped on ice walking the dog and similar break to yours with plate, screws and pins and I still swell. I am walking without a limp but if I am on my feet too long or walking too far, my bad ankle swells and aches. I am just thankful that I am walking at all as it was a brad break and recovery after surgery was horrible. I have been taking glucosimine for about 6 months and I find it makes a difference in the morning. I find that swimming is a good exercize for me and deep water aquafit — anything else is too much impact on my bad foot. Part of my problem could be that I waited 3 weeks before agreeing to surgery. In retrospect, I should have just done it! For me, I don’t think about it every day anymore and I have accepted that this might be as good as gets, although I do think that I am still improving.. Good luck Maria!
Its been almost 6 months since I fell down the stairs, twisted my ankle so bad I broke all 3 bones in the ankle. 2 plates and 12 screws later I am still recuperating. I am able to walk, still limping but not back to the movement I want it to be. I am back to work since early last month but by mid day my ankle is the size of a watermelon…I just want to function like the good ole days but sometimes my impatience gets the best of me. Thanks everyone for all the words of advise here. Here,s my email to share with me how your recuperation is coming along: mg4u@hotmail.com
Great information here. Still looking for supplemental data on travel tips and would be thankful any suggestions. Thanks a lot!
Thanks for all the post I have 2 plates and 10 screws its been 6 mon since surgery and if I walk over 30 minutes it swells and hurts to the point where its hard to walk. I’m thinking about having plates removed tp see if this would help. If anyone has some advice please let me know thanks.
Hello! I am also a student recovering from a trimollear ankle fracture, It’s been 2 months now and ive been walking on it with out crutches with no limp, still can’t jump with out pain but my diet and exercises really pay off! I need to get back to gymnastics asap and getting round uni with crutches was too hard. I am very lucky the ankle never hurt not even when i broke it, if anyone wants to talk about my recovery send me an E-mail @ Josh_gates1991@hotmail.com!
Hi Lee, Diana and abby.
I’ve read all you’ve written on yhis site, and i gotta tell you that youre words really comfort me.
I’m 24 years old, and i’ve broken my ankle in the both sides, “bimalleular fracture” by running on a stares. I’ve passed surgury too and they put two plates with 9 screws. It has been passed almost 2 months already, and i’ve just has been told that i can put a weight on an ankle. next week i’m starting a PT. Untill that i’ve tried at home to put wight and it just hearts too much. O’m a student, and because of the long healing i cant go to the practice that i have to do to get my digree.
so all my situation is so messed up. i’m sitting and getting so deppressed.
I hope everything will be ok soon and i’ll get my life back.
Keep on wrighting and giving hope to people, cause we need it so much now.
I go back to the doctor Monday. I’m almost at 3 1/2 months and getting better and getting out more. Was back to driving my SUV yesterday instead of my husbands lower sitting car, felt so good to be back in my vehicle after so long. Easier to get out and about now and most times the handicap little card from the mirror does no good since all the spaces are taken anyway. My husband finally brought back home the stationary bicycle thing he had loaned a guy at work months ago. Started using it last night.
Tried to put on one of my Fall slip-on shoes that I’ve worn for several years and are my most comfy shoes around and couldn’t even slide my foot in half-way . . . so then tried a 1/2 sized larger Sketcher from wearing on our trips to WDW and still no go . . . so still in my Ecco strap on sandals for now . . . good thing the weather is still so warm. To look at my feet side by side, the right is noticeable larger than the left . . . but darn it, thought I could wear some different shoes by now.
Deana
I have been back to work for 3 weeks as an RN in the ICU, I am 14 weeks post op for a bad ankle fracture plate and 12 screws, and a broken wrist….I am amazed at how my ankle holds up, granted when I get home the pain sets in but it is crazy how I go all day and never notice it! I have 8 hours of overtime this week, it has been really busy. So for anyone who reads this, your ankle will heal and life will go back to normal!
Hey Dee, I too have pain on the inside of my ankle. Dr says it’s my posterior tibial tendon. My foot flays out (sits at 2pm all the time) and I can’t go up on my toes on that foot either anymore. Seems to be getting worse. Dr says it was probably injured in the original accident but the focus then was to put me back together. I am having 2 screws out on my inner ankle later this month so that we can get an MRI to see what’s up with the tendon. I’m hoping that just the screws out will help the pain I have with every step!! I am exactly 10 months out today. I get really discouraged but just have to realize I’ll heal at my own pace. i think I’m a baby too. Seems like I just cannot tolerate this pain!! I’m nervous but excited that at least we’re doing SOMETHING!! I’ve heard that the screws out is everything from “nothing” to “sheer misery” so we’ll see. I hate bringing the walker back out but…..Maybe the screw is irritating something?? PT didn’t help mine. I kept telling them it wouldn’t straighten out!! UGH Good luck!
HI ALL DEE HERE Its beig qute a while since i have posted ,i however manage to sometimes glimse at what is happening but work has me tied up . to lee. deana, abby vopal and all others hello its my fisrt meeting you guys but i used to post alot when i just injured my ankle 10 mths ago, so some light on myself 25yrs female broken and dislocated right ankle ,broken tib fib & to the back says my dcoc ,he also mentioned that one was broken up in approximately 3 pieces.did surgery now owns 9 screws and two plates all of which is still in,im still frustrated at times my flexibility in the ankle is no where near normal as yet,i still cant go down stairs normal as my injured ankle cant bend much ,it does not go as far ip as the other i still wonder if it is possible ,I still have a lot of stiffness cant run or jump either i have read some time ago that the hardware removal should increase the mobility of the ankle can any one testify to this.I am super proud of all of you here its great how you all face up to this struggle ,i was like that too initilallly until months after wtih each check up another cast ,i pretty mucuh went through it to point where the doc says putting you in another cast and please stay steady bascically lie down foot elevated so no shifting and pain was grinding my fibres ,people dont get it ,even now i struggle and they say im such a baby should be running by now , i try to outline the limitation of my ankle that it just cant bend enough to facilitate such but not even that helps ,its been a year and im starting to get weak now ,i remember when the cast finally came off sometime ago my doc says he is sending me to psio and if within approx 6 wks in did go up as far he would do another surgery to remove the long screw but i have been back several times and ater x rays he just says do some more psio ,he literally changed and now really seems as if he dosent want to ,but i think something has to come out ,to the inside of my ankle really hurts at times ,i sit for a while when i get up it is as if i can feel something sticking inside my ankle and its as if it has totally ceased up im so confused and depressed ,but i have come a far way ,god is good and i still trust that he will take me through ,some one please say something and let me know if anyone still has in the syndesmosis screw is it better out. take care all .
Abby, Oh Dear, that is not good news for me . . . I have CMT, Charcot-Marie-Tooth . . . it is hereditary and affects the nerves of of hands & feet. Mine hasn’t been so severe that it has adversely affected my life but lots of people finally get diagnosed with it after an ankle break. High ankle and double joint ankles are a problem. I hope it doesn’t cause me more problems with my recovery. I just can’t seem to get over the stiff legged gait with my right leg and right ankle after being in the cast and boot.
How long have you been out of your cast? Seems like you were out of your cast before I was out of mine by a couple of weeks and then I had the boot for 3 after the cast came off. I’m thinking you’ve been out 4-5 weeks so maybe there is a light at the end of this long tunnel for me too.
Back at work, you are doing TERRIFIC and your kids are much younger than mine and much more dependent on you so not like you had a lot of choice but to get healed and back in action. I was tired after reading your post that you worked all day, then got kids and everything they need like dinner, bedtime routine and THEN you went to gym!!!! WOW!!!
Deana,
I have the 411 on the arch issue, My PT told me that while you are in a cast the bones in your foot that create the arch settle. He said it is really common for casted people to have arch problems…..just add one more thing to the list of problems. So in order to get an actual arch support I have to go to a podiatrist….I think I am going to stick with Dr. Scholls for now! But the arch support is helping! I was having pain in my toes and top of my foot and up the inside of my ankle…now the pain is pretty much gone! I had to buy the stick in arch only part though because my foot swells and wont fit in my shoe with the whole insert….Oh and I tried to buy a pair of boots the other day and Right foot was a size 9 and left foot needed a 10 1/2…….Uuuuggggghhhhhh! Someday I will have nice shoes again!
Deana,
I was having a lot of pain in my toes and arch, I think the cast kinda messed up my arch. So I got some inserts and the pain is gone! So now I am doing better. My first week went really well! Hang in there!
Hey Abby,
How are you doing? How is the ankle doing after being back to work for a week?
My foot is still swollen and bruised on top . . . I started doing the exercise and pre-treat with a warmed in the microwave wrap and then throughout the day elevate & ice. I doesn’t really hurt, but it doesn’t feel great either I did take a couple of Tylenol last night and again this a.m. to hopefully reduce some inflammation but not sure it really helps.
I guess I need some more patience and that the day the boot came off doesn’t mean all is wonderful and cured after being off it for almost 12 weeks. Just since I had them almost to the same size and then after no more boot, this to deal with.
Hang in there Deana, I think u are doing great! Tell those people to leave you alone! They dont understand and probably never will, you dont get better over night but it will happen. And the swelling will subside and sooner than you think you will feel better! The stairs are still hard for me! I can go up like I never had a broken ankle but coming down is a whole other story. I started doing them like a toddler, one step at a time both feet on the step. Now once I get my ankle stretched out I can sometimes do them normally but somedays it just does not happen! I do recommend the pool and the stationary bike to build muscle back up in your leg! Plus the pool is a great way to start bearing weight without fulling bearing weight! Good luck this weekend, I hope you are feeling better soon!
Abby, thanks so much for a reply tonight! I will rest a little easier tonight knowing this is normal. I will try to do my exercises tomorrow. I don’t have anything around here right now except for the ace bandages that held my splint on, I think I have about 3 rolls of them. Just finished icing and it still is swollen and not very pretty. I’ve been using one and two crutches depending on time of day and when I go out of the house I’ve been using my boot to go up and down the steps, not ready for those yet without the extra support.
The hardest part, for me, is people expecting you just to get up and walk at full speed like nothing ever happened. That to me is so frustrating in that they just don’t understand. I hope & pray they never have to understand the way we do, but a little bit of empathy sure would help. I mean a broken rib, or in your case with your wrist . . . but when it is ankle, foot or leg . . . you must bear full weight on it and with foot and ankle so many bones, tendons and ligaments that it just isn’t like getting over a cold or even the flu . . . it is a long & difficult process and it isn’t fun and believe me IF I could do it I would, not like I’m slacking, which is what I feel like they think. Maybe I’m too sensitive.
Deana,
The day I got my cast off, they told me to use the crutches as needed, well I was a little nervous to go without them but then decided to try it, my foot swelled up like crazy, my toes and ankle were all swollen. It looked like me ankle had a love handle! I iced the life out of it, and elevated it, and the swelling was better. I am still swollen everyday just not near as bad! It gets better each week but even today after work it was puffy. I have a thing from PT it is called tubigrip, it is a tight tight tight sock like thing, it compresses my ankle, my toes are exposed, it goes to about mid calf. It works really well! I dont know if u could ask your doctor for some of this, it comes in a roll, they cut it to the right length and then you pull it on and double it over…probably sounds confusing, but nevertheless, it is a tight sleeve/ sock…I use mine everyday and take it off in the evening.
From what my Dr. and PT tell me the swelling decreases as Range of Motion returns..so if possible do the exercises and stretch your ankle! You will be amazed at how much stretching helps with your pain/movement/ swelling!
I have most of my pain on the top of my foot and on the arch…I think it is because my foot is weak and those areas were casted for so long…it is getting better slowly.
I will be working 12 hour shifts (36 hours a week) but for now I am on orientation and so I am doing mainly 8′s which is great because I am not sure my ankle can take 12 hours!
Hang in there and if you think you need to call the Dr. just call him, that is what he is there for and that is why he gets paid the big bucks! But from my experience, swelling, pain, and tenderness are normal this early in the game! Stick with ice and elevate, maybe try something for inflammation!
Abby, thanks! I don’t know what to think about my crazy foot this week. After my visit to the dr. on Monday, Steve & I stopped by Costco, still wearing my boot since I didn’t take a shoe with me . . . then around the house Monday afternoon and evening, starting aching a little more as the day went on, same yesterday, even using a crutch . . . my foot is swollen on top, a little bruising and shiny towards the toes but that stupid boot was really starting to bother the top of my foot and at the upper most bone there was a red spot when I took it off at the doctors and it isn’t like I put the straps on too tight or pumped it with air too much. So I guess the swelling and achy feeling are normal after not walking on it normal (well this isn’t normal with my small steps) and every so often a little creak/pop/cracking of bones, nothing drastic, kinda like popping your knuckles. Given this set-back or initial no cast no boot period, I didn’t do my exercises today or yesterday. I tried putting ice on it, then heat, then ice. I really hate to call and ask about it but IF it isn’t better by Friday, I might better call and see what they say. Weird. What do you think? Did you experience this the first few days after your cast came off?
Glad to hear you are back at work, thank goodness I don’t have to go put in an 8 or 12 hour shift with this foot right now. Do the hospitals there still do three shifts? When my Mother was in the hospital right before she passed away in Texas, the nurses pretty much did 12 hour shifts and they’d work 3 days one week and 4 the next, at least that way they only had a change of shift a 7 a.m. & p.m. and all that goes with hospital shift changes. The 3 day work week would be nice but I’m sure the 12 hour shifts are exhausting.
Lee-thanks SO much for the “good news”. I just get so down like it will never be over. I hope the screw removal goes well and then the MRI and then who knows. I jsut want them to find something fixable. i;m tired of thinking of EVERY step I take and not being able to work and do the things our family loves to do. (go bum around the mall, go to a football game, etc) I just need to look a little more in the future and realize that slow and steady wins the race. Glad there’s some good news out there and hopefully I will be there soon!! My surgery is Oct 26th so I’ll let you all knwo how it goes. kinda wish he would remove ALL the plates and screws but maybe if he needs to repair the tendon he could do it then?? We’ll see and hope.
Diane
Hi Diane,
I’m an old poster from the 2 year recover site … I had a trimall w/ dislocation in July 2008 (plates, lots of screws and bolts), then in 3/2009, had all the metal removed and a few ligaments replaced/repaired. My posterior malleolus shifted when healing, so it was a non-union and though it did heal eventually, it’s not anatomically quite right. But it works well enough.
So, I too had a terrible time with the posterior tibial tendon for a long time. It was damaged in the dislocation, but not enough that they could do anything to fix it. It basically was a huge mass of scar tissue. So, let me put your mind at ease. My experience is pretty good right now, a little more than 2 years later.
After initial break, I had terrible pain on the tendon area and arch of my foot. I couldn’t wear anything but running shoes and spent months in PT. Things got better after I had custom orthotics made – alleviated all the swelling from the tendonitis and finally allowed it to begin healing. I was moving pretty well by the time I went in for my metal removal surgery.
Metal removal is super easy. And I think it can be about 2 weeks off the leg, if they’re just taking out a few screws. Yes, they have to cut the scar again, stitch it again, and you have all the weird healing stuff with the nerves, but it’s not so bad. I was in a splint for 2 weeks and on crutches, and boot for 4 with no crutches, because I had some ligaments re-anchored and replaced, so they needed the full 6 weeks to heal. And it was not very painful. Easy recovery.
So, flash forward 1 year. I do still wear my running shoes much of the time with the orthotics to keep supporting that tendon. But, I’m back to many of my normal activities. I do have limitations – no running, jumping, or other high impact activities, but I “run” on an elliptical trainer 45 min every day and I’m finally back to the Bar Method Class – which is like The Dailey Method – up on tippy toes to work quads and other muscles. I still have some calf weakness, but I’m working on it. And if I’m not careful – meaning, I don’t stretch and support the bad ankle or I overdo it in “bad” shoes – I can re-inflame the posterior tibila tendon. I just have to take care of it. I finally bought my first pair of shoes with heels a few weeks ago. They do hold my orthotics, so they are comfortable and easy to walk in. But I don’t wear the a lot. Just when I want to dress up. And I plan to return to skiing this winter. Need to have boots custom fit and a plate on the heel, since I have very little dorsifelxion left in the leg, but it can all be done.
So, I guess my story is a long way of telling you that you will get there eventually. The tendon is a pain, but if you baby it and work with it, you’ll be fine. And you manage the other limitations. They haven’t really changed my life, in the long run, all that much, even though they did for the first 2 years. I thought my life as I knew it was over for the first 18 months. It’s really only in the last 6 months that I’ve gotten past that idea and tried to return to “normal”. I started slow – walking around a soft, flat track at a high school for 10 min at a time. From there, worked up to one hour a day, and finally back to the gym for more intense activity. I feel great. I’m proud of my progress and I don’t see my leg as a liability any more. Eventually, I may need more surgery, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.
The road is long and frustrating, but I’m here to tell you it’ll be ok. Go to the 2 year site and go back about 2 years to read my old posts – gosh, I was a mess. Thought my life was over. I was only 40 when I broke it and have 2 very busy kids. I was ready to quit. But I didn’t – the folks here helped me push myself.
Good luck with the metal removal. Ask for a prescription for orthotics to help with support of the ankle and arch so the tendon can heal, and go slow. You’ll get there too!
Best to all of you as you heal.
Lee