Comments on: Update-Broken Ankle-1 Year later

By: Jesse Manning

Jesse Manning — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 22:48:11 +0000

Georgous site! I will definitely bookmark it!!!

By: Jim

Jim — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 06:56:47 +0000

Hi guys i never thought i’d b commenting on this kind of site and subject. I can relate to all of you in a way. I broke my tibia and the other bone and now i have 2 plates and 15 screws which im having removed tomorrow 2/3/2012. Idk if anyone belives in a God or anything but i believe in only one God, Jesus Christ. And i know for all of you and me this is a very hard and painful time and it seems like it will never go away. But as i read this passage in a Bible it gives me hope Isaiah 40:31 (but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.They will soar on wings like eagles;they will run and not grow weary,they will walk and not be faint.) Just say a quick prayer n He will help you! you have nothing to loose. ..

By: jm

jm — Wed, 01 Feb 2012 15:23:01 +0000

broke ankle about 8 yrs ago, even when i got surgery one of the 7 screws was not in all the way or broke in half. I forget which one, the doctor showed me the xrays and said its fine, 6 solid screws are enough and to not worry about it. im also 80lbs fatter so that might help either. for the first time since i broke it I have had pain for like 4 days in a row. usually its for one day once in a blue moon. I hope its cause the weather is so crazy cold warm and moist. I aslo swells once in a while, I rarely notice it. any healthy suggestions. Is weight really a issue? I mean they are titanium rods, they should be strong enough.

By: Jo Anne McLean

Jo Anne McLean — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 22:19:01 +0000

Hi, everyone! I can’t believe that this is the first time that I have looked to see other people’s experiences. I should have done this years ago! I am a 54 year old teacher, and I broke my ankle 6 1/2 years ago. I was two rungs up a ladder cutting small tree limbs. One limb snapped like an arm and knocked me off the ladder. I had a plate and seven screws. Terrible, terrible pain; not able to work this whole time. My doctor told me that the metal would not come out. It was three years after I had it in that someone told me I could have it taken out. I have no insurance; it took another 3 1/2 years to get the money to have the metal out. Yes, you SHOULD get it out if you have serious pain! I could tell right away that the pain in my foot was MUCH better after the surgery. It has been five weeks since surgery. I have to wait two more weeks until I start physical therapy. Last time, I was casted for so long that my foot would barely move. I have a removal cast; not going to let that happen again. Wiggling my toes constantly, and doing a little bending and moving. I thought I was prepared for what this second surgery would be like. I didn’t realize that the second time is basically just like the first time, without the really traumatic pain you have the first time. It’s going to take a lot longer than I thought. However, there was NO chance of me having a normal life with the chronic pain I was suffering. I think it would have helped me if I had found this site before my metal removal. I hope my experience will shed some light on broken ankles and metal removal. I will post again after I start physical therapy to let you all know just how long it takes me to get back up and going. Good luck to all of you – take it one day at a time, but be proactive!

By: Susie

Susie — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 10:49:46 +0000

Hi
Thought I would share my experiences – I had a Maisonneuve Fracture back in Jan 2011. The surgeon immediately repaired the ligaments but did not screw syndesmosis or plate the fibula. Resulting in a second surgery 6 months later as I found out the ankle was out of position, I was in agony. This time I had 6 screws and plate put in. Then I developed a serious pseudomonas infection – resulting in re-opening wound and draining, took three months to heal, I still have a dent in my leg where the hole was. I am facing my 4th surgery next month to get the screws taken out as one has broken and the fibula which had to have an osteotomy to get ankle back into position, has not healed. Depending on the outcome, I may need another plate or bone graft. I am in daily pain, but just starting to walk properly and go up and downstairs without help. This really is a serious injury, people find it hard to believe that a simple “broken ankle” cuases so much trouble. I am in my 50′s and will probably develop arthritis. I take calcium and magnesium supplements along with glucosamine. I recently moved back upstairs after living downstairs for almost a year (I could not access the shower in the main bathroom, there is so much pleasure in a real shower! I cannot wear heels any more, my calf has withered away, I am having lots of therapy and doing exercises every day, Im told it will come back. Visually, I have one “cankle” and one ankle, but I dont care what it looks like any more. All in all, it has been a year of hell and I only got through it with the help of my husband and friends. Just keep looking for the light at the end of the tunnel – and always push your medical expert for information!

By: Angry Birds

Angry Birds — Mon, 23 Jan 2012 05:22:43 +0000

I have thought quite a bit about this topic since I’ve started to learn blogs which comparatively speaking is not all that long a time. I recognize your insights and experiences here. They are very candid and it could be exhausting to seek out this info elsewhere.

By: san diego, ecig, buy, e liquid, atomizers, cartomizers, quit smoking

san diego, ecig, buy, e liquid, atomizers, cartomizers, quit smoking — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 22:02:54 +0000

Hi there, I found your site via Google at the same time as searching for a similar matter, your web site got here up, it appears to be like good. I have bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.

By: Debbie

Debbie — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 06:04:48 +0000

Hi, I was really happy to find this blog and it is my first time commenting. I shattered my ankle (broke it in 3 places) on January 7, 2011 and had surgery the next day to insert plates, screws and the external fixator, which I guess holds everything together. My orthopedic surgeon said it was one of the worst breaks he’d ever seen in 30 years of practice and equated the severity of the injury to having been dropped out of plane (even though the injury was a fairly “simple” fall on the icy walkway at my condo (which eventually led to a diagnosis of borderline osteoporosis, since the injury should not otherwise have been so severe). In any event, now that it has been a bit over a year, I can say, I NEVER, EVER expected that this injury would be so serious and disabling for such a considerable period of time. In the course of events, I had the surgically implanted external fixator for about a month, then additional surgery to remove the external fixator, which was replaced with a cast. For the first 3 or so months, I was actually in a wheelchair, followed by a walker for another 2 or 3 months, followed by a cane for another couple of months. I haven’t needed the cane now for a couple months and am just being to appear to walk normally, after a full year. I still can’t run — my ankle is too stiff — and one side of my ankle with the plate is still quite bruised and painful, if I touch it. I don’t know if this is normal, after a year, but I have an appointment with the orthopedic surgeon in a few weeks and will ask him then. Some final thoughts: this is NOT the minor injury I thought it was when I first heard the words, “broken ankle”, and you should take it very seriously. You will really need a lot of help from your spouse, family, friends (for example, someone needs to clean the stitches and screws, help you shower, dress, shop for food, perform routine household chores like laundry and change the bedlinens, walk the dogs, cook, fetch things for you, etc.). Don’t be shy about asking for and receiving help because there will be a lot to do that you are not for the time being capable of doing. Also, if you use a wheelchair and/or walker(better than crutches, which hurt), make sure to get the kind with a basket because you are going to want to carry things like food, beverages, papers, books, etc. Buy a shower seat; you will not want to stand for long and you will need to shampoo your hair, shave your legs, etc. Buy compression stockings (from medical supply companies on the internet) to keep the swelling down; they are a pain (literally) to put on, but they will help the swelling. I used a brand called T.E.D. stockings, but I am sure there are others as good. If you are in pain, use your prescribed painkillers. Be careful with Percocet, which I had trouble withdrawing from after 2 months of use. I was then prescribed Vicodin, which although not as effective as a painkiller for me, was quite easy to discontinue once I did not need it for pain. Consider taking a Percocet or Vicodin before attending physical therapy; physical therapy hurts, especially when the therapist “massages” the ankle to “break up” the swelling. I was also given Ambien sleep tabs because I found the injured ankle very uncomfortable, which made it difficult to sleep. I have been able to get off Ambien fairly easily, as well. So best of luck to you all. I hope your recovery is easier than mine has been and it may very well be: I am in my mid-50′s, so my age and the borderline osteoporosis diagnosis have probably made my situtation a little more problematic than most. Again, lots of luck to everyone!

By: Jo Mcc

Jo Mcc — Mon, 09 Jan 2012 02:34:17 +0000

I have 2 screws in my ankle as a result of a compound fracture of the tibula. I have arthritis and limp on and off due to weather or alot of activity. I waitress treadmill aerobics ect. Always wonder if I’d be better off without the screws inside. Has anyone had theirs removed?? Did it improve the mobility or stiffness??

By: Karen Arthur

Karen Arthur — Sun, 08 Jan 2012 23:58:35 +0000

I blacked out in April of 2009 and fell dislocating my tibia bone came through skin and also broke my ankle in 2 places. I had plate, rod and 6 screws put in. Had hardware taken out in October of 2010. Can’t wear heel but can workout and run. Still have some pain when the weather changes. Doctor said pain that I have other time is scar tissue