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 to Nick in Australia from Sandra in the UK.
Pain is part and parcel of this – and it is such an indequate word to describe all of what we each might be feeling in different places at different times.
When I started to move more and ‘challenge’ my injuries, pain did increase, so if your OS says it’s okay, then do not get too worried. Night-times have been worse for me all the way through, as my pain nerves seem to wake up then. I have also had bad phases. If it gets really bad and is affecting your walking, you might need to try taking a painkiller for a week on a regular basis to let things settle down. But like other people on here, I have mostly tried to stop taking them.
I have started walking more with a stick (sometimes without), and every step hurts, but it’s bearable. Night-time pain has been better this week. But I also know that progress with this healing is not in a steady straight line, so I have felt I have gone backwards at times.
The most positive thing I can tell you is that everything has got better. 7 and a half months for me after injuring both ankles, and lots of hardware in the left one. So I have got from being bed-bound in plaster to walking slowly. The swelling has got less, and the pain has got less. Other old-timers here will probably tell you the same.
And I have found this site really helpful and people supportive. Only someone who has gone through it really knows what it’s like.
So hang in there and stay positive.
And same to all the rest of you out there.
Sandra
Karen, There is a big difference between walking twenty minutes in the park at your own speed, and then hopping on to a treadmill which moves – even if you do it slowly.
I am just back into all of this. My first week I did five minutes at 2.4 (speed). By week 2 and third session this felt really slow, so the speed went up to 3 but I still only did five minutes, which is still what I have done in week 3 on my fifth session. You can also raise the incline, which helps stretch out the achilles tendon and keep the speed down. In fact I did ten minutes like this Monday – but under supervision. My message is to take it slowly and build up time and/or speed as you start to feel stronger.
I think it helps to do a little more than your daily routine, as it will develop strength, fitness and mobility, but treat your body with respect and listen to it.
I am also using the exercise bike, which is good for legs and ankles, but is non-weight bearing and I can do 10 minutes on that. Cross-trainer on five minutes but without using arms, and that was much easier Monday that it was today, because I was really tired today.
As I have upped my exercise, I have experienced a bit more swelling and tenderness, and stiffness – usually the day after. If I rush around too much afterwards instead of resting, it’s not good news. So I know I need to take care of myself. But I am starting to feel fitter, and it’s getting easier to do all this.
Hope that helps,
Sandra
Welcome Nick, sorry to hear about your ankle. I believe that it does get better with time and the pain gets better in time or maybe we just learn how to handle it better in our minds. Best of luck to you.
Hope everyone is having a wonderful week!
Keep your feet on the ground all.
Tim
Dear all,
For the last 4 months this site was an invaluable source of information and optimism for me.
The single reason for not writing sooner was just the fact that comparing with your injuries mine was looking an easier one. I found all the info I needed in your entries and I did not want to soak too much when was obvious for me that your suffering was greater.
However my name is Nick and I am from Melbourne Australia.
On 23rd of December 2007 (4 months ago) I was entering the most select club of Broken Ankles. I was on a fishing trip and while was relaxing on a tennis court the unthinkable happened. Few days later I had a surgery and three screws installed.
All is good considering the Australian social protection (much better comparing with what I was reading on this site). When holiday finished I returned to work and the process of recovery was looking really good.
Two weeks ago I had a screw removal surgery for one of the screws and given green light for weight bearing and PT. Here is starting the trouble. After first session of weight bearing PT an excruciating pain was settling in. I checked it with OS and all look good. Flexibility OK, bone healing OK, but now I am in third week of pain. I can walk very well and I do not feel pain as much when walking or exercising but when staying or trying to sleep (nights are hell).
Pain killers do not help much. They did not do much in the first days (4 months ago) so I did not use them. They are non effective now also.
My question to you is: Did you experience similar situations? How long? It will ever go away?
In rest life is good and hope all you get well soon.
Nick
Welcome to the pit Karen
It happens when we Overdue our workouts. First who suggested that you walk 20 Min? Second how do you get from walking 20min to 2 to 2.5 miles? Third alot of the sorness could indeed be from ligaments and tendons telling you to ease up a little.
The old no pain no gain saying doesn’t work here. Alot of pain, pain starting up when you are pushing, over working parts that have not been worked in a long time? all of these can equal a longer TIME OUT for you. Ease up don’t push so hard wa;lk slowly for 20 min DON”T Power walk just walk this is not a race it is therapy and recovery.
So just go slow at a reasonable pace and work like the Doctors tell you or a therapist. Please don’t fall into the group of oh my friend says, my work out buddy says, My so and so says. If they don’t have the medical backing or the knowledge listen to the people that have and on here the people that have been there and watched people push to hard and set themsleves back because of it
Been there done that and I had both ankles broken, 1 knee, 1 arm and 1 hip and 4 pelvis breaks all at the same time 🙂 so take it one step at a time don’t try to run all at once or too early
Welcome to the club and take safe steps
Don
It was suggested to me to walk about 20 minutes a day (it’s been 4 months to the day since my fall). It seemed like a good idea to me but after three pain-free treadmill sessions 2.0 – 2.5 mph, I am now experiencing more soreness and pain directly in the area where the break was.
I seem to be irritating things now but how will I ever get better if I don’t exercise? Do you think it’s a no pain, no gain kind of thing or should I completely stay off the treadmill and limit my walking to my normal daily routine? Could it be that I’m just feeling tendons and ligaments that have not been used to moving?
Karen
Karen
Hey ankle breakers
Sandra.
Good read, it has been a long week and I am getting tired of the everyday work at getting up in the morning and trudging through the day. Somedays the pain is worse then others and it gets the spirit down and the body tired but in the end I will over come this too just like always. I thnak you for asking and being so perseptive. Nice to know that someone lese is watching it keeps me on my toes 🙂 Thanks to every one here you all make the time more bearable.
Don
Hi to all. Been off-line for a bit, so catching up with this. Still a bit cold over hear, so left outer ankle a bit achey today. Sun is shining intermittently.
Tammy, Have you tried wearing a bag across your body for carrying stuff inside and out? That’s how I managed. Not too big or heavy or you will get neck strain. Good luck with the screw thing.
Angie. At 7 and a half months, I still limp, and am still in pain. Swelling sometimes, but not as bad as at the start. Karen’s doc says it will take a year for that.
Karen. On discolouration. I have a ‘browny patch’ just at back of my leg above inner ankle, which I swear was never there before. I thought it might be an iodine stain (?!) and it seems permanent now.
Tim. In ebullient mood and back at work but take care.
On removal of hardware, I think sometimes reading posts, it’s not clear exactly what people are having out, and some procedures must be more difficult, take longer than others.
Chelsea. Young and a quick recovery, which is great. But for any new person reading this, everyone’s injuries are different – with some more serious, plus some people on here may have pre-existing problems. So I think it is not just about age, but about the severity of the break(s), whether you did one or two ankles (like some of us), overall health etc. . . .
Anklequest. Great to hear from you. Yes, we could probably share stories, though I am still near the bottom of the pile. May stay that way too, but at the moment I don’t mind too much as my priorities have shifted as a result of this. Don’t you think that there are some dysfunctional people doing academic work? (excepting us of course!) It’s always good to hear from you, and I wondered how your appointment with the ‘top doc’ went/goes. Let us know. I like hearing about your wildlife. Had some tree-pruning done which scared the birds off for a couple of days, but now they’re having back picking up the debris from the branches for nest-building.
Don. Ages since you posted, so sorry about the delay. You did sound a little tired – that’s me inferring from the tone of your email, so I hope you are okay.
Still making progress here with walking, and I had a great day Saturday, where it was much easier, and Sunday was okay too. Had a relatively pain-free night, first one ages, but found other reasons not to sleep!
Went to physio yesterday and practised going downstairs which is a problem. Told to try standing on tip-toe and bending my left leg, which worked. Instructed to do ten of those, and lo and behold on the second one, left knee and ankle bent normally without the tip-toe. So the psychological pressure was off and I performed! Still a lot of work to do on that but at least I know it can work.
On pain, I got more info from physio last night about reasons for pain, one of which can be reaction to hardware, but another might be ‘inappropriate pain’. That does not mean ‘all in the mind’, but because the body has been hurting in a certain spot for a while, it continues to send pain messages to the brain when there may not be a pain. Told that tapping the area can help.
Well, like I say I went to bed last night and had no pain in my sore spot. Am I particularly suggestible, or is this just fluke, as I have did have a pain-free period in February. Who knows, but it was good.
Using cross-trainer, and treadmill on a steep incline, and bike at gym, plus mobility and stability exercises. All of this is really helping me, but anyone reading this and thinking about the gym – I am doing short sessions, and being careful.
Celinda. Hope you are progressing well.
Clark – hope to hear from you soon. Did someone email Clark directly, can’t remember.
Take care.
Sandra
Well, My break was the first of october, I did have the plate removed as well as all the sqrews too in March (5 months later). Three weeks of no weight after hardware removal.. and then cleared to ease into weight bearing and out of the boot on 4/2- I chucked the boot right away and took off! 🙂 No real problems, it is still stiff and sore, but like all of you that just takes time. I still recommend the surgery, if you need it for the hardware.
I even wore a really low heel today, it gave me one inch only, and I probably will not go over that and I don;t think I will ever try my real high heels again. I hate it as I just keep seeing my ankle fall over in heels and break again, I am taking that as a sign that says: Just don’t do it!
Anyone know of any cool ankle tatoos to hide the 6 inch scar I have? I assume most of you know exactly what I am talking about for the outside ankle, leg? Let me know, anything to make my badge of honor take on a new life would be great… in a couple of years yet, needles and all ya know 🙂
Also, do you all think of when you broke your ankle alot? Everytime I see heels, stairs, or hear about someone I like relive the thing, it’s hard on me emotionally sometimes. It was just more pain than I had really had I guess is it. Wish it was more like childbirth was and you forget all the really bad parts, not that any part of breaking an ankle is good, but you get the picture!
Thanks all, PS:
Tammy,
you really do have to play with it to walk again. What I would recommend is put a small amount of weight on it with crutch. Basically you stand on both feet, move the crutches forward, then use yourgood foot to step forward.
Are you cleared to full weight? I really had to ease into it at first, but like you after the next (minor) surgery I really struggled. I kept walking and forgetting not to put weight on it.
If your clear to go all out, try small steps at first, bathroom without crutches or what have you. It does take awhile for your mind and feet to get back together 🙂
Hello fellow ankle breaker’s
I was a passenger in a light aircraft accident and smashed my left ankle,broke my left tibia, fibia,knee,hip,wrist, right ankle and bruise’s/cuts to the body and face.Amputation was on the menu but the surgeon was mint and four operations on,2yrs on and i can walk but after a couple of miles i can’t easily weight bear for the next day.The pain is bad when it’s bad but the only remedy now is double ankle fusion which will leave me like a penguin. I swim regular and go on a exercise bike to control the weight which stands at 19.6 stone toned.Each week i eat fish,eggs,meat and plenty of milk. I know it’s painfull trying to exercise but to me it’s the only way forward trying to get back to normal.I put music on and exercise in time to the beat.The other thing i do is pull my ankle back with a stretchy peice of long elastic band which helps.When u get a injury that affects mobility it’s easy to fall in to depression especailly if youv’e been active before but honestly it does get better with the best cure in the world =TIME. I still keep thinking of 2012 decathlon oh yeah
Ok somebody help…
I need directions…how do you from being nwb to putting weight on your ankle and attempting to walk. Is it really that easy…but your foot forward and move the other one. I just don’t seem to have the hang of it. I have only just been playing around with it since I just had my screw removed but I was hoping this week to really give it a go and try without crutches…I just have no idea how.
Any help would be appreciated.
Hi Everyone,
A great northeastern jungle evening here, as Michael just said to me. I just went out with a flashlight & found some of those elusive little spring peepers. Our “kitchen” pond has at least 14 toads in it. In the pond next to that one there is a bullfrog eating a toad. So it goes in that world out there as we all try to make the best of our lives and of our own broken bones.
Tim, in no way did I mean to offend you. I surely didn’t mean to question your knowledge & research & credibility and I’m very sorry I didn’t somehow phrase things differently. I’ve gained information from your posts, so thanks, and I will keep reading them. We are all here to share our feelings, experiences, thoughts and information and I, for one, greatly appreciate all the differing individuals and perspectives.
Chelsa “Oh, to be young again”. My doc said if I’d been 18 then I wouldn’t have any problems. I’m sure you’ll be back to 100% soon.
Karen, bruising will likely go away. I had a big brown area, medial side, above my heel that I thought would never go away and now, after 2 years, it is almost gone.
Don, I’m running around getting all my records & x-rays for Thursday’s visit. I want another opinion besides my original surgeon who was so willing to take things out. Since he left my ankle looking crooked I don’t trust this situation at all, and a crooked ankle is likely why I’m now having more problems.
By the way, did anyone out there have their lateral plate removed (Chelsa’s question too)? My surgery doc would leave the plate & its locking screws but take out 4 of the 5 cannulated screws. The 5th is too difficult to get at. For this, he said it would be a day in the hospital, hopefully going home in the evening.
Sandra, haven’t heard from you,
Celinda, I think of you a lot. I do hope you are walking more now and getting out. Hopefully you are now a bit less dependent on your mother so all that can come to a good end.
Don,
I wish that I had Clark’s email address however I do not,sorry. I do hope that he is doing well though and I am concerned about him.
I am glad to hear that some of our youth like the old cars,now that is cool!
My Daughter wanted a old VW prior to getting her license but had to settle for a Toyota.
Tammy I am so glad it went well for you and not alot of pain. I wish you the best of luck and a quick recovery.
I hope everyone has a great weekend!
Tim
Hey all you ankle breakers
Been away for a bit with funeral over the last couple of days but am glad to be back and catch up on the goings on with all of you.
Anklequest
Sorry to hear that you are having trouble. I also have had the pain in the ankle more that last couple of days, but again for me mine is related to weather. Now arthritis will indeed play a big part in the pain you notice in your ankle. As I said before for me it will never go away due to the ankle joint collapsing because arthritis is filling it in. It at times does feel like the screws are moving, I can feel them pressing against the skin or feel like their moving? But in reality, it is the arthritis that keeps causing the problem. Reading up on fusion or replacement is enough to drive you nuts and terrify you I can say that because I have done it and it bothers me so I still say neah I will wait till I can’t walk or can’t take the pain. But I hope your Doctors appointment goes well? Keep me informed and someday we will need to meet up for lunch again
Sandra
I hope this are improving and you are feeling better.? Yeah days of worrying about work and stress from that seems to make the pain at times even more intense then we thought it would be. Anything that causes stress or pressure or turmoil in our lives manifests itself in our injured parts. So try as hard as you can to leave that stress at work and only enjoy the sunshine and better weather to move forward.
Chelsea
Welcome to our little group. I know this is the last place you want to say I belong to the club We all understand that and feel the same way so don’t be surprised if we all sound like that at times. Frustration, pain, aggravation, grumpiness and being argumentative is just some of the fun things that go along with membership in this club. But it is good to see you are doing so well. Keep working at it and doing what you are told when you are told. Doing it ahead of time or not doing it on time is a few of the things that causes us all problems. But glad to hear you are moving forward and doing so quickly good luck to you and keep us informed.
Tammy
Glad to hear your surgery went so well. Keep up the great progress and I hope it gives you as much relief as it did for Tim. Procedures are done differently for reasons we might not know. I went in to the Doctors office to remove a cyst, the first time my family Doctor did it in his office under a local (nova cane) The next time I went to a different Doctor he took me to the hospital and wanted to put me under to remove it. I hate being put out so I asked for the local and he agreed otherwise I would have been put out for the procedure. They told me they do that normally because they don’t want any movement when they do it? Ok so each Doctor is different but as Tim pointed out the procedure is done the same way to get the stuff done just how they approach it is different. But as long as it comes out all good Who really cares how it get done So keep us informed how you are doing?
Tim
If I am not mistaken you had talked to Clark by Email? If you have any info or contact info were surrounding the house and were coming in to get it? Neah just kidding but if anyone has info on Clark let us know or give him a shout as to how he is doing. I know it might sound selfish but it is also because we care. He had the same procedure done that they want to do on me and I want to see what the outcome was? Glad to see your recovery is doing well and if I had of known you worked in a car parts place I would have been hitting you up for more info sooner. My oldest Daughter has a 51 Pontiac chieftain and the younger one just got her car for high school a 72 VW beetle as you can see my Daughters stray a little from the norm But they are having fun
Everyone keep safe keep the right feet in the right places and moving forward. So not slips, falls or crashes stay safe and healthy
Don
Hi all~
Surgery went well today. I was put under but it only took about 15 minutes for them to take the screw out. I am in a bit of discomfort…I think it is more from the bandage wrapping it and my walking boot. There really isn’t enough room in there for both. I have to ice and elevate for a couple of days but then my OS says I can put as much weight on it as I can tolerate. The stitch will come out in about 2 weeks and then I can start PT. In a perfect world my OS says I should be able to walk…I have though about putting weight on it but at this time I’m not even really sure how to go about doing it.
Strange to think that you can’t figure out how to walk. I know I haven’t forgotten and I know what my body is suppose to do but making it do it with this boot on is another story.
Hope every one is healing and thinking happy thoughts. Lots of T-Storms here.
Have a great day!
Tammy
Hi all,
Yes, anklequest, it has gotten a little better. I do not get as depressed as I did. But, I do have down days like everyone else. I still get embarrassed of being in the wheelchair, due to people talking about me and I do not like that. It does feel good walking though. I will be glad when he puts me in a walking boot. That will be so much better.
Thank you all for your support and advice
Celinda
Four months later and there is still some residual discoloration (brownish) on the top of my foot, all along the border of my toes. I am wondering if this old bruising might be permanent at this point?
Karen
I bumped my little toe on the same side as the broken ankle and right now it’s been overshadowing my aches and pains from the break – ouch!! (break was four months ago). Somebody on here said that the pain travels here and there and yes, mine does too.
I went to see my foot doctor, told her about my ankle and resultant problems and she said ONE YEAR AT LEAST before the stiffness, aches and pains leave. She suggested starting to walk slowly so have been doing the treadmill at 2 mph. It’s giving me more aches but notice more natural movement in the ankle.
Karen
My apology, I did not know that anklequest was a female sorry about the mistake.
Chelsea I hope for your sake that you have no problems down the road with the screws coming loose.
Tim,
Yeah, the bone healed extremely quickly and I heard more than once “oh to be young agai…” haha. I still have the plate and screws. In fact, I didn’t even know they could be removed until I read these posts. The doctor never mentioned to me about getting them removed later on, but he may have said something about it to my parents. Hopefully I don’t encounter any problems with the screws like several people here have!
Tim,
You obviously misunderstood my posting. I never said that you misinformed anybody. For future reference, I am pretty sure that Anklequest is a she not a he.
I dd not intend to stir the pot here.
Hope everyone is having a good day.
Kerri,
Sorry if I offended you or anyone else for that matter,and I do not think that I was rude in any manner,just to the point as he was.
If you read the first post and conversation that I was having with Tammy and not Anklequest you would notice that I was NOT giving her misinformation of any kind I was merely trying to confort her somewhat so she would not be afraid and since I just had it done two weeks ago and did all of my homework on the matter long before having it done I really do know what im talking about. Rarely do I get upset and am rude with anyone,however I do not and will not be corrected when I am not wrong,period.
So again if I offended anyone here they have my full apology and I am very sorry I was making my point as did he.
Sincerely
Tim
Hi Everyone,
I haven’t posted anything in a while, but in reading the last post by Tim I feel like putting in my two cents. You were very rude with your comment to Anklequest. People make comments to help others on this site and they do this with a kind heart. If someone gave some misinformation by all means correct them, but please don’t be rude.
Anklequest,
Every situation is different,however the process is still the same. my wife is has her masters RN.BSN.NCSN and teaches nursing at our local college, my mother was a medical surgical assistant for thirty plus years and my brother is a MD in Illinois. I have a lot of medical influence surrounding me and looking into what is going on so I did not just pull the statement out of thin air! They will only make a very small incision(aprx. 1.25 inches) if in fact they are only removing one screw….period! I kinda know what im talking about here anklequest. Have you had any removed lately? If you dont like what I post then dont read it I dont care,but keep your comments in regards to others to yourself please as they are not needed here.have a great day.
Tammy, like I said,it is a very small incision and if you are going to be put out you wont feel a thing. You will probabaly have a small amount of discomfort for a few days and that should be all if in fact they are just removing one screw.Go on webmd website and look at what they say,I will call my brother later today and see if he may know something more about the procedure. The bottom line is the screw is located on the outside of the bone and can be accessed very easily by a small incision.You will be fine dont worry about it. Yes I am still somewhat on crutches but should be off them soon. I do however still wear the boot they put me in for support and recomended by the physicians.Again, best of luck and let me know how it went.
Chelsea welcome, sorry to hear about your ankle but WOW your doing great now thats moving quickly, do you still have the plate and screws? I guess this is a true thing that the younger you are the quicker you heal.best of luck to you.
Hope everyone is having a great week!Take care and be safe.
Tim
I’m sixteen years old and I broke my right ankle on December 31, 2007 (new years, great!). It was the day after I got back from a vacation and I was walking down my stairs and slipped, dislocating my ankle and causing a spiral fracture of the lateral malleolus. I underwent surgery on January 2nd where I got one plate and six screws. I was in a non-weight-bearing cast for about 4 weeks and was put into a weight-bearing cast for a week after that. After I got the cast off for good I was just given a simple brace for extra ankle support. It took me about a week and a half after I got the cast off to be able to walk without crutches or holding on to anything. I started physical therapy shortly after the cast came off and I was going 3 times a week. I am still going to physical therapy but I am only going twice a week because I have been showing great progress. Now, practically four months later I am back on my feet completely. I am driving again, working (I work in retail which requires me to stand for hours, and everything has been fine) and doing everyday activities relatively easily. I still have a slight limp, some days are better than others and I can walk up and down the stairs normally once again. Although the bone is 100% healed, I still have slight stiffness and I’m still limping. I also STILL have swelling if I’m on my feet for a long period of time. Does anyone know approximately how long it will take for the swelling to go away completely? And will my ankle ever be 100% again? Thank you!
PS: DON
The other post got too long but I haven’t forgotten about you. I’ve been reading about ankle fusion and ankle replacement for fear I am now getting arthritis. I’m almost hoping I have loose screws. Next Thursday I hope I’ll have a better idea of what’s ahead. I did have a very large posterior malleolar fragment according to my surgery report and that is not good…predisposes a person for further trouble later. I can still walk just fine but now am limiting my activities quite a bit. So I’m gaining weight as a result..and probably eating more.
No bears sighted, but a great big fat woodchuck is around these days. I’ve been smelling the skunks. The spring peepers have a beautiful chorus every evening now. I’ll miss them when summer comes.
Tim,
Every situation is different so getting a screw out for Tammy might be completely different. It may be located in a difficult place so just screwing it out through a little hole may not work. She may require opening the area & getting more stitches, etc. (I hope not.)
Tammy, all the best! Please keep us informed. Angie, the same goes for you. Maybe both of you can celebrate with Tim and have a shot when you get home. I would like to know about this because next week I find out if I have loose screws.
Sandra, the stew over colleages is a good sign. You are no longer stewing over two broken ankles quite as much. Being in the academic world I know how these things can go. I’m now in the fortunate (or unfortunate) position of being someone more or less at the top of the heap after years of being dismissed by some idiots who fortunately finally have retired. We could probably have some nice conversations & find aspects of our work life might be similar. I manage a science department and an average day like today is full of people running in and out of my office about one trivial thing or another. It is often like one of those british comedy shows and like the Dilbert cartoon. I’m sure people go home frustrated with me at times. Yesterday the ice machine in the chemistry lab broke (it was “making” water) so someone decided to cancel the lab…no ice. Well, just 2 floors down is a large cafeteria with lots of ice. Today there lots of blame and accusations over the ice machine and cancelling the class. I try to find humor in all these things or I would stop going to work. Recently people have heard me mutter things like “I must have a few loose screws because I just don’t understand this situation!”
Celinda!!! Keep walking carefully. Gradually you will feel more confident. It is hard starting to walk when you’ve been off your feet for so long. I hope things have turned for the better.
OK, here’s the latest for me. Long story made short: I finally got an appointment to see a top notch ankle doc. He supposively works with the NY ballet and NY sports teams. Next Thursday morning I’ll see him and hopefully he can tell me why my ankle keeps swelling and is starting to hurt more. First thing of course, was the question about insurance or probably I would not even get in. That irritated me the rest of the day. Even more so than the ice machine incident.
OK, everyone! Watch your step. Keep us informed.
Oh, who has Clark’s e-mail? I thought someone had been in touch with him. I’m also getting worried about him.
That is interesting that you had it removed in the Dr. Office. Mine is definitely scheduled to be removed at the hospital in surgery. I know that I will be out but not under general anestehia. I’ll let you know on Friday how it goes.
Tim it seems that you had a very similar break to mine so I am curious how are you feeling? Are you still using a crutch or at 4 months are you walking around like it never happened?
I’m worried about Clark and I haven’t even officially ever heard from him. Just read his many posts.
Heal up!
Hello All,
I got my stitches out yesterday from the long screw that was removed. My Doctor has now released me to go back to work ! YEE HAA ! I return on the 28th and can’t wait as it has been a very long 4 months. My doc. says take it easy at first….ha ha, I am a store manager in a automotive repair shop and work 12 to 13 hours a day six days a week and rarely ever sit down at my desk except to do daily numbers. On the other hand I know how important it will be to take it a bit slow. The only thing that concerns me a bit is walking thru the service department and slipping on fluid on the floor however my store is kept extreamly clean so should’nt be a problem. I seem to look at things a bit different after this accident.
Tammy I don’t think you will have any problems with getting your long screw out. I dont know why they would take you to surgery to remove it though. everyone I have spoken to that had it done said they did it in the doc. office and that’s how mine was removed two weeks ago under xray and just gave me a shot in my ankle cut the skin and unscrewed me then when I got home I had a few shots of somthing else 🙂
Just a little humor there, It really was not to bad, in fact I watched it on the screen. the only thing that I will warn you about is if you have a lot of scar tisue they may tap on the screwdirver a bit to get it out. Dont Freak out! it will all be over pretty quickly. I have been told by dear old doc that he would not be taking out my other six screws or the plate. You will do just fine don’t worry much about it the outcome is well worth it. They measured the movement (up & down )prior to having it removed and I had 1 degree, two days afterwards remeasured and had almost 4 degrees. Huge improvment you will see, I wish the best of luck with it and let us know how it goes.
Has anyone heard from Clark yet? Sure hope he is ok!
Sandra you doing better? hope you get rid of the bad weather soon.Sorry to hear about the work problem.
Celinda how are you doing? better I hope.remember stay positive better days are right around the corner,things really do get better in time.
Char,Angie,Don,Erika,Anklequest and anyone else I have left out. hello and hope you are all having a wonderful week,I sure am. well I guess I had better get off here you are all probably tired of me ratteling on today, besides my wife will be home soon and I told her I would make burgers for her and my daughter on the grill tonight then its beer thirty for me!
Catch you all later and stay in the upright position with your feet planted firmly on the ground.
Thanks for letting me be part of your day !
Tim
Hi All,
I broke my right ankle tibia & fibula October 1. I was walking down the stairs and my little dog ran through my legs and tripped me.
I had surgery October 3 and have many screws & pins on both sides of my ankle. I was in the hospital for 4 days and I had a sore on the top of my foot (the doctor called it a fracture blister) for 6 months. It has finally healed, but it left an ugly scar. I also have scars on both sides of my ankle from surgery.
It has been 7 months and I still have pain, swelling and a limp. I went to my ortho yesterday and he thinks that removing all the hardware will help with the pain and swelling (and hopefully the limp, which I hate).
I am scheduled for surgery on May 12, so I’ll let you all know how long the recovery time is. I am having it done as an outpatient, so hopefully the pain won’t be too bad.
Good luck to everyone on this journey.
Angie
Thanks every one for the information and well wishes. I have actually not been taking the medications for some time now but I was curious because I still have some pain even though I am not doing anything and it never seemed bad enough to take such a serious pain killer. Just wanted to know what it was like for others.
My surgery to remove the long screw is Friday. I have an ex-ray appointment tomorrow to make sure the screw isn’t broken. It shouldn’t be because I haven’t done anything that should have broken it.
After the surgery I believe I will be starting PT on Monday. How was your first PT session? Did any one cry? I hope it doesn’t hurt bad enough to make me cry.
This is very difficult with a husband and two little ones. My husband has had to do double duty and now he has returned to work and we need a babysitter everyday. It is very difficult for my husband to have me sitting around not doing much. Maybe I should be doing more….Big challenge for me though is how do I carry anything unless it fits in my waistband or pocket.
Thanks and hope everyone is feeling well. Warm weather needs to be on its way. I hope its here soon.
Hey ankle breakers
Sandra
If they do the fusion on my ankle it will mean that it is set in one postion and that is it . No more movement of the foot below the ankle. It will be solid in place with bone. The walking is just done by using a different movement. It gives you a limp but that can be compenasted for with a new leg and knee movment in stride while walking. (neah not ready for that yet)
As for the things to do when the ankle is not working right and the pain or something else gets to you? well you did the right thing if that helps you and makes it easier then it is right. For me it is HOT baths that take the pain out of the legs and ankles. it may not work for every one but it works for me as well as siting and regrouping before going on. The re grouping seems to work for you to. If it works don’t question it just use it to make life easier:-)
Celinda
You bet we all have down days and nights, we have days and nights when the pain is terrible or when it is not so bad. So you have to work and try to over come the bad days por the days when the body just doesn’t want to do what you want. when it wants tohurt and be cranky find tricks to over come this and then move on with the day. If you don’t you will just shrivel up and stop. no fun in that so grab the world with both hands and move forward do what ever you need to make the stuff work the body the pain the warmth the cold mix it all together and work on it. But keep moving that is all we can do
Thank you Don for your advice, I really do appreciate it. I know everyone here has down days, are some for ya’ll worse than others. I am having one today, pretty bad.
Thank ya’ll for being there and listening.
Celinda
Hi Don
The pain thing is so variable. Five minutes into a walk outside today and my foot hurt everywhere. I sat down for a short while, which seems to help, then set off again, and things were much better.
I seem to have invested so much time in phsyio and exercises, and will keep doing so, but it does get a bit much. It would just be nice to have days where I am not so aware of my broken ankle. But I am not as far along as you are, so there’s still room for improvement, and as the weather gets warmer (if it does – and what about global warming?) that might help.
Sorry to hear about your athritis and that you may be up for the fusion – at some future point. Still not sure what the results of that are, I mean, is the ankle still mobile after a fusion?
Returning to work is stressful, even at home. Logged on to emails to find myself told off by a colleague because I had talked to another person about work next academic year. Considering I have been absent most of this year, it was quite nice to have that chat, but apparently, I am not allowed. Fizzing about it, and upset that I got upset – if you know what I mean.
Memo to self: find a more positive way to deal with it.
Well, I suppose it meant I was not thinking about my ankle while I was being upset about work stuff!
Bye to all.
Sandra
Hey ankle breakers
Anklequest
I can understand the wanting to see but not wanting to see some of the bear that are around us. The cubs are indeed cute but mama at times can be real big and not very friendly. But for the most they don’t bother you too much and they are cool to see.
Erika and Char.
I have been walking unaided for about a year now and I still have days that I have to use the cane because of the pain. Now Please understand that in my case it is because my ankle is filled with arthritis and the only way I can get rid of that pain would be to have a fussion done on my ankle which is NOT happening now. Not ready for that to happen yet. I also find the eather bothers me, when storms stay out instead of coming in and raining or what ever. I feel better when the storm hits. and for me time will never change that. As the Doctor told me this is as good as it gets, so I work on making things stronger and learning to deal with the pain till I am ready to get it welded into place.
Tammy
I only took 2 percocet pills when i got out of the hospital and that was the first two days from there on I have only taken asprin. I was on 1000mg of percocet when I was in the hospital along with alot of other stuff. But my family Dr. that I had since I was 7 took one look at them took the medicin threw it out and said lets get started and he watched my heart, blood pressure and vitals till everything settled and I was able to move on.
Celinda
As for walking around outside give it time do not rush but move forward slowly. You really just started walking no need to go to fast. Take a crutch with you or a cane and use it when you need to and don’t when you feel comfortable at not using it. this will help you move forward and get better at a good pace.
Sandra
Good to see and hear you are doing so good. I am pleased that you are walking so well without your crutches and that you are getting back into the swing of things. Also send some of the nicer weather our way to don’t hog it all over there will you. I am about ready for warm spring weather and tired of the winter blues.
Walking time will be nice to get when it warms up and dries out. talk to you all soon
Keep your best foot forward and keep both feet on the ground
Don
Thank you sandra. I was wondering about that. I am so afraid of walking outside right now, due to fear of falling.
Thank you
Celinda
Erika and Char, I have just passed the 7 month mark, and yes, each step still hurts, and it feels tight and stiff. The pain is not as bad as it has been, so that’s an improvement, but it would be great not to be aware of every step I take. Char, thanks for the info your Consultant gave you – it is reassuring to hear someone say it can take that long before it goes.
Any thoughts by Don, Anklequest or Deve as they have been going through this for longer?
Celinda, I have only been walking unaided for a short while – so it was 7 months since I walked outside for the first time without a crutch. Got to it sooner inside the house, where it feels safer. It takes time to build up strength, stability and balance – and confidence.
Tammy. Stopped the painkillers in hospital apart from an occasional paracetamol, and a fortnight in January where I took paracetamol every day for about two weeks on the recommendation of physio – as pain was affecting my walking. It has to be down to you to decide if you really need to take something, or if you can do without it/use it when you most need it. All medication has side effects. Ibuprofen is horrendous for my stomach, giving me terrible stomach pains after about 48 hours – worse than the ankle!
Tim. We have had more of the white stuff and it’s cold, so spring is struggling to get started. Maybe we’ll miss it out and get straight to summer! Like you, I wonder how Clark is doing. And how are you progressing?
Erika, we have a similar internet site over here called Mutual Points. My daughter is well into it, and I did access some sites via Mutual Points when I did my Xmas shopping – which was all on line. I just don’t do it enough to make any money!
Had a low week last week, but feeling much brighter this week. I think it is quite exhausting dealing with any kind of pain over a lengthy period, plus the amount of work we have to put in to getting our ankles, legs and feet strong again.
Doing well walking up the stairs, but walking downstairs without a crutch is much more of a challenge, as my left knee (weakest) leg and ankle do not want to bend. Physio now suggested it’s because my calf muscle has shortened/tightened, so now have more exercises and told to work on this.
Hope the rest of you out there are doing well.
Sandra
Hi all,
How are ya’ll doing, for myself, doing good. Does it get any better when you are finally able to get up and walk. I have not walked really on both feet in over a year, how long does it take to get back in the groove of things.
Thank ya’ll very much.
Celinda
Hi everyone,
I agree about the weather..spring is here! I love seeing all the trees bloom seemingly from one day to the next. I live in Texas, so I try to enjoy the cooler weather before our tortuous summer begins!
Erika- I have the exact same problem as you, with every step hurting. The funny part is that the pain migrates constantly..it’s in my heel, top of my foot, arch, screws, etc. I’ve learned to ignore it most of the time. I take ibuprofen 800mg after about 4 hours at work and that helps alot.
I’m at a little over 4 months. I just had my final check-up with my OS and he said it will be painful like this for AT LEAST 6 months to 1 year. I had a dislocation bimal fracture, 7 screws/plate. Yours was worse, so I wonder if you are going to experience the pain longer..I feel exactly the same way you do about the heels and running. Hopefully we’ll look back a year from now and “remember when”.
He also recommended that I begin walking on uneven surfaces like grass and sand because the proprioreceptors have “forgotten” how to do their job. He also wants me to jog in a straight line to strengthen the area. I guess the good news in all this is that the pain is “normal”..Who would have thought that we would be dealing with it for so long?
I hope everyone is having a great weekend!
Char
Erika
like you i broke my ankle just over six months ago,and it still is very painful ,like you said every step you take hurts,it still swells and underneath my foot burns,and is still very stiff,my specialist said give it a year and we will take it from there,i have come to exept my ankle will never be the same again,when it all gets a bit much i take painkillers and carry on the best i can,i still have a bad limp but so what,some days my hole leg aches like toothache,but life goes on ,i hope it doesnt get you down to much,its something that is with us for a long time,regards to all anklebreakers ,i still read all your messages, brilliant,like you all. i wonder where is Clark,take care from GB.
Hello all,
Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend! Spring has sprung in the ozarks finally! YEE HAA ! It’s funny how the sunshine can make you feel so good. I see folks out working in their yards and I can’t wait to work in mine. soon though, very soon.
Sandra, how are you doing? Hows it going on the other side of the pond? Hows your weather? hope your doing better.
Tammy, Welcome aboard you will come to love this site it is so helpfull, folks are really caring about each other and that for me is so nice to see in this day and age.
Clark Clark Clark Clark,Bark Bark Bark Bark so we can hear you! We all hope your ok man. Just go outside there in N. Calif. and yell real loud, one of us here is sure to hear you. Ha Ha!
Take care everyone.
See Ya !
Anklequest: Actually, I just go to ebates.com – and then I click on the store that I want to purchase from ie: Target, Walmart, Amazon, etc. A new window pops up and you shop from the actual store. Ebates just gives you a cash back (kickback if you will) because they make money off of the advertisers (amazon, gap, etc). I buy ink jet cartridges from 123inkjet = and that is one store on ebates. So, instead of going directly to 123inkjet.com – I go to ebates first and then click on the 123inkjet – and still order from that store. The cash back for 123inkjet happens to be 16% which is huge.
I have been going through ebates for almost 2 years. I have not had any problem. You actually buy from the actual store – so if you need to return something, etc. you don’t go through ebates, you go through amazon – or, whomever. You can even use coupons like normal if you have them.
Anyway – on a more “on subject” note, I just passed the 6 month mark last Sunday.
EVERY step I take still hurts. Is that normal with everyone else who has gotten to this point? Its not once in a while, it is every step. I had broken my ankle in 3 places – outer, inner & tibia – I have 8 screws and a plate. I can live with the pain – but, when I read that people run, jog, or wear high heals, I wonder if I am not healing well or something. Any ideas?
THANKS GUYS!!!!! Life would not be the same without the support of all of you!
Erika
Tammy,
I better follow-up on the pain thing. I’m not one who believes in suffering if there is a lot of pain. Our scientists have given us the gift of many types of excellent pain medicines. I just think this gift should be wisely used.
Tammy,
Morphine in the hospital made me sick so that was the end of meds for me when I left except for tylenol. I hardly used any at all except sometimes one or two at night so I could get some sleep. I stopped that entirely after about 6 weeks. Try to keep off meds! They become a crutch. I know too many addicted people and it is a very terrible thing.
As far as getting back to school, now that I see your situation, I would suggest calling it quites until planning sessions start in the summer for September.
Ericka,
It seems like you would have to spend a lot to get $100. Things like this make me suspicious. Are they taging your hits? My husband tells me to stay away from that sort of thing for that reason. We order only from reputable places on the internet, mostly just use paypal and order through Amazon. Nonetheless the internet is a great thing for the broken ankle people and I did use it to order various things. Just be careful.
I hope the in-law thing works out.
Hi again~
I am just wondering how long most of you took your pain medications around the clock at what point did you feel you could stop?
Thanks,
Tammy
Writing to apologize for last night. I was definitely feeling sorry for myself. I feel better today.
Anyway – I got a check in the mail from this site I shop through. It is called ebates. I have earned $100 in the past year. You get cash back from them everytime you shop at one of their listed stores (barnes and nobles, gap, target, etc.). Anyways – if you sign up and make a purchase, you get $5 with this link. (signing up is free). I don’t get email from them – so it will not fill up your box.
Click here to sign up:
http://www.ebates.com/rf.do?id=27852775
Happy shopping!
Erika – Happy shopping from home with your ankle up!
Hope everyone is doing well today.
Thank ya’ll for your support. It means alot to me.
I am sorry that you are having trouble with your father-in-law Erika. I hope that everything gets better between you two.
Thank you Tim and Anklequest for your support. I will never forget ya’ll.
Celinda
Hi all~
Here is a little more information. I am married, 32, and have two young children; a 3 year old and a 1 year old. Only 4 PT sessions would be nice. I have ligament damage also that is why I have the long screw running through my entire ankle. I can’t wait for it to come out on the 11th.
I have thought about taking the rest of the year right now I am written off work until May 19. If I do go back then there will only be 3 weeks of school left…but I feel really guilty not being there. I care way too much!
I wonder how the weather in Michigan will affect me. We have bears here too, mostly in the upper peninsula.
Have a great healing day,
Tammy
Clark! We’d all like to know how you are doing.
Don, I haven’t seen a bear yet this spring. I did once see one of those great big ones. Awesome… and very frightening. The little cubs I’ve seen often, but stay away from the mothers!! We mostly see twins or triplets. Last summer a mother with triplets was in our yard. The poor mother. Her fur was falling out and she looked like she was starving. It really bothered me.
Sandra, glad you are now walking the stairs without crutches! I’m reading a book called “Who were the Celts” right now, prompted by that language discussion.
Tim, I hope the rains have stopped falling over there.
Like you, I wish I could be postive every day. Life has ups and downs though and we ride with those waves. One cannot be up all the time for then you would not be in touch with reality.
Julie, like you I’ve had my share of mother problems..just the same as yours. And I had to deal with the difficult consequences as well. Fortunately, by luck I ended up with a good therapist, or I think my life would have been much different than what I have now. Your very thoughtful post to Celinda was much appreciated by me. It really resonated. You have a great big heart.
Tammy as for teaching with a broken ankle, if you can sit a lot when you start that will help, or just forget the rest of this teaching year. How old are you ? What is your health status? Are you overweight? Also, PT probably needed for a stiff ankle! Who knows how long? For me 4 sessions, but for may others here it took a lot longer.
Celinda, Hi! By now hopefully you’ve taken some more steps. You can see all the dysfunctional families. You are not the only one. Take one day at a time. I feel for you! You’ve also been in that wheelchair a long long time. I’m glad you are now able to get up.
Erika, hope that father-in-law moves away soon. I thought they were leaving, right?
Our crocuses are blooming now and the tulips are making their way out of the ground.
Opps
Sorry signed my SCA name instead of my normal name forgot which board I was on 🙂
Don
Hey Ankle Breakers
Erika
Money does strange things to people. As I remember you said before that there was a question of money involved in the reason you all split ways. Well if someone blames someone else they are hard pressed to forgive or forget. Even when the reasoning is not true and unwarrented. Your father inlaw may never come around but then again he may just decide to forget it tomorrow? No one knows but him
All you can do is keep trying and never lert them get you down, you have to much at steak to let them make the visits filled with drama you have enough drama in your normal life.
Raven
Nancy,
Cute story about your grandchild chasing the wheelchair thinking it was you.
My two small granddaughters talk about my “crunches” (instead of crutches).
Karen
Hey. I don’t want to be the “blah” on this site. I am not usually like this; My in=laws who own a company – I used to work for them. In january I had to resign. I walked over there today (they are next door) – as a “bone to throw” and my father in law who was RIGHT THERE = never said a word to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!1 what do I have to do? why does he hate me?
erika
I want to thank ya’ll for ya’ll’s encouragement. It is very much appreciated. Well, I have walked to the restroom, hugged my son and told him that I loved him. I just hate when people stare at me and not take their eyes off me. And it seems like they are laughing at me and I do not know why I am worried about it, it is so minute to the going’s on of every day life.
Thank ya’ll so much.
Celinda
Sandra,
Springfield Mo. 35 miles north of Branson. Ever been here after crossing the pond?
Shel, Very cool story if we could all be so positive. I know that is something that I struggle with however work on almost daily.
I hope everyone is having a great day!
I get to see mr. doc. today he is removing my stitches.
See ya
Hi All: Haven’t said hello in a while. Question: Ok, so it was 6 months last Sunday since I broke my ankle and foot. The ankle was in 3 places. I have 8 screws and a plate. EVERY step still hurts. Is that normal? Do you think I will have to have the hardware removed eventually? It is so stiff still. How much longer until each step does not hurt?
I remember I was in the hospital 1 week after breaking my ankle. I came home, and after a few days, i was SO DEPRESSED!!! I felt like I had to rely on everyone. Someone had given me a magazine, and I was reading it. In it, there was a little girl from Iraq, and she had lost BOTH of her legs! She was just learning to walk again on prosthetic legs. It made me cry. The learning to walk again, the pain. That poor girl. It really made me think about how lucky I was for just breaking an ankle and a foot – it WILL get better!
I could not find that exact picture, but here is one of a child – probably 2 or 3 – wow. Powerful.
Makes me want to take him home and hug him and take care of him for the rest of my life.
http://www.life.com/Life/essay/gulfwar/gulf01.html
Watch your step –
CLARK – WHERE ARE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
ERIKA
I thought this email I received is appriopriate:
LET IT REALLY SINK IN – THEN CHOOSE .
John is the kind of guy you love to hate. He is always in a good mood and always has something positive to say. When someone would ask him how he was doing, he would reply, ‘If I were any better, I would be twins!’
He was a natural motivator.
If an employee was having a bad day, John was there telling the employee how to look on the positive side of the situation
Seeing this style really made me curious, so one day I went up and asked him, ‘I don’t get it!
You can’t be a positive person all of the time. How do you do it?’
He replied, ‘Each morning I wake up and say to myself, you have two choices today. You can choose to be in a good mood or … you can choose to be in a bad mood
I choose to be in a good mood.’
Each time something bad happens, I can choose to be a victim or…I can choose to learn from it. I choose to learn from it.
Every time someone comes to me complaining, I can choose to accept their complaining or… I can point out the positive side of life. I choose the positive side of life.
‘Yeah, right, it’s not that easy,’ I protested.
‘Yes, it is,’ he said. ‘Life is all about choices. When you cut away all the junk, every situation is a choice. You choose how you react to situations. You choose how people affect your mood.
You choose to be in a good mood or bad mood. The bottom line: It’s your choice how you live your life.’
I reflected on what he said. Soon hereafter, I left the Tower Industry to start my own business. We lost touch, but I often thought about him when I made a choice about life instead of reacting to it.
Several years later, I heard that he was involved in a serious accident, falling some 60 feet from a communications tower.
After 18 hours of surgery and weeks of intensive care, he was released from the hospital with rods placed in his back.
I saw him about six months after the accident.
When I asked him how he was, he replied, ‘If I were any better, I’d be twins… Wanna see my scars?’
I declined to see his wounds, but I did ask him what had gone through his mind as the accident took place.
‘The first thing that went through my mind was the well-being of my soon-to-be born daughter,’ he replied. ‘Then, as I lay on the ground, I remembered that I had two choices: I could choose to live or…I could choose to die. I chose to live.’
‘Weren’t you scared? Did you lose consciousness?’ I asked
He continued, ‘..the paramedics were great.
They kept telling me I was going to be fine. But when they wheeled me into the ER and I saw the expressions on the faces of the doctors and nurses, I got really scared. In their eyes, I read ‘he’s a dead man’. I knew I needed to take action.’
‘What did you do?’ I asked.
‘Well, there was a big burly nurse shouting questions at me,’ said John. ‘She asked if I was allergic to anything ‘Yes, I replied.’ The doctors and nurses stopped working as they waited for my reply. I took a deep breath and yelled, ‘Gravity’.’
Over their laughter, I told them, ‘I am choosing to live. Operate on me as if I am alive, not dead.’
He lived, thanks to the skill of his doctors, but also because of his amazing attitude… I learned from him that every day we have the choice to live fully.
Attitude, after all, is everything .
Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.’ Matthew 6:34.
After all today is the tomorrow you worried about yesterday.
You have two choices now:
1. Delete this
2. Forward it to the people you care about.
You know the choice I made.
Remember, Life is about Choices!!
Because of Calvary,
Hi everyone,
Just checking in to see how everyone are doing. I hope weather is changing where you are and it is getting a little warmer.
I agree Sandra, they have to put me to sleep, I won’t do it any other way.
Celinda, during my hardest times, seeing and playing with my Grandson made my day so bright. I did not get to see him everyday. So that is what you can do with your son and have that happiness everyday. I was in a wheelchair for 31/2 months and one day my son and daughter in law took my gandson to a theme park.
While they were there, he saw a wheelchair with a lady in it and he went running after her thinking it was me. That shows that the wheelchair didn’t matter,
he just identified me by it. He is only 11/2. Your son only wants to be with you, he does not care about the boot and all the stuff. Just enjoy time with him.
Clark, hope you are ok.
Have a great week everyone. Nancy
Greetings Ankle Breakers
Tami
Welcome to an interesting club. It is a non discrimination club doesn’t matter age, color, religion or status it lets everyone in That is everyone that breaks an ankle.
Sandra said it best healing times are different for each of us. I also broke both ankles along with a few other parts but I was no weight bearing for 3 months but ( I cheated at times ) my left arm was also non weight bearing but I used it to push my wheel chair. I had physical therapy for three months twice a day while I was in rehab. This was to get me in a place to be able to walk when the Doctor told the Therapists to get me up.
There are people here that have been in the same place that you are. The best advice we can give you is doo what your told, when your told and how you are told. Pushing to hard will set you back not pushing hard enough will leave you sitting and make you go through a harder time getting back.
As for having metal removed some people on here have had it done and successfully. I am one that will not be able to have this done as I just have to much metal to remove and it kind of holds me all together . We are all here for the same reason we broke our ankles and we all go through the same things to varying degrees but we all go through it. So if you need help just need to talk or need to jump up and down and scream come here we are all here to help
Celinda
So you have had time to read time to think and now it is time to act. You need to look yourself in the eye and realize that you are just as important and special in your SONS life as you were before. And step by step inch by inch you will get back to as close to normal as you can. It may not be 100% but you know what 80% is just as good and important as 100% it is the belief you have in yourself and in your Son that will make up for any short comings. We all get creative when we have to and we find new ways to do things. So time to start getting creative.
As for the accident they can only get as much as the insurance can and will pay so don’t sweat it. Believe me I KNOW if it’s not there, their not getting it such is life. So don’t sweat it move on and let the insurance company and a lawyer worry about it.
Sandra and Anklequest
As usual your input is invaluable and right on and insightful. It is interesting to see the teacher side present and argument and a solution. Keep up the great info and help.
Sandra
Where I live you can hook up with the wildlife officers in the winter and go with them when they tag the bear. A few years ago I saw the pictures when they went out and tagged a little distance from my house. The one bear they showed me was the baby it was around 250LBS the next one he showed me was a picture of people sitting with the Mommy bear in their laps all drugged up from the darts and it weighed in at 650LBS. The paws they showed in the shot were the size of a 16 in wheel on your car so yeah we kind of get use to big bear over here. The world record one that was killed in hunting season in Pennsylvania was shot about 40 minutes from my house weighed in at 850lbs and the NJ record bear was well over 1100 LBS so yeah garbage bears as we call them here because they live off the garbage in dumpsters get real big compared to the ones in the mid west or the south.
Keep moving forward one step at a time and keep the right side on the ground Ankle Breakers Be safe
Don
Julie,
The Appalachians sounds an interesting cultural mix, including yours. Well done on getting the boot off, and your progress.
Last night I walked upstairs for the first time without a crutch. Brain needed to get in gear, but I made it. Cannot walk down yet because my left ankle and knee will not bend enough.
Nancy.
I think I would like to be asleep to if any metal comes out. I can move my ankle, so no brace like you. But I have a lot of resistance in my ankle that is stopping me from doing the stairs and does affect walking.
And Tim, thank you for the info, I think I have a long screw/pin, so wondered why yours was so short! Still not sure about mine – physio has said this week it may need to come out.
Another six weeks of physio class due and will be working on that left ankle to try and deal with that last bit of resistance and tightness. Plus I have started back at the gym and today did a little time on the bike, cross trainer and treadmill, did not fall over and could still walk afterwards! Big achievement as far as I am concerned. The Personal Trainer also manipulated my foot (very carefully) and did some resistance work with a band. He also watched me on the equipment and could see where I am compensating/weak, and made helpful suggestions to deal with all of this. No physio has ever done this -and I don’t get any one-to-one time with a physio. So the extra exercise today is okay so far, let’s see what happens when I go to sleep.
Tammy.
Hi. People’s progress will vary according to their injuries. Some of us were stupid enough to injure two ankles – like me – which might make recovery longer. As you can see sometimes the metal gets in the way, so Tim and Shel have both had stuff out, and Nancy is due to. I am in the UK and have been having physio for about four months plus, but most of that in a class. Not sure how it will operate for you if you are in the US. I had right leg in an air boot after three weeks and hopping. When left leg – similar hardware to you – came out of plaster at six weeks plus, I could walk on it with crutches, but slowly and it was swollen, and everyone heals at their own pace. On work, I am a Uni Lecturer, and had six months off, and now on a phased return, but not teaching this academic year – as it has all been covered.
Hi to Don and Anklequest. I love hearing about your bears, seeing as we don’t have any. I did see a squirrel feeding in the guttering of the house across the road this afternoon, and last night a homing pigeon was roosting on next door’s bedroom windowsill. But not as exciting as ‘big’ bad bears of course!
Where are at the Ozarks Tim?
We are having a few sunny days – up to 18C tomorrow – about 63 degrees Fahrenheit. But then whoopee (I jest) we are having more really cold weather from then on and more snow!
You can see from my posts that we get really excited about our weather – that’s because we have so much of it!
Bye for now
Sandra
Celinda, There has been a lot of useful advice posted here, particularly form Anklequest, Julie and Don.
I can only support what they say. Your mother is not doing your health much good at the moment, so a break from each can be seen as a positive opportunity to re-charge your batteries and prove to yourself and your mother how much you can do for youself. And do involve your son in your progress, as children always want to help out. Try and stay positive and focus on how much progress you have made to this point – after all not so long ago you could not even walk – so you have made huge progress. Think that forward – if you have done that much, you can do some more. On worrying about the break, I still worry about my left leg being strong enough to support me, but it’s seven months and it has never given up yet!
On the accident, some running around in circles in your mind and hand it over to people who know what to do, i.e. the insurers. The only thing you can know about the accident is that it has already happened, there is nothing you can do to change that, so why waste energy and precious time on.
Think of three things you have done everyday and write them down, or put them here. Like, a walk to the loo, putting trousers on without falling over, hugging your son.
Sandra
Celinda,
I would like to second anklequest’s comments and add a few of my own, based on my own experience.
I loved my mother unconditionally, but she was impossible to live with. She was constantly critical and pessimistic, and always made me feel like I was a failure (I couldn’t have been since I had a full time professional job, three children, a husband (then), a nice house, etc). Regardless, there was always something that I hadn’t done. It took me a very long time (40+ years) to understand that she, herself, was unhappy and was suffering from severe depression. Her personality did not allow her to hide in bed, so she pushed, and pushed, and pushed. She made me feel guilty and unworthy, even though I knew that I wasn’t. I finally realized that I, too, was suffering from severe depression. I was fully functional, but miserable. It was not until I started getting treatment for depression (something that my family did not approve of) that I was able to begin to see the reality of each situation. Here are a few things to repeat to yourself. Better yet, write these things down and keep the list close by:
YOU DID NOT CAUSE THE ACCIDENT – although it has complicated your life, it was an ACCIDENT.
TURN THE LAWSUIT OVER TO THE INSURANCE COMPANY. You do not have to personnaly fix this. That is what insurance is for. Also, consult your lawyer.
YOU ARE NOT A BAD MOM. Children are very flexible, and they do not define their relationships with their parents the way we would, their priorities are different. If you redefine what is “normal” for you and your son, you and he will be in it together, and will work together to get through every day. This will also give him new confidence, since he will be helping mommy. Consider this a life lesson you can teach him – how to handle difficult situations positively. I say this based on my experience of having a ruptured colon when I was 43 – long convalescence and several surgeries, kids were 10, 8, and 3. What was important to them? A story, coloring together, LAUGHING!
YOU HAVE THE RIGHT TO HEAL. You have been through a lot. You were severely injured, and although it seems like an eternity, you have made progress. Sit down and write down a list of your condition, and what you could do right after the accident, then write a list of what you can do. Every little thing counts. List not only what you can do, but where you are in the process. Every step toward regaining your health and independence counts. I guarantee you that the recovery list will be longer than the injury list.
ALLOW YOURSELF TO MOURN YOUR LOSSES. Yes, the ankles will not be the same. You lost your job. Your future is going to be different than you thought. Then restate them as possiblities for the future. You can find a new job – perhaps one you like better. You are strong enough to regroup and make a bright future for you and your son.
YOUR MOTHER IS TOXIC TO YOUR HEALTH RIGHT NOW. You can acknowledge this without being disloyal. In some situations, our family members are not the best choice for support. Fow whatever reason, your mother is not providing the positive support that you need. Perhaps she is being influenced by her husband. Perhaps (as many have suggested) she can’t handle your situation herself. Regardless, you need, and deserve to have positive support. PLEASE, seek out some other help – church, neighbors, previous coworkers. Anyone who can bring a different viewpoint into your situation. Call your doctor to ask for suggestions for support. Consider your April 30 deadline as your release from the constant negativity you have been trying to survive under. Take steps to protect yourself and your mental health.
Finally – YOU NEED TO GET HELP FOR YOUR DEPRESSION. Several things to keep in mind. Major life changes often trigger depression. Your mind perceives that it is under attack, and responds by changing your brain chemistry. Whereas this served you well at first, now it has turned into depression. You cannot “pull yourself” out of a clinical depression. Further, the longer it is allowed to continue, the more permanent the brain chemistry changes become. With medicine, and support, you can remove that cloud over your head and the cinderblock on your chest. You can start to believe in yourself again and start to move forward. If you can’t find a reason to do this for yourself (you deserve to feel secure and confident) do it for your son. Again – you showing him how to handle a tough situation.
Please let us know how you are doing.
Julie
Hi anklebreakers~
After reading some more I see a variety of physical therapy has been done. I also noticed that someone was only allowed 12 sessions. Can I ask why and If you needed more? I am still non-weight bearing but am curious about what is next. I got the impression from my doctor that I would be able to walk after the surgery to remove the screw/pin going through my ankle. It sounds like it slower than that. Crutches, walking boot, and then later a shoe. Is that accurate?
Also I noticed there are several other teachers on here. I teach elementary and middle school. How has returning to work been for you?
I hope that those of you who posted a year ago are all close to 100% and newbies I hope you are on the road to recovery and feeling good.
Thanks for any information…I am relieved to have found this site.
Hi Celinda,
I’m going to be an advocate for you. Your situation is not easy and would cause almost anyone, including me, a lot of stress and/ or depression.
First of all, your ankle is clearly doing well if it only has a hairline left, and you will not break it, even if you stumbled on it. You can stop worrying about that. The doc only is being overly cautious considering your previous surgeries.
Second, you have a very dysfunctional relationship with your mother. You may have learned how to be a dysfunctional person from her. As soon as you can, you do need to disconnect from her and her husband. Try to slowly more towards more independence over the next few weeks, & do more for yourself and your son. Maybe you can let us know on a daily basis what you are doing or trying to do so we can reinforce your attempts.
Third, I would recommend getting some treatment for depression. This is something that often improves with appropriate treatment. Negative and faulty thinking can then be addressed (as Don pointed out to you). Then your relationships with your family and your son will improve. You will be less isolated and can get some help from others.
Forth, I feel sorry for you regarding the attorney situation. Any such situation can get messy. Your mother should not judge you about that for who knew what the accident would lead to. No one ever knows these consequences at the time. I would turn everything over to the insurance companies myself, for what would I know about the proper action at the time.
Anyway, keep us posted about your progress, small as it may be. Small steps eventually lead to bigger steps. The answer right now for you is to start with some more small steps.
All the best, and keep us posted.
I’ll post more comments to others later.
Celinda, Honestly you need to see a doc about depression. From what I am reading you are depending far too much on everyone else, and with a child involved you need to obtain some additional counciling. Yes, you broke an ankle. But many people have had far worse and are doing fine, time to stop milking it and get a move on. The more you sit and depend on everyone the worse it will get. After week one there was nothing I could not do on one foot and two crutches, including dinners, cleaning, dishes, laundry (downstairs), and going to work.
Quit the pity party. Your help obviously understands what your doing as well since they gave you a date to stop helping. Take the hint.
Greetings all
Celinda
OK I understand everything you are saying and I can even say that at timnes I thought some of the same things as you . Lets see here I was in a car crash that almost killed my wife . Now lets restate that statement. I was in a car crash because I was driving home late at night and because I was driving I almost killed my wife.
I was driving from a friends house and it was 10 PM when I was hit by a drunk driver and almost killed.
restate this last statemnet
IU was coming home way to late and should not have been out seeing friends and I almost died in a car crash.
You can restate any thing you want you can blame place guilt on anyone for any reason you want .
NOW WHAT IS TRUE
You are recovering from a car accident. law suits happen that is why we have insurance and accidents happen. NO ONE DIED NO ONE IS PERMANENTLY INJURED.
This will pass with time and work. People love to make people feel bad and are good at giving others blame so they can feel better about their own spot in the world.
TRUE FACT
you have a son who i depending on you to get moving ,get vbetter be MOM, you don’t get to lay around and feel sorry for yourself, because he won’t undserstand that he want MOM back. Only sure way for that to happen is get up and start moving forward always forward work , work and more work,
What anyone one else says doesn’t amtter but what you choose to listen to. Listen to the people that want to givce you grief because they feel better about themselves or those that tell you stop GRIPING and get up and get moving that is all any of us can do.
You look how far you have come since the first time well time for the next step stop feeling sorry for yourself and stop listening to those that want to make you feel guilty JUST KEEP MOVING FORWARD then your Son will have MOM back and you will have your life back
Come On Celinda Come Play in the Sun with the rest of us
DON
Celinda,
I dont meen to rag on you,but everytime you have been on here it has been very negitive and all about you.
Check this out…. How are you doing So and So? How is your ankle today? How is your weather? Isn’t it great to not be pushing daisy’s? see the theme here?
Buck up and follow what the doctor recomends and push forward and you will be just fine. As Don said, April 30th gives you a month to to move forward leaps and bounds.
Negitive breads Negitive ! however, Positive Breads Positive ! Where do you think you fit into this? Maybe it’s time to make some personel changes with who you are? Just a thought.
I hope I did not offend you but gave some friendly advise.Go back and read each of your comments here.
Hope everyone is having a great week,I am !
We may just float away here in the Ozarks though, WOW what rain and storms we have been having here,I can’t ever remember so much rain in my years living here But guess what,It’s not ice or snow and the sun has been shining! YEE HA !
Best wishes everyone!
(Clark, where are you Clark? How are you Clark? Helloooo….)
See ya
Tim
Hi all~
It is very nice to find this website I have been searching for along time for information about healing and physical therapy. I didn’t see much about how long it usually takes.
I slipped on the ice in a parking lot at work..broke all 3 bones that make up my ankle and dislocated it. I had surgery and an 8in plate and 12 screws were placed in. Incisions on both sides. One screw goes through my ankle joint and keeps it from moving. I am having it removed on April 11. Then I start pt. How long is pt?
Has anyone had workers compensation involved or a law suit? What was the outcome?
Thanks and I hope you are all healing well!
Tammy
Hi everyone,
How is everyone doing. Well, last night I got a citation, or court order papers from the woman that was involved in the accident. She is suing me for money, damages which she incurred in the accident she is saying. But, when she went to the hospital, she was treated and released. I was not so lucky. I talked with a lawyer and he said turn it over to the insurance I had at the time.
Well, my mom is so upset with me right now. She says if only I would have listened none of this would have happened. Which, at the time of the accident, I was trying to help someone out. But I did not know the accident was going to happen.
I have feelings of such guilt, and just horrible, horrible feelings about myself that noone else can comprehend. I feel as though I should not have my son due to the fact that all of this has happened and I feel as though I am a horrible mother. My mother will not let me try to put it behind me, she keeps driving that nail deeper and deeper and I do not know when she will stop. She does not let me forget that I have everyone’s life on hold, especially hers and my sons and it is not fair to either of them and I know all of this and I do not know what to do. I do not know where to turn for help.
Does anyone have any suggestions, because I am at my whits end. I have such horrible guilt that it is not even funny. I look at my son and I want to cry every time I look at him.
PLEASE HELP ME.
Celinda
Greetings all you ankle breakers
Good to see everyone is moving forward.
Celinda
Don’t worry we all did the feel sorry for me bit. And we all were afraid that something would go wrong. Guess what it didn’t!! Our legs stayed together and we went on you will too. Keep working the program you are on do what you are told and by April 30th no problem you will advance in leaps and bounds as time moves forward you will see.
Sandra
Nope have to see how things settle out for the wife and me with court cases before we get to make travel plans. But when that happens we will be letting you know that we are coming for a visit. As for travel insurance it is something we have never gotten. Always thought we were insured enough to cover anything so we never bother with it. I can understand the pushing harder then you should we all did it. We all had the aches and pains from pushing to far. Keep it up you will get there slowly but surely it will work out.
Shel
Guess what we all cheated (SHH don’t tell anyone.) Lets face it we all wanted to know if our legs or ankles were going to hold us up or if we were going to just fall flat on our faces But don’t over do it to much and you will be fine one step at a time.
Julie
WV is beautiful area of the country. Has many interesting places and dialects
and parts in history. If people did the rese3arch we could trace most areas back to groups that settled them and see how much they influenced the present with their culture.
Anklequest.
As always you are a wealth of information. Good to see things are look better for our weather here. I am about done with winter and ready to move to Spring… It is time for us to be able to get out and walk with out have to slog through nasty snow and mud. Glad to hear you got the Tupperware house up before the bear woke up. We went up to my oldest Daughters College when she was first looking at it. All these cops and animal control people were around the doors to the school telling us to hurry up get inside fast. We all asked what was going on they said there was a 150 lbs bear in the area and they were going to track it and trap it. You could immediately tell the people from NJ we were laughing and walked out the door telling them it was only a little cub when it get up around 5 to 600 lbs let us know then we will worry till then it is a baby and would run away from us first. They all thought we were nuts when we walked into the parking lot and watched as the poor little thing ran across the tennis court with 10 men chasing it with nets and tranquilizer guns. (He got away) we all stayed in the lot laughed and talked till they were all gone then we went home. Jus like something out of the keystone cops it was great.
Good to see every one is moving in the right direction that are feet are in the right places this time and we can improve. Be safe and careful talk to you soon
Don
Hi everyone,
I’m free from the boot! The OS gave me permission to start putting weight on my ankle (with crutches), and start PT. I came up the stairs from the driveway today for the first time in 7 weeks! I am not going to rush it, but it sure puts a different light on things. It was time – I had pretty well gotten to the bottom of the barrel, what with my younger son who is going through a particularly self-absorbed period, and my general frustration. I’m looking forward to making more progress!
Hi Celinda,
Keep your chin up,I know that sounds easy but a positive attitude is so very important right now! I think that once you get to a certain point with the recovery process then you will see things moving quicker or at least I have. Just remember that you have a support team right here, I know that doesnt help in the day to day life but sometimes just knowing that others do care and are praying and pulling for you seems to help in many ways. Keep focused on getting better for you and your child! You Will get there this I am sure of.
Positive Attitude…. Please! Don’t let things get to you it will only slow down the recovery process.
I send my very best wishes to you and your son!
God Bless.
Tim
Hi everyone, hope you all had a nice weekend. It is starting to go back up in the high 80’s in Florida, sure does help with the foot.
Sandra, The tightness is not fun as my ankle doesn’t move so I have to be really careful. I am having a brace made, but it must not be ready yet. I guess in August or September they will take he long screw out. I know I can’t be like Tim and not be put to sleep, I am proud of you Tim. I guess a day at a time is what we all must do. I am so happy for all those who are progessing so well.
Take care an have a great week.
Nancy
Hi everyone,
How are ya’ll doing, hope fine. Well, I am getting around a little. My doctor said to take it easy. Only walk to the bathroom and back the wheelchair. It is going ok, there is pain though. He said there would be pain. I am just scared that something else will go wrong. I cannot handle much more. My mother’s husband gives me to April 30th to be up and walking around, he said at that time, my mother is not going to help me any longer. I will be on my own. I can understand to some point, but I am so afraid that my leg might break again. And I am going through a little bit of depression, this weekend was really bad.
I am sorry for the clouds of rain I am pouring over everyone. Please forgive me.
I so want to get up and about and do things with my son, it does seem like it is so, so close I can taste it.
Thank ya’ll so much.
Celinda
Sandra,
Yes they tell me that there are several different sizes.I have two different sizes in my ankle, and yes I would recomend being knocked out to have done as it was not to pleasant and you can feel each turn of the screw coming out of the bone.
Hope everyone is doing well today.
Tim
Sandra,
Yes, it is very interesting, and the Appalacian mountain area has a very interesting history. I grew up in West Virginia, and I have absolutely no Scots, Irish, English, German, or any Anglo-Saxon, Germanic, or Celtic blood. I am a second generation Lebanese American (all four grandparents came from Lebanon). As a result of having a home culture that was somewhat different from my friends and neighbors (although there is a large Lebanese-American population in West Virginia) I always viewed the mountain culture as another ‘different’ home culture. The mountain culture is a very proud and hard-working culture, and like many other things, has most often been portrayed in terms of a characture. West Virginia also has a wealth of astonishing craft skill that has been handed down from generation to generation, again partly because of the isolation of the area. If you are interested, try googling “Tamarack Craft Center” or some variation. It is an amazing place on the WV turnpike that brings many of these artisans together.
Alright. Enough pontificating about WV! I’m off to my 6-week appt. with the OS. Wish me luck.
Julie
Tim. On this screw removal thing. Surprise that you had yours out without anaesthetic. I thought the bone grew around it, which means it would be difficult to get out. Maybe if it comes out sooner like yours and Shel’s it’s easier to get out. (?) Are the screws people have in their ankles a different length? That is, does not make a difference to how easy it is to get it out?
Nancy, hope you are managing with your tight ankle and that the removal works.
Sandra
Julie. That’s really interesting about the Scots-Irish – which is part of my family tree – so maybe some of my gene pool is in the Appalachians!
Anklequest. That’s very informative! On the development of the English language – it has mixed origins, related to waves of invasion. So Norse/Viking words and names continue, French from the Normans, and bits of Latin. There are also all sorts of accents in the UK and we sometimes get frustrated when American films caricature or stereotype English people. (Probably applies in reverse).
Even the word for a bread roll varies. Can be bap, barm cake, bread cake, roll . . . (that’s aside from all the imports.) Given the variety of input into the States, that may apply there as well . . .
The word for a footpath between houses/alley in Sheffield is a ‘ginnel’ (hard g), but in other places not too far away it’s a ‘gennel’ (soft g). In Barnsley trousers are called ‘kegs’. The is often shortened to ‘t’ in Yorkshire.
I think some research last year showed that dialect is dying out, which is kind of a shame.
Geography varies so much here. In Cambridgeshire it’s flat and the posties bike everywhere. In Sheffield, it’s so hilly the posties walk everywhere -and very few people actually cycle – need to be really fit. That’s why after this experience, I think I would like to go back to somewhere flatter.
Beautiful weather for the last couple of days. So hope Spring is upon us. Happy walking – or hopping.
Sandra
hey guys,
well i graduated from my physical therapy on thursday. i’m glad i’m finally done with all of this. i have full flexibility and strength back with no swelling any more, hopefully soon it will feel totally normal again. this site was great it was nice reading all of your posts. good luck with your ankles guys.
take care,
greg
Actually, the Ulster Scots, or Scots-Irish immigrants who came to the Appalachian mountains were largely responsible for the establishment of a network of schools that offered a previously unexperienced level of accessiblity to education to the settlers of that area. The isolation of the mountainous regions served to preserve the accent, inflection, and speech pattern that is identified today as “hillbilly.”
Off Topic: For Sandra
The language thing. There’s been 400 years of English evolution on this side of the pond from your side (How did Latin ever turn into English over there?).
In short:
Boston accents are similar to some British of 18th century
New England accents came from Anglican Purtians
Midwest: Origins are English & some German and or English- German- Scandinavian
California is similar to Midwest but with more Spanish influences.
The midwest accent has become our “standard” TV/Broadcast accent.
Then there is the South. Tidewater & Carolina Islands still have remnants of old Victorian English. The”deep” south has accents from lower class British at the time of colonization. It’s the influence of all those crooks and murderers sent over here instead of going to jail over there or getting beheaded. New Orleans has a French influence. Same thing. French criminals. Tenessee and & Kentucky Hillbillies accents were from illiterate Scots-Irish lower class. Texas accent has some low class German mixed into it (all those big whiteTexans have germanic origins & the current cowboys are Mexican). In the US it is a constant matter of debate what the Spanish influence is on the language. (For that matter, everything seems to be a matter of debate over here. Even Michael and I have debates over your Queen Elizabeth and her offspring.)
My area where I work here in New Jersey has great diversity so on a daily basis I run into all sorts of accents so I am use to it. New York City has its own whole array of accents. You can take the word “the” and find it pronounced differently in different places here and the word “and” as well. Origins of words and their pronunciation will forever keep scholars busy.
PS: This is about all I know about such things (limited to the above). I first got into these sorts of questions when I was a very poor student working my way through college & ended up backpacking on my first trip to Europe. In so doing I ended up staying somewhere in the slums of London in some sort of youth hostel & found myself not understanding a word of English. Wow! what a time it was! Yellow Submarine was showing in London.
Thanks everyone! I have adjusted the crutches and love the advice, seems to be helping. Sandra, I would love to have the other kind of crutch seems like it would be much better, but I am only a few days till my release to full weight so I will hold off. I have snuck quite a few steps in, even though I am not supposed to. My problem is that it feels fine and so hard not to just walk off, hehe. Take it easier on treadmill, the bike was part of my PT and was the best help to get the flexability back. I’ll be back at that soon I hope 🙂
Good luck everyone!
Dev. Happy First Birthday and well done on your progress, and on keeping the hardware – gives me hope.
After my solo walk I enjoyed a sleepless night due to achey sore ankles and woke up all stiff and tight.
So Don, Anklequest and Dev (the heels!) as you know – not wise to overdo it, and I have taken it slowly over the past couple of days.
This was the first time I have walked in seven months and it gave my ankles a bit of a shock I suppose. Each time I have done something a bit different I have seized up, but at this point, the pain is less, and I know that the tightness and stiffness will ease off. Though not disappear – which is why the removal of ankle screws is still of interest Tim and Nancy. Still holding on to mine – giving it a bit more time.
Today I have bought myself a walking stick – nice blue one with an ergonomic handle – so will be swapping around outside when I feel able, but still using the crutch for stairs.
Karen, as I have gone through this I have heard all sorts of noise from inside my ankles – ‘clunking’ is how I think of it – but have become less aware of it.
Shel – on crutches – we do not have arm-pit crutches here, but ones with a hand-grip and a cuff that slip over your arms. Maybe if you can get that sort, you might find it more comfortable. But it is really important to get the height right as Anklequest says.
Nancy – how stiff/tight is your ankle and does it prevent you from walking? Maybe waiting a year is good as you will be stronger physically.
Anklequest. That first walk was exhilirating and made me feel like a toddler taking their first awkward steps. This stuff really does make you value every little thing you achieve.
On writers – I like P.D.James as well. Ian Rankin is also a favourite. I have just booked myself a weekend at a literature festival in July – crime writing, which is the first holiday I have booked since falling. (Overseas authors going include Terris Gerritson and Jeffery Deaver.) I have a first floor room in case there is a fire alarm as I did not fancy stairs being on the 10th floor! But who knows, I may be sprinting downstairs by then!
Have an appointment at gym tomorrow (Saturday) to see about renewing membership, which was suspended due to broken bones. If all seems safe and accessible, I hope to start using the bike and treadmill. But very slowly of course!
Hi Don. Nice to hear from you as always, and hope you get travel plans sorted. Have you encountered any problems with travel insurance? Has anyone else for that matter?
By the way, the mobility shop did not charge VAT on my walking stick because I am full of ‘metal’ – so it cost me less money – aren’t I the lucky one?
Night for now.
Sandra
Hi all,
the screw did go through the ankle joint.I do not have any plans of having the other hardware removed and was a bit supprised that he removed this one after just three months,It realy did make a difference though. Very small cut in the skin in the doctors office and they don’t knock you out to do it.
Dev, Congrats.on one year !!!! You Did It !!!!
Watch your steps today everyone.
Tim
Once the fracture has healed, physical therapy is over and you’re still having pain, do anti-inflammatory medicines like Motrin, taken regularly help? Has anybody ever taken Glucosamine Condroitin regularly?
Karen
It’s been 3 1/2 months now and I’ve just lately begun to notice feeling a click.
Karen
Hi to all – well this is a big DAY! One year ago this time I was sitting in the Urgent care center – in PAIN and listening to the Dr on call say – sorry you will have to go to Emergency Room – your ankle is broken in 3 places. I started shaking and crying – and the rest of the night – except for the pain – is almost a BIG blur.
Anyway – just want to tell everyone – I MADE IT!
I celebrated by buying a new pair of shoes -that have a very small heel (not totally flat) and wore them to work today. Tonight I’m limping! Guess the different heel made my ankle say “what is she doing!”
But I feel great – just so glad I’m to the magic year mark and YES I do feel much better. So all you newcomers and midyear anklebreakers – keep up your chin and I hope to hear your YIPEE I MADE IT.Have patience.
Guess I’ll keep the “hardware” for a souviner -haha.
So glad Julie you got your cry – we all have been there – now just focus on your well being and positive thoughts.
Shel and Anklequest – always good to hear your stories and how you are doing.
This site is AMAZING with all the input and insite of all of us in the “special” club.
Here’s to a YEAR and hope to see more of your joy getting to that milestone also.
Dev
I forgot one thing.
SHEL,
I was told if the armpits hurt too much that your crutches have to be adjusted to be a little shorter. You apparently shouldn’t use the armpits for support.
Sandra, since you’ve been on crutches so long, what do you think?
CELINDA!
Great progress as that potential for more surgery has been greatly reduced. Glad to hear it. By now you are probably already getting around more. Keep in touch. We think you’ll do fine when the time comes that you’ll have less help.
TIM,
Thanks so much for the screw removal information. So they do not knock you out and cut you wide open, which is a big relief to hear. I originally had about 25 staples on the medial side and had fears of them doing that again.
Don,
The Rubber Maid container was put together 6 weeks after my accident my my sister and a freind who came to visit from Michigan. It still stands. The bears should now be up and about and very hungry. Keep your eyes open. The skunks are out too.
Sandra,
That must have been just the best walk in the park! Gradually you will increase your strength. Alternate active walking days.
I’ll get back to you on the language question. Many dissertation studies have been done on that.
I love mysteries and all those british WWII type spy novels. P.D. James is a favorite mystery writer. I like the Helen Mirren series where she played chief detective much better than the glitz CSI stuff.
Julia, Erika and all the rest, take care and try to remain upbeat.
CLARK, WE ARE THINKING ABOUT YOU. WE HOPE YOU HAVE BEEN PUT BACK TOGETHER AND ARE DOING BETTER THAN THE LAST TIME THEY TRIED TO FIX YOU.
Hey Ankle Breakers
I agree Sandra
there is indeed an upbeat on the site and I am glad to see that everyone is moving forward. How much nicer it is to see so many people jump over the line and race ahead a few steps at times those steps are the best thing for us. It gives us hope and a sense of accomplishment. Which is something we all need.
Yeah to some changing a lightbulb is scary and then to some that have climbed tree for a living changing a light bulb would terrify but working on the ladder wouldn’t and we wouldn’t even think twice about it:-)
But a wif who is waiting for me to fall so she could laugh at me HMMM that may hurt more then the fall. But again I am glad you are doing better and walking so well slowly don’t run just yet but keep moving forward. And you can count on it if I get a chance to get to England I most certainly will contact you and even let you know when we leave here in the USA.
Tim
I can see having it removed if it bothers you so much but I bet you wish they had taken more then just one
🙂 ? But anywqay I am glad it is helping and I wish you all the luck with getting better . Are you going to have the rest of the metal removed when you can?
Celinda
Big change since only a few weeks ago when we first heard from you and we are all proud of you 🙂 Hmmm Seems we told you it would go quicker then you thought and as for MOM going home or not being up to helkp you don’t worry you will get it all done you will just be more crative with doing things and better ways to do it.
Ankle Quest just wanted to say a quick hello and see if you ever got the bear proof garbage pales set up or are they still in the box?
Don
Sandra, if you have a pool locally you can use I would strongly recommend it. Then you can practice walking normally, It sure does take awhile to get that motion back.
Nancy, I am hearing alot of people say their docs will not take out the hardware until a year. However I had mine out 5 months from my break, and doing fine…
Yep, except the pits, they still hurt, LOL.
Tim,
That must be what the new surgeon wants to do with my foot. I don’t have any movement in my ankle. She said the long screw on the left side is going through the ankle joint. I can not have the surgery until September as she said it has to be a year. The plate and 8 screws will stay. All the PT has not helped and I am out of sessions, so I don’t know what happens now.
Hi to everyone and glad to hear from the posts you are all doing so good. It is so great to have the good days.
Nancy
Hi Tim. Was your long screw through your ankle?
I feel like we should all shout at Clark and he might hear us.
CLARK – ARE YOU OUT THERE? HOW ARE YOU DOING?
Sandra
Hi to everyone. I have felt quite excited today as I went for a walk in the park – about 35 minutes and carried my crutch.
Wallking without it felt great, and is easier, though I was on a flat path and hardly anyone else out because it was cold and damp. Felt it in my quads and my left achilles tendon starting to complain at the end. So I know I need to pace myself. On the way home, drove past the woods where the bluebells grow and promised myself to walk there when they are out in a few weeks. Maybe with a walking pole.
Anklequest, you are right that the crutches become a crutch, and they also start to become a hindrance when it comes to walking.
I think I am at a cross-over point and still need support some of the time. Plus the stairs are still a no-no for me. Left leg still needs more strength. Will probably buy a stick – as NHS is not helping me with this. Some people have folding sticks that are easier to carry, though I am not sure what support they give.
Julie, I am glad you have come out of your hole. I feel like I have just moved off my plateau – if that makes sense. You are doing really well.
Shel, I hope that your armpits are coping.
Celinda. Well done on the walking cast – that’s huge progress for you. Stay positive and focus on the present.
Anklequest – a lot on English history and literature in there. Some of our country’s history is connected so I know bits about US but not loads. A naive question: but do you know when people started to talk differently? On more current issues, I like reading crime novels so am familiar with some American authors. Plus, I watch some of the US imports on TV. Like CSI, currently watching Damages. Not so keen on Dexter as the whole premis is a bit disturbing.
Hi Don. There’s me worrying about getting on a chair to change a lightbulb and there’s you up a ladder with a chainsaw! Not surprised your wife did not look happy. Let me know if you get to come over here.
There’s a really positive feel to the site today, which is great for everyone.
Cheerio.
Sandra
Sandra,Dev,Don,Anklequest(everyone)
I had seven screws and a plate,Doc. removed the long one aprx. 2 inches long because it was restricting my movement and hurt a bit. my foot does seem to move better now. He made a small cut under xray and cut away the scarr tisue then took it out slowly. Yes it hurt he did not get it totaly numb at first, but me watching on the screen did not help me any though. I hope everyone is doing better today.
Have a nice day everyone!
Clark….where are you my friend?
Tim
Hi,
Thank you Don and Erika. It does feel good to be able to stand on both feet and I will take my time. I did not think that I would be this scared, but I am. I am also kinda depressed a little. My mom had said that by the end of April or May she will not be able to help me anymore due to her knee giving her problems and her husband I feel does not care for me all that much. Which, I cannot blame him, but I understand. I just hope nothing happems with my left ankle and everything turns out to be fine and me and my son can go our own way. Please pray for me that this does take and we can do this.
Thank ya’ll so much.
Celinda
CELINDA!!!
HI!!! I am so happy for you!! Yeah! Good girl. Enjoy the walking cast…(only people on this board would understand THAT statement 🙂 )
Has anyone visited you yet? email me personally if you can!
Congratulations!!!
Erika
Hey Ankle Breakers
Julie
Welcome to the other side of darkness LOL 🙂 we have indeed allbeen there and we are glad you sat up decided to go on and above all had a GREAT BIG cry. There are times we all need to do just that. I remember being in the hospital calling my wife when I
couldn’t take it any more crying like a baby. Sat there in bed and composed myself then moved on. It is great feeling to do both things. the crying part to get the frustration out and the moving forward part like a ray of sunshine.
So welcome to a new begining.
Don
Celinda
Congratulations I bet you thought this day would never come? glad to hear you are doing better and moving forward. It is great to see you now from when you first came on. I want to warn you don’t push to hard or to fast do what you are told and this time will go bye even faster then the stuff before this. Keep moving forward girl you can do it and were all proud of you
Don
Hi everyone,
Well, I went to the doctor yesterday, March 24, and he put me in a walking cast. He said for me to take it real slow at first and gradually take it a step at a time. There is still a little bitty spot, like a hair, but he said that it could stay like that for 10 years, so we are trying this for a month and seeing how it goes. Thank you all for being here for me and giving me encouragement.
Celinda
Good morning everyone,
I think I have turned a big corner. I had my pity party yesterday. Everything just closed in so I went ahead and had a horrible day. By last night I had reached the bottom of the hole. I got it all out – no one was helping me, no one cared, I was working so hard not to be a burden, the only result of getting better was that I had to take on all the responsiblties again, etc. etc. I am not making fun of these things. I suspect that we all have felt these thing. And, YES, it is MUCH harder than it looks. Today I got up and felt nuch better physically. I have cut down on the pain meds, and I am moving easier. I’m sure that I will have down days in the future, but I hope, and I think they won’t be as bad. Sometimes you just have to cry for yourself.
So, the sun is shining (although it’s chilly). Let’s see what happens today.