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.
Hello, Patti. Brenda, Todd, Barbie, Trac and anyone else who I may have missed. I am glad that you found this “anklebreakers not so anonymous” site. As Liz said a few posts ago, most of us are now chatting on Christi’s other site as its easier to load. Liz posted the link, (back a few posts) and as well there are other instructions to get there above as well. Join us over there… There is lots of good information on that site as well. Barbie, there is a new post on that site where “Erika” could use your advise and experience about getting her metal out. Trac, I found this site invaluable in sharing both my accomplishments and my disappointments. I especially appreciated it while I was immobilized as I found that it took away the sense of depression and loneliness that I was feeling and gave me a place to vent my feelings. Receiving encouragement from others as well as trying to encourage others in our mutual fight to regain mobility was really helpful to me. Even though the people on this site all have different degrees of injury the one thing we do have in common and that we can relate to with each other is the fear that we have caused ourselves some sort of permanent disability. We can all relate to that. So, to Trac and all others, come and join us in chatting on the other site… I think you will find it most helpful. Lois
Thank you!!
I was trying to find the answer to whether or not it was normal for the location of my metal to cause pain, after 14 months. But, I learned so much more. I had an accident, causing compound fractures in both ankles, shattered all the bones in my right leg. And, my left forearm and wrist. My dr first considered amputation, but tried to save it with an external fixator and lots of metal. I was put in a very lousy nursing home for 8 mos, (bad insurance), and they did not do a very good job of helping me heal. So, I decided to defect. My mom moved into an elevator building. I still cannot walk, as many of my bones have fused, but my dr. is so wonderful, he keeps coming up with ways that we can possibly save the leg (I’m in a cast right now after a heel cord lengthening). So far no luck, but, I keep working out as best I can, and keeping the faith as they say to. It makes me sad to see that so many others have experienced this, but I’m thankful you are willing to share your story. Makes a person feel not so alone. As, I’m one, that too, doesn’t like to sound like I’m complaining, so I say very little about it. But, sometimes, it is necessary to talk.
Peace and Healing to all of you,
trac in Nebraska
Hi all my fellow ankel breakers. I broke my ankel on June 6 2001. I was on a trampoline with 2 other people. when they both went up in the air I came down when mat was as tight as it could be and people said they heard it across the yard.I broke both bones and the doctored said it was a mess. I had a 6inch plate with 6 screws on the left side and a 4 inch plate and 3 screws on the right side. pretty much like everyone else. hurt like CRAZY. In Nov of 2001 I was rejecting the hardware on right side. I could not walk and the doctor had to remove the hardware. Was not bad at all compared to the original surgery. Then guess what, in March 2002 I was rejecting the other side.YEP! another surgery.Well it has been 6 years and I still have a limp but not all the time. When i walk alot It really bothers me. I still swell but again it is after walking alot.I try to do pt but hurts to much. I go see a Orthopedic doctor is 2 weeks. Wish me luck
Hi all my fellow ankel breakers. I broke my ankel on June 6 2001. I was on a trampoline with 2 other people. when they both went up in the air I came down when mat was as tight as it could be and people said they heard it across the yard.I broke both bones and the doctored said it was a mess. I had a 6inch plate with 6 screws on the left side and a 4 inch plate and 3 screws on the right side. pretty much like everyone else. hurt like CRAZY. In Nov of 2001 I was rejecting the hardware on right side. I could not walk and the doctor had to remove the hardware. Was not bad at all compared to the original surgery. Then guess what, in March 2002 I was rejecting the other side.YEP! another surgery.Well it has been 6 years and I still have a limp but not all the time. When i walk alot It really bothers me. I still swell but again it is after walking alot.I try to do pt but hurts to much. I go see a Orthopedic doctor is 2 weeks. Wish me luck
I broke my ankle March 3/10/08. I slipped on some black Ice as I was walking in the door to work. Broke the side of tibia, Shattered it up the middle, broke my fibula and 3 breaks in Talus. I have 22 pins and 2 steel rods placed in my leg. If a horse they probably would of put me down lol! I was in a cast and boot with no weight on it till the end of June. I have been in Physical Therapy since and it’s been slow going. I can’t wear a shoe because of the swelling and I have pins protruding out of my ankle. I’m already developed arthritis in it. Doc says bones are still remodeling but healing well. Going back in 2 months for another look. Plates and screws are coming out, becuuse of screws poking out and little side to side motion. It’s Been a long six months for me. I have a 3 year old and had and 5 day old newborn at home, in the process of moving into a new house when accident occured! Think I have a good case for pain and suffering! My poor wife had to take care of all of us, pack, and plan for the move. Thank god for a great wife and alot of family close by to help. I will kepp you posted
Greetings Ankle Breakers.
Thanks for the kind words and the understanding. We all get to share that edge we hold onto The (fear, uncertainty, exasperation ETC) When we feel down or like we just can’t take one more step to get through this we can look on these boards and smile over some little achievement one of us has made. That’s because we all know how VERY VERY hard it is to make those little achievements. We all know that feeling of satisfaction it gives to get just that little advancement.
Wes as tired as you were just having the strength to throw the kids out of the water and be able to look at them and go “not this time kiddies “ Still just a little bigger and stronger then you makes you want to laugh and on the inside I bet you were? But it also is one little achievement and one more hurtle you crossed on the move forward.
Lee, Louis, Lois
Thanks for your kind words and support, I hope I can inspire some people to move forward and I know that you all have inspired and helped people with your stories your kindness and compassion. You all inspirational to so many people I hope you all keep moving forward and telling stories that not only make us feel better but make us laugh.
My Laugh for the day came last night when I got home from work. My daughters had friends over from Connecticut and I arrived in the driveway at around 12:00 midnight the kids all 17 and 18 year olds four of them two boys two girls were standing next to the car. I looked up and asked them in a Daddy voice where they were going? The driver a Brand new college student chirped in a little voice ( Guy 5ft 10 in about 200 LBS) to Burger King for a snack? I stopped and waited to see what they were going to do. (Looked like deer in the headlights) I said OK not to late. And you have never seen 4 kids move so fast, so I didn’t get a chance to change my mind. I walked into the house and my wife was snickering as she was watching out the kitchen window. Was worth the laugh and watching them get back to the house within an hour and a half ! Burger King is almost 20 min drive from my house Have a good night all
Keep safe all and keep the bottom of the feet on the ground we all seem to have trouble when we let our feet and ankles go off in different directions.
(Copied from Ankle breakers 2 year latter)
Don
Melanie, I suppose you don’t know anything more yet… but just want you to know we continue to think about and pray for you. Mostly we are posting on the other site. I suspect you are reading and following with us, but not up to writing at this time. All good wishes for you.
HI! i AM VERY GLAD TO FIND THIS BLOG. i BROKE AND DISLOCATED MY ANKLE 7YRS. AGO. i HAD 6 SCREWS AND A PLATE PUT IN. NOWIT REALLY HURTS AND I’M THINKING ABOUT HAVING ALL THE HARDWARE TAKING OUT. THE DR. TOLD ME HE COULD TAKE IT OUT AND PUT A SCREW THRU THE BONE TO HOLD IT. I WORRY IF MY FOOT WILL BE STRONG ENOUGH TO WORK ON IT. I WORK IN HOUSEKEEPING AT OUR LOCAL HOSPITAL. WE DON’T WORK WE FLY.LOL THANKS TO ANYONE WHO CAN GIVE MW SOME INFO OR EXPERIENCES ON THIS SUBJECT.
Hope, Rhett, Emily, Patti, Melanie,,, join us on Christi’s other site which is easier to load. Lots more info there. Most of us are over there now because its faster to load. Go back up a few posts on this site and you will find instructions on how to get there from me,,, or in Louise’s post, you will find the link to get there.
Hi Patti, Welcome to our little world of anklebreakers, although I wish it was under better circumstances. I too am almost 3 months into my trimalleor ankle fracture. I broke it on May 21, but didn’t have the surgery until June 2nd. How about you? I’m definitely not dancing now, but am up and walking (with my Air Boot). Every day gets a little easier. Anyway, just wanted to invite you to come on over to our new blog site… this one has gotten so slow to load that Christi started a new page “Update-Broken Ankle-2 years later.” Most of the ‘regular’ posters go there now. Come join us…
https://www.twistermc.com/christi/87/broken-ankle-2-years-later/
Wow 🙂 So glad to find this website and hear your stories. I now know my healing process is normal and takes more time than I thought it would. Almost 3 months after my trimalleor fractures I thought I’d be dancing but I now know it takes much longer. Lol, wish my doctor had explained the healing process better. Thank you to all who comment on here, its put my mind at rest and I know I just need to ride it out to be better.
ADVISORY: THE FOLLOWING POST CONTAINS INFO AND RECOLLECTIONS ON ANKLE BREAKS REGARDING PAINKILLERS, FUSION, AND SELF PITY, AND MAY BE A BIT LENGTHY, AS I TEND TO RAMBLE ON A BIT. ANY ONE NOT DESIRING TO READ ANY OF THIS ARE FOREWARNED AND ARE ADVISED TO SKIP THIS POST AND CONTINUE ON TO THE NEXT ONE. THIS IS A SLIGHT ATTEMPT AT HUMOR.
Hey Melanie,
So good to hear from you again. Glad you are doing well with the running and biking. Good for you. With a small dose of self pity I can say that I miss doing both of those things. I ran track in high school (of course the Olympic track events are on now, which brings back memories, not of the Olympics, of course, just running track) and was the fastest qualifier on the 880 for the Police Trials, back in 1975. I was 23 yrs old back then. The guy running with and next to me flew in from Hawaii for one of the three positions offered with the police department, 3 postions and over 1500 applicants, even back then, but I crossed the line and he and I kept running against each other, and I finally outran and outlasted him, and when he quit, I slowed and we walked in together. For those too young to recall or even know about it now, the country was broke back then, following Vietnam, New York was considering bankruptcy, and every state, county and city entity back then was feeling the hurt. Gerald Ford instituted a 2 year wage and hiring freeze, nationwide. When anyone quit or retired, they were not replaced. There were no knew positions at all. None. It affected me because although I was already a deputy sheriff and I was hoping to lateral over to the local police dept. and work there. Just much busier than the county, more action, more chance to do and to learn, and with police work, most of it is on the job training, after the academy, because it all concerns people, violation against society, against the public good, behavior, tactics, the whole thing. When the freeze was lifted after two years, on Jan. 1, 1978, I was first on the list then and hired by the police dept and had a great 5 year career, until I retired with my knee giving out following an arrest. You still had to qualify to be hired, but if you were already in the business, and were lateralling over, you were given preference, presumably because you were a known quantity.
And now of course, I will never run again, or even get close to it. Can still ride a bike though, so there is a silver lining. But that will take a lot of work and retraining, as that will not be the same either, but I can do that. Poor me. It has been a year and a half since my break, and four operations and I have yet to give in a feel sorry for myself, because this time, even though I drew the short straw, there are many many in worse shape than I, and so I get a bit nostalgic for the past, but hey, I had a past, and I’ve got my memories. I want to of course, wah wah wah, but it doesn’t cut it. Surely I am through all the phases of a life changing injury like this, but I don’t feel like I have gone through any of them or have processed it. I knew when I heard the crunch and heard the snap and ligament tears that it was a bad one. So I think I had immediate acceptance of my situation, right then, and just dealt with it. Because although I joke about it, really, what is there to process? We all deal with this particular injury every day, and every time we sit up, take a step, whatever, we are reminded that it is with us.
My ankle, post fusion (which I now feel like I should have done, so heed these words anklebreakers, DO NOT GET A FUSION UNTIL YOU ACTUALLY ABOLUTELY NEED ONE!).
Take it from me. My doc said I did, so did the 2nd opinion doc, and it was getting worse, but was not as painful as I am experiencing now. Very much pain, and it was supposed to relieve the pain. Very little to no mobility, so you are really hobbled, REALLY HOBBLED. As in very slow. Perhaps its a phase, don’t know, but perhaps I will have grown into it and in a year and not even feel it. I was also motivated to have the fusion now because I was in the process of moving to the north coast then, and in a transitional phase, and with the break and 3 operations, I was getting nowhere, so decided to take action and just get it done. My doc said that with the tolerances in my ankle being so far off, that in a short amount of time I would feel arthritic pain as I have never felt before, and meds could only do so much. When you reach the end of your legal tolerances, then comes addiction and abuse, and that was not an option, not that I was worried about that. I feel that if you really need the pills, by all means take them. I do!
Many breakers have voiced concern over becoming addicted. For info, (so I have been told) I have been taking the strongest allowable controlled narcotic painkiller without a tripilicate (a triple copy form: one copy stays with the doc, one for the pharmacist, and one to the State Dept. of Justice, to keep an eye on doctor shopping for meds like Rush Limbaugh was doing with Oxycontin, which requires a triplicate. Percodan, percocets, Oxycontin and Oxycodone are all triplcate required drugs, I believe, either a Class 1 or Class 3 narcotic. (anyone out there with better facts feel free to correct me, as I am not a pharmacist). I have been taking NORCO 10 APAP 325 since the break. 1000 mg’s of hydrochodone with 325 mgs. if Acetominiphin, twice or 3 times daily. And they work, don’t even feel a buzz. When I don’t have them my ankle and other body parts hurt like hell (20 surgeries so far, most from police work; 3 foot, 4 ankle, 6 knees, 1 lower back, 1 shoulder, 3 eye, and the rest kids stuff, tonsils, etc…) so when you run out, the edge is gone and you feel it. But I have never overdone it or felt like I was addicted. I have run out and felt pain, but have never gotten sick or felt withdrawls or anything like that. And I have waited a while to refill, and never outran the scripts. No sense taking too many and not getting refilled dut to time limitations. Docs and pharmacies know if you are taking too many too fast. Lucky I guess. Non addictive personality. Smoking, drinking, etc… never claimed me. Quit smoking years ago, still have a beer or stronger now and then. But I do need the pills, because when you feel the pain, you want it to stop. I doubt that it will ever go away to the point that I don’t want to take the edge off. If that makes me an addict, then I will wear the title proudly.
Anyway, back to you, if you had a bird coloneas your surgeon then you are probably in good hands. Don’t worry until you have a reason to worry. It may indeed be nothing. I am praying for you.
I don’t write in much anymore. Seems most of the old timers don’t, and things change, and evolve. Nothing stays the same.
OK, back to me. I sent photo’s of my xrays to Anklequest, who is a very smart one, and she emailed back and asked me where the bottom of my fibula was. It had been cut off during the fusion at a 45% angle and was just gone. Now I had seen that, and wondered about that, but never really thought about it. And she really made me think about it. I have always taken an active participation in my injuries, and was told by my ortho doc (one of the best by the way, board certified, the whole bit) and he is the type to just to it and not tell you. I was told that a bit of my hip would be harvested to rebuild the ankle, and after the surgery, no surgery on my hip. The procedure he used is called an ANKLE ARTHRODESIS, and it is used to provide the most stabiltiy, least amount of trauma, to stabilize the ankle. The bottom of the fibula is cut off and part of that bone fragment is used for the restructuring of the ankle. You just don’t have an outside ankle bone, and there is in fact a slight depression where the bone used to be. Two large, 3/8 inch or bigger, perhaps 5 or 6 inch lnch long bone screws are used, drilled up throught the bottom of the calcanium, through the talus, and into the bottom of the Tibula. And that is why (I think) it was so painful. There is so much truama and intrusion into all of those bones, and nerves in those bones, that during the hospital stay I lived on painshots every four hours, and seemed in a near delerious state most of that four days, although I was not, really, but of all my operations in my life, it was definately the most painfull, and not because it was the last. Anyway. That’s over now.
The fibula is still in place right next to the tibula with connective ligaments, tendons and such, and there is no chance of it moving or slipping or causing any problem. It’s just when you are used to the idea of it being there, and being attached, and then you find out that it is gone (thanks again, Anklequest) it doese cause concern. So I Googled the facts and found the ANKLE ARTHRODESIS procedure. Still mad at the doc for not telling me what he was going to do, but not quite as mad.
For all you anklebreakers out there who feel changed, less strong, older, more dilapidated after your break, don’t feel alone. I am 56 and feel like I am now in my 70’s, seriously, not kidding, and that is the hardest thing to fight, I think. The feeling of loss of control and age setting in and nothing you can do about it. So I joined a local gym around the corner, and am fighting it. And I will be that older, distinguished guy with the white hair and the cane, boring everyone with stories of my past, of the old days. For one thing it does make you relate to and feel akin to the others one sees, now in the same boat. We are all in this togather, now matter how alone we feel.
That’s it. Done.
Melanie, keep the faith, and don’t quit smiling. You will beat whatever it is, and besides, you sound too busy with the husband and kids to allow yourself to wallow. Keep up the good work and good hearing from you.
Hoping all of you anklebreakers out there are doing well. Watch your steps.
Clark
Dear HOPE, RHETT, and EMILY,
Welcome! You will find this site as inspiration, motivation, and determination. I too have a tri malleolar break (still cannot properly pronounce it though) and have one pin and 10-11 screws, still in. My hubby is active duty military and we moved before I had them out. Now my ortho guy here does not really, really want to do it.
I broke it on the La Luz trail in Albuquerque, NM in August 2005 and and still stiff in the mornings. Still have pain in cold or weather changes. But run and bike. Oh, yeah….I just turned 44, so I believe age has a lot to do with the healing process.
Anywho….. go back and read through all the entries. And read them again. It might take you weeks. I’m not kidding. But it made me feel much less isolated. And gave me hope for long term future. Especially with folks like ANKLEQUEST, DON, and CLARKE! They are amazing with everything they have been through. I definately have no reason to complain.
And to catch up the “oldies”, I had my “surgery” a week ago on my tongue. I had to be intebated (spelling?), so I have felt like I have had strep throat. AND they took biopsies from on top of my tongue, under it, on the side, on the mass itself. It felt like someone had been running around on my tongue with cleats. And have not heard anything. I go back on the 3rd. When I was in recovery my doc told my husband, “Looks like a mass. Like a tumor. Feels like a tongue”. Apparently in feeling it there is no definition. He maintains he has no idea what it is. Said he has not seen anything like it. Now, he is a retired full bird colonel (did I say this in an earlier entry) and is now a GS working for the hospital as an ENT. I do not know whether to be disturbed or not? Could it be a weird viral infection? Could it be my thyroid? Will it just self-resolve? So, those of you who are believers, keep praying for me.
I am running and biking again. Kiddos started back to school. Life continues even with the knocks we go through.
Melanie
Feb. 23, 2007 I had the same problem I shattered mine while walking.I have had nothing but problems. I had a plate and 11 screws.All of mine has been taken out and it feels a lot better. There is some crutching after the hardware removal around but not near as much.The surgery isn’t near as bad as the first one.I have had three surguries so far and still can not walk right.The doc. said I have everthing from tendonitis to fibrosis of the tendons and the nerve that ran across the plate is like a new funny bone if anything taps it locks up the foot for a second or two.So everything that could go wrong went wrong with me just call me Murphy.I hope this helps I didn’t have an option on removing mine and im glad becuase it feels that much better being out of their.
Hi to all that have broken bones.
I fell down one step at home and broke the fibula and the tip of the tibula. Have 1 plate and 2 pins. It’s been just 9 weeks but I am starting to be able to put some weight on the ankle but still must wear that heavy boot until I see the doctor next week. He said at that time I will go to a tennis shoe and maybe an ankle brace. I don’t have much pain but do have stiffness and numbness and the areas around the pins and plate annoy me all the time. It is very sore and there is slight swelling in those areas.
I still am not driving but hope to be next week.
I am 61 years old so I think my quick recovery is very hopeful for the older people who break bones. Just eat well and don’t fall anymore.
i suffered a tri malleolar brake to my left ankle 3-24-08 at work when a heavy steel frame came down on top of it–doctor gave me a steel plate and 8 screws–and when i saw the x-rays i was like –thats some shoddy work –screws going in all directions–anyway–ive been in physical therapy twice a week for 2.5 months and its gotten a lot better–but no where near what it was–pain comes and goes–stiffness is always knocking especially in the morning–i have very limited side to side movement which has led the doctor to want to repo the hardware at the 6 month mark–hoping that would help give me more motion–
my main concern is my ability to go back to work –i am a structural welder which means heavy lifting, lots of stairs, balancing and dealing with rough terrain–
this is a great blog scene–
a hard thing to deal with is the unknown–will i be able to do this etc.–
thanks to all who have contributed
Greetings Ankle Breakers
Theresa
Believe me I can understand and sympathize with your feelings as well as your sons. To start I was in a car crash with my Wife in the car. We were hit by a drunken drive while we were on our way home from a friend’s house after dinner. My Wife and I have been together for 30 years and of that we have been married for 26 years. She had a broken left arm a broken right collar bone, broken back damaged right knee and (their words) Splattered intestines.
I had two broken ankles broken right femur broken back broken left arm broken ribs (and on and on) Too many injuries to remember. Oh yeah I also got congestive heart failure and died 3 times and was on life support for 4 days. But after all of that stuff I will tell you the most frightening thing I could ever imagine was not being able to focus my mind clearly enough to tell if my Wife was real or a figment of my imagination. Had I lost the most important person in my life? Could it possibly be that I had not done everything in the world to protect Her? These two questions haunted me for almost a month before I got my head cleared enough from the drugs and anesthesia. Once that was clear and I could think a little I began to think My God how much of a burden am I going to be on my family? Are they going to have to take care of this 47 year old handicap gimp? Am I going to bring my whole family down because some Drunk hit me?
I also prayed that the drunk had of finished me rather then make me a burden to everyone that I Love. If my Wife had died in the accident there was no way I wanted to stay around. Life without her is not even worth thinking about for me. But I also knew that I had to keep going as I had 2 Daughters. 1 got married on July 12th and DAD got to dance with her at her wedding. And the other is going into her senior year of High School. So I knew I still had to see that part through till the end. In that situation we have a tendency to crawl into our own world and forget what we have to be Thankful for. We forget how much just being around may mean to others, how we impact their lives? His pain is tremendous his battles great but he will survive these; He will pull through but not alone. MOM. He will need every ounce of your Love and Strength. The same determination you went though and the pain you went through to bring him into this world.
Be there ne gentle when needed, be hard when needed and walk out of the room when the tears start flowing and it tears you up inside seeing him in this condition. But he will rely on you more now then ever and for all of that I have to say I admirer you for your strength and unconditional Love of your Child. It is by far the most powerful emotion known to man. Motherhood is a job they say that is never done. You give us life you nurture us when we are sick you laugh when we are happy and you comfort us when we are down. Our very strength and ideology comes from our Mothers. You will make it through this and we will all be here to help you make it. All you need to do is look and we will be here to help and answer questions if we can or just be a shoulder to cry on when you need, or just someone to listen when you need to vent. So just look for us and write we will answer. Keep safe and always keep moving forward.
Don
I broke my ankle and shin in 6 places about 6 years ago. It’s been achy off and on, but nothing too bad. I recently started taking a dance class which incorporates some african type dancing and some jumping. My ankle has never been this achy and swollen (not even after doing a marathon- I walked it). Has anyone experienced this before?
Hi Ceceila!!! Lovely to have you on here!! (Although it does mean you have a broken ankle…boooo!)
As Lois said this site is becoming too hard to load, as there are so many posts on here, so most people have changed to posting on another site which is the same people, and similar site, just easier to load.
https://www.twistermc.com/christi/87/broken-ankle-2-years-later/#comment-109277
That should work for you!! If you would like to post on the other site, that would be great to hear about what happened to you and your ankle, and we can all answer any questions for you (if we know the answers anyway!)
I had 2 screws removed on 7th July (after my break/dislocation on 23rd april this year!) but i have 5 others and a plate still in,a nd staying in for some good, unless they cause me pain! Don’t worry…this op only lasted about 7 mins for me, and was under a local anesthetic, and was totally fine (and I dont like needles, or pain!) I havn;t personally started physiotherapy, but am starting mine on tuesday, so I will let you know how that goes!!
But nice to have u on the site!! As we said, most people are posting on the other site now!!
Louise xx
Cecelia, Hello and welcome. I want to direct you to the other site that most of us are currently posting on as it is easier to use. Go to the very top of this page, click on the first words- Randomness of Christi- when the new page comes up, scroll down under the Disneyworld blog and you will see another site on broken ankles (after two years but most of us have not hit the one year mark yet) That site is quite active these days and many on there are currently doing physio, although I am not certain whether anyone is doing so after having long screws out. But we will find out right??? People on Chrisi’s web site are great, and believe me they help all that they are able to. Look forward to hearing from you on that site,,, and it will be interesting to hear about your experience of having the screws out.
I broke my ankle on 7/5 and will be having the two larger screws removed on 8/14, however, the surgern will not be removing the smaller screws nor has there been mention of these screws ever being removed. Hey can anyone give me some feed back on physical therapy since I will probably start in the next few weeks.
STICKY, THAT IS WONDERFUL!!!! That gives me hope for my goals. For the first time in my life I am running (BTW, I turn 44 tomorrow). I am hoping to do the Seaside 3K (maybe 5K, can’t remember) in January and the Gate-to-Gate run up at Eglin AFB next Memorial Day.
But what I have to tell you is that I really needed to see/ read the “Keep the Faith” entry. Don’t know if you read my blog about having a biopsy next week? I had a great Tuesday and Wednesday, but then for some reason last night was really down. REALLY DOWN. Had myself diagnosed with terminal cancer and only 6 months to live sort of thing! I was boo-hoo-ing. Then I sit down and read your entry. It absolutely lifted me up out of my gloom and feeling sorry for myself. Thank you for that.
And CONGRATULATIONS on your AMAZING accomplishment!!!!
Sincerely,
Melanie
Sticky, Reports like yours really help us to keep the faith. Thank you so much for sharing your yearly victory. That is just wonderful.
Hi Folks
I’ve not posted on here in a while.
To all of you out there KEEP THE FAITH.
I broke my ankle last 11th August 07, today I ran my first 1000 metres without pain, UNBELIEVABLE.
I though the day would never come and it has – AT LAST
Good luck everyone
YAY!!!!! It worked. I was beginning to get seriously frustrated. Oh, and the Eagles twice. Man, good times. Good times. I saw Bad Company once and got so stoned that I ate my own body weight at Taco Bell afterward. And I WASN’T EVEN SMOKING!!!! I did not realize that Bad Company had so many……dope head fans. There were some smokers at the Eagles and Stones, but not nearly as bad as Bad Company!
So…..About a month ago a man died in my driveway. Nope, not kidding. As some of you know, my hubby is active duty military, and we lived on base. We were having plumbing trouble, so I called maintenance and they sent someone over. He snaked the main line into our house, confirmed with the guy outside that the water was flowing, he loved on our dog, kidded with myself and the kiddos, then left. I mopped up the water in our bathroom, put all the soaked towels into the wash, called my husband to let him know what was going on. Maybe 7 minutes passed. I walked past our front door and saw a fire truck, an ambulance, two SP cars (Security Police) and lots of maintenance vans. I ran out because my son had gone out (about the same time as the maintenance man) and had no idea why no one had come to tell me. I get out front and they are loading someone into the ambulance (the rear of it is facing away from me). I ask a neighbor what is going and and she tells me a maintenance man had collapsed! Never regained consciousness! After a few more questions I realized it had been the man that had JUST BEEN IN OUR HOUSE!!!! Couldn’t believe it. I had to sit down. How weird life is…Well, part of this story is last summer I did CPR on a co-worker and he made it, so I really beat myself up for me not following him out and me doing CPR on him. The thing is CPR was done on him by his co-worker that had been out front. And then the EMTs did the AED thing on him twice and he just never…..came back. Plus, when he fell he busted his head on the street, so there was a blood stain there for awhile until we had some big storms come through. Plus the scrape marks from where he snaked. I think I cried on and off all week. He was 51, a widower of about 6 months, heavy smoker, overweight, blah blah blah. I think he just did not take care of himself.
The next week was my daughter’s birthday, so all the preparation for that. I was so stressed! Does anyone else out there get stressed about your kid’s birthday parties?
The next week my husband went TDY with his work. And I had dental appointments and a scheduled doctor appointment for myself, and some other routine stuff, so that was just a crazy week.
So, now the big thing. Last Monday I came back from my interval running/ walking and when I walked into the house I had an absolute searing pain in my left ear. Sat me down it hurt so bad. I took an Ibuprophen 800 but still fell like I had a crick in my neck all day. Even a little throbbing in my ear, but as you all know, after the pain we have been through with our ankles, this ear pain was VERY managable. Tuesday morning I had a cramp sort of in my back just below my left shoulder blade. I thought it had just become an extension of the cramp/ eustacian tube thing in my neck and took another Ibuprophen 800. Got through the day. Wednesday, still having neck/ ear/ shoulder tightness and pain, again still very managable. Thought it was just stress or something. At lunch on Wednesday, I suddenly noticed I was having trouble swallowing! Later that afternoon and that night my speech deteriorated. So Thursday morning I called my doctor for an appointment. I went in and I think they thought I had a TIA or a stoke. I felt I hadn’t because my dad had a TIA in 1988 and I knew I had none of the other neurological symptoms. None. Just my speech. Well, my primary care doctor called the neurologist (who was at the dentist) and he said to admit me. In the next 24 hours I had a CAT scan, an MRI (which they promptly lost for about an hour), and an ultrasound of my two carotid arteries. The CAT scan was fine, the ultrasound was fine, but my MRI showed I have a “mass” at the base of my tongue. Off to the ENT I went on that Friday afternoon. Bottom line is, I go in on the 12th for pre-op stuff and then the 14th for a biopsy and more poking around. Initially the ENT admitted to being “gloomy” about what it could be, but they scoped me and he said “Hmmmm…..not what I thought it was going to be”. Said whatever the “thingy” was, it was symmetrical, which apparently made him feel better. Looking at the pictures later, my husband and I really thought it was the back of my tongue, just swollen! That is what gave the ENT some measure of hope. That it is symmetrical, just swollen on one side. The ENT said there are 80,000 different kinds of cancer and 40,000 different kinds of things that aren’t cancer. So I am praying it’s one of those 40,000 other things. Plus I have been living a very healthy lifestyle (eating right, exercise, etc) for over a year now and never smoked and rarely drink. Because I am on Weight Watchers, I look at a beer and think “chocolate”. So it just does not make sense for me to have cancer. But as we all know, it’s still possible. So, for you believers out there, please keep me and my family in your prayers. And really the only symptom I have is my neck and tongue. I sound like Sylvester the cat (“Thufferin’ Thuccotatsh”). And I can’t spit. Which sounds like “Yeah, so”, but have you ever tried to brush your teeth and not be able to spit? It’s very frustrating.
Okay, enough about me.
CLARKE, you are such a goofball. Of course I knew you were being sarcastic when you said, “Melanie, you think you are so smart”. Althought the CAT scan did confirm that I had a brain!!! I just have been followig these blogs long enough to know how you sound/ write. Very articulate and intelligent. And I am THRILLED you are still participating! I think about THERESA’s son and how even though his accident happened less than two months ago, all of the entries in here can help him in some way or other. If the pain will allow him to read. I remember in my first days after the accident and then surgery, I could do nothing but feel sorry for myself and cry because of the pain.
And THERESA, go throught and read and re-read all these entries. It will take weeks. I’m not kidding. And read the entries on the other site. There is more on that site, including LOIS’s interaction with the young man at the mall.
Which, LOIS, I find amazing! Most 21 year olds are pretty into themselves and appearances. So for him to have done that, dance with an “older woman” at a mall, I think that is HUGE! And we do end up laughing at some of the things we have gone through. My husband still calls me “gimpy”. And do any of y’all watch the Pink Panther movies (with Peter Sellers)? When my ankly is giving me problems, I will say “Swine ankle”, or “Svine ankle”, in my best Inspector Cleuseau (spelling?) accent. And, after almost three years, I have discovered I have titanium in my ankle. If I had had metal, I would not have been able to have the MRI. And LOIS, how was your escalator experience? I went on on my good foot and got off with my good foot, pulling my gimpy one behind. Is that what you ended up doing?
LOUISE, how was New York? I have not seen any of your entries since you went. Maybe you are on the other site? I will check there, too.
Okay, I think that catches me up. I am going to copy and past this to the other site. Well, some of it.
I missed you guys!!!!
Melanie
DON, I was so happy to hear about you being able to dance at your daughter’s wedding. My father died about a year before I got married and that was a tough day for me, as well as a joyous one. I am sure he was dancing, just wish it had been here with me. I am also glad that the meds allowed you to be…upright and able to function. I know your daughter was over the moon. I think in most instances, dad’s (or step-dad’s or uncles) are so very important in a woman’s life. YA-HOO FOR YOU!!!!
CLARKE, I loved reading your entry. Even though I am only 44 (on Friday), I have an older soul. I LOVE that music. One of my favorite movies is “Good Morning Vietnam”. Another “Apollo 13”. Anything with that generation of music. And I too have seen THE STONES in concert. Man, they are seriously unattractive men, but what talent! And what a concert! I have also seen Paul McCartney which was AMAZING! I would love to see Crosby, Stills and Nash. When I am doing my exercise in the mornings, that’s what I listen to.
So, I am sorry I have not been around lately but my life has gotten a little crazy to say the least, none of which has to do with my ankle.
Okay, I have tried to send this a couple of times, to I am going to so a “Submit Comment” test. If it works, I will explain all in the next entry.
Melanie
Comment by Clark
August 2, 2008 @ 3:08 am
Good Morning VietNam, or should I say . . . Good Morning Anklebreakers.
I never had the honor of serving in Vietnam, and would have gone in a NewYorkMinute if my number (lottery number back then, 1971-72) had come up, but it didn’t. I remember pulling over in my MGC (with the big straight 6 cylinder engine) and listening to the DJ on the local AM station reading off the numbers. For 1971 I was over 250 out of 365, a sure bet I wouldn’t be drafted. No one wanted to be drafted to that war, back then, but many of my friends died there. No one would want to be drafted to Iraq today, if there was a draft, but they would go, it they were called, and I would also, then and now, if my number came up. It seems just like yesterday that I was listening to the read out of those numbers. The following year I again had a high number over 250, assured that I would not have to go. But I would have, yet I did not volunteer. It was a bad war for the wrong reasons. Much like Iraq is today. I went into Law Enforcement instead, and made a 30 year career out of it, mostly, so I guess the force guided me into a parallel direction, at least, one that I could somewhat control, and perhaps could make a difference. I hope I did. Perhaps that is for others to judge.
I would never have passed the physical anyway. Blind in my right eye, but it looked OK. And I knew how to fake it. Could still see out of the side with peripheral vision, just not straight on, a gift from an Opthalmalogist when I was 7 to correct a wandering eye. He cut the wrong muscle and I never had normal vision again. But you adjust. It was fun having double vision back then, seeing two heads on the teacher at the front of the room, two blackboards, whatever. But I could never make myself crosseyed again, that was over. It just didn’t work like it was supposed to anymore. But at 7, what did I care? I knew how to fake the machines at the DMV (over the years I became an expert at those crazy machinges), and I never had a problem with parking, shooting a gun rifle, except that I had to shoot with my left eye on the rifle sight, and shoot with my left hand and hold the rifle with right hand, backwards, when I was right handed, which drove the FBI guys at the Academy nuts, but I made it anyway. I was OK for the County and City, but not the CHP even with corrected lenses. Their standards were tougher than the local cops. But no one ever knew, and no one ever suffered because of it. I learned to adjust. Just like we all do to some extent with our broken ankles.
But I am talking about Time Travel here, much like the protagonist in Slaughter House Five (Kurt Vonnegut, 1969) in which Billy Pilgrim can mentally time travel to different times and places in his life just by wishing so, several times without wishing so, and I too have time traveled. Back to those times and places, much like pulling over and waiting with anticipation to find out my draft number, or sitting outside my ex girlfriends place while she was inside with my replacement, using all my strength to grip the wheel of my car and not go inside and make things worse. But I was smart enought then, to drive away and let her make her choice, althought it hurt. But I grew up a bit. We have to in those situations, or we don’t move on.
Much like dealing with a broken ankle, as minor or as bad as it can be, we have to deal or we don’t grow as a person, and we don’t move on.
Today I bought a time machine at WalMart. An old junior high and high school pal, just a dear freind really, is bedridden for the most part, with dead kidneys that require nightly chemicle dialysis (for the last 10 years, beyond transplants) and just two years ago suffered a stroke that paralyzed his left side completely (and I thought I had it rough) so that he is mainly bedridden. He is all there, fortunately, and has a loving wife that will go the distance for him, and even he doesn’t think he has it as bad as some. An optimist for sure. That’s Dan.
So I purchased this DVD/CD everything recorder, that will record anything from cable or dish to a cd, and any type of audio that can be downloaded from a stereo component stack; XM, Sirius, CD’s, tapes, records, AM/FM, whatever, just hit record and let it do it’s thing. $98.00 with tax. A time machine that will record our oldies from the late ’60’s and early ’70’s (and there must be some old hippies or counter culture non conformists out there that can relate. Put on a cd, Chicago, Crosby, STills, Nash, the Eagles, Credence, Santana, whatever, the best music that came from that time period, not to knock the ’50’s that got it started, but this was our time, and it was great. I was close to the stage at the Altamont Concert on Dec. 6th, 1969, with my older sister and her boyfriend (who was in the movie Gimme Shelter) being chased by the Hells Angels for his beautiful fringe leather jacket. They never got his jacket, but we had to pull over at a station to allow him to rinse out his pants after we escaped the chaos, it was so bad, and he was so scared.
Long hair, Frye Boots, round glasses, a VW Bus and a beautiful girl and her Irish Setter, are my memories of that night. I met her at the stage, she was beautiful, rocking out to the Stones when they appeared on stage, which sent the crowd wild, with everyone pushing forward 500,000 strong from the edges, squeezing everone in like sardines, and she asked me to hold her dogs leash, while she danced, and I did. The crown pushed in, the dog went nuts, I dropped and picked up the leash, pushed into the stage with everyone else, and met a ritht hook from some bodyguard Hells Angel that knocked off my glasses and knocked me back into the crowd. They stood me up, I grabbed the dog, the girl, and yelled at my sister and Jeff to follow and we got the hell out of there. 5 or 5 died that night, one stabbed by the Angels (he had it coming I guess, he had an open knife out) but several others were trampled and run over in the parking lot by the crowd and others.
I drove her home to Oakland. Her name to the best of my recollection was something like the actress Claudine Longier, but it was more like Claudine Maurier (pronounced like Mawyaaaaay) or something like that. We never reconnected and I have often thought about her, but she is gone, somewhere lost in time.
A wonderful time to grow up, back then. So much going on in so many ways that we were so unaware of, yet had so much meaning down the road.
So with this recording device, I have sifted throught the used vinyl stacks, the used tapes and CD’s for musice from that time, to go back in time. to time travel. And it’s easy.
Close your eyes, and listen, and allow yourself to take yourself back, way before the fall, the break, the surgery, the PT, the memories of the pain, and the disability, and for awhile, for memories, making cd’s of another time, for a friend that can only remember those times in his minds eye and his ears, and travel like Billy Pilgrim to a better place and time, and listen to the music again.
I’m listening to it now and going back in time. America is playing Ventura Highway, and it’s like I’m driving that schoolbus again in the morning on the highway route, south and then north again, from Napa County south to American Canyon and back up the east side, picking up all of those sleepy junior high and high schoolers again, in the fog, listening to America, Seals and Croft (Summer Breeze, Diamond Girl), Carly Simon (Your’e So Vain, you probably think this song is about you), Chicago, Santana, the Eeagles, they are all there. Back in time, a thought, a memory, away. From that portable radio stuck between the window fans, which was alway stolen after a few months, and I had to replace it, again. Back in time. You can take yourself away from all of this for a while, if you just let yourself go.
Hope everyone is getting better.
Clark
Copied from Broken Ankle 2 Year Update.
Hi to all. I have not disappeared but have migrated to the second site, where most recent stuff is going.
Theresa. Sorry to read about your son, and as a parent seeing their pain can be really bad. If you read the posts on here, you will see now much progress people have made. Don had a bad accident (deails somewhere above) and has made such good progress. Your son needs all the support he can get from professionals and from physio, so that he can start to recover. That takes determination and positivity, and with your support and love I am sure he will get there.
Best wishes,
Sandra
Hi Theresa, WELCOME…This site has been quiet lately (with holidays I guess), and it is really good to hear from someone new even though the circumstances under which you are writing are far less than desirable. If you back up a couple of entries on this page, you will see where I provided Karen instructions on how to get into the second site on broken ankles…by Christi. There are more entries and more information there. On that second site, I just made an entry about a 21 year old motorcycle victim who I met yesterday in a local mall. Reading it, might help to lighten up the depression your son is feeling and your fear that things will not gradually improve. Anyway it is worth a read, as I was just amazed at the resiliency of youth when I met this young man. Dont be surprised by your son’s depression as it seems that even those of us with singular and minor breaks suffered from it. Also the frustration of caregivers, such as yourself, has been a common thread running through the posts on this site. I think most of us have found venting on this blog invaluable, and have benefitted from each others tips, encouragement and had an occasional chuckle over someone else’s experiences. I think learning to laugh a bit at the experience is all part of it.
I hope some of the others who have suffered the more serious injuries will take a moment to offer you and your son information and encouragment.
My son, Andrew, age 21, was in an awful motorcycle accident on June 1, 2008. He came home on July 24, 2008.
His injuries included a broken left femur, a broken tib fib on his left leg, left ankle dislocation and crushed. His right leg was and still is the worst. Those injuries almost cost him his life. They included crushed and dislocated right ankle, broken tib fib, his right knee was totally dislocated and was behind his leg, the worst, he lost 40% of his calf muscle to the pavement.
My son has had 15 surgeries while in the hospital with several more to come. He was sent home non weight bearing to both legs.
It’s hard seeing your child suffer while you stand by and are helpless. Every movement causes him severe pain. He cries, not just in pain, but with true regrets about the “what ifs”.
The doctors were good and saved his leg, but is this truely a good thing? They were so conscerned about his physical injuries that they overlooked his psycological needs. Now he is so depressed we don’t know what to do. He is now saying he wishes he had just died instead of all the pain he going through. It upsets him that he is totally dependant on his family for everything. (Who ever thinks that they would ever have to help their child with their toileting needs past the toddler stage?)
How do families cope? His injuries are taking a toll on all of us. All I can do is pray that I don’t snap.
Ok I guess I’m done venting my frustrations and worries. Thanks for listening.
FUSION UPDATE:
Hello everyone. And Liz and Lois, the only consistant bloggers still out there is seems. Just thought I would give a fusion update. On Aug. 9th I will be 4 months post op. Seems like a long time, but since the original break (Trimallealor) May 18th of 2007, I have had four operations, spent 20 + days in hospital, and have worn the boot since the first operation. The doc gave me 3 PT appts, which the PT immediatley after assessing me was able to have him authorize 10 more.
With a fusion there is really no PT one can do, but there is alot that can be done for stride and gait, and muscle building to the atrophy in my calf and hamstring that has occurred since the fusion. Never had any atrophy before the fusion. But the fusion changes everything.
Am walking CJ the Chow Chow every nite for 1.1 miles, his must do routine. He gets tired of watching TV with me all the time and has to get out and mark his territory and smell who’s been by. Still painful, and even more so since I am concentrating on my gait, trying not to look to pathetic with my limp, trying to walk slower with more stability. Getting better.
Also using the abductor and aductor machines, the treadmill, the stationary bike, and leg press (first time today, my body weight plus 70 lbs. Just getting started with the PT. In fact when the PT ends, I will be in shape enough to transfer over to a hardbody local gym around the corner, which I just joined for 6 months. By hardbody, I mean no frills; not a meat market, not a place to hook up. Certainly wouldn’t want to be seen by too many people looking the way I do, but I feel like a change is around the corner. The weight and the Type II Diabetes will dissapear, hopefully.
Still on my pain meds, Norco 10 (Hydrochodone 1000 mgs, twice daily or a midday if I need it, with Advil and Aspirin. Can’t feel it like I used to, but definately know wnen it is not there. I think I will need it for some time to come.
Still hard to sleep, but the PT will help, and still have to sleep with the boot on. Feel naked without it and tossing and turning and covers, etc… make it too hard to be without it.
The brace is now useless without a special orthodic shoe. Still had just a bit of flexion before the fusion, but with my right ankle now stuck in a hard fixed 90 degree angle, with the brace on in regular shoe, when you step down you step down flat, can’t roll onto the heel and then roll off on the toes, so looks like hell. The boot is much better as it has a “rocker sole”, convex so that it rolls and make an artificial roll off, an actual almost normal walk, that disappears in the shoe, which has a flat sole. So I now have a sript (r/x) for a new pair of shoes, which will help alot. The left is still a twelve, but I think the right will have to be e VERY WIDE 13 or 14 as the brace is hard to get into a shoe, and takes up alot of space.
Getting up and down is still the same old Pain In the Ass it has always been. But thank God for small favors, at least there is some consistancy, even if it is nuetral, or negative. Always hard to start out walking, but it gets better and stronger once your’e going.
What else? This blog has changed, but then everything does now and then, doesn’t it. Not for the worse or better. Perhaps people really are on vactation or have moved on. I still write in when motivated and am glad to participate. Still interesting to read the other stories from the newer members. It may get back to normal someday, whatever normal is. None of us have seen “normal” since the second before the break. Most people don’t get that. I still think an ankle break is the least understood injury one can face, at least in the eyes of others. We certainly know what we face. Some get better, some stay in a holding pattern, some end up fused like me (no self pity here, glad I did it, better than the pain and looseness and slack, movement, than before).
But life goes on and there is always something new to learn or get used to.
I wish everyone well whereever they are, whatever they are doing, and just watch your steps. Summer is here, so is the drought, the fires, and the gas prices. Everyone enjoy and REMEMBER TO VOTE IN NOVEMBER, no matter how you vote. JUST DO IT.
Take care all.
Clark
Hi Karen, if you go to the very top of this page… and click on the words “Randomness of Christi”… when the new page comes up, scroll down past the disneyland stuff, etc, you will get to the updated site for Christi after two years, (rather than one year). That’s where most of the posts seem to be happening these days, except for Clark and Don who are smart enough to enter their comments on both sites. I think people are finding it easier to scroll to the bottom of the new site, and also that new site appears to accept comments more easily and lose them less often. Just in tip, in case you didn’t know how to access the new site. It took me a while to figure it out.
I don’t know about the ultrasound but I would be very interested to know how it works for you. All the best.
Has anybody had ultrasound done on their ankles months into their accidents to help with their pain? I was never given ultrasound treatments during my initial physical therapy but thought I would give this a try. Thanks.
Karen
Dave, Welcome,,, I think everyone would like to hear your story of the recovery process.
Greetings ankle breakers.
Hope every one is doing better. Each day hopefulkly is a little better.
Clark
glad to see you on more. I have missed your banter and sense of humor. I hope that you are getting along better and that each day brings improvment. So how is the fusion? They still keep asking if I want to have it done now or later? I keep saying LATER much Later.
Dave
you sound like you did a great job at breaking youself up with a little help from the kids? So tell me more about the replacement? It is one of the things I was told that could be p[ossible in the future? I may need to do a knee, hip and ankle Not sure if I want to or am up to any of them but we will see what life holds.
Also wanted to say hi to everyone else glad to see that you are all improving and hope you all keep it up and stay safe. I am off to vacation starting friday for 2 weeks. I go off to a camping trip where we recreate the Renaissance period. We do a living history and I will be hanging out with about 12 to 14 thousand of my closest friends. If you want to see look back to one of my posts and you will see the links I posted there. I will check in just befoire I leave have fun all and be safe. I will try to also
Don
Dave,
Sounds like you’ve really been throught the mill. I offer my sympaty and empathy. Sounds like your’e a Brit. My earliest ancestors are from Penryn, Cornwall, so who knows, maybe we’re related. I drove truck here in the states (a lorry to you) on and off and have played our American version of football also. Sounds like you really totaled your leg.
The subject of artificial ankle joints came up several weeks ago, and I offered what little I knew from my research. But you are the real deal, and I know many reading this would be glad to hear more of your story on surgery, rehab, etc…
How old are you if I may ask? Youth, overall health and the degree of future usage (career, etc…) were all factors in determining whether one was a candidate for an artificial ankle.
Glad you got through it and are doing well. What percentage of normal would you rate your overall recovery at?
There is another website called Update Broken Ankle Two Years that I will copy this to, and you may want to check that out as well.
Wishing you the best.
Clark
Louise, Are you going to New York on business??? It will be interesting to hear, how you make out at the airport, on the plane itself, and with getting around in New York itself. Never been there, unfortunately but I think it is a taxi city, so that might make mobility easier. But crowded sidewalks etc??? Does anyone know what the escalator experience is like—especially going down. I tend to sort of go downstairs sideways now,,, so I think getting onto an escalator might be tricky. Anyway have a great time, and don’t spend all your money on shoes.
Dave!! Wow! That is indeed a very bad break whilst playing football?? Seriously?? My goodness!! Although saying that, compared to some people’s on here it wasnt that bad, but my orthopedic surgeon said that my ankle was one of the worst he had seen for a long time. I was playing netball, and skidded over on some gravel. Until yesterday actually, I though my ankle had rolled out, as in an eversion ankle dislocation, but I found my shoes I was wearing at the time, and all the mud is on the inside of the shoe, so it must have been an inversion one, which does explain a lot in relation to where my pain is! hee hee. When I went over, no one in my team really ran over, because it didn’t look like I had done anything, other than fall over, so a couple of people shouted over “You ok?” and that was about it really. Only when I couldn’t get up, and started shouting “ouch OW, oh my GOD that hurts!” did anyone come over! Ha ha! Just goes to show though doesn;t it though how the smallest things can snap an ankle?! Hee hee. Thanks for your story! Great to hear you didn’t have to loose your leg!!!!!
Spike. How is your recovery going now?? Great to hear you can go down the stairs normally now!! That is one thing I hate. EVeryone looks at me, when I go down the stairs one by one like a small child, and its slightly embarassing! If you have crutches with you, then people kind of look, see the crutches, and then understand why you are going down the stairs like that, but when you dont have crutches….everyone just stares at you, and huffs because you are in their way, and going very slowly!! Grrr….
Take care everyone!!
Louise xx
Hi all I shattered my ankle while playing football out the front with the kids about 2.5 years ago. i had a total of 23 breaks and fractures and a complete ankle socket replacement the shin is now pinned along with the tibia and fibia have a 9 inch collar on each of them.I was in severe danger of loosing my leg from the shin down as a lorry driver that wouldnt be good.To all of you out there the rehabilitation process is very long but much better then the alternative. With months of physio and surgery i am able to get about with some degree of pain but this is mainley in cold or wet weather.If any one is confused about the process that they are going through please leave me a message.
Hi Spike, That is quite a story. Glad I broke my fibula at home. There is no way at 4 plus months that I could walk 5k or bike for a long distance, but I am surprised that you are still having pain in the mornings. So decided to comment. Some questions, suggestions… do you have swelling still in the morning??? Is that what is causing the pain.??? I have a squishy sort of soft ice pack that I was putting around my ankle every evening before bed until just a few weeks ago,,,, to reduce any swelling left over from day time activities. I would also sleep with my leg elevated (on the back of a love seat) every night,,, until just a couple of weeks ago, and when I get up in the morning,,,,, NO PAIN for about the last month. Also found that just perhaps 10 min or so on the stationery bike first thing in the morning limbered me up very quickly. Just slow and easy on the bike. Perhaps you should try a slow ride around the block at 7 or 8 am. Just some suggestions.
LIZ,
Good to hear from you and thanks for the update. I am not a doc either, and I know I pasted quite a bit of medical jargon. Don’t think I automatically understand it either. I have had 6 knee surgeries, 3 on my right knee in 1983, my police retirement injury, and 3 in 1991. All same procedures on each knee, starting with cartiledge and then moving onto ligaments and biologic transplants. I have often also wondered about a synthetic cartiledge, and I know the British are close to perfecting a type of synthetic, as well as we Americans here in the states, but no one has done well enough to put it in there and make it last long enough so that one does not have to go back in. And that’s the kicker. Going back in.
If your main source of pain is that top screw, perhaps he can remove or repostition it so that it does not affect you in such a way.
Anyway, just take it slow. One of the benitifts of an ankle break is that there is usually more than enough time to think about things, and eat, and gain weight, and worry, etc. ad on infinitum.
But don’t worry, and take it slow. And watch your step.
I had lunch with a friend today, and drove, and she was very elderly so had to help her in and out of my Pathfinder. Anyway, I went to get the car, and she was waiting by the curb, and stupid me, as I got out, I stepped out with my left foot, and pulled myself out, and rather than placing my foot a 90 degree angle from the car, I placed it parallel, in line with the car, and when I placed my weight on my left foot, it fell outward and I almost suffered another break. Very close, and very stupid on my part. I am usually walking on eggshells anyway, very careful of my left foot, but not today. Today I almost did it again.
Hope this helps. I did not mean to try to impress you with all the jargon. Thought you would get a laugh from it.
Take care all.
Clark
Copied from Ankle Two
ERIKA,
Sorry to hear that you are still having pain after almost a year since your break. Don’t feel alone. I too feel something with almost every step, and it varies from over doing it to being well medicated to just getting up in the morning, to trying to sleep at night, an almost impossible thing anymore, but something I miss so much, sleeping!
Can’t recall whether or not you still have hardware inside, or you were talking once about having it out. I would think that some piece of Titanium, placed alongside or inside your ankle, with screws and pins, had to hit a nerve here and there. Never tissue takes about an inch a month to heal. I severed my Ulnar Nerve (elbow funny bone) back in 1972 as I was in training for the Sheriff’s Dept. I basically had only a Spock (Live long and prosper) grip, could not close my fingers, had very little strength, etc… and the doc back then said he could operate and I would be in a sling for a year and a half, with a completely atrophied arm that would have to come all the way back, or I could squeeze a tennis ball forever, and let Mother Nature do her thing. He said that nerve tissue heals at the rate of about an inch a month. I never told anyone, could still shoot straight, and squeezed the hell out of that tennis ball. Ended up with a grip that could drop someone right to the ground (very helpful in security/police work) and it all came back, and more.
So perhaps you are dealing with some impingement from hardware hitting a nerve, that would be my best guess, and if it is hitting a nerve, it may never heal, or it may have been damaged and is doing a slow heal. Check with the doc I guess. Hope it gets better. Good to hear from you again. Was so glad you looked me up so long ago. Thanks again for that.
Take care.
Clark
Hi: Been reading this site for a while but first time posting. My story is that I broke both bones plus dislocation on the beach in Huatulco on the first day of our Mexican vacation at the end of January this year. Had my surgery same day in a small clinic with one English-speaking Doctor – plate and seven screws on outside and some kind of curved wire (?) and screw on inside. Flown home two days later via Houston as there was only one flight a week to Toronto – quite an adventure!
Recovery is going quite well. Had hard cast for first 6 weeks, then giant “boot” for further six weeks. Started physio whilst still in boot and still going twice a week. I’m now five and a half months post surgery and am able to walk 5k most days (sometimes more) and ride my bike about 10k three times a week. I still have quite a bit of pain first hour in a morning until things loosen up, but then it’s not too bad. Can walk upstairs OK but still have to hold onto rail when going downstairs.
Anyone have a suggestion for a really good walking/cross training shoe – I seem to be getting conflicting opinions. Thanks
ERIKA, I’m sorry to hear that every step hurts. 🙁 I can imagine how frustrating that would be. I’m only at the 6 week mark (post surgery), 8 weeks since the actual injury and just got the okay to weight bear yesterday. My biggest fear is that I’ll get 6 months or a year down the road and every step will still hurt. Just curious… after surgery did you start physical therapy right away…how many months of therapy did you go through…and do you thinks it has been beneficial? I’m asking because I started therapy 2 weeks ago and I’m just wondering how long I might have to keep it up.
ANKLEBREAKERS, the pain you described sounds similar to mine… I wish I could show a picture of exactly where the pain is. I had an appt. yesterday and the doctor said the pain is right at the area that is missing cartlidge so it’s probably the cause. That is definitely NOT what I wanted to hear because there’s not much they can do for missing cartlidge from what I understand and I fear the pain will only get worse when I start walking.
On the upside, the bones are looking good and I do get to start weightbearing. The road ahead looks daunting but all I go do is keep moving forward. *sigh*
Hope everyone has a wonderful Wednesday. Stay safe!
~Liz
Erika, I am almost at my year mark (Aug 27th) I shattered my right ankle and they literally had to piece it back together. I am lucky even to be walking. I still limp and every step still hurts. My question was the same to my doctor “will I limp and it hurt forever?” He told me that the pain is coming from where the break was the worst and with time it should get better (he also gave me some exercises to do to limber the ankle). Some shoes I wear it isn’t as noticeable. Stairs, like you, kill me going down. Up is not bad at all, but by the time I get to the bottom my whole leg hurts and is shaky. I guess down hurts us so much because the ankle doesn’t bend too well. I’m 39 so sounds like we have alot in common. Sorry I don’t have any straight answers but I thought I’d share the answers that I have gotten thus far from my own doctor.
Sharon
Hi All,
Got leg in plaster now, bright orange! I took so long to choose the colour. The nurse had to say come on luv pick a colour, we want to go home! I was even asking what exact shade of blue they had. Not getting the hang of the crutches, i tend to scootch around on my bum, (sorry bottom – at least i didn’t say ar**). Going to a friends birthday celebrations at the O2 (ex millennium dome)on Friday. Parking is so far away i am borrowing a friends wheelchair to get to the restaurant. My friend has MS but is having a good few months at the moment, so i can use it. Life could be worse eh?
MELANIE i back tracked to the puddings. Bread and Butter pudding is fantatstic. Not the slop my gran used to make, but using spicy teacakes and custard made from rum and double cream. Yum.
PAM thanks for your encouragement
Back to ankles- im in plaster for 4 weeks then, hopefully, an air boot thingy. I sat with my leg down the other day and suddenly i realised that the bruise has migrated down to my toes. I have had my leg elevated ever since. Still the positive side of that is that i can see the progress of the bruising from black to navy blue and now green. Perhaps i should have had the blue plaster at least it would have matched!
Shaunagh
Karen: I am SO SORRY! I called you Kevin. I read the post way to fast. Have a happy day being a woman! lol
Don – I am so happy that you danced with your daughter at her wedding! Way to go.
Erika
Kevin: That’s what I need. Reassurance from someone who had pain with every step up to and possibly beyond the year mark – and now, a year later, even two – they can walk without pain. I can deal with pain in the afternoon – or evening. I can deal with pain when its raining, humid, going to storm, etc. But this EVERY STEP thing is beginning to get annoying and I am feeling like it is going to be a “rest of my life thing”.
Let’s hope we’re wrong!
Hope all are well…
Erika
Erika,
Seven months have passed and like you, EVERY STEP HURTS!! I would love to talk to someone who also had every step pain at six months to a year and still improved after the one year mark. Even if I was told it could take up to two years but it would eventually improve, I would relax and accept it. It’s just that the uncertainty is scary.
Karen
Hi all. I know. Clark comes back and I disappear. Well, I have been reading all along. I have been very busy with a new job and kids out of school. I have been complaining alot the past week. It will be a year on Sept. 23rd. Wow! Can’t believe it is actually close. On a good note, I am walking without any help. I am able to wear cuter shoes – not with heals of course. I can feel all my toes now!!! What a great feeling. I still have a bit of tingling on the top of my foot. I still have brown spots (like bruising) on my outside ankle. I broke the ankle in 3 places – outside inside and tibia – not sure what this is called. I have around 10 screws and a plate. My reason for complaining, is EVERY STEP STILL HURTS!!!! Is this going to be for the rest of my life? Its just hard to fathom. I am only 38 years old (soon to be 39). I STILL cannot go down stairs, except sideways or one after the other. Upstairs is fine. Walking – I still have to think about every step, and evey step still hurts. Will it every end?
I have enjoyed reading everyones posts. Don, Anklebreaker, Sandra, Don, Tim and of course Clark and anyone else I have missed – OH – opps and Celinda. So happy to hear you are getting out with your son. What a feeling! Ok, now cheer me up! lol 🙂
Erika
123898 Comment by Don
July 14, 2008 @ 6:17 pm
Greetings ankle breakers
Clark Clark Clark.
Man it is good to see you. You being back is a sight for soar eyes my friend. We have all been through a lot together and it is our combined knowledge and wisdom and part of our foolishness that gets all of us through every single day. I am glad to have you back and wish you long life and many more posts to give us your wisdom and your unending sense of humor.
So for all of you that have been following along. Yes the weather was great this past Saturday and I did have Ball dancing with my Daughter at her Wedding!!!! For the longest time I and many other people were not even sure if that would ever happen. But with all the help I have gotten along the way and the friendships and advice I have found here I was able to do it. Had to be one of the greatest feelings I have ever experienced.
Now I must admit I did not do it alone I have to say I fell back on an old standby. Friday night after the rehearsal dinner I could not even walk, the pain was that unbearable. I went home and did take 2 Percocet which is the first I have taken since I left the hospital 19 months ago. I got good nights sleep on Friday and first thing Saturday morning I took two more so I had not problem dancing with my Daughter and everything was great . A few things ran through my mind when I was dancing. Most of how my Daughter and I got to that dance and her life growing up. But also about all the people that I have talked to and met on this Blog that have given me support and insight as to how to get through this and how I was not alone.
For that I Thank you all. You are great friends and supporters and advisors that only experience of going through this can understand. To the people that have been here from when I came Thank you because it is through your help I got this far and to all the new people Thank you for just reminding us where we all came from not to long ago and how much we have to be Thankful for. I hope I can be there for you as others were there for us.
So keep believing and trying everyone you will get there it is a long slow road and there are a lot of people to support you but you will get better slowly but surely
Tammy
Thank you for your nice comments
Anklequest
You are right it was indeed a beautiful day
Don
GOOD MORNING ANKLEBREAKERS!
Thanks for your thoughts regarding me dropping back in now and then, after I left. And that brings up an item of housekeeping, for me:
Melanie! Thank you for your message regarding A Fused One’s message to Ana. In case you didn’t get it, I was trying to be funny when I mentioned how smart you thought you were, which you were. I did not intend that to sound crass or meanspirited in any way. I appreciated and was touched by your thoughts. If that did not come across clearly, please accept my appologies. When I read my posting back to myself, it did not sound quite right, thus my appology.
Ana: Thanks for adding your story of your ankle and what’s going on with it. I wish I had better answers and advice for you. It has to be hard being part of that study, and getting the saline instead of the gel, and then knowing that you have to wait four months to get the real thing. And helping with your boys coaching, with the pain level, can’t be easy. I can only say that when you decide to do it, if you do, the fusion will take away all that pain, and will be worth it. Only you will know.
Tammy, thanks for your input regarding my and Don’s postings. When I started writing to this blog about 9 months ago, and although it was created by Chrisi, I never was under the impression that it had a feminine slant. Back then perhaps it wouild be fair to say that there was not one, and there were many guys posting now and then, and I can see that over the months, many women are posting and not so many men, and it just shows how things change over time, not good or bad, things change, evolve. Of course anyone having to deal with the trauma and life changes caused by a broken ankle, whatever the extent, is a bad thing, and I wish it on no one. But with so many women than men posting now, perhaps I was posting with blinders on. And that’s OK. If this is now more of a “chick’s blog” then I am all for it and humbled and proud to be part of it.
Over the last several months many more women than men have written in regarding their ankles. I do not know if that would be an allowable statistic for an ankle breakers study, on who suffers breaks more, men or women, and I doubt that this blog is a true representation, but it may be. Anyway, it’s the only representation we have, so lets use it. There are more women posting on this blog than men and perhaps women suffer more broken ankles then men do. MEn and women share many of the same jobs, many dangereous, and requiring agile movement; the armed forces, police work, construction, etc… But women have one liability that men do not, unless they are cross dressers; High Heeled Shoes. I hope that is not a factor, and can’t recall anyone writing in about tripping wearing heels, but I bet they are definately a liability. I am sorry that society has placed such vanity on those dangereous things. They do look good, to all of us, but I could never, if I was a woman, wear them, knowing the pain they must cause, the balance problems, damage done to toes, etc… But I can’t deny that I will always be biased from a male viewpoint, and I can never get away from that. But if women all over the world stopped wearing them, and wore more safe, comfortable shoes, and did away with heels forever, I could certainly live with that.
On both blogs, Random Two Year and this, things progress so fast, so many new members and stories, and updates, that it is very hard to keep up. One could spend weeks it would seem, re reading and chronicling members, stories, and paths we have all taken. It could seriously drive one nuts. It is hard to recall everyone’s story. I won’t do it, but in order to appreciate all that has been written here and there, it should be done, only in order to gain a full understanding of all of this information. But it won’t be. It would be a Herculean effort, and would drive the person attempting it nuts. I guess I am repeating myself now, time to close.
My ankle finally started feeling better again, and I gauge that with endurance and pain leves during the walks with CJ, the Chow Chow. I think it is too soon to judge, and that it will bounce around for awhile as it heals. It will probably be over a year from the fusion surgery before any semblence of normal sets in. At least that gives me time to get the rest of my body back in shape.
So, Ladies, and guys, get well, and watch your steps.
Thanks again Anklequest for your call. And everyone else for their thoughts.
Take care.
Clark
Hi Everyone,
A reminder, please post at the new site posted below. It doesn’t take so long to load.
https://www.twistermc.com/christi/87/broken-ankle-2-years-later/
Clark, welcome back! We need your spark on this board! Glad Paradise has stopped burning. And also am glad you are keeping up your spirits!
Liz
Basically I have a similar pain situation, sort of between the 11 & 12 o’clock position on my right foot; just below & to the left of those tendons going right down the middle of the front of the foot. While not as extreme as yours it is my most prominent pain. I woke up from surgery and it was the first specific pain I felt other than a great big throbbing foot. In my case I think the pain is from tendon damage during surgery as my foot was once again dislocated to get screws into the back side of the tibia. The two screws in the medial malleolus are a little lower and more medial so I don’t think it is these screws. I can say that after two years the pain is not as bad but is still there all the time. It is also reduced by careful message and a bit of streching. Overall it is slowly improving. The doc. told me that in my type of break sometimes things take a long time to heal; especially tendons and ligaments that were enjured or stretched.
I don’t know if this answer is helpful or not. I do not use any pain medicine for I can function just fine the way it is. If I took tylenol I might be rid of it but have not tried. At night I wear an L shaped brace which positions my foot forward and keeps things stable, so then I do not feel it. I got this brace via the internet. If you are interested, i can forward the info to you on that. Also, if you can feel the screw, perhaps it needs to be taken out. Ask the doc about that if you have one that will speak to you.
Don, what a lovely day it was today. I hope everything went well with you and your family.
For all the animal watchers..yesterday we had a discussion about the sudden explosion in our chipmuck population. Holes have appeared all over the place in the yard. Today my husband fell asleep on our back deck. He woke up to see a hawk perched on the birdbath, about 40 feet away. The next thing he saw was the hawk picking up a chipmuck and flying away. so I guess that may answer our chipmuch problem. I don’t think a hawk can pick up a 20-30 pound woodchuck though.
Don’t step into any holes in the yard.
Anklequest.
Welcome back Clark! 🙂 and a big hello to all my fellow AB’s!
Well, I had another appointment with the therapist this week. I did my normal exercises, then 15 minutes on a crosstrainer machine (PAINFUL!) and 10 minutes on a stationary bike (not too bad, just really sore). I was also given another ultrasound treatment on that one spot that continues to give me problems.
Question… I have one of my many screws placed on top of my right foot, where the ankle bends, toward the left side (I hope that makes sense). Nothing hurts really EXCEPT this area right on top of that screw. Everytime I try to bend my foot towards me, like pulling it with a towel towards me it hurts so bad. I don’t know how to describe it other than it feels like the inside of my skin is ripping. Have any of you experienced pain like this above your screws? The therapist said it could be scar tissue. Have any of you had scar tissue that was painful? Did it eventually go away? and how? Any experiences would be helpful. I’m just so frustrated with this spot right now. I feel like the pain is holding me back and I have to be able to bend that foot up in order to walk. 🙁 HELP!
Hope everyone is having a wonderful weekend.
Diane~
See post on other site RE: RSD.
Clark~
I just want to say that I don’t post often but I read each and every post and I think that it is important that men like you come on and share their experiences with others. I especially appreciate the thought and care your put into your responses.
Thanks for coming back 🙂 You and Don are a tremendous asset to this site.
Tammy
Hello Anklebreakers!!
Yes, it is me, a long distant relative of Hippocrates.
I said I was done, and I was, but today I recieved a great call from Anklequest, who offered another point of view of things, and here I am. I appreciated all of your kind thoughts, and will try to be worthy of them.
My computer did die, again, and short and sweet here is why. I already said all of this of course, in my first posting a few minutes ago, but one of my crazy fingers hit the wrong button and I lost it, all of it, and here it is again, shorter and sweeter, but will tell this short computer story in case it helps someone else out there.
ADVISORY, THIS AREA IS NOT ABOUT ANKLES, SO FEEL FREE TO LEAPFROG AND CONTINUE ON, AS I WOULD NOT WANT TO UPSET ANYONE’S STATE OF ZEN.
Just after signing off a few days ago, my Norton Symetec security quit (yes, Anklequest, the one you use, but here is why; as it had expired, but I never recieved an onboard notice, or email from them, but it stopped picking up the auto updates from “live update” and then quitsecuring things. I tried to use the system restore, but it failed. I had to wipe the drive clean, using the “F12” boot key during the boot sequence, which takes you to the onboard DVD drive, and allows one to wipe the drive clean and use a “cloning system” and add the restore discs to start fresh. A brand new baby virgin computer harddrive.
With everything lost. I was unable to copy anything before it started to crash. But I did send some photos and writings out on email, and was able to retrieve them using the “sentmail” storage.
But it is back now, almost the same, with the Comcast McAfee Security Suite online, which is offered free from Comcast. Hopefully this will work.
My fused ankle is killing me. Not sure why, but could be compression of the 26 or so bones, that fit togather like a puzzle, in from of the actual ankle. They can get stuffed, compressed and broken, and I am guessing if that happens, you must just wait for it to heal. Will see the PT for 2nd appt. following the fusion to hopefully find out, and if not, will call the doc. Hard to walk with no pain, and this is new pain, in a new area, not like before. The brace no longer works, needs to be redone, becuase of the fusion I guess, and have to switch between the crutches and the cane, depending on pain level. Other than that, it is awkward, and dead, yet when I can feel it it hurts. The pills help. Quite an adjustment, this fusion, and broken ankle to start with, as all of you feel. I am resigned to my fate. Not in a quitting way, but to allow me to empower the disability to gain the advantage and beat it, to win it over, to become as normal as I can be, when I am finally able to do it. It will take time.
Rode my first stationary bike at the first PT session last week, and with the seat up, with almost a full leg extension, I could pedal the bike with no undue pain or strain on the fusion. I also walked the treadmill at what? 2 mph or something, a fair clip, for me, whatever, for 10 minutes, and used the adductor and abbductor (sp) machines. The doc released me to do anything in the gym I wanted to do, so am going to do it.
With the weight gain, 40 lbs or so, over 16 months (I’m 6’2” so carry it alright, but am definately overwieght) which turned me into a Type II Diabetic, GREAT, I definately have a desire to get fit again. Never ever weighed over 240 for years, solid, and was never ever diabetic, until the ankle break. The gift that keeps on giving.
People say that God, or the Great Spirit, or the All Knowing All Seeing All Wise One, whatever, never gives any of us more than we can handle, and if HE/SHE does, we probably die. So I am sure there is a silver lining in this anklebreaking ThunderCloud we have all fallen under somewhere. Just have to hang out long enough, and work hard enough, to find it.
And so, that’s it for now. More later perhaps. Probably.
On the local scene, as Anklequest stated, that the township of Paradise was under serious threat of fire, and was being evacuated in areas. The world is on fire, when it is not flooding, and we don’t seem to get it. But we will get something down the road, perhaps not what we expect. 1102 PM and the news just stated that the evacutation order was lifted in Paradise. Good news. Perhaps the fire is being downgraded a bit. A good friend of mine, who anchors a local radio show from a small wattage AM station here in town, lost everything, except her van, and her dogs. Everything else, gone. That goes for many many people up here. And to think I almost moved there, instead of this town.
But it’s been a great week for the Constitution and the Environment, if you follow the current Administration. Fisa was approved giving blanket amnesty for illegal wiretapping, and the Administration refused to do anything to cap carbon emissions, saying it would destroy the economy. As if the economy could be worse off. What they meant is that they (the Administration and it’s followers) want to suck as much money from the enviroment, while destroying the environment, before they are voted out of office. Typical Greed following corrupt power.
Lord Acton, a famous British Statesmen, once said “Absolute Power Corrupts Absolutely”, and he was right.
The ship will right itself, if it doesn’t sink, and I doubt it will. But we will be taken to the brink, I fear. Enough of that.
Hope everyone and all are well.
Don, enjoy dancing at your daughters wedding today. I am so happy for you and your wife and the bride and groom. Off to a great start, with you being there and dancing.
Take care.
And oh, Melanie… You think you are so smart. And you are. But it was me, I guess, for that posting, when I was just being a conFused One, after all.
Ana, I was glad to read your posting about your ankle. Sounds like you have been through the mill. I can only say that if you do get the fusion, it will alleviate most of the pain. I am no expert yet, still going through it myself, but if there are no other options, then perhaps thats the only one left. Only you will know when that time is. But I wish you good healing whatever you do.
Take care all. Have a good weekend. Don, don’t overdo it!
Clark
Tammy:
Re: RSD…check other site for my post.
Diane
Hi Everyone,
Don, I’m sure everyone here joins me in wishing you a great day tomarrow as you finally get that dance with your daughter. I’ll be thinking of you! Looks like the weather might also be perfect so have a perfect day. One of these days we’ll met again and you can show me the pictures!
Ana, The fused ankle thing is enough to make me really feel for you in that you even have to consider this fusion a possibility. I heard there is an ankle joint replacement surgeon in Miami. Is that a possibility? I know that technology is all very new and perhaps not for someone as young as you.
About Clark! I spoke to him today as I heard on the national news about the nearby fires in Paradise, which are very very serious. The fire haze fills the entire large Central CA Valley. This haze is getting worse, & was already there when I arrived in Fresno over 2 weeks ago. He is doing very well but is very concerned about the possibility that the entire town of Paradise is at high risk. He doesn’t live there but lives in a city not to far away. I urged him to continue on the board, especially re. the fused ankle thing and so he might return and keep us posted on his progress. He is having bad computer problems so his computer is not working right now.
Take care everyone!
Anklequest
Dear “A Fused One”,
Thank you so much for helping Ana. We really appreciate people who have “been there. Done that”. It helps the rest of us.
And for the record, the way you impart information reminds me of someone else who used to be a part of our “Anklebreakers”. We miss him.
Melanie
Ana and A fused one.
I just wanted to say, my sympathies go out to you!! I cannot imagine having pain in my ankle all day every day….that must be so hard! i do hope that both of you very soon get better! 🙂
Shaunagh, welcome to the group!! Shame that you had to join (in a nice way because it means you have a break!) but keep us updated on whats happening with you!
Melanie and Kevin! How bad of you to poke things into your cast!! Thats not what your meant to do now is it??? Hmmmm????? Im glad i didn’t poke things down there, even though the itching was driving me MAD, because I had an infection, and any poking would have broken the skin! Eeeeek! I am getting frustrated with the my bandages on my foot at the moment from my surgery on monday, and they have only got to stay on till next thursday! yay!!
Ok, so, I have been walking around quite a lot today really! I went round the shops earlier on a trip with my dear mother, who (bless her!) is far too overprotective, and holds onto my elbow as Im hobbling along, which tends to tip me more off balance even more, which she doesn’t quite understand, and gets annoyed when I brush her off! I also dont like people fussing about me too much! I managed to try on a few pairs of trousers in the fitting rooms in a shop, and there was no chair, so I had to balance on my bad foot, whilst leaning against the wall! I did it though, which was great! 🙂
I have also been out for a meal, and just general walking around really! My ankle does throb a bit, but its not painful as such…just aches, and ceases up like it is 1st thing in the morning! Does anyone else have this??
I have 11 days until I fly to new york, and am very excited, although slightly scared about airports, and stuff!! Eeek! It will be fine im sure. I went to the chemist today to get properly measured for some grade one really good snazzy looking compression stockings for the flight! hee hee! OMG, they are so sexy, I cannot wait to wear them frankly! 😛 But if they are going to stop me getting a DVT I dont care! Ha ha!
Anyway…hope everyone else is doing great! 🙂
Louise xx
Thank you so much “A Fused One”..
I broke my ankle over 5 years ago. It happend in the Florida Keys, out in the ocean, when I feel from a wave runner. It took a while to get help, when I did, Key Largo had no surgeons, so I was transported to Miami. I had surgery, screws, pins, plate, etc. I was in the hospital for 7 days, I had a few complications. I started feeling pain 2 years after, I felt it was the weather. Over a year and half ago, I had another surgery to remove the hardware since it was removing itself (the screws were loosening themselves). I also had a huge tear in the cartilage , so they did cleaning of the arthritis and small breaks to see if the body would trick itself into healing. Now I have no cartilage left. My arthritis is getting really bad as well as bone growths osteophytes, etc. I am undergoing a trial study of 3 injections (gel-like) to see if that helps; but like with all trial studies there is one guinea pig that gets the placebo. Guess who, got saline solution instead? Yup, me, that agrevated the arthritis more. I still have to wait 4 more months until I get the real “thing”. THe doctor said this would give me anywhere from 6 months to a year of not Pain free but pain less. I was told that eventually I will know when I will need the fusion. I am 32 years old, not athletic, but very involved with my kids. I have 2 boys who are into baseball, soccer, and everything else boys are into. I am their coach on the team as well. This year was the first year I became an assistant. I am becoming less involved and my boys understand, but I can see they miss the good old days. To be fair, I miss it too. I have pretty muched slowed down to the point of not wanting to do anything, because I know how much pain it will cause.
The doctor told me that I will get so bad, I won’t be able to walk. He said he will never push the surgery, but that I will ask for it when I am ready. It’s just a matter of time. I am almost convinced “it is time”. I asked the questions of recovery, because I know the surgery and aftermath is painful. I was just hoping for some light at the end of the tunnel. I don’t mind not being able to wear my cute shoes, or how I look anymore. I just want to be able to do more things with the kids while they are still young. I was just hoping that even if I walk funny, I can walk with less pain. I lie, I was hoping to feel no more pain. Thank you so much for all the information. I really do hope you keep posting your road to recovery. I really do hope your fusion helps and that you live painfree someday, even if it takes a while. Heads up! It could always be worse…..as Sharon would say.
Ana,
I had an ankle fusion several months ago, necessitated by a very serious TriMallealor fracture that could not be repaired.
The purpose of the fusion was to tighten the ankle, and reduce or stop the laxity or “slack” in the ankle that would later cause serious and painful arthritis in the future. Several earlier operations, all with added hardware, could not tighten up the slack. Thus the fusion.
Unlike other ankle operations of which I have had several, a fusion is very painful and invasive, probably caused by the very deep and painful insertion of approx. 4 or 5 inch long 1/3 inch wide Titanium lag screws inserted towards the top of the ankle, on either side, going downward and entering into the tibula on the outside and fibula inside, actually criss-crossing each other inside the ankle, and driving into the talus, which totally locks the ankle. The fusion is very painful because of the size of the screws, the destruction of nerve and bone tissue they encounter, and was easily the most painful of the several operations that I have had. I spent almost all my time in the hospital, immediately after the surgery, in a near delerious state, waiting for another shot to be delivered as soon as the interval from the last had passed, usually about 4 hours.
But the pain finally subsided and I was able to be released on Hydrochodone alone, although the strongest dose allowed without a triplicate.
Because of the lack of movement in the ankle, atrophy quicky sets in and the calf and leg muscles diminish. They will come back to some degree once the bones are fused and healed and the doctor allows PT, but they will never come back to the degree they were prior to the fusion.
The scars are longer and deeper than before, probably due to removing the plates and screws from either side, and inserting the new large screws. As there is no movement, there are no adhessions (scar tissue) to break free after healing in the scars, and at this point, I suppose looks, or the cosmetic effect, really have no bearing. My foot now looks like an “ALLEY OOP” foot, like the caveman character in the old cartoon strip. It never looked like that from the earlier operations. It is very dead, but also very responsive to anything that touches it, if that makes sense, and is very painful at times.
It will be difficult to find the proper brace and comfortable shoe that will fit this foot, which is now a different size than my other foot. I will have to worry about that later. I am still wearing my large moon boot, which gives the most support. I did have a brace that worked well prior to the fusion, but it does not fit now and causes too much pain. I guess I need a new one.
If your right ankle is fused, plan on doing any driving with your left foot. If you drive a 4 or 5 speed, and your left ankle is fused, you may be able to still use the clutch, but if it is your right ankle, plan on driving only an automatic with your left foot. I have no feeling in my foot and could not judge any type of accelorator or brake pressure using my fused ankle. There is really no feeling down there anymore.
It takes a while to reaquire your gait, and some semblance of normalcy, but over time things will get better, but yet may never be the same. I may always limp, but not the exagerated limp aquired after surgery. With training and PT your limp can be quite discreet. And you will never be “normal” again, and you will have limitations, but it will get better. You just have to learn to live with it. The doctor would not recommend it unless he thought it was necessary, although I do not know what your personal situation is.
Hope this helps.
A Fused One.
Hi all- Hope everyone is doing well with their recoveries….
Louise- siounds like you are making great progress. Doesn’t it feel great to be on only one crutch. I don’t ever want to go back to crutches…..
Liz- so I see we have flip flops in common for causing our ankle injuries. I’ll never play another game of “tag” with my kids in flip flops.
Melanie- Thanks for all the PT exercises/tips. My problem is finding the time to fit it in on my non PT days. I don’t think our injuries are to far off from each other. I broke my fibula, dislocated my tibia & chipped part of the tibia as well. Way too much hardware to count.
Christy- my doctor says the samething about my age (I’m 36) & activity level that I’ll eventually be fine. My phyisical therpist calls my foot a sausage foot & keeps pushing me to do my exercises with the band at home (sometimes there is no time, especially with a 3 & 6 year old & my full time job… UGH….)
Shaunagh- just like Melanie said, take your recovery slow & you will heal fine. Definately easier said than done, because I am sure we have all gotten frustrated as heck during our recovery.
SHAUNAGH, yep, take it slow and easy and do not push it. Keep us updated. And if you go up a few entries you will see there is another site “Two years out”. More blogs there.
I had to laugh at the “Coca Cola” comment. My husband actually has a truck that runs on diesel which is currently $4.79 a gallon. We got it when diesel was about $.60 less per gallon than regular unleaded. We still love it. He just had to go on a business trip, about 14 hours round trip, and only had to fill it up once. And that was 3/4 of the way back, so he still had a ton of gas when he got home. I just read where taxi drivers in France were boycotting and wanted to charge their fares higher rates. Can’t blame them. I think this thing is world wide. I have relatives “across the pond” (in both Wales and England) and they say it’s bad there too.
And don’t know if you read any entries from the latter part of June, beginning July? We were discussing English desserts! Yum!!!!
Okay, take care and keep us updated.
Melanie
Hey you guys.
Guess what ive broken my ankle!!!(29/06/08) Cycling to work, doing my bit for the environment and diesel (gas) costs so much here in UK. £1.30 per litre. Coke Cola is blooming cheaper but sadly my car doesn’t run as well on that! So i was saving money. Anyway i was told i was boarderline surgery but hopefully ive got away with it. I’m so glad, having read your accounts of slow progress i realise how lucky i am. I dont want to tempt fate though. Ive got to go back tomorrow. Was originally told to come back on 25th, my ankle is onlyin a temp ‘backstrap’. I had to sit in the hospital until something was done to arrange an earlier appointment. Ah the wonderful NHS here in UK. So i commiserate and celebrate with allof you and wish you the best.
CHRISTY, I did very similar exercises as Louise. I too would use a towel, and put it around the ball of my injured foot. I would pull my toes towards me and hold it for about 10 seconds. Then I would push with my toes/ ball of my foot, like I was standing on my tippy toes, still holding onto the ends of the towel for resistance. Definately do not pull or push too hard. I also did the letters things with my big toe, only I spelled my name, or kid’s names, whatever.
I couldnt’t pick up anything with my toes for a long time because it would give me a horrific cramp. I used to get them every night until I started walking/ running/ biking/ swimming. My husband said I was not getting enough potassium, but my argument was, if that was the case, why did I ONLY get the cramps in my injured foot/ ankle? Would it not have been in both?
I also did dips and lifts. I would stand behind a chair and lift my injured foot up about 6 inches from the ground. While holding onto the chair for balance, I would dip with my good foot. I did about 10-15 dips and then change over to the “bad” side. Back then I could never dip as low as the “good” side. Then I would go back to the “good” side and stand up on my tippy toes. Again about 10-15 times. Then over to my injured side for 10-15 lifts. I worked up to 15-20 times with two repetitions. Now, I did this twice a day. I never did more than that because I did notice a difference in mobility. That, plus it hurt like the dickens.
I could tell the increase in strength by balancing on each foot. My PT would have me stand on my good foot, again like a flamingo. I could balance on that foot for about a minute. Then I would do my broken ankle. LOL!!!! Initially I could only balance for about 3 seconds. Maybe I am exaggerating there. Might have been one second. I am not kidding. It was hilarous. I would just topple over. So after weeks and weeks of PT exercises, I made it about 15 seconds. Then more weeks and I could balance for 30 seconds. Finally a whole minute. I think I heard the Herald Angels singing at that moment!!!!! A minute was my PT’s goal.
I also would roll my foot around on a softball or tennis ball.
So there you go!!!
KEVIN, I mentioned on the other site (it’s in “Comment by Ankleqwest-2” entry from July 8) about sticking the coat hanger down my cast any number of times!!! Too funny. I also commented it was because the hair on my leg was bad! When they cut the 1st cast off to do the surgery it was like Don Johnson’s facial hair in Miami Vice. Of course I could not shave it then. The hair was HORRIBLE when the second cast came off (when they were removing the staples and sutures). This was at about 20-25 days from the injury. Nor could I shave it that day. Had another cast put on to allow the healing to continue and to reset the ankle at 90 degrees. This third cast stayed on for I guess about a month or six weeks. Can’t remember. When they took it off for the final time, the hair was HORRIFIC!!! I looked like the abominable snowman. But hispanic. LOL!!! Saskwatch (spelling?). I had this coathanger that never was far from my grasp.
Take care everyone and keep posting!
Melanie
CLARK and LOIS, I hate to see you go because it’s just not right when you didn’t do anything but offer your insight on a question that was asked of you. If anyone didn’t want to hear it then they should have skipped the post about it. I didn’t know that people sharing opinions could get people so riled up. It just goes to show that some people can’t handle “different” people, beliefs and cultures. I have no problem with anyone believing anything different from me and I would welcome any opinion associated with such whether I agree or not. This site has helped me tremendously through my despair, pain and surgery and I too will miss it, but without something varying from just ankle breaks every now and again, it gets kind of depressing for all of us. I believe that everyone’s questions and concerns regarding their ankles and recovery have been answered to be best of everyone’s ability and no concern has went unnoticed or unanswered. okay so maybe we shouldn’t have gotten politics involved but we have a very big election coming up with not much to choose from in the way of running this country (again just MY opinion) so yeah it affects each one of us here.
If someone wants to talk to me or ask me something then I will answer otherwise I will keep my thoughts and opinions to myself.
Wish all happy healing and Melanie you couldn’t have summed up the south better. Hope to keep hearing from you.
Hi Lois,
I haven’t been on in a while because we almost lost my daughter this past weekend but I guess I really shouldn’t say much about it because it has “nothing” to do with a broken ankle and clearly we can’t be “friends” on here w/o someone getting their panties in a wad, but yeah to answer your question I am enjoying these posts and Melanie probably is too since she voiced the opinion to not be caring too much for any of the candidates in the election. My opinion has nothing to do with judging anybody for their beliefs or being racist, which I’m so NOT, but if I were it would be my choice and not for anyone to judge me because of it. I believe the only ONE that has ANY authority to judge me would be God himself and I really don’t think that Mr or Ms losing patience is God. And they must not be too into the Bible either or they would know that the anti-christ is of Muslim descent and around the same age as Obama. He may not be the anti-christ and you’d better hope like hell he isn’t but the way the world is going it would not surprise me one little bit because it will happen eventually if not now then later. As far as the bubble goes —if you don’t believe there is going to be an anti-christ then you need to come out of your own damned bubble.
Hope the rest of you are healing well.
Talk to you soon Lois and Melanie.
Ana, thanks for the info about the shoes but I did buy some shocks before I got your post and they sure did do great for me when I was trying to run to get to my daughter’s side this weekend.
Hi Chrsity,
How good is it to get the cast off. It was a welcome relief for me, no more using the coat hangar to give it a good scratch.
I broke my ankle in 3 places, the fib, tib and talus.
I got a plate and 6 pins in the fib and 2 screws in the tib.
I’ve had the cast off for 4 weeks now, it took the best part of it to lose the limp.
Expect your ankle to swell, it will get sore but the duratiom for this happen increases.
Get a good Phsio, it is worth it, they give a range of excercises to stretch the tendons and get the joints moving in the foot/ankle. This is due to foot being immobilised for such a long time, everything stiffens and tightens up.
I have most of my motion back, not the same as my good ankle, but getting better, it just gets painfull around the metal work after long peroids of standing.
I binned my crutches as soon as I got my cast off, not recommended, use 1 crutch on the side of your good ankle, this helps to reprogramme the brain on how to use the foot again, also helps to compensate for stiffness.
Good luck, the most important thing is to keep at it, a little bit a day amounts to good progress over a couple of weeks.
Laters
Kev
Hi Christy!! Congrats on getting the cast off! I have had mine off for nearly 4 weeks now! Woo hoo!! Was great to have a proper bath again! 🙂 Although now Im back in tonnes of bandages, so back to balancing acts at bathtime again! ha ha!!
Best exercises I found was getting a towel, putting it round the ball of your feet and pulling towards you! Dont pull too hard!! try writing the ABC’s pointing your big toe, this has helped me get a lot back I think. Um….try picking up marbles or something similar just using your toes. I haven’t quite mastered that one yet…..my other foot I can easily pick things up, but not on my bad foot!!
Um..oh, another one, put a towel down on the floor, not on a carpet (something like lino, or laminate floor!) place your heal just off of the towel on the floor, then using your toes, scrunch the towel towards you, then when your done, push it back again using only your toes.
That is some of the ones I have been doing, and I think that they have helped! 🙂
Good luck!
Louise xx
Hi Everyone. Well, I did get my cast off today. My my how small my leg got lol. I get to do partial weight bearing for two weeks with my air boot. Then full after that…
They told me about some exercises to get my range of motion back ( I have very limited)…Any one have any suggestions? It doesnt hurt me to move it, suprisingly. Im silently scared Im not going to be able to walk normally again. Doc’s assure me I should be okay, and that being young is on my side. There was a time when I thought 30 wasnt young, but now that i am, maybe they are right..lol
I enjoy reading everyones posts. Great group of people..
Hey Everyone 🙂
Doing okay today, just feeling a little sorry for myself I guess. My parents have been awesome through this whole ordeal. I’m staying with them and my mom has been doing so much for me. I should be grateful and I am, but I would love nothing more than to climb into the car by myself and take a drive… just go where I please all ALONE! *sigh* It’s hard to have to depend on someone else ALL the time!!
Anyway, my ankle is feeling a little better today… that spot above my screw anyway. I think that ultrasound massage and the electric band-aid helped break up the scar tissue. I’m trying not to get my hopes up too high though… I’m scared it’ll come back any minute!
Melanie, I’ve been going to PT for a few weeks now. I was just curious why some doctor’s recommend it and some don’t after an ankle break. Also, during my surgery to put the plates/screws in I had general anesthesia. I haven’t gotten the metal taken out yet. Is that what you were asking?
Sandra, hope that pain clears up soon for you. That’s great you have a trainer. I was doing so great at the gym before all this happened. I had a personal trainer, was a member of Gold’s Gym and loved taking Kick and Step classes. I had already lost 60 pounds and then the next thing I knew I broke my ankle… put a stop to that. 🙁 I think my biggest disappointment out of all this is that I might not get to take those high-impact type classes again. Do any of you that are farther along in your recovery take any type of aerobic classes like Kick or Step? I really, really want to be able to do them again. By the way, I still need to lose ALOT more.
Hello.
There was so much to read that it made me hungry and I have had to go and put on a mini-pizza for a late night feast.
Christi, I agree that this site should be primarily about broken ankles. Sometimes people may want to add to this, but there were some quite long posts on other subjects, which will slow the site down.
From a UK perspective, the US seems more bogged down with religion than over here. That’s not intended to offend and I do not want to add anything else on that.
I did want to say that I have enjoyed reading about people’s progress.
I would love to hear an explanation of reflex sympthetic dystrophy Tammy, as I have had toe problems throughout.
Losing patience – I hope you stick with us, and join in some more.
It’s useful to hear about what kind of shoes people find comfy and safe.
Don. Great to hear from you and I hope you enjoy dancing at the wedding.
Clark. It is a shame to see you go, but maybe you will eavesdrop from time to time.
Anklequest. Nice to hear from you as ever. I may try to migrate to the new site, but not sure of the address. Can anyone post it?
Ankle-clickers, mine have clunked in the past, but everything has started to click this past week, including my knees! That’s at 10 months on.
I have a new foot pain. Whoopee! The ball of my foot hurts and the back of my three inner toes – near the base. This has made walking really difficult the past couple of days. If anyone has any advice would love to hear it.
On arthritis. Thanks for the info posted. I know I need to lose weight, but walking slowly, and what I can do at the gym means it will take a while. My new trainer says that I should not try and do too much aerobic work, as the impact goes through the ankle and the knee, and it might be too much. Makes sense as too much anything makes left ankle go stiff and tight. Much better to add in more weights and upper body work to burn fat – that’s for all of you who like the gym.
Anyway, off to check the food.
Hope you are all doing well out there.
Sandra
https://www.twistermc.com/christi/87/broken-ankle-2-years-later/
Hi Everyone
I suggest everyone move to the above site, which will work much faster and better. I’ll keep checking this site once or twice a week for a while, but will mostly be using the new site, now that my computer seems to be working better.
Anklequest
Good morning ANA, PAM, LOUISE, LIZ, and maybe LOIS. Just so you know, there is now a second site, “Update – Broken Ankle-2 Years Later Randomness of Christi. It was taking to long to submit postings and there is a concern that are too many off topic discussion and some folks might not get the help/ support he or she needs. So now I am reading both sites. I LOVE IT.
Okay, LOIS, I COMPLETELY AGREE with Anklequest. DON’T LEAVE! My mom is an 18-year survivor of breast cancer and she still is able to help people. While we may not undergo chemotherapy or radiation, we still deal with A LOT of stuff! You can still participate and help others who might be in a similar situation as you were! PLEASE DON’T LEAVE US!!!!!
ANA, Clarke just recently had an ankle fusion but after the entry on July 5th, I am not sure he will be back. Maybe he is still reading and not inputting. Hopefully that is the case. I would put the same entry on the “2 Years Later” site and see if you get a response. See CLARKE and LOIS, your input is invaluable!!!!
PAM, I broke my ankle in August of 2005 and still do not have full-mobility. But it is VERY POSSIBLE we have different breaks. I had a trimalleolar ankle fracture and dislocation. 2 screws on the left side and a plate and 9 or 10 screws on the left. Can’t remember. And yes, I can fell all of them through my skin. Icky. That is yet another reason I am considering have the surgery to have them removed. Anywho, my life is REALLY REALLY normal now. I was very good about doing my PT, even at home and after the “official” PT ended. I am now running and biking. Wearing girly shoes and sandals. No stilettos. AND FLIP FLOPS. Someone did an earlier entry, and I will say, I agree with them. Flip flops DEFINATELY DO NOT provide support, so I have more expensive sandals that have more support/ arch that I will wear if I am going to be on my feet for a while. But I wear flop flops for short errands, if I am out in the yard, etc. All the time, really. Walking on the beach. The stiffness is only in the morning and occasionally on some days if I have done something. I am still very protective of it. Also, I swear by Vitamin E oil. My mom used it on her mastectomy scar (her doc was AMAZED at the results). I used it on a motorcycle exhaust burn on my let many years ago. Gone. And I have not used it consistently on my ankle scars becase I am considering having the metal removed. So sort of what is the point there?
LIZ, I would ask your doctor/ surgeon about PT. I think if you have ANY TYPE of injury, PT should be involved. It made a huge difference for me. And now I have a question for you. With the local anesthesia, did they just give you a block in your leg? Or how? And how long did it take? And what is the recovery time? When I went to the ortho guy here on Base, he told me the removal of the screws would weaken my ankle again until the little holes filled in? And then there was the risk of infection, just like with the first surgery. Decisions, decisions……
Don’t forget, “2 Years Later…”
Melanie
Liz!! Sounds like your coming along well! Even if it does hurt! I cannot wait until I start physiotherapy, no one has mentioned it yet. I have another appointment at the fracture clinic in about 2 weeks or something, so i shall find out then I guess! 🙂
I can imagine why you wouldn’t want to wear flip flops again to be honest. I am very wary about wearing the trainers I was wearing when I had my accident. I think because mine was a sports accident (broke and dislocated it playing netball!) I am maybe not quite as scared of doing certain things, as I assocaite it with sports….. dont know, but we shall see!!
Well…a small but large victory this morning! I got up and started hobbling around with one crutch, and my very large unattractive velcro shoe! I then went and carried my breakfast from the kitchen through to the living room and ate it watching the TV!!! Sounds so little, but made such a difference. As i have been on 2 crutches up until yesterday when I had my surgery, I could not carry anything!!!!!! Yay! But now I can…will make such a difference!
I can just about hobble around with no crutches, but takes so much longer, and is very painful too. I cant see me loosing my crutches totally within 7 days like they told me yesterday! Eeeek! I put the washing out earlier as well, and instead of hanging it all of my crutches, I could carry it like a normal person again! I had such a big smile on my face, even though it was something so silly, and my ankle was throbbing!!! I cant move it properly either, because there is so many bandages on it, so I am quite worried the movement which I have worked so hard at getting back over the last 3 weeks will have gone or will be really stiff when the bandages come off next week! Hmmm…we shall see!!
Speak soon!
Louise xx
Lois, I hate to see you leave. I’ve only been here a few days but have really enjoyed reading your posts. Congrats on your great progress so far and I hope things only continue to improve for you. 🙂
Pam, my doctor recommended Vitamin E oil for my scars as soon as I got my removable aircast. I use it twice each day and I do think it’s helping. I’m also a flip-flop queen. I wear flip-flops year round and like you, I was wearing them when I had my accident (slipped on some water in my classroom). I’m not wearing shoes yet but when I do, I know I’m going to be leary of wearing flops again, although I know they aren’t what caused the accident. I just hope I’ll be able to wear them again someday. I’m just worried they might not provide enough support for my ankle. Has anyone had that problem?
Well, I had physical therapy today and he let me use one of the machines… sort of like a stationary bike, except you push the pedals in a forward and back motion instead of a circular motion. I could barely push the thing with my bad foot, it hurt so bad. It’s still that nagging little spot right on top of where one of the screws is placed. At the end of our session the therapist did an ultrasound massage over that area to break up any scar tissue. And then, the wierdest thing… he put an electrically charged band-aid on my ankle. Has anyone ever had one? It’s a big band-aid with a battery in the center of it. I have to wear the thing for 4 hours and it itches like crazy! 🙂
Tomorrow will be 7 weeks from the accident and what a long road it has been. I broke my ankle on 5-20-08 and was put into a splint. They didn’t do surgery for 2 weeks because the swelling was so bad and a huge fracture blister developed on the side of my ankle. So I was basically bed-ridden for 2 weeks with my leg elevated about my heart at all times. Finally, I had the surgery and was put back into a splint for 2 weeks until the staples came out. After that they put me straight into an aircast so that I could take it off and start moving my ankle around. So I’ve had the aircast for 3 weeks now and still no standing or walking. 🙁 I’ve read many of the posts here from people saying they didn’t have or need therapy after getting out of their casts. I wish that was the case for me. It is SO stiff. *sigh* I wonder what the difference is between people who need therapy and people who don’t. I wish I was one of those who didn’t. Anyway, I’m just rambling now so I’ll shut up, lol.
Hope everyone’s having a good week and making progress every day. 🙂
Hello all anklebreakers!!!
Lois…are u leaving the site?? well thats a shame if you are!! And yes..thanks to you too, you have also provided me with entertainment!! hee hee!!
Pam…yes flip flops were the only shoes I could comfortably get on, as my ankle and foot was so swollen when my cast came off, I had to go for them!!!
Ok, so a little update on me…I had my surgery today to have 2 screws removed! They are quite large screws, which I now have in a small tub on my shelf! hee hee. I had it under a local anaesthetic, and the op only took about 6-7 minutes, which was great! At the moment, my foot feels ok, but aches a lot! I have been given a black velcro shoes thing which i need to wear over the bandages until the stichtes come out next week!!
The op itself was ok, apart from the lack of communication between the staff. I phoned to change it from a general anaesthetic, to a local (glad I did for 6 min operation to be honest! ha ha!) and that message didn’t get relayed etc. A lot of the stuff I was told on my last visit was not correct. I ave been told I can no longer drive, and cannot get the bandages wet, so have to go back to my balancing act in the bath again! Grrrr…..irritating!!!
I managed to take about 5-6 steps earlier with only one crutch, and a few very feeble attempts at walking without the crutches!! Didn’t go so well! I ahve been told that I need to loose the crutches wtihin 7 days! Thats quite scary!! Im not too sure about that, but we shall give it a go! My leg is just not strong enough to hold me really!!!
Well…thats me at the moment, my leg is bright yellow with the iodine solution, and it aches like crazy, but onwards and upwards (or so I hope! lol!)
Take care everyone!
Louise xx
Louise-I noticed in one of your postings you mentioned wearing flip flops. While I am a flip flop queen, I was wearing them when I broke my ankle and have been really hestitant to put them back on- mentally I don’t think I am ready for them. I did however by some sketcher sandals yesterday that have great support & I feel confidenet wearing them.
Hi all- Can anyone tell me how long it will be before I get full range of motion back in my foot? I am 2 months post surgery and while I feel my walking on the foot is going good, I still can’t do alot of range of motion. Sometimes I think I feel the screws, is that possible? I don’t have any pain but it just feels weird. Has anyone used vitamin E for their scars? I heard that helps heal them. Sorry for a ton of questions, it helps to hear from all of you who are farther out than me. Hope everyone had a great 4th!
Has anyone undergone an ankle fusion? What led to it? How was the procedure recovery? Is there a difference? and sorry one more. Did you get the results you anticipated, in other words, was it worth it?
Thanks,
Hi Lois,
For most of us the broken ankle stuff didn’t end after 4 months. While I’m glad to hear yours is about over, nevertheless I’m sure continuing to share your experiences with others on this board can be more than helpful. Perhaps now you can help others emerge from the isolation in the basement of shock and dispare with encouragement,helpful suggestions, and your unique perspective.
Anklequest.
Christi, Anklequest, Don, Angie, Ana, Sandra, Liz,Cristy, Sharon, Clark, Louise, Melanie, and anyone I may have inadvertantly missed. Just want to say goodbye and to thank you for the entertaining and delightful company you have provided. Some of you for almost four months. For me the value of this site was much more than the medical sorts of advise it contained. This site broke through my sense of isolation and the depression I was suffering as a result of this broken ankle experience. Being stuck in my basement for months, unable to negotiate a curved steep staircase to the main living area of my house was not a positive experience. You are the people who visited that dingy basement and kept me company. Your posts gave me encouragment and hope for healing and as well entertained and provided me with things to ponder. At times you made me laugh out loud over our shared or individual trials during this ordeal. However now at four months, I seem to be one of the lucky ones. Except for some weakness my ankle now feels almost normal. I have already shared all my accident, medical and physio experiences with you in prior posts. With really nothing further to say about my experience with a broken ankle it is sadly also time for me to move on. To those of you with breaks similar to mine be encouraged. For those of you with the more serious breaks, your courage is simply remarkable and I applaud each one of you. What an absolutely great group of people you are and I wish I knew you all personally. Again thank you good people and keep LOL.
Speaking of clicking or snapping, all of a sudden at around the 4 month mark I developed this, didn’t hurt but very annoying – now, at almost 7 months, I hope I can safely say it’s gone, as I haven’t had if for a few weeks (knock on wood!)
What I found is strange is that the inside of my ankle is where it was snapping, not on the outside of the ankle where the break occured.
Karen
PS to all!
Just because I think this site should be mainly limited to broken ankles doesn’t mean I haven’t enjoyed the recent discussions. To the contrary, they have been very thoughtful, sincere, and even entertaining. Clark has been just the best! Clark, I do hope you keep us posted on your ankle progress with some tibit sidelines on your personal life & situation. Lois, Loise, Melanie, Sharon, and others, just all of you keep posting, encouraging us, and sharing your lives with us.
Regards!
Christi;
I agree this should just be a broken ankle site. As such, it has been just a great site. Too many sites get ruined by off topic discussions, so thanks. An occasional diversion OK.
Since you are the monitor, I’m wondering if we shouldn’t all move to that new site you started, since this site now takes time to load up. Just wondering!
Once again, thanks so much for starting this site!
Anklequest
Just to let you all know, I have removed (or at least tried to remove) all of the comments politically related. This post is about broken ankles and supporting each other as we heal. After I saw people who have been invaluable to others in the healing process leaving due to frustration over politics I decided it was time to step in a monitor this. I appreciate any one and everyone comments that help one another with their healing process but I don’t want something like politics stopping people who may help someone down the road with their healing process. Everyone has a right to their own opinion but lets try to keep politics out of this post as it just causes harm not the good this post was doing. Sorry if I offended anyone I’m just trying to help future ankle-breakers!
THANK YOU Melanie, I was becoming concerned and thought everyone was “quitting” as there were no new entries on line and I kept getting an error message when I pulled up the site. I am like you, I love this site. Sharon/Clark,,, take a time out if you need one, but please don’t leave.
Good morning!
LOIS and LOUISE, Spotted Dick. There I said it. And no one can see how red I am turning.
CLARKE, I am almost three years out and this site has helped me enormously. STILL!!! DON’T LEAVE. That is what is wrong with this country (America. Don’t know if Canada and England are suffering with this). We are so worried about offending one person, that we try to be PC to the point of not being able to voice our own opinions. It is just CRAZY. Man, do I miss Ronald Reagan. You are not a liability. How can a person with a passion for dogs be a liability?!?!?
SHARON, I notice you have not posted anything since all the Obama/ respecting others thing started. I hope that you are not leaving too?! I hope CLARKE doesn’t leave either! DON was so “ight on” in his entry. We all come from different backgrounds and have different views. I am from TN with a father from southern Louisiana. I grew up in a home where I was not allowed to have African/ American friends (per my prejudiced father), so snuck around behind his back with the love and support of my mother from the UK. When I decided to become a Social Worker, it drove him NUTS!!!! But I wanted to make a difference in this world, rather than adding to it’s bigotry. I digress. So being raised in a partially prejudiced home, in a state in the Bible-belt, I totally understood where you were coming from. No, I do not think Obama is the anti-Christ, and I am sure you do not. But in the South, where if you drink you are going to burn in hell. If you dance, you are asking for trouble and only minutes away from ripping your clothes off and having sex outside the confines of upstanding Christian beliefs. If you go to a church where you actually have wine at communion rather than grape juice, you are considered not a “true Christian” by some people. If you grew up in a home that did not have hunting rifles or had never eaten venison, then there is something amiss in your upbringing. Must have granola eaten’, tree hugging, tye-die wearing’ parents. If you are a woman and not married by the time you are 24, there must be something wrong with you to be left on a shelf. There are comments like, “Well, you know, she did have an aunt that believed she was Martha Washington”, or “Well, you know, her daddy ran off with her mother’s sister’s 1st cousin, God bless her”. Where if you marry outside of your race or religion, you are either military or a Yankee or a liberal. Or all three! I was so fortunate to have a mother who did not raise me to believe these things were the end all and be all, who supported me in my choices (albiet covertly). I traveled the world with her as a child/ teenager/ college student and learned there were people out there who did not care what color you were, did not care what religion you were, who did not ask you when when you first met “Where are you from”, and “Who are your parents”? “Oh, are they the Landry’s from Baton Rouge or Shreveport”? And I just made that up, but I know how down here you are put into a caste system of sorts by your “pedigree”. Bottom line is, where we are raised and where we live all play into how we “are”. We may or may not believe what other’s around us believe, but we hear it. We see it. There are folks on this blogs from Canada, and LOIS you said yourself, Canadian’s can be “aloof”. I do not see that, but then I am not around a lot of Canadian’s. Or when they are down here in FL, that is certainly not how they come across. But you see it because you are there. Alright, that’s me. Finished.
LIZ, yep stick with the exercises and they will help. However I do not have a screw in the top of my foot/ ankle, so that could very well be the problem. My husband would argue that I have a “screw loose”, but that would not be in my foot. Anyway, ask your doc. And ask if that screw will ever be able to come out? If so, then possibly more mobility!
And as far as work goes, the accident happened the first weekend after school started. I missed a few days of work, and then when I returned, just stayed in the portable where our resource offices were. So no, I did not go immediately back into the classroom. Then I had my surgery. I suppose it was about a month or six weeks before I returned to classrooms. And I returned on crutches. I was an itinerant anyway, so I would go to one school, do discreet trials, go to another school and do more. And I rode with the staff I worked with since driving was out. The classroom staff would bring the little ones to me at the table where I would station myself, and as I finished with each one, they would bring another kiddo. Then when I did go back and had the aircast on, I was still on crutches with a little weight bearing. It was then that I started working with the kids with the more severe behavioral problems. And I TOTALLY understand about the crying. When you are in pain, your life is changed, you are dependent on everyone else for stuff, it makes you a little emotional to say the least. Don’t sweat it.
LOIS, My ankle still cracks and pops. Not all the time. Usually in the morning. Sometimes during the day, but not very often. It is disturbing.
Also, back to having the metal take out (yep, still considering it), someone mentioned to me yesterday that they may NOT be able to GET the metal out at this point. Since it has been in there for almost three years (next month. Can’t believe it. I thought I did it in ’04. When was Hurricane Katrina?) the bone may have really grown around the metal making it impossible to remove. Any thoughts or knowledge?
Okay, I LOVE THIS BLOG and so appreciate the thoughts/ advice!!!!
Break a leg!!!!! (ROFL!!!!! Roll on floor laughing!!!!)
Melanie
Hi Liz, I did not have the problem that you describe. My initial foot/ankle excercises were done in the bathtub, good warm water,,, (like writing the abc’s with you foot and ankle.) Then plunge my foot into a bucket of very cold water sitting beside the tub,,, then warm water exercises again, and back and forth finally ending with warm water. This hot/cold water treatment was to force the swelling from the ankle/foot areas. My foot/ankle were stiff for sure, and weak, and not very flexible at first, but no real pain. I have never really been aware of the screws or plates, except that outside side of my ankle was bulgier. The hardest I found was the flexing side to side, (well to the outside anyway) not up and down. The physiotherapist said that where they do the surgery incision the muscles are of course cut. These muscles apparently react to that be refusing to work unless they are forced to by using the rubber band resistance exercises. I also got a rubber/plastic ball, about the size of a small bowling ball and would sit with my bare foot on in while watching tv. I would roll the ball around under my foot that way for hours,,, and it did help with flexibility. So I cannot answer your question, but perhaps these tips might help if you are not already doing them. All the best.
Hi Fellow AnkleBreakers 🙂
I’m so glad I found this site and have been going back and reading old posts to get to know all your stories better.
I have a PT question for all of you who are farther along in the healing process than I am…
I just started physical therapy this week… have been twice and have exercises to do at home 2x’s per day which I’ve been keeping up with.
My question is… my ankle is SO stiff right now and attempts to pull it back and forth and side to side and bend my toes and pull it with a towel, etc, etc. is just SO frustrating because I feel like it’s not doing a bit of good. It’s not moving any farhter. My biggest pain is on the top of my ankle where the foot folds up, there is a single screw placed there. Whenever I try to bend my foot it gets really sore. I feel like that one little spot is holding me back, like if that pain wasn’t there I could bend my foot so much more. I guess it just worries me because I don’t know if it’s the screw causing the pain or possible scar tissue, or arthritis already setting in, or what? Have any of you exeperience a nagging pain when you started PT around your hardware? And if so, how long did it last before you finally started seeing progress with your PT? I hope this all makes sense. lol I look forward to hearing about your experiences with therapy. 🙂
Clark!! It would be such a shame for you to go!! Your posts make a very interesting read. Likewise I do think you should reconsider!!!!
Anklequest. Yes I know about the risks of DVT etc. It was something that was worrying me a bit, but I asked the consultant last time I went to see him at hospital, and he said “yeah you wil weight bearing by then, yeah I cant a problem with that.” quote. He just told me to keep moving as much as possible, and wear flight socks etc. I sit on a chair all day at work, from like 8.45am to 5pm only getting up for lunch and breaks. According to all I have been reading online and everything, and there is no more risk of DVT on a plane as there is by sitting in a car or train etc for the same time, so Im sure i will be ok!! 🙂 What shoes would be the best ones to wear when flying does everyone think?? Any ideas???
Lois. Oh…Im glad someone elses ankle does the same. Not just mine!! It doesn’t click or crack very often, but feels like it really needs to, and when it does its like “eeeekkkk!” that didn’t sound to great! Hmm…well I hope it does go well!! And thanks for the info about the ingrown toenail….I may well give this a go!! Thanks!
Ok, so hope everyone is doing well!
Louise xx
Louise, Often if you cut a V shaped notch in the “top edge” of your toenail, (ie where you usually cut your toe nails) that simple trick will ease the pressure on the ingrown area where the nail pushes against the “sides” of your toe. Make the notch with nail clippers or small nail scissons and make it slightly larger than this “V”. Or make two or three notches if you like. Do not poke around at the side ingrown area. Instead of a fancy manicure,,, your toe nail may resemble a bread knife…. but I have found that this trick usually works,,, odd as it may sound, and the ingrown pressure discomfort usually eases up within a day. Anyway its free, painless and worth a try.
Oh Clark, I so do not want you to go. I and everyone else would really miss you. You have not been a liability at all. In fact, you were my main source of inspiration for getting involved. (I have never been on any site before) You set a tone which led to interesting intelligent conversation and discussion. You challenged and inspired us to get on with physical healing but while doing so to exercise our thinking minds. I truly hope you will reconsider however if you are absolutely determined to move on then I want to wish you the very best and tell you that it has been indeed a pleasure.
ANKLEBREAKERS:
My ankle is fused and done. I think my time here on this blog is also. I may have become a liability rather than an asset, and that was never my intention.
Don’t think so, but even if there is doubt, it’s time to say good bye. Good healing to everyone reading this blog. I wish everyone the best.
No detective work please. I was never much for these things anyway.
Take care,
Clark
Louise,
Flying…
Why worry about the swelling on a plane? Blood clots followed by other horrible things can happen if blood pools in the lower leg. Take such things seriously. Even Tiger Woods was told not to fly after a recent procedure on his knee.
Flight socks, or in my case, tight sport socks folded over, definitely work to reduce swelling on fights. Since I broke my ankle I’ve been on planes from coast to coast and PR a number of times. Sandels would be the worst..no support, no reduction of swelling. Take good care of those feet now. Unless you are in a wheel chair you’ll likely need to walk a ways at the airport so good shoes matter.
Also, the hardware has never been a problem getting through security so far. If it is, just show your ankle scars.
DON, great to hear from you and I appreciated your last post very much!! Have a nice dance Saturday!
Lois, thanks for your posts. I’m pulling April and May weeds here too. Bears are around frequently these days so I have to watch my back.
Anklequest
Good comments Anklequest and Don.
Louise, I think that I had the same thing with my ankle. I would describe it as a big click or crack, which did not hurt but which I could feel and which felt like it could or should be heard (I don’t know if others could hear it). It has stopped. This seems to have happened sometime a few days ago, around the time I realized I was walking more normally. It will be four months on July 9/10. I think these weird things are just all part of the healing process. I think perhaps as the swelling went down, no further need to snap, crackle and pop. Has Anyone else had this experience?????
Greetings Anklebreakers
Want to say hi to all the New people that have joined our ranks. And of course I want to say hi to all the old crowed that has been here for such a long time with me as we have all moved forward in our progress.
Ahh Clark see you seem to have stirred that waters again !! Well one thing we all have to remember is that on this blog, one can see words from people of every different race, Creed, Religion and every type of social-economical background that is involved in the world. On here you don’t have any real clue as to what race a person is, what religion they may be or what their profession is.? That is one of the best things about this blog. We all have one thing in common! We all have broken our ankles!!!
Now even that is different. For a few of us Sandra, Celinda and Myself, we have in common that we all broke BOTH ankles at the same time. Some of you have 1 plate or numerous plates, some have a few pins or many pins. Some have more serious injuries to go along with your broken ankles. Some are stubborn fighters, some are silent sufferers. Some are (to put it nicely) cry babies. But in the end of all of this is that we all KNOW the PAIN the suffering the disabilities and the changes this type of injury has put in our lives. So we come here and we share our thoughts, our gripes our complaints. Weather it be medical, political, business (social-economical), Religion or what ever pops into our minds.
We all try to listen, to understand to figure out what parts of what, each of us can use to ease what it is that we feel or what we are going through ourselves. Sometimes we know that it is the person’s way of helping each of us or it is that persons way of letting of some steam to get away from the pressures of everyday life. Or it is just the person letting off steam with friends who will listen to and understand their rants. Because more then anything as time goes on. Here we have become more like family then just a bunch of random people clicking away on a blank piece of paper and sending out into cyber space to who knows where. The truth is we all care about how someone is feeling how their week went, how their Doctors appointment made out. We are happy for minor advances, for events we share with our families, for anniversaries and milestones (such as making it to one year after injuries, getting a new prosthetic, getting through an operation or just being with us).
We all need each other , we all need everyone that is here because there are things other’s have done, felt, or experienced in one way or an other. And they are things we all will come across to one degree or another. So be understanding, sit back look and listen, is it that person blowing off steam? Getting something out because they just needed to say it? Or is it something that is inherent to their area of the country or state they livein? Or is it because of their social-economical standard. Always remember these are people that will understand what you are going through and will tell you to jump in the ;lake when you need to be told to or will put an arm around your shoulder when you need to cry. So PLEASE don’t just jump to take things personally just because you may not agree or you may be from someplace else remember were all here because we have that one thing in common and we all need that understanding. If you don’t agree with what they have said and it relates to getting through what we are all going through. Call the person out but if it just deals with their own beliefs about who is a better president or who should own guns or who should make laws and you don’t agree skip to the next entry. But read the ones that count read the ones that matter to us all. Now that also goes both ways if you don’t agree with the other person who answers don’t be mad just let them vent , we all cross lots of lines lots of history passes between all of us in such a sort time. We all need that support group that will understand us even with all of our faults. Life is not easy and we all have our thoughts and beliefs and frustrations, and we all have this place to come and rant and rave when we need or to just see everyone to smile and Dance when we can.
So for me I am going off, so can go to my Daughters wedding next Saturday and I will share it with you when I get the chance to comeback and chat again… See here is one of those long winded rants that possible only matter to ME.
Be safe friends and keep moving forward one step at a time.
Don
Lois. Yes I have heard of the other rude sounding desert that someone else mentioned the other day!! It is quite yummy I personally think! And as for me at the moment, no still sticking with the flip flops! I am going to need to find some comfy shoes to wear when I fly! I wont be able to wear flip flops, because I have been advised to wear flight socks, so not really sure on that front. Will the flight socks stop the swelling a bit do we think?? Hmmm….
I have some lovely sandals which would fit nicely I think, but I have the beginnings of an ingrown toenail, and the sandals push on that, and makes it very sore! Oh! 🙁
Anklequest. Its good to hear that you can walk well in very expensive gel shoes! hee hee. but shame you cant wear any other shoes well!
I really need to loose some weight, maybe at least 2 stone, and funnily enough that was my main goal for the summer was to get myself down the gym and loose the weight, but alas no!! It was not meant to be, and I was inflicted with this dam injury!! Oh well…there is always this time next year hey??
I am noticing as well, when I am rotating my ankle round in a circle, it makes an awful cracking noise when I go over a certain point. Is that normal?? It doesn’t hurt, but I am wondering if that is going to do that for good now. As for me, I am back to work for 5 hours tomorrow. I hope my ankle doesn’t swell quite as much as it did earlier in the week! And I have to take my car in for its MOT! Eeek! I wonder what the bill will be!! Oh dear!
Take care everyone!!!
Louise xx
Hi Everyone,
I’m glad to see new people on this board. Sadly, it means new broken ankles. Welcome to everyone. As we can see, everyone has something to offer and everyone can find a helpful tidbit.
Some have questioned the differing broken ankle treatments.
The major differences lie in the many differing breaks. Some with just fibula broken ankles with plates placed on the outer fibula are not to bad because they do not have major joint involvement. They are more like a regular broken bone. Hence these have fewer complications unless there is a longer screw placed into the tibia. That screw often has to be removed. You people are lucky. Some of this type don’t even have to have surgery if the fibula break isn’t too bad. Just a cast will do.
The other extreme are people like Clark and Don, who have “smashed” ankles with various broken bone pieces and major joint cartilage damage. These are very bad breaks and as you now know, Clark’s ankle had to be fused so he no longer can or will be able to move the ankle.
Some of us, including me, are in the middle, having trimalleolar fractures. We have two pieces of the end of the tibia broken along with the fibula break. In my case I have a very long plate with 8 screws in the fibula, and 4 long screws holding the pieces of the tibia in place. When the ends of the tibia break and you have complete dislocation, your foot hangs off the end of your leg and the joint gets damaged. So in our case there is almost a 100% chance we will have further complications due to traumatic arthritis in the future. My most recent doc, a well know NY area ankle guy, told me it is a given. Eventually I should expect cortisone shots as pain worsens and possibly fusion. Even though I am almost 63 he could not say when this will happen, if ever. Some of it is up to me.
Now how to keep that future damage at bay!!!
Wear and tear are bad. Strength and fitness is good. Loss of weight is excellent. Alas. No serious running or jogging. I use to run and play tennis. Walking is great if you have the right gait and the right shoes. Change your stride slightly to reduce direct impact and walk with more of a “rolling” motion. Believe me, it makes a great difference. I can now walk indefinitely on good (expensive) gel shoes. Regular shoe really hurt after a short time. I even teach my classes and labs wearing these shoes. My students sure do not mind (have you seen what students wear these days?). I did have to go on a trip to PR recently as a consultant and wore dress shoes and did feel the difference quite quickly. Forget the flip flops and heels.
LISTEN TO YOUR DOC! Do not put weight or pressure on that ankle until the doc thinks you are ready or you will be subject to stress fractures and other problems. On the other hand, do not be timid about moving your ankle around as much as you can when sitting.
Take good care of that ankle everyone. It will be a life long project for some of you as it is for me.
A thanks also to those here who defend tolerance…even of those who are intolerant. I too hate bigotry and racism and think the AntiChrist stuff is weird, but view those who still think this way as still needing to learn things beyond their limited world. So cutting them off and not listening to their ideas is not helpful. Show a better way to live!!
A big thanks to all our armed services, past and present, for a free country!!!
Anklequest