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?
Randomness of Christi
Catch-all of what's on my mind! From Movie Reviews to TV and Cats.
Hi Everyone,
Just a few comments regarding the recent posts.
-Heels are a definite no-no. They are the cause of a lot of orthopedic problems. One otherpedic doc I know says there’s a lot of medical $ to be made with the well heeled crowd.
-Someone mentioned good shoes. It makes all the difference. With my old shoes I couldn’t walk well. With a pair of top of the line running shoes like ASCSs, recommended by the physical therapist, I was suddenly able to walk a mile easily. I still wear these to work as I am a teacher and am on my feet a lot all day.
-move your foot around a LOT in early stages. It helps restore circulation and kkeps the scare tissue formation in check. Trace the letters of the alphabet. This does not mean the same as puting a lot of weight on it.
-about deep massage. A physical therapist told me to do any massage myself because deep massage, if not done correctly, can cause more damage to bruised tissues. In my case I had a lot of black and blue bruised tissue. Gentle massage is probably good.. along with cool and warm water treatments.
-leg strengthening excercises also help if you are not very actively walking. Otherwise you can start to develop other problems, for your broken ankle leg can weaken very rapidly.
-as for depression…do things you like to do at home and that helps. Everything will get better and you’ll be fine. I saw a man without a leg in PT and decided that was the end of me feeling sorry for myself.
– I was in physical therapy only 4 times and I decided I really didn’t need it anymore..just used the great advice from the therapist and continued things on my own. (I was highly motivated to improve things rapidly.) While there I could see that some people were not doing things on their own and were just doing PT while there… a big waste of time and $.
– final, someone mentioned ultrasound. One doc I know recommedned that..it is used for bones that do not heal rapidly. I didn’t need it since my bones were almost totally healed after about 6 weeks.
Good luck to all.
cute story mandy, i had been drinkin too when i broke mine…..the headaches are probably from your blood always rushing to your ankle, or maybe from all of the painkillers that you were poppin…..i had the same break as yours on june 16th and i didnt go back to work till october 3rd..so u should be back in 2 weeks…..take your time and collect the disability payments because they cant legally fire your ass
Hi Everyone
I came across this site when I was on google looking up info..Anyways I can tell you my story and maybe some of you can give me some advice…
On August 25/07 I went out for my birthday to the bar I had heels on and later on in the night after midnight I saw a friend of mine I walked over to say hello and I feel on the wet floor…So then when my friends helped me up I had really bad pain I had never broken anything before so they layed me down called the ambulance I was taken to the hospital were the er docter told me I had broken my ankle were your foot socket meets ur ankle and twice on my upper leg and that I needed surgery so then he had to pull my leg bone to restest with my leg or something and they put a temp cast on…So then I met with my orthopedic docter the next day…And I had surgery 3 days later and I had a 6inch metal plate with 8 screws along my skinny bone and about 4 screws on the other side on my ankle he told me that if I had not had heels on when I feel on the wet floor I would have most likely sprained my ankle…I love heels but I will not wear them again…
So I was in a plater cast for about 4 weeks then he told the cast off and took my staples out on both sides and put me in a walkin boot but I had to stay off of my leg when I was in the walkin boot for another 2 weeks then he told me I could walk in the boot but I had to sleep with mine on and always keep my leg elivated…And I walked for a week with the boot on and yesterday I seen him and he sent me to physio so I start that today and I can start to drive but kinda scared cuz it has been 2 moths and physio is the ones that will tell me when I can go back to work….I do not really have a limp but my advice is to all of u even when ur walkin without the boot like me make sure when u sleep to keep it elivated and to not over do it….I find when I get up I hve to flex my foot for about 5 mins then when I start to walk its not so much pain..I find thou on crappy days outside it hurts but try to walk about as much as possiable too…I have some nice scars but they remind me of what heels and a wet floor can do to you…I hope I am back to work soon thou…
So sorry for the long letter but I know how u all feel and it gets better It was hard to not be able to do anything but it will get better…Thanks for this awsome page to talk to other…And does anyone else find they get headaches more often know?!
Everyone on here is so helpful. This is a hard ordeal to go through because of the length of time, but reading other stories helps so much. Thanks everyone. I understand about the trip to walmart in a wheelchair, but it works. Take care all.
Hello to You All,
On 09/19/06, I fell from off a ladder and broke my Tibia,Fibula,Talus and crushed my Heel to mention ligament damage. I am 53 Years old and have never broken a bone before. After the closed reduction on my foot I was suprised that he only put two screw’s. The Doctor then gave me the option of wearing a cast or a walker boot. I went with the boot,much more comfortable and I was able to remove it when I slept. To make sure my leg was raised my brother went to HomeDepot and got building blocks to raise the front of my bed. This was great because my leg did not keep falling off the pillows. On my second week I started useing an Ultra Sound machine around my ankle, this must have helped a lot because two month later after seeing the Doctor and getting my Ex-Ray he told me that my bone was healed and I could start weight Bearing. After two month, I was off the crutches and walking with a slight limp and a cane. I have an inside pool in my house, so I would also spend several hours every day in it for rehab. The only pain I was getting was the hardware, which restricted my foot motion. On 10/26/07 I had the hardware removed and even now my foot feels like normal. I am able to turn it every which way. I am full weight bearing and the only pain I have is from the surgery cut. In two weeks the staples will be removed and I expect to get back my life again. So to you all, work your foot every day as much as you can tolerate and God and body will do the rest. Happy Healing to you All (PS, Hardware removal did not hurt at all)
Greetings Ankle-tribe members!
I broke my lower tibia and fibula 2/17/00.. I broke it falling on the ice in Finland where the surgeons spend the winter fixing broken ankles! They have it down to a science really. I have two plates and nine pins. The doctor told me “ve will have you back skiing by July” and after some mighty intensive physical therapy that was excrutiating I made a great recovery. The process was difficult and the best thing I think I did was have a massage therapist come to my home and give me deep tissue massage–especially the injured leg not at the wound but moving the muscles and helping the circulation was such a pain reliever! I also found tequila a better pain reliever than the narcotics because I could control the dose but I don’t recommend this unless you are snowbound in a foreign country and in big pain 🙂
Back stateside in about 2002 I started to have pain–went to orthroped who offered to take the pins out “Saturday” hmmm…Went to another “old school orthoped” who actually *examined* my ankle and said that I had a build up of scar tissue and that I needed to stretch hourly to restore my full range of motion. I did. No pain. However, my 4 inch heel days are over and I have come to accept that my right foot wants arch support. I only have pain or swelling if I don’t wear good shoes.
Hi, All! Did anyone out there not have Physical Therapy prescribed by thier Doc? I am going on 3 years now and was never given PT and am wondering if I should have fought for it. My Doc just told me to do a kind of modified squat to make sure that I could bend the ankle both ways. Now I am feeling like a crotchety old lady at 30! My ankle snap krackle and pops when ever i get up in the orning! I couldn’t jump to save my life and jogging is way out of the realm of possibility! Oh yeah, I had a Tri-M break of right ankle. 7 pins, one plate, 2 screws and a partridge in a pear tree. I caught my foot coming down the stairs. I was smart enough not to tumble head first the rest of hte way down but in fallin backward broke my tailbone! That was very pleasant! Anyway, thanks for the place to compare stories!
Hi Jackie….I started driving after about 5 weeks with my left foot as I also broke my right ankle. I was wearing one of those humongo moon boots too. It was weird but I had to get around when “I” needed to not when I had to beg for help. It really wasn’t so bad and I find that accelerating and braking with the left foot is waaaaaay easier than using both with just the left to brake.
It looks like I probably won’t be getting on a horse until the beginning of Dec. My fracture isn’t displaced but it also isn’t calcifying so I am downing the Vit. D Calcium, Iron and a new glucosamine product I have by Life Fitness that is supposed to have something called Reparagen in it and is supposed to help with joint repair and arthritis and stuff. If anything it won’t hurt to try…..I’m just so nervous about one of my horses doing something silly and then I do displace the frature and then I get to start all over. I imagine I will revisit the doc for an x-ray and see if the calcifying is better yet at the end of the month.
Erika….the depression sucks!!!! I hear you about the big wal-mart outing!! I would get someone to bring me to Target or the grocery store and wheel around in one of those electric shopping carts at a speed of negative 20mph and would get so frustrated that by the time I got home I was exhausted and even more pissed than I was to begin with! Many a night did I have my own private “pity party”!!!
I do keep reminding myself though that it could have been much worse and I should feel lucky that it wasn’t. Way too many people out there with worse problems than mine. What is the saying???? That which does not kill us makes us stronger.
Good night all.
hey jackie i got 10screws 2 pins and a plate in my right ankle…and i was unable to drive for 3 months, the thing is you could probably drive after 2 months if u live in the country, but i live in nyc and i had to wait until my ankle was good enough to withstand slaming on the brake.
Erica, doing circles is the only thing u should be doing with your ankle right now….u dont want to do tooo much right now and overexhaust it, just let it heal and just wait till therapy starts too build it back up.
eric r. sorry to hear about your boy.
Hi All,
Just got back from the doctors. I am 10 weeks out since I broke my ankle. I still have had quite a bit of pain. Now I am going to pain management and am feeling fantastic. For those of you suffering out there with the healing process, I highly suggest that you get your doctor to refer you to a pain managment facility. Last night was the first time during my 10 week ordeal that I was actually able to sleep comfortably. At pain managment, they told me that ankle fractures hurt like hell, but there is no reason why anyone should suffer. I had something done called an LSB and have not hurt since. Best Regards and quick healing to everyone.
P.S. My friend who was motorcycling riding with me during my accident, die last night when he was hit by an on coming car that did not see his bike. To all my motorcycle brethren out their, please be safe.
Hi Guys. Erika here. Broke left foot and right ankle on 9/23/07. The right was broken in 2 places in the ankle and the tibia. I have 8 screws and a plate. I went to the doctor’s 2 days ago – and was hoping she would say I could start weight bearing. NOPE! She said it was healing in the right place – but not enough healing for weight bearing. See you in 3 weeks. No weight bearing until then. Of course, my left foot is broken as well. I can’t drive. My right foot throbs all the time. The pain is much better – it comes and goes. So, its been 5 1/2 weeks – is it normal to have to go 9 weeks before weight bearing? I was so disappointed. I lost it once my husband got me into the car. Isn’t it weird how a trip to Walmart in a wheel chair can be the highlight of your month? 🙂 Depression is somewhat setting in. My husband gets the brunt of it at night…..Anyone else have the top of the foot that has the broken ankle so painful you can’t even put your finger on it? My doctor told me it was soft tissue damage. It is really sore. I am starting to rotate my foot in circles to get it moving. Anyone have any suggestions on how to loosen it more? I can’t “tug” on it at all yet according to the doctor. THANKS! Everyone hang in there – we are not alone!
Erika
Driving question – I had surgery on 10/10, eight screws and a plate. If all goes well, I should have my long screw removed on 11/29 and start WB. Since I broke my right ankle, I cannot drive which SUCKS. Does anyone have a time estimate on how long after they began WB before you could drive?
Other than not driving, I can’t complain, I could, but what could would it do. I have found that massaging my foot and ankle with Mineral ice really helps with the swelling and loosening everthing up to work on flexion.
Debbie – Please let me know how you progress with your riding. I have horses and would really like to ride again.
Thanks all for the postings. They are very helpful.
Thanks Anklequest….That’s what I’m praying for!
Debbie, be thankful.
Breaking a fibula is minor compared to breaking the tibia as well. That’s probably why you didn’t have the surgery and you should be grateful for that. I would take it easy & follow the doctor’s advice. Tendons and ligaments can take longer than bones. You don’t want to mess with them by pushing it.
Good Luck!
MAN!!!! Now I’m wondering if I made a bad decision NOT to have surgery. I broke my right fibula on Sept.6 and of course injured the ligaments.tendons as well. The doc gave me a choice of surgery or hard cast for 1 month non-weight bearing. I opted for the cast as I am deathly afraid of any kind of surgery and I figure since he gave me the oiption he felt okay with that choice. After the first mont the x-rays did not show the break calcifying but it was not displaced at all either so he decided to put me in a walking boot and do PT for another month. Well……went for the recheck tody and although the swelling is way down and my range of motion is pretty good….still no change in the actual fracture.
He felt confident that I could remove the boot as long as I wear supportive boots or sneakers and wants to see me again in 3 months. The problem is I am not a milk drinker and I wonder if that is hurting my progress so I am starting Caltrate D now. The other problem is that I am self employed as a horse trainer and this is killing me. I am at least able to teach lessons and train the people but am not sure when I will actually be able to ride as it the style I do(English…Hunters and Jumpers) is very stressful on the ankle.
Likem ost of you I became very depressed physically and emotionally as I am used to being very self-sufficient. I;ve gained about 15 lbs from all the ordering in and laying around that I did the first 6 weeks. getting taken to the grocery store or for 1/2 a pedicure was a HUGE day out! But by the time I would get home I would just be exhausted. I even had a wheelchair so I could carry stuff around the house as I was miserable on the crutches.
I hope everyone is doing better, I just hope that I didn’t make the wrong decision to not have the surgery and one of the most important things……will I ever be able to wear my high heels again????? I am a girl after all!!!!
HEY JANA…I KNOW ITS REAL DEPRESSING RIGHT NOW, BUT YOUR GONNA GET THROUGH IT, I PROMISE YOULL GET BETTER WEEK BY WEEK..AND I KNOW IT MUST BE HARD BEING BY YOURSELF, BUT WHATEVER DOESNT KILL YOU WILL MAKE YOU STRONGER….AND TRUST ME YOU DONT WANNA MAKE THAT TRIP ALL THE WAY BACK TO THE UK, IT WOULD BE SO UNCOMFORTABLE AND PAINFUL….LOOK AT THE BRIGHTSIDE TOO, YOUR STILL GETTING PAID FOR WATCHING THE KIDS, SO ATLEAST YOU HAVE INCOME COMING IN…WE’LL GOOD LUCK BABE, YOU’L GET THROUGH IT
kelli…..Well as of right now I’m going on my 3rd day I beleive it’s a 2 week process, Non weight bearing back on crutches. So far I can say that the first 2 days was harder than the 3rd hopefully it continues like this. I to was able to feel the screws in my ankle almost being able to see it poping out a bit was uncomfortable with all that metal….can’t say how it feels without it cause I haven’t walked on it yet…..I’m hoping it’ll feel much better!!!! all in all the doctor told me it takes 2weeks to stablize the bone and 6 weeks to regain it’s full strength.
Delia or anyone who had hardware removed – What is the recovery time and what did it involve?
I had foot and ankle surgery 2 years ago and can constantly feel my screw that goes up into my pinky toe. I’d like to have it removed but I just started a new job and worried about taking the time off.
Hi, all: I broke my right ankle 5 years ago and my left ankle on June 1, 2007. Had surgery on both with pins, plates, and screws. The most recent break now feels great—no pain—range of motion is almost fully restored. However, the old break has been painful continuously for 5 years and I developed sciatica because I limp slightly on that foot. I have all the hardware in both ankles. Has anyone had pain that just doesn’t subside, even after years?
day 5 of walking cast. Still need crutches to walk but feel like it might be getting alittle better. maybe the crutches can go away in a week or so. that last bit of my weight is really hard to get past. Carole we need to take our time i guess. I seem like im close to walking but a cannot let the %%$%$% crutches go. Im not pushing my ankle too much. If any pain starts I stop putting weight on it. This is only my 5th day on walking cast so i have got some time in my mind before i get upset. My doc. told me to walk on the walking cast but he did not tell me how fast i could put the crutches down and walk without them. He is not good at telling me all the info i need. But he did say my ankle would tell me when i do too much. The walking cast will be on for 4 weeks. He said i would not need the crutches when i go back to get the cast off. We will see if that is the case. In total this is the 58 day since my injury. Dislocated left ankle and broke fibia = 8 screws and plate. Good luck to everybody and I hope each day brings new progress in yalls recovery.
Hello…..everyone just keeping an update on my status 9 months ago I broke my right ankle and hadf a plate and seven screws. Well yesterday was the big day I had the metal removed. I was sooo scared but I did it and the surgeon asked me if I wanted to keep the hardware….sooo I did and wow I coudn’t beleive all that was in my skinny ankle. Anyhow I’m still bandaged up I get to take out the bandaging myself 48 hours after surgery….not looking forward to looking at my scar…..but before i forget after surgery when waking up…..I’m not gonna lie….boy did it hurt I felt the pain like krazy in my bone they gave me alot of morphine…and when I was good and ready to go home they prescribed the pain killers which have been helping me out my foot is swollen I can just imagine my ankle…it’s just a drag to go through this all over again….but I’m glad all that metal is out!!!! wishing everyone a speedy recovery!!!!
Jana,
If you can help with supervising children even if you are not able to get around much right now…you are helping the family. I don’t know the ages of the children but it is possible that you are helping out more than you realize just by being there…say, after school when parents aren’t around, etc.
I can see why this is so hard on you emotionally, given you are far removed from home.
Which ankle is it, left or right? It makes a difference how fast you can drive.
Hi Everyone…
There are two ways to go…not doing enough to move your ankle and being too careful…not good because scar tissue will develop and immobilize and or reduce motion (also your leg muscles will weaken rapidly)
OR
doing to much to early.
In the latter case..after about 4 months I was doing OK without crutches, etc. and I went on a business trip to John Jay College in NY. There, with some friends, we decided to walk up to a 5th floor. The stairs were very long and I was fine that day. However, that climbing stress on my ankle, combined with walking a lot on the streets that day, set me back a month. The days after that my ankle got worse. I had done too much.
Drop your crutches when you feel like you can. If you can start with a few steps on your own than you can probably do more overy a period of a a day or two and that will be it.
Hope this helps.
I went to the doctor on 10/25 and got some good news. He said that my ankle was 85% healed (Surgery was 9/11) and that I could begin walking on it. I also got rid of the heavy boot and now have an air cast. I, too, am reluctant to give up the crutches because it hurts to put my full weight on the foot. I begin physical therapy on 10/30 and also am looking into joining a place with a pool because my doctor suggested that water therapy is good for the healing. I also found out that I have a vitamin D deficiency which can slow healing so I’m taking a vitamin D supplement. As for the hardware coming out, my doctor said that for people under 60 it usually comes out; for people over 60 it depends on how they handle it. Since I’m 60, I guess I’ll wait and see what happens.
Good luck to everyone.
Jana,
I understand how you are feeling. I am not away from home, but I also cry and stay ancious. I just keep fighting the feelings. I am also non weight bearing and have 6 more weeks to go before I can even try walking. I have already been 2 and a half months. I have to have the screw removed too. You are in my prayers, keep keeping on.
hey all
Im so glad i found this blog…
I’m really getting desperate right now, and I need something positiv for my mind
I’m from sweden (so I have to apologize for mistakes)
and I arrived in the beginning of septmeber in the UK to work here as a aupair.
at the 9/19/07 I felt down some stairs and broke my left ankle…
in the hospital they told me, that it is a really nasty break… after more then a week, the did the surgery, they needet to wait, cause the ankle was to swollen…
after the surgery, i need to spent 3 more days in the hospital, at the end of septmeber they discharged me.
Since then I’m wearing a fiberglas-cast…
yesterday I was at the hospital and the doc told me, that I hav to be in the cast 2 more weeks and then i maybe get a kind of boot…
I’m getting really depressed, and I’m crying almost everyday.. problem is that i feel so guilty, cause im still in the hostfamily, where i actually should work and not laying down. and also that i cant see me family and friends is hard, when i was at the hospital i felt so alone. my hostfamily told me, that the y would like to keep me here, and that we will figure it out, but now after the appointment at the hospital..i got the feeling that it will take a long time, to get back to normal… and know im thinking if i should quit and go home for good.
Ive got a lot of metal in my ankle, dont know how much, but there is one long srew, which needs to be removed in january… but im flying home in december for christmas, so i not sure if should stay in sweden for good or if i should go back here to get removed the srew?
I actually need to work here in january, that means at least driving the kids and look after them a bit (a manual car, not automatic) and i seriously dont think that i able to do it…
But I’m really pessimistic, the last to weeks my attidude was getting a bit better, but know Im really in black hole, and im crying a lot…
I really dont know what to do, i also cant sleep at night, i not in pain, but im just thinking all the time…
Hope my storie was not to confusing, and i hope that someone can give some advises… thanks
after the 10min jog it was aching and it felt weak, but im going out for the academy this year so pain or no pain, im gonna have to get through it… as for you trying to walk, i suggest you dont get off your crutches until you start going to the therapist, because right now is a very vital point in your process…what you do these next 3 weeks will effect the movement, stability and the stregnth of your ankle for the next years to come.
Thanks for the responses, we are all in the same boat. I went to doc today and I have to wait a month to get the extra screw out, then 2 weeks till I can try walking. I can do it if I can keep this anciety under control. Here’s hoping. I think of you all.
Oct .26 doing a little better on walking cast but still using 2 crutches. Thanks for the time frame that i can use. I dont even see a therapist until after i get out of all the cast. So it looks like im on my own with the walking cast situation. After you did your 10 min. run did your ankle hurt or was it kinda like normal. it sounds like you are alittle over 4 months into your injury. This is the first day of the 3rd month for me. Im close to letting the crutches go but at the last moment i cant let go the pain starts. Maybe Oct. 27 i can let go. Thanks again for the info and good luck with your recovery.
hey tatum, i used both crutches for like 2 weeks and then i dropped down to 1 for a couple of days before i was able to walk,…then i had a bad limp for a week or 2 before i started walking semi-normal….just make sure you go to therapy, and the therapist will let you know how to go about it, because every case is diffrent and age matters(im 24 y.o.)……i broke my ankle on june 16th i got 12 screws 2 pins and a plate….and this monday for the first time i jogged on a treadmill for 10 minutes
Oct.25 second day of walking cast. Did not do as well as i thought i might. Maybe the crutches will be here for a few more weeks. The last bit of my weight that i try to put on my bad ankle makes it start to hurt. Hoping this will start to get better as time goes by. Does anyone have a time table for using the walking cast? Do you start with 2 crutches and then work down to 1 and then none. OR Do you just fight through the pain and ditch the crutches and limp through it? Hope everyone is doing better as each day goes by. Thanks
Nancy, hopefully Friday you will be able to partially put weight on your ankle, and that will allow you to move forward.
As for depression and anxiety..it goes with the situation. I tried to make the best of it by getting into some of my sedentary hobbies, and so remaind occupied. Plus I was tired a lot so slept a lot more than usual, although I took no pain medicine.
I can see by this board that everyone has differing experiences and reactions.
I never had a cast or a boot, but had a very bad break. After six weeks I was told I could start partial weight, but I had bee moving my foot around a lot. In my case I had an open wound which was more frightening than the breat itself because it took over 6 months to look like it was OK. Yet I was walking fine by that time but had to daily take care of this wound seeping, etc.
There are scientific studies on cast verses no cast and long term it makes no difference. Diferences are great mostly due to health status and age.
I wish everyone well! I post on this board mainly because I was very appreciative of the posts I read when I was in bad shape.
thank everyone for the info! I did go to the doctor Oct.23 He put a new cast on my leg. it was like the first one but he also gave me a walking boot to put on outside of the cast. He told me to walk. Maybe take it a little slow but walk. I started to try to walk today Oct. 24. I think the crutches are about to get thrown away within a week. This is the first time I did not feel helpless in 54 days. Limping but could put the crutches down for a few steps. It being the first day in walking cast I am very pleased. As for as the depression goes I had it. BUT as soon as i felt some control come back in my court it went away. Nancy keep chin up it will get better. If I can walk without the crutches on week 8 or 9 then anything is possible. I would have never thought it possible just a few days ago. By the way I am 41 not that young. I am in good shape maybe that helps. I am very hard headed also and as soon as i tried to walk the competitive side of me started coming out. Thanks againg to everyone for the info. As i go through this I will be glad to help anyone with info. I know it really helps.
I broke my ankle over two months ago, still non weight bearing and hopping on a walker. I see the doctor on Friday and hope for some new plan. It is very hard to not get out accept once in awhile. I am finding myself very ancious and depressed. Has anyone else felt this way?
Tatum & All:
I was in a temporary cast for two weeks, a plaster case for 6 weeks and a boot for two months (non-weight bearing). Total time on crutches – FOUR MONTHS! I was fired from my job of 5 years for being out of work for so long. Fortunately I got a new job 3 weeks ago. My doctor was also conservative. I finally got rid of him two weeks ago and saw a new ortho. I’m now full weight bearing but using one crutch as the pain is excrutiating. I’m in tears every night when I leave work. Has anyone else experienced such pain and swelling once given the o.k. to walk? Although I’m attending physical therapy twice a week, and have been for months now, it’s like torture treatment at this point in time.
Tatum,
Unfortunatley the length that the leg is in a cast and walking boot sound about right. I think once you get the okay to get out of the walking cast you should be ready to start working it and moving it. Good luck
For Tatum: I’ve been in a heavy boot since before my surgery on 9/11 to repair my fibula with 5 pins and a plate. I’ll be going to the doctor on 10/25 and plan to ask him for something that is lighter and will make me more mobile. Also, the boot is really bothering my knee and the crutches cause a lot of other parts to hurt. I’m a pre-school teacher so I need to be as mobile as I can as soon as possible. My doctor told me that I would be in the boot for three months, but I thought that the pins and plate made the ankle more secure and that it would heal better. I don’t like the idea of three months to heal. My general physician says that the ortho doctor is being very conservative in his treatment. He said that half his practice is over 85, so maybe he’s not used to treating people who still are active and need to get around.
Just to put in a different experience, when I broke my ankle and dislocated it I was out of work 2 weeks (the first week completely out and the second week working from home) the third week I was back at work. Luckily I was able to carpool with my co-worker who lived in the same town. It was tough at first but I pulled through and I knew I had to get back to work. I’m not saying anyone has to do this but just putting in a different experience. It all depends on the break, age and health.
every sunday i run 5 miles it takes 1 hour at 5.0 on the treadmill the other days i weight train that incl legs to. i do have pain on fib side so having the screws and plate removed asap doc said fib is not as load bearing as tib so i could be runing agin in a month. understand every one is deferent so go at your own pace good luck
yo rich, does 5 miles you were running are those on a consistent basis like daily, or once a week or so?
i had a motocross accedent in sep 04 totally took out fib and tib. my fib has a plate with 8 screws and my tib has a plate with 13 screws .4 months after the crash i was walking but not very good .two weeks later went back to work 6 months later with tredmill and weight traing i was back on my bike. 1 year was runing 5 mile and working out hard again still had some pain doctor said i would never run again oh well .still having pain on fib side so the ortho is going to take out 1 plate and 8 screws should be good to go. if you have pain take vicodin try to limit the amount as you can have prob with it if taken too long.
Dislocated left ankle Aug. 31 2007. Broke fibia also. Had surgery Sept. 4. Seven screws and plate. Have been in first cast for 7 weeks and going to get walking cast Oct. 23. Dr. say it will be on for 4 or 5 weeks. Is this normal? Did anyone else have 2 cast that will last for 3 months? Never had any injury before and going out of my mind with this whole process. Please help with info it will help my head more than u know.
Kerri & everyone,
I had the same break as you. I just had tylenol for pain in the evenings before bed. Other drugs…forget it. They had a bad effect on me.
Time…take the time you need to get back into things. I was back at work for partial days at about 5-6 weeks, which is also what the doctor recommended.
Swelling…a year and a half later I still have swelling but it is gradually going away. I have been able to walk normally though for over a year.
Crutches…I could not stand them so used them for only two weeks and then used a cane for a while.
Airports…I suggest using a wheel chair and have someone wheel you, but that’s maybe because crutchs really were hard on my hands.
Driving cars…it was my right foot. After 6 weeks I practiced using my left foot for the brake for a week or so, just in the local area. I could easily use the gas with my broken foot and no boot or cast (oversized tennis shoes). I then drove around several months like that…very very carefully! I was told it was illegal to do so. At about 6 months I was pretty good, which is what the doctor had predicted. However it will still take at least a year or two too be OK so that I have no swelling and can run normally again..so I am told.
Meanwhile, Kerri, take it easy and try to be patient.
It may work out much better for you. It depends on your age and health and therapy. I suggest moving your foot now already as much as possible.
Good luck!
Hello again. For those of you who broke your ankle and were back to work and/or walking within a couple months… consider yourself lucky. I have to say that I was on percocet for probably the first two or three weeks and then then pain wasn’t a problem. The major problem was that I was out of work for FOUR months and ended up getting fired because I was out for so long. I just started a new job 3 weeks ago and luckily they hired me even though I showed up to the interviw on crutches. As I mentioned previously, I just got the o.k. to start walking last week. My ankle is so swollen and painful that I’m now back on on crutch. It’s extremely depressing. At this point I don’t feel that I will EVER walk normally again, let along without a crutch. After reading all your comments about getting the plate and screws removed… forget that… I NEVER want to see crutches again after this experience. Once I no longer have to use them… I plan on driving over them in the driveway with my Expedition! UGHH!
Hey guys. I posted a couple of weeks ago. I had surgery on my broken right ankle on 9/24/07. 9 pins and a plate. I was on percocet for about 1 week. I then went off – mostly because it was binding me up! I am now taking tylonol or naprosyn – mostly just before bed. During the day as long as I am not moving much – it is not too bad. The problem with me, is that I also broke my left foot! So, I walk with a walker on my left broken foot – which hurts! I wear two foot boot/braces. I am so sick of the sound of velcro! Anyone else? It has been 4 weeks today. I went to work once last week, but after 3 hours – I am so sore – I have to keep the right leg up – and my thigh starts to hurt. Crutches are so hard, because both my feet are broken, I feel so unstable. I am really sick of being in my house. I have had lots of help and visits, but at night, sometimes I just start crying. My husband is trying to help, but I am definitely getting cranky. I have at least 2 more weeks before I can put any weight on the right ankle. Anyone else ever break both feet at the same time? What do you think about how long before I can actually walk?
Hey Kerri – I am 6 days ahead of you. I had surgery on 10/10. I was totally off my pain meds by 10/15, but everyone is different so that may not work for you. I could not stand the fuzziness and dizziness of the percocet so I decided just to stop and see how I felt. Surprisingly, the pain was not bad. I elevated and iced constantly for 5 days even through the night after my surgery which I think helped tremendously. I gradually started keeping my leg verticle for short periods to see how much swelling or pain I had to determine when I could go back to work. I am going back tomorrow. The only time I am experiencing any pain now is if I accidentally try to twist my ankle.
I had a nerve block so my pain was not in full swing until about a day and a half after my surgery. That day was bad until I got the percocet up to the right level. From that point it took me about 4 days of fuzziness to decide that was enough of that.
Have you tried to wean yourself off the percocet and supplement with something over the counter that your OS approved? My OS told me I could use Tylenol but stay away from Ibuprofen which inhibits the healing. So far, I have not needed the Tylenol. I am taking Tylenol and my percocet stash with me when I fly to Boston in two weeks just in case.
If any one has any traveling/airport tips for someone on cructhes please feel free to share. I do not want to have to depend on my co-worker that I am traveling with to tote my luggage or push me in a wheelchair. I think I can manage Logan on my cructhes (I’ve gotten pretty good), dragging luggage behind me should be interesting though. I wish I could fit everything in a backpack, but I don’t think that is possible.
heyyy everyone. i broke my ankle a couple days before new yrs 2007. i didn’t get surgery done until 10days after because i had been told i sprained it and i was in no pain so i heldoff going to the hospital. i had 1 plate and 7screws. i was on bedrest for a little less than 2months and then slowly started walking in march. i was walking without a limp and without any pain towards the end of april. towards the end of my physical therapy i was able to run on the treadmill and even walk on my toes. it’s been 10 1/2 months now since the incident and i am walking perfectly fine but i still have swellling. my right ankle is noticeably bigger than my left and i was wondering if anyone knew if it was because i still have the metal in me or will it always be there regardless of whether or not i take out the metal?
hope everyone is healing or has healed good…
and for the new comers.. get yourself a couple of people that come visit you often and don’t stress over being on your butt 24/7. just take care of yourself and think about what you’re going to do when you start walking again =)
Hi Everyone- I am so happy to have found this site. I broke and dislocated my right ankle 10/14 going down 3 steps, and had surgery on the 16th. It was a trimallelor fracture also. I have a plate with 7 screws and a pin. The doctor made it sound like I would feel a lot better by now. I am taking percocet but it just makes me mentally fuzzy, it still hurts. What kind of meds helped you all manage the pain? How long will it feel so swollen? I am really bummed because it is my right foot and I can’t drive. I really feel bad depending on others to help. Thanks for listening and good luck to everyone.
Anklequest and all:
Thanks so much for your response. I’ve been going to physical therapy for more than a month now. Things were good although, again, in the beginning I was only increasing my weight bearing by 10 pounds per week. I’m in so much pain now that doing ANY type of exercise is excruciating. In the mornings I try to do some stretching and a few other exercises because by the time I get home from work I can’t stand it. I’m elevating and icing at night and hopefully it will get better as time goes on. Thanks to everyone for their comments. It’s so nice to know I’m not alone. Although everyones experience is different, we all seem to be in the same boat… which hopefully isn’t sinking!
Kris and all the rest…
I just want you to know what my doctor told me starting with day one after surgery…..keep that foot moving. I was constantly trying to move my foot at all times. The more I moved my foot and the more I walked, the better it got, and the swelling would go down. The swelling goes down because the circulation improves. It is the lack of adequate return circulation that causes most swelling so if you walk, your muscles in your leg contract, and help reduce swelling. Of course, the swelling also goes down with elevation, ice and all that but you have to walk and move the foot. Moving the foot also reduces scar tissue formation. I don’t know what your situation is but wish you all the best.
One more thing…for more than 6 months I had a very nasty open wound (not enough skin to stitch things together) so I never had a walker or cast. This open wound frightened me more than anything for fear of infection. Despite the open wound I walked as soon as I could upon the recommendation of the physical therapist, who was much more helpful than the doctor. I only saw the physical therapist about 4 times. I had develped enough movement so that I didn’t need my foot to be “pushed”. I was doing a lot of movement myself at home with the help of one of those big rubber bands.
Hi, my name is Kami, and this is my 1st time writing on a blog, hope i said that right. I’ve tried writing twice, but isn’t going through. I have gotten much comfort from your stories, and hope this goes through, so I can share mine. So here goes it, gonna see if this goes through, if it does please tell me what I might be doing wrong. Thanks so much!
Hello All,
Thank you for your stories of inspiration. I recently broke my ankle very severely during a motorcycle accident in which I slipped on some oil on the road. I was a candidate for amputation until sugery corrected the blood flow issue. I have 12 pins and 3 plates that are now holding me together. It has been around 8 weeks since my accident. Food for thought: all I can say to my motorcycle brethen out their in the world is “Although you and I are hurting, at least we are still around since many of our motorcycle brothers and sisters have lost their lives”
Best regards and quick healing to everyone,
Eric
Hi Again,
Socer/Basketball players mom here again.
She had her pins removed and scar tissued cleaned up.
9/27 and was bed ridden for two weeks. Two weeks on crutches and now in a walking boot.
We had a physical therapy appointment. He highly recommended that she get out of the boot asap. She has lost flexibility and her ankle is stiff.
I think having this procedure done was a lot harder then her original surgery. If you ge the hardware remove, just make sure you start working the ankle.
We are hoping to have her moving and playing basketball in 6-8 weeks. Get out of the walking cast as soon as possible. The therapist thought she has been in it too long.
Good luck everyone!
It’s nice to hear other people going through what I’ve been through. I broke my fibia & tibia June 2nd and had surgery including a plate and 5 screws. I was on crutches for 4 months and fired my doctor for taking so long to let me walk. I went to a new doctor Friday and he said to get rid of the crutches. My ankle is so swollen and painful (it looks like I have elephantitis) now I’m in tears at the end of the day. I’m now back to one crutch. Has anyone else experienced such pain when starting to walk? I feel like a screw is about to burst through the skin. It’s been such a long road I’d just like to scream. Fortunately throughout this entire mess my husband has been great.
Carol,
It seems to me you are doing very very well. How old are you and are you fit? I think these things make a big difference. Plus the lack of pain..you are so fortunate.
No one seems to have a clear answer about the hardware. I’d like to see more posts on that item since I wonder if my continuing swelling problems after a year and a half are due to hardware. Why did some of you folks decide to have hardware removed? Why do some medical professions keep their hardware intact? Is it considered quite risky to have it removed?
Finally, FYI, my doctor was not at all forthcoming with much of anything and gave no expectations other than very general stuff. Maybe experience tells them that each case is very different and not to raise patient expectations.
Good luck!
I’m an owner of a preschool who broke her ankle one week before the start of school on 9/1/07. The break required surgery to repair, but I postponed it so I could be at school to meet the children for their first day. I broke the fibula and had a plate and five pins put in. From the time of the break, I was in a boot which reaches my knee. The good part of this boot is that I can take it off to shower and to sleep. There is no pain anymore in the ankle unless I do something wrong, but the discomfort comes from walking with crutches or with the walker. I still can put only a toe on the floor. I returned to work part time after about 3 weeks. I just have to be careful of the children coming to be close to me and stepping on my toes. I, too, was told that the hardware should come out after about one year, but I’m not sure how involved it will be. The recovery seems to be going well so far, but it’s taking longer than I would have expected. The doctor isn’t very forthcoming with information and I’m not sure of the questions that I should be asking. It’s nice to see that other people are dealing with difficult issues, too. Thanks for your help.
Thank you for your responses. I am working from home currently. I was working half days since the pain meds made me dizzy. I am completely off the pain meds as of yesterday afternoon and am finally feeling normal again. I am going to try to work a few days in the office next week.
Mark, congrats on your progress! Do you wear a brace or any ankle support when you workout? I am not a runner but am looking forward to getting back to the gym.
I had a nerve block for my surgery and was wondering if anyone else had one and what your experience was like. I have some tingling and a little numbness in my toes that I am hoping is temporary.
Hi everyone,
I’ve been reading your stories with great interest. I fell on May 15th coming down some stairs. Broke my right tibia and fibula and several toes and severely dislocated my right ankle, as well. I sprained my left foot and (two days later, while waiting for surgery) fell a second time and took out my left wrist. I had a total of four ambulance rides, four hospitals and one major surgery to pin/plate my right ankle back together. Seven weeks in a wheelchair and another eight weeks of physical therapy. I’m now five months post surgery, but struggling. My ankle is SO tight and my tibial tendon is in tremendous pain. I also see a slight disfiguration in my foot/ankle – almost a flat foot look with a rolled ankle. Has anyone else had this particular complication? I’m going back to the orthopedist on Oct 31st to ask his opinion and to see if he wants to take out the metal (which he offered to do at an earlier visit). I’m open to ideas/suggestions. Have any of your tried an orthotic shoe?
I agree with Mark.
Even when I tried to work at home my level of concentration was limited although I could get some things done. I also found it hard to read a lot..and I’m use to reading at least a book a week. So I read magazines & the NY Times.
I supervise quite a few people and stayed in touch by phone…short conversations. That worked out much better than I expected. People really were great picking up the slack for me.
Stay away from going to work for at least 4-6 weeks. I know several people who have had the type of break I had (trimalleolar) and they all said they tried to get to work too fast.
I went back the first week for half days 3 days a week, then progressed every week.
Be patient!!! Take advantage of the time you have by doing things you normally have no time to do.
Good Luck!
Jackie, unless you’re working from home I wouldn’t suggest you be back at work so soon after surgery. I spent three weeks in the house after my surgery. When I did go back to the office, I couldn’t last the entire day due to the discomfort. This, even though I kept my foot up all day. I was back home by lunchtime. You’re going to have to keep that leg elevated as much as possible, no matter where you are. And ice is you’re best friend right now. Even with the meds, I imagine you’re having a hard time sleeping. I found it impossible to get comfortable, and that went on for a couple weeks. Depending on how major your break was, the pain should subside rapidly for you by the beginning of November.
An update on me: It’s been 10-1/2 months since my accident and I actually jogged at the treadmill for the first time today. Only 2/10 of a mile, and slowly, but I did it! I bet I’ll pay dearly for it tomorrow, but this is a huge milestone for my psyche. Good luck all!
I broke and dislocated my ankle on 9/30 and had surgery on 10/10, a plate and several screws. I don’t know the exact count. I never spoke with the Dr. I have been searching for any information that I can find on pain management and recovery time. Thanks all for contributing to this blog so I have some idea of what to expect. I am currently spending my days in a recliner elevated and iced. I am trying to work as much as possible which is difficult on the pain meds at times.
Curt, thanks for your post.
I’m wondering what to do about my hardware, which has been in a year and a half. I hear all sorts of different ideas. Where you going to get yours removed before you started having problems or did the problems prompt the surgery? Also, please keep us posted on your progress for I’d like to know what I have to go through to get this done.
I heard you don’t even stay in the hospital over night. Did you?
I broke my ankle in May of 06 in a Vespa scooter accident, got 2 plates and 8 screws. 1 of the screws was going throgh the small boan and into the big bone. This screw was loose or wabeling in the small bone and causing some discomfort. So 1 week ago I had all harware removed and I am on crutches for 2 weeks. When I go back next week I get a boot and don’t yet know the restrictions or time lines with it.
Hi everyone,
I’m new here but broke my ankle awhile ago. June 1st 2005 to be exact. The Dr said you have three main support bones in your ankle and you broke all three plus crushed the bottom of one of the big bones (can’t remember which now)besides the fact that you severly dislocated your foot. I stepped wrong on a big rock!! He said we need to put your foot back in place and it’s really going to hurt a lot. Boy he wasn’t just whistleing dixie! I had three pain killers in me already the least of which was the morphine drip and it still hurt like heck! Couldn’t even tell if my kids or husband were there I was so loopy but that pain was the worst thing ever and my children were all born by way of natural child birth and the largest was 9lb 14ozs! Anyway now it’s been more then two years, I’m 41 and it still hurts from time to time. Only mention my age because I think that plays a big part in how well or fast one recovers. A high scooler I know did about the same thing last fall and now you’d never know. I still have a pin on one side and a plate and five screws on the other. Almost got cadaver bone but the Dr. found enough pieces of my own bone to rebuild. Now my ankle cracks a lot and it hurts and swells. I still limp from time to time and can’t run very well even though I try. I’m thinking about haveing all the hardware removed but not sure it’ll ease the pain or improve the range of motion. Also my ankle is numb all around where the screws and plate are so maybe taking it out would fix that. Besides the head of the screws are very noticable through my skin and one is low enough that it rubs on the top of most of my tennis shoes. So what’s the verdict, keep the hardware or remove it? I haven’t talked to the Ortho guy yet, maybe today, maybe…
Hi All,
Here is an update on my daughter. Soccer/Basketball player. She had her pins removed last week. They also worked on removing scar tissue and stretching the ligament that goes out toward her big toe. She had been having problems with flexibility in the big toe. Right after surgery she seemed fine. She went to support her soccer team at a game a couple days after surgery, but 4 days later she could not get out of bed. Every time she got up and the blood rushed to her ankle she was in horrific pain. The only way it felt good was to lie flat and elevate her foot and ice the ankle. Two trips to the orthopedic and really no relief. They origninally prescribed tylenol/codiene-which made her sick. Four days later we switch to vicadin and it helped to just keep her drowsey and sleepy. Today is 10 days since surgery and she finally was out of bed. She has not put any pressure on the foot and is using crutches to get around. I was pretty concerned. Doctor reassured me that it was normal. He said that they did alot of work cleaning up the scar tissue but she would be better but he could not give me a when. I think had they just removed the pins she would have been fine. Cleaning up the scar tissue is what had caused all the problems.
Mark~
I didn’t have any problems with my muscles being tight or anything like that. I think compared to alot of people on here besides that blood clot my injury healed up really well. The ankle is still tighter than the non-broken one but I just take that as it is and work through it. After having two hospital stays a little tightness isn’t going to slow me down:). Maybe it was the physical therapy that they had me do or maybe it was the type of break. My break (broke all bones in the ankle and dislocated) was a fairly clean break they say and I’m only 27 so maybe those are all in my favor I’m not sure.
Annie~ Keep up the optimism. I was at the same stage where I just wanted to wear something beside cross trainers and I can say that in the past several month I have been able to move up to most of my normal shoes again. I’m staying away from the tall heels for the mean time as I’m not sure I want to challenge myself on that yet. I will say that when I started to wear some heels again by the end of the day my ankle was swollen and very sore. You have to retrain it to those shoes again:(.
TJ~ I have heard (this is just heard through the grapevine as I have all my metal still) that you have two weeks of crutches again but it is a surgery where you come in the morning and go home after its done. Though I have a hard time believing that.
Hi i broke, dislocated and torn the ligament in my ankle just over a year ago and had to have it pinned. i am now thinking of having the metal removed. do u have to use crutches afterwards and what will my ankle be like?
hi all, i am off to the docs monday to discuss removing my ankle pins. Broke three ankle bones 2 pins and a plate put in. I am 8 months into recovery. I can walk ok but need to do lots of stretching. I cannot run or jump and have numbness on the top of my foot and horrible sharp pains run down my forth toe.I would love to wear something on my feet other than trainers! Keep optimistic all its sights like this that keep us going thankyou.
Christi, you’re the one who’s furthest along with recovery than the rest of us. It’s been just over 10 months since my accident. What was the biggest stumbling block to you being able to run again? I’ve been having a problem getting my achilles tendon to behave the way it used to. The stupid thing just won’t stay stretched. Every morning, I need 10 minutes of moving around before I can walk properly. Lately the back of my foot’s been hurting so often that I’m going back to physical therapy next week to try to figure out what’s going on. I was even limping again a couple weeks ago!! Did you go through this, too?
Hi Everyone!
Patience is the best thing to have. Gradually you will improve. I was shocked after my bad break (trimalleolar with plate screws and pins) when the Doc said 6 months before walking normally. Then a year. Now it has been a year and a half and I am very gratefult to walk normally while having swelling from time to time, which likely will always be with me. Waler & crutches were horrible for me as my wrists became extremely painful..worse than my ankle.
Common sense, physical therapy (mostly on my own), and good nutrition are all likely helpful but time will be the main factor. There is no single factor that will “cure” everything. Oddly enough, more walking (not heavy exercise) is helpful to me.
What was also helpful to me when things were bad and I was spending days alone at home was all the advise on the internet from everyone.
Question: Those who have the hardware taken out is it usually because of pain? Mine it still in. I have little pain but do have swelling.
Thanks, and good luck everyone!!!
Hi everyone!!!….Hope you are all recovering well and also quickly!!!I have been reading all these postings and feel for everyone cause breaking an ankle or any other bone is diffinitley a long and hard struggle some worse than others. I too broke my ankle 9 months ago and had a plate and seven screws put in my right ankle the ankle feels better but feels weird and stiff from time to time I gewt really paranoid when something doesnt feel right and start thinking crazzy things!! Anyway I went to go see the orthopedic surgeon the other day and he said that it was fine to remove the plate…..scarrrry to have to go throgh another operation I have nervous I booked to have it removed but am reallly scared all of a sudden my world revolves around my ankle I am constantly monitoring it and looking at it hoping all goes well. I gues my short question to my long story is has anyone gone through this and if so were you okay after suurgery….???? no negative comments please it’ll just make mr moooooreeee nerveous thanx…hope all of you a speddy recovery!!!
So. I just found this website. 2 weeks ago, I feel down one stair – yes, one stair – and broke the right ankle in 3 places – outer, inner ankle & tibia. The clutcher is that I also broke my left foot. So, needless to say, I am stuck in bed, or my chair. I put my left foot in a boot and walk to the bathroom or a chair, etc. I have lots of support. My sister has been here every day and I have been brought dinner every night;. I also have a husband and an 11 year old son. My question is: I am still in pain. I am taking percosetts (SP?) – 5 per day. The prescription says IC Ocycodone w/ apap 5/325 Tab MCK
I guess that is percosett with tylonol. Pretty much this is my schudule: 2 percs in the morning. One naprosyn (500 mg) at lunch. Around 2 I take 1 perc and 1 tylonol. then at supper I take 1 naprosyn and right before bed I take 2 more percs. I am still in constant pain! During the night I have been waking up in excrutiating pain. I have 4 screws on the outer ankle and 2 at the inner and a metal plate. Any suggestions, etc? I am also getting a rash type thing on my foot. My surgeon took off my cast and now I am airing it out as much as possible and icing it. Then I put the bottom half of my cast on – to keep my foot stable, and ace it on. Anyone else do this? Thanks!
Erika
Well I don’t run 2-3 miles every day but I do work out regularly (treadmill, weights, etc) and it has now been almost a year and a half and my ankle is doing fine. I have twinges now and then mostly when the weather is changing but other than that I can do anything that I was doing before. I do still have all the metal in there and I have thought about having it removed but since I got blood clots from the broken leg the last time it was inactive I’m staying away from that method for right now. Sarah my leg was also very weak after being in a cast for so long and I never thought I would be able to walk normal again or move it in the same way. I did all of my therapy that they told me to do though and it is like new. I have heard from some people if you don’t do all of the therapy you lose some of the motion in it so that is the one thing I can recommend. Thanks to everyone for forming such a helpful atmosphere, I wish I would have had a community to ask questions like this after I broke mine:)!
Oh Sarah ALLen, I know how u feel my leg was extremly thin also, i felt deformed…but not too worry, after a week or 2 of therapy the muscle will begin to build it self up again and you will take your first steps…the stiffness will go away little by little, mines still stiff but its not nearly as bad as it was 2 weeks ago.
Hey all. I recieved 10 screws, 2 pins and a 5 inch plate in my ankle…I just started walking with a limp like 2 weeks ago finally and therapies going pretty good…I wasnt allowed to enter the police academy at the time of the accident and ive been put on medical review ever since, unable to get off….Im so scared that i wont ever be able to make the cut, because of my ankle…im afraid that it wont be able to withstand 6months of academy training…so my question is this, IS there anyone who has a similar injury and runs 2-3 miles a day with no problem?
since july 29th i have been unable to pose my foot. I dislocated and broke my ankle. Yesterday i went to the hospital for a check up and hooray! i can start physio asap . i have a plate and 7 screws in which 3 of them are visible and i can feel them when i run my fingers over. I start my physio tommorrow and i am a little scared as i tried to stand up yesterday and my extremely thing little leg could not hold me . Also my ankle is so stiff i wonder if it will ever get back to normal. Can anyone telll whats going to happen now i will be starting to walk .
Hi All
Its a relief to find information and real experiences from poeple who have experienced and ankle break. 10 days ago I slipped on water and now have a metal plate with 6 screws one side and 2 screws on the other side. I am worried sick about the outcome, I may not be sporty but I am always on the go, and like to be busy, sitting here day after day is soul destroying and although I have a positive attitude worry that things will not be the same again.
With regards to the infection, did this happen while the ankle was still in the plaster cast? was the infection in the scar or was the inserted metal to blame? I am resting the ankle 100% and praying!
Lisa, eating calcium-rich foods is definitely a good plan for any bone break. Just don’t overdo it, as with anything else. I made sure to drink 2 glasses of milk every day, and I tried to have foods like broccoli and nuts to snack on. I stay away from supplements as a rule, but they have their place if and only if your diet isn’t sufficient for certain nutrients. I found out from my surgeon that the body is very good at making bone, and too much calcium can cause bone spurs to occur at the break point. Your husband should be conscientious about his diet, but since he’s athletic anyway, he probably already knows how to eat.
I’m curious as to why there was a two week period between the break and the surgery. I hope he wasn’t trying to tough it out for that long without medical attention!
I am thrilled to find this discussion as my husband and I have not met anyone with an ankle break as severe as his.
My husband broke his ankle about 5 weeks ago and had 7 pins and a plate installed 3 weeks ago. As an extremely athletic guy, this is really knocking him down and causing worry for the future. Has anyone tried (or asked) whether 1) drinking lots of milk (or improving calcium intake) assists in healing process and 2) whether glucosamine chondroitin (sp?) helps with healing/pain?
Thanks,
Lisa
Hi all,Interesting stories!
Someone broke my ankle for me,very kind of them you may think!LoL,Got plates and screws in there.
Its nearly 5 years since the break and my ankle as never been the same,cold weather almost cripples me,and walking swells my ankle like a balloon,rest of the time it feels like my ankle is in a vice.
I know iv’e arthritis in it and i know it will get worse as i get older,would having the steelwork taken out help relieve the pain?Would the incision to remove the steel be as large as the incision initially made to put it in there?
Realistically i think i’ll one day be heading in the same direction as sunflower girl.
Good Luck to all of you! x
I broke my ankle 24 YEARS ago! I thought I was late for work and, you know how you jump out of bed? Well, you should not do this if you have just put up your beds into bunkbed to surprise your college roommate. I’m just saying (and she was surprised but so was I!).
I started having problems about ten years ago. My ankle would hurt if it got cold (from air conditioning even!). Then, about four or five years ago, I started having pain when I walked.
After I’ve been on my feet all day, my ankle stiffens up and really hurts to walk. It is arthritis from the bones coming together without enough cartilage (My doctor said most people with broken ankles get arthritis).
I am having surgery to remove the pin, remove the cartilage and fuse my bones together. My ankle is pretty much stiff and unmovable- the movement I have is from my foot. I was told I’d be off work for two months.
This is the worse timing because I want to leave my job for one that fits better- but I have to stay for my insurance. I wonder how long I will have to have physical therapy? I wonder if it will begin before my two months are up- whether my cast will be off by then?
Sigh, so many questions! Hopefully, I can get some of these answers at my Pre-op doctor visit.
Hi All,
My daughter tried going back to soccer but she had too much pain. We switched to a different orthopedic(long story)surgeon and the new one highly recommed she rest another season before going back. In the mean time he has suggested removing the pins. At the same time he will work on fixing an issue she has had going on since the first surgery. When she tries to point her toes her big two goes right up in the air. Plus the scar from the first surgery is pretty ugly, they are going to try to clean that up for her. I’m hoping she is going to be fine after this. She is truly frustrated that she can not participate in sports right now. She is missing all of fall soccer and school soccer started and she is sitting out. I keep telling her it is better to be all healed then to play with pain. No more swelling for her but she is young almost 13. Has anyone had pins removed and how long did it take you to heal. Basketball season starts in December and she is hoping to play.
Hi Christi!
I broke my ankle a little over a month ago and had surgery about 3 weeks ago that included having 3 screws put in. I can’t believe how debilitating this injury is! I’ve been trying to decide whether to have the screws eventually taken out, and I’ve been looking around the net to get some info and came across your page here. It’s nice to know that things will be close to back to normal someday! I’ll be interested to see what you decide to do about the pins. Good luck with your decision!
*Julia
DELIA: For any broken joint ie. ankles, you will have swelling for the remainder of your life, some good days some bad. As for infections it could be any number of factors, from your body rejecting the screws to a bone ifection due to lack of blood flow, talk to your orthopeadic he/she is there to help, plus it adds to there GOD COMPLEX LOL. they’re surgeons its normal. As for your case talk to the doc infections are serious buisness, most likely youll be prescribed keflex to knock it out as for pain 30 mg of morphine pill like helps tremendously.
hello…..I have yet another broken ankle story….I broke my ankle in february and had a plate and 7 screws put in it still bothers me and from time to time gets swollen it’s been almost 9 months it feels like it hurts periodically when I rub over the plate is this normal? it freaks me out….I’m scared to get this removed….but it looks like I’m gonna have no choice…does everyones ankle get ibfected after surgery or does it depend on how bad the injury was….help …..!!!!anyone going through the same thing?….hope everyone has a speedy recovery!!!!…h and sometimes it feels throbing an tingling…is it normal to feel this?
May 23 2007 both ankles dislocated and broken today in sept doc cleared me for work, three and a half months and walking with no crutch cane or walker and to think both my legs were in constructor sets just five weeks ago, and two casts that were taken off three weeks ago. Happy in CT
Hi All,
My daughter broke her ankle on Saint Patricks day this year. She play competitive soccer/basketball and was sideline sliding into home base.
My son also had a sliding into third base ankle brake and returned to sports fairly quickly 12 weeks. My daughter has been very frustrated. Although it has not been a year, she has taken longer then my son.
She is finally working and playing short periods during game time. Now the surgeon has suggested removing, she complained of pain and they did a ct and notice one of the screws are a hair out of place.
The pain is tolerable but bothersome. Has anyone had pins removed and how long before you could begin to be sports active. Thanks for your stories. Good luck with everyone’s recovery.
And to Gwen – Please send updates with how you’re doing. It sounds like you had a really bad accident, and it really sucks that your boyfriend left you alone with this. I’m hoping you have friends/family that can help you do the simple things we all *used* to take for granted.
Hi, Denise! I’m sorry about your husband. He’s got a long journey ahead of him, I’m afraid. I’m sure he feels very lucky that he’s around to be able to talk about it. He should never lose sight of that fact!!! That is why I was able to keep such a good attitude. I’m still travelling my path to the land of 100%, so I can only give you what I’ve been doing up to a certain point. So as not exclude everyone else who’s written here (and since it’s not my page 🙂 ), I want to say that I understand what your hubby’s going through as far as the type of accident, but what it comes down to is that a broken ankle is a broken ankle, and I’m certain anyone here would also be able to offer some guidance. I’ve come to find out that recovering from this injury depends on a lot of factors, with the three biggies being severity, age and health status. Your husband’s injury sounds worse than mine; although there was emergency surgery for me, amputation was never tossed around. I was 40 when I was badly injured, so my experience may be a little longer and harder than someone who’s younger than me. Christi was able to start running again after 13 months, but I doubt I’ll be that lucky that soon even though I’m in excellent shape. I’d certainly be very happy to converse by email with you about the subject. But the more info you have from as many people as you can get to talk about it will be great for you and your husband.
This post is for Mark if you are still checking in here, my husband was just recently in a motorcycle accident on 9/1/07 and severely crushed his ankle. On a scale of 1-10 and 10 being amputation he was an 8. I would love to hear more of your journey through the healing process and find out what treatments you’ve had. I’ll give you my email address once I know that you’ve responded to this. Thank you again. I just don’t know where to turn.
Mark~
Thanks for sharing your story. This is exactly why I wanted to write these posts to give hope to others who have gone through similar experiences. And just so you know Mark I definitely don’t miss the crutches any more but it did take time to get used to not having them any more.
So now here’s where I get to thank you for having this blog! I was in a motorcycle accident in November ’06. A person took a left turn across my lane and into my foot, causing a trimalleolar fracture of my left ankle. Crushed it in other words. I’ve managed to keep a very positive attitude during the whole ordeal, and in my mind I refuse to believe I was badly injured. I have healed up nicely I, too, am very proud to say. But I have to admit that I get frustrated as hell every once in while at the length of time this is taking. It’ll be 10 months since the accident soon, and I still can’t jump or run, whereas I used to be very active. Heck, I just stopped limping last month. I had NO IDEA how long this would take! I figured the foot would simply remember how to be a foot, and I’d be up and about in no time! It is precisely this frustration that caused me to search for the subject online tonight. Seeing your first article gives me at least a hopeful time frame for when I might expect to be my old self again.
It so definitely helps seeing the stories of how others have dealt with this type of injury.
Now a question for all of you: Do you ever miss your crutches? I have to admit that by the time I got off them (in May) I had become such an expert that I couldn’t imagine not having them! LOL
Christi, a few years back my step-sister broke her ankle falling from a ladder. She had the requisite hardware installed and recovered fully. I don’t recall how long after the surgery it was (certainly more than a year), but she said that the screws were starting to bother her. She described the feeling as the hardware was “becoming loose.” I wasn’t so sure that this could actually happen, but seeing Gwen’s description above would seem to confirm my sister’s suspicion. She opted to have them removed as has been fine since.
(I’ll continue with my own story in a new article.)
Gwen~
I never did have a problem with my hardware staying in place and I haven’t heard of anyone else who has but maybe someone else who will read this post may have have similar experiences and can give you advice? Sorry!
Christi
Thanks for answering my letter. It helps alot to hear other peoples stories. I get frustrated because i feel like the only one with such a long dragged out problem. When i broke my leg and ankle i thought I would be up and running again after 3 or 4 months. 7 months latter and the doctors are saying it may be another 6 months before i walk again. One of the pins in my ankle has begun to migrate and that has caused a lot of pain. Did you ever have any problems with your hardware not staying in place? Or have you spoke to anyone else who has? thanks again for answering my letter.
Gwen~
My story was that I missed a stair when moving a mattress and broke ever bone in my ankle and dislocated all the bones where they connect with my ankle. I had it set in Wisconsin where I was helping my brother move and then my husband drove me back to Minnesota (where we live) and the next morning they did surgery to put in 9 screws and one plate. My husband luckily was very supportive and helped me through the whole process. My healing of the leg (I developed clots through this process) went pretty normal. The doctor said the screws and plate needed to stay in there for a years time because the bones needed to heal completely before even considering on removing them. Then I have the option now to remove them and my bones would be weak for a bit but then would be stronger. I chose to leave the metal in my ankle as I think its stronger that way and I don’t have a problem with the metal. My mom did get all of hers removed though and she was fine. I would count yourself lucky in some ways that your boyfriend dumped you as if he can’t handle this then he is not worth your time. There will probably be worse things than this in your life to come. Let me know if you have any other questions about what I went through.
to finish my previous letter: after almost 7 months I am still on crutches. My bones won’t heal and i have no lease than 10 plates screws pins etc. in my right leg. i haven’t counted every little thing in there. now my doc says it all needs to come out, the bones aren’t strong enough to hold the hardware. they want to fuse everythin together. i’m scared but tired of hurting so bad all of the time. oh, by the way to top it off, my boyfriend broke up with me this week because he can’t deal with the problems. so anyone out there with simular problem or advice? getting desparate
Iwas in car accident on feb. 9. compound fracture of tib. fib. and crushed ankle. the recovery has been hard to say least. bones are still not healed in pain all the time. tell me your story.
Hey,
I had the same experince as you a little under a year ago. I broke both bones in my anle and dislocated it, playing rugby. My doctor told me only to have the metal out if it really bothers you. If you did have the operation then I think you would be on crutches for 2 weeks. He also said that the bones would be weak for a little while becasue the screws leave holes in them, but I think in the long run they would become stronger! I have a metal plate, 6 pins and 2 screws in my ankle….its werid to think its all in there. I would like it out but I dont really want to go through another operation. Good luck with your ankle!
It has been a similar amount of time since I broke and dislocated my ankle also. I decided that I am not getting the metal out just so I know it’s reinforced over time. But, as far as whether or not you’ll have to use crutches I’m not sure. Good luck fellow peg leg. 🙂