Update-Broken Ankle-1 Year later

2,203 thoughts on “Update-Broken Ankle-1 Year later”

KATHERINE GONZALES on May 16, 2009 at 11:40 pm said:

HI TO ALL , I HAD AN OPEN GRADE 4 HAWKINS FRACTURE OF MY RIGHT ANKLE IN JANUARY OF 2003 AS OF THIS DATE IT STILL HAS NOT HEALED I HAVE HAD 13 SURGERIES CONSISTING OF OSTEOTOMIES FOR AVASCULAR NECROSIS AND OSTEOMYELITIS, MY SUBTALAR HAS BEEN FUSED AND MY ABKLE HAS BEEN ATTEMPTED TO BE FUSED 2 TIMES,I NOW HAVE 7 SCREWS AND 2 PLATES IN MY ANKLE AND AM USING AN EXOGENOUS BONE STIMULATOR IN A LAST DITCH EFFORT TO HEAL THE ANKLE ……….I HOPE IT WORKS IT WOULD BE NICE TO BE FREE OF SO MUCH PAIN!!!
Mike on May 8, 2009 at 8:52 am said:

Thanks JAN,

Good to know your hardware came out really easily after a year and half!

I can’t wait to get mine out, I know its going to feel alot better. My ankle is really inconsistant, some days I don’t even notice the injury, other days I’l get sharp pain with every step. Last wk I was feeling pain on the inside of ankle near the pin, when usually its the outside near the plate.
Nancy on May 8, 2009 at 8:10 am said:

Trac,
I would be interested to hear why you need the surgeries you talked about. I thought that maybe one of my screws came lose and that was causing the pain. It ends up that it is all nerve related. I am now taking Lyerca to calm my nerves. (Lyerca is actually an anti-seizure med, but used for other things) The Dr. does not feel comfortable taking out any plates at this time. I just can’t seem to drop my crutches completely. I have too much pain at times. It feels like I am walking with a broken leg. My ankle is giving me more problems then my knee. How is it for you? Did you get your full range of motion back in both areas? What type of therapy worked best for you? I am hoping to start pool therapy soon. Do you have any specific exercises you would recommend? Thanks!
Jan on May 7, 2009 at 10:32 am said:

Mike,
It had been a year and half when I had mine taken out. It came out very easily the doctor said.
I don’t think two years would make that much difference.
I had the plate on the outside of my left ankle with 5 screws. 1 screw on the inside. I walked the next day.
I still say it was the best thing for me to do.
My ankle would hurt when I stood up to walk if I had been sitting down for any length of time. It actually had pain for every step I took. Just more sometimes than others.
Hope all goes well for you

Jan
trac on May 6, 2009 at 11:53 pm said:

Hello to all the ankle breakers! I usually post on this site, but wanted to say Hi. I especially wanted to say Hi to Nancy, as we had almost identical injuries. I, too, was a double crush and spent months in an external fixator and in a nursing home. It was nice to read someone else who had gone through this, but I am also sorry you had to go through this. I am going in 5/21 for a double tendon transfer and ankle fusion. (my accident was 7/09/07) – will have another nursing home stay. I chose to have my metal removed and do not regret it for a moment. It was painful afterwards, but proved to be less pain in the long haul.

Take Care everyone!
Peace,
trac
Mike on May 6, 2009 at 9:32 pm said:

Bruce,

Do you think getting hardware out after 2 years is too long? I had my stuff put in Aug. 2007 so coming on 2 years soon. How long you figure it takes to grow into the body and become difficult to remove?

JAN,

Thank goodness I’m Canadian, $10,000 US for this surgery. damn, lucky to say its free here, should be free everywhere.

I find working out and doing cardio does help my ankle. I also find it very sensitive if I bump the plate, and if I drive for long periods of time it’l hurt to walk after, using cruise control helps for that lately.

I hope its not too late to get this crap out, I just canceled a June 24th appointment to go on vacation and attend my good friends wedding. I’m meeting my surgeon at end of the month and will update on how he feels about removal two years after. Just hope I can get a new appointment soon now.

So glad I found this site! We have a nice community here, hope everyone is doing well!
Bruce on May 5, 2009 at 11:15 am said:

Hey Niko,

When the plate and screws come out it’s a little weak at first cause of the holes, just as you suspected. That’s why you go easy at first. The holes fill in pretty fast and after a few months I think it’s at least as strong as a normal bone.
Niko on April 30, 2009 at 12:08 pm said:

Hey Everyone!!

When they put the plates and screws in the broken ankle, its for support and over time the bone fuses back together correct?

If so, how strong is or would that bone be if one decided to have the plates and screws removed? Since everything grows around it!
Bruce on April 30, 2009 at 12:01 pm said:

I’ve got more broken ankle experience than I need and I’m writing just to support any one who is suffering with this now. I took some comfort in similar blogs when I was injured. My hope is to make some of what I went through of value by helping others. I’ll be as brief as possible and tell my story in two separate entries so as not to have too much to read at once

12 years ago I had a nasty fall climbing cliffs in the White Mts. My foot was wedged between two rocks and I fell sideways. I ended up laying on the edge of a cliff with my foot pointing east and my knee facing west. I took 35 volunteers 8 hours to get me down. I am of course eternally grateful to them. Did I mention this was Father’s day?

I finally got to this 60 bed hospital and they asked if I wanted surgery there or go back to closer my home and a more Boston like hospital. I’d had enough of a journey already and said just do it here and now. That turned out to be a brilliant decision.

Every doctor that’s looked at the X rays since then has said, “Wow – nice job on the surgery”. Turns out that this bitsy hospital was in the middle of dozens of ski areas and they did broken ankles, legs and wrists one after the other from November to April every year.

So 4 days in the hospital, 6 weeks laying down no weight bearing followed by 6- 8 weeks of intensive (often painful ) PT. To me PT is a must to get as much as you can and be as compliant as you possibility can. Do your exercises and you’ll have a better outcome.

A few months after the fall I was hobbling around without assistance. I was told I’d never run or a back pack. I do both no problems. I’m not a star at either and you know what? I really wasn’t before either.

I couldn’t figure out if I should have the plate out or not. There was no clear medical advice on the issue. It didn’t bother me that much. Putting ice skates or tight boots on was pretty uncomfortable and banging the ankle was a unique shooting pain. Other than that I just kept postponing the decision and eventually the plate just became part of me.

That’s something you need to keep in mind the plate and screws do latterly eventually become part of you. Everything gets grown over and grown in and after a couple of years, I think, getting them out is going to be way too hard. That’s my opinion not that of a trained medical professional.

I will say this. After 12 years no one is interested in removing this hardware now and I’m confident I’d be better off without it.

Before I close I’d like to remind those of you currently injured to be nice to your caregivers. I know you may be in pain, depressed and jealous of folks running around, working, playing and doing errands. It’s hard to be dependent on others. Share your feeling of course. Just don’t be mean and appreciate that they are doing the best they can to help you and to pick up the chores you’re not able to do at this time.

Next week I’ll write about my second broken ankle which occurred two year ago and provided some new learnings.
Troy in Wylie Texas on April 30, 2009 at 5:59 am said:

Hello Folks. It’s been a long time since I posted here and it appears a lot of this blog is missing.

I just wanted to say that I am doing better each day thankfully. I experienced two broken ankles, screws, plates, etc… and the swelling and pain while it varies in intensity it is still very much a part of life now. My pain issue is attributed to having very little cartiledge in may ankles so it is more of an arthritic pain I would say.

I am 43 and weigh 295. I am an honorably discharged Marine. I could not stand being unable to get around. I got way too heavy and the depressed. I finally decided to go back to my Marine Corp mentality of “F” IT! It can’t eat me!

For the last 2-1/2 months I have been doing cardio workouts lasting 30 minutes to 65 minutes a workout. The elliptical machines are my favorite as it has less stress on the ankles. The automated programs such as weight loss and performance test keep the workouts challenging. I was told by my ortho that I would never be able to run again. I am running on the treadmill in short bursts. Granted it is not pounding the street but it is running and it is a victory for all ankle breakers out there.

While it seems weird, my ankles hurt way less as long as I work out at least five times a week. If I miss the gym due to travel (work) I can really feel it. I am not taking anything for joints at this time.

This is what I am doing to cope and it is working for me. I know it will not work for everyone but if any of you are where I was mentally and want to say to hell with it and go for it, be sure to start slow and remember it is a marathon and not a sprint race.

Good luck and hang in there everyone. It is the mental aspect of this as much as it is the pain and the brain determines a large part of the outcome. Stay mentally strong and you will succeed.
celinda on April 29, 2009 at 11:22 am said:

Hi,

I broke both my ankles over 2 years ago and the left one still has not healed completely. I can walk on it some, but not a whole lot. The dr. actually took out my ankle joint, so I have no ankle there, it is just fused. He wants to do another surgery, but I do not know how that would be possible. That would be my 4th surgery on my left ankle. God willing, it will heal completely on it’s own.

Celinda
Jan on April 29, 2009 at 10:47 am said:

Mike,
I broke mine Sept of 07. 1 pin on inside and plate and 5 screws on the other. As I said I had my hardware removed in March. It was bothering me with every step I took. I couldn’t believe the difference after I had it taken out. I am going for a 6 week doc appt on Thursday for an xray to see how the holes are healing.
The scar tissue over the long scar is still tight tho
The total cost of the surgery was a little over $10,000. So I hope you have insurance.
Mike on April 28, 2009 at 11:00 pm said:

Hi all,

I broke my ankle Aug 2007, One pin on inside and plate with 7 screws on outside. I’m looking at removing the hardware this fall or possibly winter, (2 and half years after the initial break) wondering if theres more complications the longer I wait?

I just canceled a hardware removal surgery for this June, I’m meeting with the Dr. at the end of May still though. Hope canceling my appointment wasn’t a mistake and removal 2.5 years later isn’t a problem. Thanks. Best of luck to everyone suffering with this anoying injury.
james on April 26, 2009 at 1:08 pm said:

in jan I suffered a trimallior fracture which consists of breaking both leg bones and the ankle . I have the obligatory screws and plate holding it together and was not allowed to bear weight for over 2 months. my doctor told me if I choose to have the metal removed I would have to once again be non weight bearing for 6 to 8 weeks. I am going to keep the metal in unless complications occur. good luck
lisa on April 23, 2009 at 1:21 am said:

Kim, that happend to me too and had walked with a limp and constant swelling and throbbing inb my ankle. It got to the point to where I could not walk without relying on my crutches. I went got 2nd and 3rd opinions and I had to have my ankle rebroken and reset. I was off by 6 degrees and incision was not healing right and nerves were a mess. Since my rebreak, removal of hardware I am so much better where as I can where a slight 1 inch heal, flip flops, but not 100% there and never will be. My advice is that I woulod see a NEW DR.
Jan on April 11, 2009 at 11:12 pm said:

Nancy,
I had the screws and plate taken out of my ankle on March 18th 09.
It was an hour surgery and an hour recovery, then I went home. They did a nerve block at my calf.
I used a boot for one day, then I walked on it. They have warned me not to twist it or sprain it for 3 months.I did not hurt my knee tho
Hope this helps
Nancy on April 11, 2009 at 2:46 pm said:

On August 25, 2008, I was hanging a bulletin board in my classroom and fell off a ladder. I had five fractures and two dislocations. My 16 year daughter is the one who called 911. My 12 year old son was also there to see my knee cap area look like a hollow bowl and my ankle hanging off to the side. I had a right tibial plateau bicondylar fracture and a right ankle trimalleolar fracture. The radiologist stopped counting at 20 fragments. I had a cast put on my ankle and an external fixator put on my leg until swelling went down for the final surgery. The final surgery was 8 1/2 hours long and resulted in 4 plates and 23 screws. My Dr. calls me a double crush victim. Very few people have both ankle and knee injuries on the same leg at the same time. My tibial plateau fractures put me in a wheelchair for 3 months.(I then went to a walker and am now alternating between crutches and a cane.) After 2 hospitals and 2 nursing homes, I got to go home. It is now almost 8 months later and I am still experiencing a lot of the pain everyone is talking about. My most recent is numbness in my leg when I wear a Dynasplint for both extension and flexion. I woke up with major pain on the outside of my ankle. I am now starting to think it is a loose screw and the splint was rubbing on it and causing some nerve issues. I have a Dr.’s appt Monday. If it is only this screw will they tightened it or take it out? Will it be outpatient or a hospital stay? I have not read through all of the responses, but I am wondering if anyone else has had both extensive ankle and knee injuries? If so, how are you doing? How long did it take you to walk without the aid of a cane? Do you have a normal gait? Thanks for any insight you can provide!
Niko on April 9, 2009 at 10:58 am said:

Thanks so much Ana…. I was really wondering if what I was feeling was normal. You are so right about knowing the weather!!!! 🙂
Ana on April 7, 2009 at 3:11 pm said:

Hello Niko,

Yes it’s very normal for your ankle to swell up. Mine still does after 6 years and 2 surgeries. But nothing like the first year. I couldn’t get into any shoe, just wide sneakers. I also know the weather better than any weather channel available. I can tell you when it’s going to sprinkle and when it’s going to pour rain for days. The cold makes it hurt as well. It gets better and soon you will be able to wear the ankle socks. Keep the foot elevated wherever you are and as much as possible. Good luck and keep us posted.
Niko on April 7, 2009 at 2:34 pm said:

Hi all!

I broke my ankle last July, fell down my basement stairs.When I had my xrays taken they thought I had a break in maybe three or four places. I had to wait two weeks for my surgery because my ankle was swollen so badly. When it was time for my surgery they cut my ankle open and discovered that I had more breaks. I had 6 or 7 breaks. I now have two plates one on the outside of my ankle and the inside. So I have two plates and thirteen screws. Sorry I cant remember the exact number. The whole ordeal was very painful for me from start to finish. When they took my stitches out when I out of the cast…….. that was the worst I mean absolutely worst pain in my entire life. I had 2o stitches on the outside and 5 on the inside. I never ever want to go through that again. Even now I can feel when its going to rain because my ankle will hurt. It still swells which I dont like and sometimes light pain. I have just gotten to the point as to where I can run up some stairs on the ball of my foot!
I cant even wear ankle socks because my ankle will swell around it…….is that normal????
Jan on April 1, 2009 at 6:49 pm said:

Frank,
See if there is an option to remove the hardware. I did after 1 1/2 years and after two weeks it is doing great with little or no pain.
My screws were irritating the surrounding tissue.
Hope this helps.
Frank on April 1, 2009 at 7:59 am said:

Hello All,

I am Frank, 32 broke my ankle about 1 year ago – and basically did this on a dirt motorbike over a jump and flat bottom’d out and did what they call in the medical world a Fibula Plafond – basically commpressed my ankle on the ball of my ankle if that makes any sense – Doctor described it as a MUSHROOM effect as i landed on it – Anyways i had surgery they placed 2 screws on the inside of my right ankle and placed it in a cast for 13weeks!

When i took the cast off my leg was skinny and ungly looking and all the muscle was dead, i felt like poo for a few days and trying to walk on it was not allowed for a few more weeks but when i did get to walk it hurt like hell….!

Anyways after 1 year today 1/04/2009 i started to run and play soccer but its rather soar still – how can i get more strength in my ankle again with no pain?

Please help should i seek another scan to see whats going on?

Kindest Regards
Frank
Jan on March 29, 2009 at 9:09 pm said:

Well it has been 11 days since I had my hardware removed.
Instantly it felt better without it. The xrays showed that a couple of screws had been moving around irritating the tissue.
It has been 3 days since I had my stitches out. I got to take a shower on Friday. My ankle is swollen alittle and bruised but I can walk with no cane or walker.
My advice to the 70 year old. If she can have surgery, talk to an orthopedic surgeon and see if her bone has healed and get the hardware out.
I am 54, and it has been a little over a year and a half since I broke my ankle. 6 screws and a 6 inch plate later.
I will continue to update my progress
drea on March 29, 2009 at 2:47 pm said:

hi. if anyone has advice , it would be appreciated. my mom broke ankle in 2 places over a year ago. she has plates and screws. there are good days and bad days of pain. all of us on this site know this. she was presecribed percaset for the pain up until a month ago. 1/2 tablet a day if that she took. like i said, everyday it hurts her, but some worse than others. the percaset takes the edge off for her and i am fully supportive if it helps. she is almost 70 yrs old. she has a dr’s appt in a few weeks and wants to ask for another prescription of pain killers. one bottle lasts her a long time. why do dr’s sometimes have a problem giving out pain killers? i mean my mom’s dr never broke his ankle! and heck, she is 70 yrs old practically and if it helps, at this point of her life why not? how can she talk to her dr about it?
Zach on March 24, 2009 at 8:33 am said:

Hey its been almost 3 years for me since I broke my ankle and the hardware is still in. I figured my ankle would be stronger that way, plus being a student pilot in the service, I didnt want to go under the knife any more than I had to. It hasnt given me any trouble, however if i reach down there, I beginning to think it might be coming loose a bit. But I can still do everything I did, so no big worries there.
Jan on March 19, 2009 at 12:30 pm said:

Glad to have found this website.
I broke by tibia and fibula on September 15, 07
I screw on right side. 5 screws and a plate on the other.
There were good days and bad since the first day I could walk again normally. (never normal) Soooooo
Yesterday March 18, 09 I had the hardware removed.
The nerve block they gave me behind my calf hasn’t worn off yet. I came home right after the surgery, with an ace bandage, walking boot and walker. I am to use the boot for two or three days. I can walk already without the walker, but like I said I have not yet.Then I will see the doctor again to see the stitches. I will post more as the days go on.
Anklequest on March 15, 2009 at 8:59 pm said:

ASMAE,
Well you are doing very fine..way ahead of the crowd actually. Most of us were not allowed to walk on the broken leg until after 6 weeks, then partial weight only for a while. I can empathize with the crutches. they were horrible & hurt my hands badly. But hang in there , you a doing just fine. You definitely will be able to walk normally. I assume you may still be dealing with the trauma of this aweful experience so it feels like just a complete horror show for the time being.

As far as the screws, they may not even have to be removed, depending on where they are and what they were put in for. About 80% of plates and screws in ankles are never removed. If they are removed, than usually it will be after 6 months or, in most cases, a year. Some more details would be helpful here.

Meanwhile, try to stay of the foot and be very patient. Things will definitely improve over time.

Anklequest.
Asmae on March 15, 2009 at 4:57 pm said:

Hello everyone, on the 18 Feb 09 i broke my ankle and had surgey the next day, I had 2 screws put in and i was in a cast for 3 weeks then i was put in a moon walker for the following 3 weeks, i think its like an air boot, i was meant to be in a cast for 6 weeks but it became to much to deal with, the cruches were causing me pain every were my Dr said its the cruches so i asked for the cast to be removed i can say the Dr and consultant were not happy at all but i couldnt take the pain any more. I am atill using the cruches but its more comfortable with the boot, i have tried to walk on my leg without the boot and its realy painful, am due to go back to the royal in edinburgh for an x-ray and physio but i think i will still need the aid of at lease one cruches, can anyone please advise me how soon can i have the pins removed i had surgery on the 19 feb 09? and will i be able to walk without aid? do i need any ankle supports? am scared that i will never walk properly again, if i have the pins removed will i need a cast again? will i need cruches? please advise
Diane on March 15, 2009 at 12:12 pm said:

Hi, glad to find all this info. You all are smart enough to know what the medical names are for what happened to you. I know this: my foot turned all the way around with a bone on the inside jutting out…emergency surgery after a long emergency room painful ordeal wherein lots of ER staff were trying to “put the bone in place”. I woke up from surgery with pins on the inside of right ankle and a plate and screws on the outside…also complications of surgery with my voice box damaged, aspirated blood from that damage and suffered pulmonary and congestive heart failure. Casted for three months, then a boot, no weight bearing for four months, etc. So glad to find you folks…the screws on the outside of my right ankle are so painful that every minute of every day I am hurting. Love to hear from anyone who can share info…I too was told initially, I had a Non union of the bone on the outside…two weeks later, told that indeed I was healing…I just never am without pain and swelling. I am happy to find you all.
Deborah Markham on March 14, 2009 at 8:31 pm said:

I broke my right ankle in 3 places 12 Sept 07. Had an external fixatetor. On 3 Oct 07 3 plates and 12 screws wrer put in. Months later still a lot of pain. My Doctor told me, nothing else could be done and set me to pain managment.
Last month I went to a differnt doctor, the exrays showed a couple of the screws were to long and causing pain. 5 March 09 I went in to have the screws taking out, they ended up taking all the hareware out. They remove so much scare tissue.
18 March 09 is my next appt.
SYLVIA ESPEJO on March 1, 2009 at 11:40 am said:

Hi, It’s Sylvia again. Do remember….there’s a BIG difference between a simply ankle break, a “Bi” break and, a “Tri” break. My experience is due to a Trimalleolar ankle break. Depending on the type of break…we will all experience different degrees of pain and deformity. As I stated previously, I have a rod, plate and thirteen screws. My left ankle is noticebly larger than the right one. I have constant discomfort due to developing RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy) in the left ankle and, so on. I choose not to take anything for pain as I’ve learned to accept and live with this. I know when to elevate my foot and rest now. Prior to this injury..I jogged five miles daily, operated my own business, was very active. Since, I jog approximately fifteen minutes on my treadmill (this took some time to do), perform floor exercises, swim and perform water exercises (this is the best because your weight gravitates and not much weight is applied to your ankle area!) I’ve hired two employees to assist with my business as I am unable to stand for really long periods of time without swelling and, I’ve given up on hiking. For anyone with a Trimalleolar break, I can relate to the pain and discomfort. I wish to share this with you…..place a twenty pound bag of rice or dry beans in a container and, every morning and evening for fifteen/twenty minutes …dip your foot into the container until it’s contents (beans/rice) is above ankle area. Now, swirl your foot in circular motion ; clockwise and counter clockwise. This is therapeutic and is one of the exercises I was given by my physical therapist to perform at home. It’s done wonders and have prevented the stiffness and constriction many of us endure after such a break.Again, I wish you the best. I enjoy reading the many stories shared on this site. I’ve learned no matter what degree of break one might have…..your goal should be to go on and, simply be grateful for what you CAN do! Stay focused!
Lisa on March 1, 2009 at 1:36 am said:

Hi Kim – I used to think my ankle was going to stay a big tree-trunk like structure, but after 1-1/2 years, it’s nearly back to normal. I don’t think it will ever be exactly right again (I have screws and plates and a problem with my achilles tendon due to trying to walk with little or no calf muscle, etc.) – but you will get better in time. Stretch that calf muscle and it will help with the mobility of your ankle and foot. The swelling and pain on the inside of your foot will lessen in time. Ice and rest help with that.

Don’t give up!
Lindy Harris on February 25, 2009 at 2:26 am said:

Dear Sylvia (Espejo)

Thanks for your letter. I am sorry to hear what happened to you. It sounds as if you have managed to process your awful experience. My hat off to you for your courage. Your letter made me feel less unusual and less like I am ‘just a wimp’. So thanks!

Regards, Lindy
SYLVIA ESPEJO on February 24, 2009 at 2:25 pm said:

HI, I EXPERIENCED A TRI-LEFT ANKLE BREAK APPROXIMATELY NINE YRS. AGO AND STILL HAVE PAIN. I AM WALKING BUT HAVE NOT RESUMED TO MY “NORMAL” ACTIVITIES. INSTEAD, DUE TO THE PAIN WHICH LIMITS MY MOBILITY, I’VE GAINED WEIGHT. I ALSO BEGAN FEELING A BURNING SENSATION AND TENDERNESS IN THE AREA OF THE BREAK. I SEEN MY PHYSICIAN AND WAS DIAGNOSED WITH RSD(REFLEX SYMPATHETIC DYSTROPHY). I HAVE A PLATE, ROD AND THIRTEEN SCREWS. MY WHOLE LIFE CHANGED AFTER THIS “CAREER ENDING” INJURY. “CAREER ENDING” IS HOW MY ORTHOPEDIC SURGEON DESCRIBED MY BREAK. I’VE ADJUSTED THOUGH AND AM GRATEFUL FOR WHAT I CAN DO. I DO NOT TAKE ANY MEDICATION FOR PAIN AS I DO NOT WISH TO BECOME DEPENDANT ON ANYTHING AND DEAL WITH THE SIDE-EFFECTS….BESIDES, I HAVE ENOUGH TO DEAL WITH! I’VE EXPERIENCED DEPRESSION FOR YEARS AFTERWARDS AND FINALLY CONCLUDED, IT COULD HAVE BEEN WORST (AMPUTATION)! JUST TAKE ONE DAY AT A TIME IS MY ADVICE FOR OTHERS AND LOOK AT THE BRIGHT SIDE. DO AS MUCH AS YOU CAN AND REST WHEN YOUR ANKLE DEMANDS YOU TO REST! GOOD LUCK AND BLESSINGS TO ALL.
josh on February 18, 2009 at 8:11 pm said:

hi i had screws in and a plate and i was arranged to go to the day clinic and get them removed so i went along only to be told they took the metal out but my whole ankle was infectedv MRSA yh i dont no how i got it maybe because my fracture was a compound fracture(open wound) i was in a motorbike accident i broke all bones in ankle dislocated my leg so my leg looked like a letter basically and all my tendons lassued round my ankle so im very lucky to still have my ankle and that was 2 years ago nearly it happened on the 23/03/07 but basically guys of course your gonna have trouble with your ankle when you brake it 95 percent of all ankle fractures are complex brakes and need surgery so guys just basically thank god you still got your ankles and you can still walk good day everyone
ps. i still get pain occasionally but hey id rather have that than no ankle
Lindy Harris on February 5, 2009 at 10:05 am said:

It is a real mixture of interesting, comforting and a bit depressing to read this site. I was in a car accident 18 months ago 17.07.07. I was driving and a truck passed another truck on a blind rise – and we had a head on colision. It took them and hour and a half to cut us out of the car and then because we were far from anywhere it was 5 hours before I got to the hospital My kids got there an hour earlier. My daughter was unconscious for two days with multiple injuries. My left ankle was half severed. I had a tib/fib break and as the doctor so elegantly put it, had cornklakes in there. The plates can’t be taken out. My right knee needed bone replaced and new ligaments put in.They had to give me 4 pints of blood.I also developed an infection in the wounds which took weeks to heal probably because of all the antibiotics they had to give me. My right knee was also badly hurt. I needed bone relacements and new ligaments. I took my first steps in November. The doctors are all very pleased with their work and I really am grateful for being able to walk but I just can’t seem to ‘get out of pain’. I went to a LOT of phsio and did well. I do not take pain pills often – only when work has been just too much for my legs and I can’t sleep from the pain. I can’t stand for very long, my ankle still swells if I walk more than usual, I have to go up and down steps like a toddler – one foot, one foot. My foot feels like someone is holding onto it hard most of the time and when it is really sore my ankle and foot seem to ‘burn’ I think that the nerves are refering pain quite merrily too. The injury site is still very painful to touch. I tried yoga but was in severe pain after a session even though the instructor assured me that he ‘knew all about how to help people like me”. I try to exercise a little each day and have stayed as active as possible but the constant pain is just getting me down. The pain has improved but it is still very much there and I get blank looks from doctors about it – so I have given up on them. One thing I have noticed is that quite a lot of people health profesionals included seem to find it easy to prescribe pain and advice to others – just do this exercise or that- which is driving me mad!I realise that I will probably not be able to climb Kilomanjaro or go back to Spanish dancing and getting up and down off the floor will always look funny and be awkward because I can’t bend my knee more than 100% but I wonder if anyone has had similar experiences and has some message of hope or if not that a little true empathy would help! I wish anyone still in casts and wheelchairs strength and courage.
Don on January 31, 2009 at 9:58 pm said:

Hello,
I’m glad I found this site. I broke my ankle 5 1/2 years ago and have a plate and six screws on the outside of my right ankle. It took me almost a year until I could run and resume normal activities. The ankle has ached from time to time over the years but nothing earth shattering. Three days ago it started to hurt and became progressively worse, by the time I went to bed it was throbbing. The following day it became very painful and caused me to limp. When I got home from work I took a good look at the incision site and discovered it was red, swollen and very tender to the touch; pulling my sock up and down made me want to howl! I got in to see my ortho the next morning – after some X-rays and probing he said that I probably have a stress fracture underneath the plate. I am scheduled to have the plate removed in four days. I asked if the hardware had come loose and he said no but it was best to remove the metal because it probably contributed to the stress fracture – has anybody heard of something like this happening?
Thanks – Don
Kim on January 29, 2009 at 4:12 pm said:

Going to try again to post a comment. I have tried four different times and for some reason it wont post. Thank you Ashley for the info about the hardware removal. I went to the doc on Monday, he ordered a CT scan and nerve test on my ankle to see where the pain is coming from and then he said he will proceed to remove some of the hardware and possibly do a nerve and tendon release. Did you have to be put in a cast or stay off your foot after the hardware removal? I am a little nervous, it has been since last May that I broke my ankle a trimalleolar fracture with widening of the ankle mortise. He seems to think that the mortise is still widened too much giving my ankle to much play and causing it roll.
The CT scan showed lots of bone fragments and that one of the screws was really loose, but that is all the info I got from the technician, she wouldn’t tell me anything else.
Tisha, I hope your son gets alot better, I know it was rough on me and I cant imagine having a child have to go through this, good luck!!!
Well, I guess thats all for now, take care every one and hope to hear from ya soon!!!
KIM
Ashley on January 29, 2009 at 3:25 pm said:

Hi, I originally broke my ankle bimalleolar fracture in December 2007, I had alot of trouble with my mobility after the healing therefore, i went and had it all taken out in October 2008. I feel great ! It you get the option to have it removed do it. I had to see my ortho for less than 1 month after the plates, pins and screws were removed just for follow up and he commented that it was amazing the difference. I recommend it.
tisha on January 14, 2009 at 12:07 pm said:

Hi,
I’m sorry for all of you but here’s my story….mar 08 my son (14yrs)slid into second base and broke his tib/fib and ankle..had surgery and 2 screws in his ankle and lots of problems with replacing and casting his leg. After months of cast and therapy his doctor released him to play football in September, he was still limping, at his first practice he broke his leg again:( We changed doctors,big mess the orginal doctor said he shouldnt be playing they didn’t give him a release, I however have the hand written release. Anyway this time around he was given a bone growth stimulator and in november was walking again and it was healed better than the first break. His doctor told him to gradually start running which he did a little. After christmas break his doctor released him for sports, they started baseball and he was running with everyone,no problems,(remember gradually increase, he didnt he jumped right in and took off 🙁 )but the day he put his cleats on his ankle and leg swelled and we had to start icing it down again and he started limping which he hasn’t done since november. Now he can not run at all we are going back to his doctor today because he is having so much pain in his ankle but I wonder if it is the hardware because the pain he describes is from the bone out, and sharp but not running up and down his leg. I am so ready for this to be over with, he is very athletic and this is driving him crazy….anyone have any suggestions?
Judy R on January 13, 2009 at 12:18 am said:

Hi Kim.
I had a similar break..tri, with a plate with 7 screws and a pin on the inside…5/4/08.
I also had some problems with the pain on the inside (and it sometimes seems to ‘burn’ even at night). As far as being ‘normal’ again, I don’t expect it. We all have very different reactions from the breaks which are all so different! Some people seem to recover within a year or so, others never do.
My pains vary each day. On a bad day, I take some Aleve, which helps. I can walk, somedays with almost no limp, other days it is hard to walk at all. I also was told I was doing just fine! Bottom line is, I keep working it, have no expectations to be the same again, nor do I expect that ankle to ever look like the other. The nerve damage is strange to deal with, but seems to get less annoying as it becomes more the ‘norm’ of today. (Mine feels like I have a vise on my lower foot and little feeling including hot and cold!). You (and your husband) have to accept that your break was a severe one and you can just hope that it will continue to improve as time goes on but you have a new ‘normal’ developing! I accept that and just keep trying to improve it. Best of luck..
Kim on January 12, 2009 at 10:16 am said:

How long I have needed to find this site. I fell down my stairs on 5/24/08 resulting in a trimalleolar fracture with widening of the ankle mortise. If that wasn’t bad enough the nurse tried to set the bones in the triage room with no pain medication before they could get me into an ER room with a ortho present.
After finally getting fixed up well enough to go home to wait for surgery, I had to wait three days to go and have a plate and seven screws put in. I wore a plaster cast for 4 weeks, then an aircast for 8 weeks, and then a brace for another 6 weeks. In the middle of all of this fun filled adventure I went to therapy where I was introduced to a whirlpool, and of course the incision was not fully healed and it got infected. It took 7 weeks to get the infection cleared up completely.
The surgeon who did my surgery was involved in a very bad accident about three months into all of this and I have had to see a physicans assistant since then.
So eight months into my ordeal my ankle is still giving me alot of problems. The inside area hurts all the time, I have pain up through my big toe, I still have bruising around the top of my foot at the base of toes, and my ankle does not look anything like the left. It actually looks deformed, the lower part of my right leg is visibly bigger than the left leg.
I can’t help but feel depressed about it all the time, I feel like I am never going to be “ME” again. I walk with a limp, I can’t enjoy the things that I use to do, its like I am having a pity party for myself everyday.
My husband gets upset, he says things like you should be better by now, things along that line, and that just depresses more.
When I go to the doctor he just says, “The x-rays look great!!”, “Come back in a couple weeks”, “Take these anti inflammatories”…..and so on.
Please, if anyone has any advice, I could sure use some.
lois on January 8, 2009 at 12:52 pm said:

Hi Josh, I posted a response to you on the other site. Hello to everyone else. Ana nice to hear from you. We would love an update on how you are doing these days. Lois
MARIA on January 8, 2009 at 8:44 am said:

Hi Josh, You sound like a great guy, I hope your wife is lucky to have you. I took oxycodone for almost 2 months, only concern was—was I going to be addicted afterwards, but I was fine. The most frustrating thing is not being able to do anything, feeling helpless. Just be there for her, always ask if there is something you can do for her, basically just love her Josh, its sounds like you truly do becuz only someone who does would want to take your pain.
Will on January 8, 2009 at 12:15 am said:

I fell off a ladder over 20 years ago. Compound fracture. Had crews and plate put in and on crutches with cast.

Left most of the screws and plate in (they did take one screw out a couple months after the surgery).

Never bothered me until I started to wear high (higher than ankle) stiff sided boots. While my right ankle feels normal the friction on my left ankle rubbing against the inside of boot is bothersome. So, I kind of leave that left side a little more loose. Or get boots with more inside padding next year.

In hindsigt, I would have opted to remove the screws and plate just because of this issue. Also, the skin on the ankle is rougher than on the ankle without the plate and screws. Could be a friction or allergic (foreign object) type reaction.
LIZ (Trimal, rt ankle DOI: 5/21/08, DOS: 6/2/08) on January 7, 2009 at 7:37 pm said:

Josh, I’m glad to hear your wife is feeling some relief from the pain. I took oxycodon for over a month and didn’t have any problems with it. It worked great for the pain. Hang in there, things will get better slowly but surely. 🙂
Judy R. on January 7, 2009 at 6:44 pm said:

Josh, Please beware of Oxy! I took it extensively for 2 days after my surgery (it did NOT help with the pain) and then had 4 days of very drastic side effects! (See my detailed post above if you need more info). I would recommend getting off the oxy immediately and get something like vicodin. I took the oxy every 4 hours and Aleve in the middle (taking one of the two meds every 2 hours). I was in excruciating pain for 2 days and the meds did NOT help. The oxy caused nightmares while taking them, vomiting and sweats and insomnia for 4 days after stopping them. One lousy week. Remember to have her elevate the foot ABOVE the heart (lower really doesn’t help much). I am 8 months from my breaks/dislocation and surgery….good luck!
Josh on January 7, 2009 at 6:31 pm said:

Thanks,

My wife did get better medication from the doctor (oxycodone), and it helped much more. Monday was a rough day. I feel awful. I wish I could take the pain for her. Nothing makes you feel more helpless than watching your spouse suffer…
Maria on January 7, 2009 at 1:29 pm said:

HI EMILY, I TOO HAD TO WAIT ABOUT 4 WEEKS, BUT I NEVER HEARD OF THEM NOT IMMEDIATELY PUTTING A SPLINT ON IT. AND THEY KEEP POSTPONING——DO YOU HAVE INSURANCE? IF SO MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET A SECOND OPINION, I DID. HANG IN THERE 🙂
Juan on January 7, 2009 at 12:14 pm said:

Emily, I know what you’re going through. I had to wait four weeks for my surgery. It sucks and it’s so much pain. I’m not sure why they’re doing it too you but my reason was the swelling and I had fracture blisters in the place they needed to make the incissions. All I can say is keep going to the doctor after your surgery and make sure that you get to physical therapy ASAP. I didn’t have insurance so I couldn’t afford all my doctor visits and couldn’t afford PT until much later. That may be why I’m having so much trouble. Best of luck to you! 🙂
Ana on January 7, 2009 at 11:57 am said:

Dear Emily,

I am sorry for what you are going through. I had an accident over 5 years ago, I’ve had 2 surgeries and have been told that I will neet atleast 2 more. I always thought that when you break a bone, they put on a cast, take it off, and back to normal. Nope.

I hope you get better soon…lots of luck and keep us posted with your recovery….

Good Luck and don’t lose patience.
anklequest on January 7, 2009 at 11:48 am said:

Emily,

What a terrible situation! This would be my worst nightmare. Is your foot too swollen for surgery? Why the postponment? I hope you have your surgery soon.

All the best and keep us informed on the other board. Lots of great advice there. (See posts above for the link to that site.)

Anklequest
anklequest on January 7, 2009 at 11:39 am said:

HOWARD,
You are a fraud. Keep your promotional crap off this board.

Anklequest
emily on January 7, 2009 at 10:46 am said:

broke my ankle almost 2 weeks ago. 3 bones very bad. they keep pushing my surgery back and now i am just laying here and not able to move at all. i don’t even have a splint. how can they let someone just lay here like this? i am so depressed and frustrated.
Howard on January 7, 2009 at 4:17 am said:

I am very active. I lift weights and play basketball pretty much everyday. I’m one of the Regional Managers with a 36 yr old New York Stock Exchange company that helps people make money from home.

Last tuesday, one day before new years eve, I slipped in mud, after playing basketball for 2 hours, and broke my ankle in 3 places and disloacted it. But I had NO never damage. It’s been a week today ? Any idea of when I will be driving ? Usually how long does it take to get out of the cast and into the boot ? Can you goto the store and shop in the boot.

I’LL SAY THIS. ANYONE WHO IS HAVING TROUBLE EARNING INCOME WHILE YOU’RE DOWN GOTO MY WEBSITE AND CHECK OUT OUR COMPANY. I CAN HELP YOU MAKE SOME EXCELLENT MONEY WHILE YOU’RE DOWN.

http://www.greatjoboption.com

But Ive been out of work for a week and made more money while I was out than I did the week before. I truly understand the value of passive residual income now. I’ll keep you posted on ankle progress and if anyone can answer my questions, that would be great. If you need money while you’re down or unable to return to work let me know : [email protected] that’s my e mail address. I’d love to help.

God Bless You All
Maria on January 5, 2009 at 11:27 pm said:

JUST WANTED TO SAY THANX FOR THIS SITE. I AM SOOOO GLAD I STUMBLED UPON IT. WISH I WOULD HAVE FOUND IT AT THE VERY BEGINNING WHEN I WAS FRUSTRATED AS HELL, ACTUALLY STILL A LITTLE FRUSTRATED. (BETTER LATE THEN NEVER.) IT’S BEEN 11 LONG MONTHS, IT WENT FROM FEELING BETTER, BARELY NOT LIMPING ANYMORE TO ARTHRITIS TO TENDINITIS/HEEL SPUR TO PAIN AND LIMPING AGAIN BECAUSE I THINK POSSIBLY….. MAYBE THE HARDWARE 🙁 IF ANYONE HAS HAD TROUBLE WITH HARDWARE PLEASE LET ME KNOW—-THANX!!
anklequest on January 5, 2009 at 7:18 pm said:

We have moved, Josh!

Probably for a few days your wife should have more pain killers. Ask the doc ASAP.

Lots of help on this new site. Cut and paste. Hope to see you there.

https://www.twistermc.com/christi/87/broken-ankle-2-years-later/

Anklequest
judy on January 5, 2009 at 5:39 pm said:

Josh,
I broke my ankle (tibia and fibula) in Sept 2008, and had surgery the next day. Believe me I know how that pain is. She took Percocet and they helped some,along with Lortabs. The pain will subside after awhile.
Just keep icing and elevating the foot. It will get better.
She is right ,it is worse that childbirth.
I can now walk with a cane and a little piece without,but sometimes my ankle still hurts.
Maria on January 5, 2009 at 11:30 am said:

HEY JOSH, SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR WIFE, I TOO FELT THE SAME WAY ABOUT THE PAIN. BESIDES STRONGER MEDS ABSOLUTELY NOTHING HELPED ME, BUT… THE PAIN DOES GET EASIER TO HANDLE. PRAY!
Josh on January 5, 2009 at 10:26 am said:

Hey,

I didn’t really have time to read through all the comments. My wife broke her ankle in 11 places 2 days ago. They did surgery right away. Howeber, even with pain medication (2 hydrocorone every 4 hours) she is still like a 9 on the pain scale. Her exact words to me were that it was “much worse than childbirth.” Is there anything you can do to manage the pain better (ice it, listen to music, anything)? The pain meds just aren’t working…
Lisa on January 4, 2009 at 2:53 am said:

Hi Maria – I too have hardware in my ankle (broke it in 7 places about a year and a half ago). I can feel the metal through my skin – all the screws and it freaks me out a little bit. Also, it’s pretty sensitive to things bumping it and/or my dog walking over it. I guess that will just have to be the way it is. Other than that, no problems or pain or anything. Hope this helps.
Alli on January 3, 2009 at 1:45 am said:

I smashed my ankle 14 years ago 2 screws put in and never taken out. Today I am in alot of pain from my ankle right up to my knee….have to check it out and very worried it has been bothering me for ahile but not this much. It never goes away to some degree (the pain)weather, etc. I am now 35, maybe it is arthritis.
pie lady aka trac on January 2, 2009 at 4:12 am said:

Hello!

I am a poster on the other site — but I wanted to respond to Juan. Yes, I have quite the issue with my toes. A couple of things that really help, including the massage, put a wash cloth on the floor and work on trying to pick it up with your toes. Do not be surprised if you cannot. Do this over and over. The excersise of it enough will help. Also, roll a tennis ball around under your foot. Do this repeatedly whenever your foot is on the ground. I really took to this one, it helped my toes a lot. And then also, elevate, elevate, elevate! I’m guessing yours has something to do like mine does, with nerve damage and swelling. Elevation helps immensely.

I hope these suggestions help. I know how painful it can get when your toes are stiff. And, your toes are important, too.

Good luck,
trac
Maria on January 1, 2009 at 10:07 pm said:

Hi, just wondered if anyone has had trouble with their hardware after a broken ankle. Please let me know. Thanks!! Maria
anklequest on January 1, 2009 at 2:23 pm said:

Have a good 2009 ankle breakers. Join us at our other web site: https://www.twistermc.com/christi/87/broken-ankle-2-years-later/ Just copy and paste the link above; then bookmark.

Juan: Try massage on entire ankle and toes. Perhaps it may help over time. Sounds like you might have some sort of nerve damage. Keep in touch with us at the new site and let us know what you decide about fusion or joint replacement.

Debra: Your information about massage is very helpful. Looks like wearing heels is not a good thing for ankle breakers, which has been said all along. Removing hardware may be necessary due to changes that occur over time. On the other site a number of people have reported on hardware removal. In each case it was deemed necessary due to screws beginning to poke through the skin, and, or other complications. Take a look at Tim’s posts. He did have hardware removed and his is the only one that became rather complicated. Others report very positive results.

Barb: Your ankle should be as strong as before after you heal..meaning the holes have to fill in with bone.
And lucky you! No arthritis. What a blessing.
Juan on December 31, 2008 at 3:40 pm said:

So I broke my ankle and all that stuff, and now i’m researching bone fusion vs ankle replacement. My doctor says to fuse but I don’t want to do that.

Anyways…is anyone having problems with their toes since they broke the ankle? My toes are stiff and crunched up and it hurts when I bend them back. Like when I try to do a push up and the toes have to go back, owww that hurts. Anyone else?
Debra on December 31, 2008 at 3:02 pm said:

I rolled my ankle while mowing my yard in april 2003. I had suffered for years with planters facietis. This particular morning I had a feeling of seperation in the tissues as I walked down the steps in my house.
I continued out to the yard with open back shoes…no support. The slight uneven ground caused by foot to roll outward….completely breaking and splintering every bone in my left ankle. My foot was hangin on by skin and little tissue support. I now have 2 plates, 15 screws and 2 pins holding my ankle together. I got the cast off mid august of 2003. I had very limited movment for several months. I did the physical therapy, the 20 visits that the insurance allowed followint the cast removal. And I continued with a massage therapist 2 times per week for 30 min sessions soley with foot and ankle manipulation. I was told that I would always have a slight limp due to the severity of the injury. I am testiment to the contray. The message therapy was very helpful in restoring almost complete movement and flexibility of the joint. The problem now is that I wore a pair of 3 inch heels to a wedding in july 2008. The next morning I could hardly walk without pain or swelling. I have had swelling and numbness almost daily in my toes, foot and ankle. The swelling before was only the ankle and limited to being on my feet for long per of time. I have also noticed that I can standup and get a feeling of bones and metal catching. The pain doesn’t feel too good either.
My orthopedist told me that I should have the metal removed about 1 year after the surgery date. My physical therapist said leave it if it doesn’t bother me. I’ve had no problems until recently…one of the pins has started to petrude to the point that it looks like it might come through the skin. I can also feel the screws on the opposite side of the ankle. I started walking about 15 miles a week over the last 4 months. I’ve lost weight and I feel that the ankle is looser. My question is that I don’t know if I would be opening up a new can of worms if I decided to remove the hardware. I also can’t help but wonder if the ankle now take longer to heal now that I am now 54 yrs old. I orthopedist as relocated out of the country and I now live in a new city. Does anyone have advise for me?
Barb on December 31, 2008 at 9:43 am said:

i broke my ankle march 2000.i have a plate & 8 screws.my plate has hurt for 8 years my doctor wanted to fuse my foot in 2002, but i didn’t.i moved 4 years ago to north carolina. decided to go to a doctor here & get it checked.i have no arthritis in it,it’s just you can’t touch the plate. he wants to remove it.any information will help! my biggest concern is will it be easy to rebrake it.
Jamie on December 29, 2008 at 11:05 pm said:

Hi all.. I came across your web page and couldn’t resist to drop my story.. 2 years ago i broke my right ankle .The right side of foot was repaired with plates and screws the left side of my foot was unrepairable. It took about 6 mounths to get back on my feet. Recently i went to my family doctor because i have a screw head that sticks out (which it has from day one) but i noticed several lumps above it.Long story short 2 years after surgey i have no choice but to have mine removed they claim it is falling down. I was told by my family doctor that in some cases when you have your hardware removed you can be back to your norm in about 2 weeks.. As for mine it all depends on how both sides of my ankle healed. For those of you who are in pain and having problems keeping your hardware in place talk to your doctors about having an ankle replacement surgery they do them but it is still in the experimential stages.
LIZ (Trimal, rt ankle DOI: 5/21/08, DOS: 6/2/08) on December 27, 2008 at 10:45 am said:

Hi Madge, Pam, and Rick,

Sorry to hear of your injuries but glad you found our little corner of the internet. 🙂 This is a difficult injury to endure but it DOES get better. I’m 7 months post break and doing all of my normal activities again, including kickboxing at the gym. I never thought I’d see that day again!

Anyway, just wanted to let you all know that there is a more current blog that Christi started for us… “Update-Broken-Ankle-2 years later.” This one was taking too long to load so we’ve all moved over to the newer one. The other site is much more active. Come join us over there. And Rick, there are several there that have had accidents such as yours with multiple injuries. One of the guys had a fusion as well. Here is the link to get to the new site: https://www.twistermc.com/christi/87/broken-ankle-2-years-later/

Hope everyone had a merry Christmas and enjoys the New Year! 🙂

Take care,
Liz
Rick on December 27, 2008 at 2:17 am said:

Just wanted to say that its nice to hear about people recovering from ankle injuries. It gives me hope to hear that some people can run again. I am coming up on one year this February 13th 2009 from a car accident. But didn’t actually get the ankle surgery until February 29th. My lungs were too weak from the accident, plus I had major trauma to my knee. As for my ankle, it was crushed. Broken in 3 places and the cartilage was torn up completely. I was rushed by ambulance after the jaws of life got me out of the vehicle. I spent 2 weeks in the hospital. The worst part of it all was trying to sleep with broken ribs and my leg a few feet about my heart. The first 3 months seemed like a lifetime. They were obviously the hardest. By the 4th month, they removed the hard cast and she said I want you to walk. I tried and almost fell. The pain was almost unbearable. Not to mention I couldn’t bend my knee from the full leg cast. I never thought I would walk again. But after 2 months of physical therapy, I was walking again and even driving. But then my doctor said we have to take the hardware out. I wasn’t happy because they were not bothering too much. Until about a few days before surgery. One of the screws was backing itself out of my ankle. And the weather was changing. Getting colder. I was feeling it. I have had 4 surgeries this year and I am actually glad to have the hardware out. My ankle swells a lot and still hurts, but not as much as it did with the hardware. I had 2 plates and 15 screws. I am still in PT and will be for at least 2 to 3 more months. I still cant run or walk fast. And my achilles tendon is sore most of the time. My talus was fractured and is sore all the time as well. I hope this goes away. However the doctor has recently told me that I have full blown Arthritis in my ankle and he might want to do a fusion in the future. Well thank you for taking the time to read this. I would love to hear from fellow ankle breakers.
Iz on December 21, 2008 at 10:18 pm said:

Hey all, i broke my ankle dec 6 this year while going down the stairs in Singapore… was rushed to the hospital, the ambulance people told it was just twisted… yah right! as soon as i got there the doctor told me it was sevely dislocated and i needed x-ray, the pain was unbearable! the x-ray revealed it had multiple fractured… so i got surgery right the next day, dec 7 in the morning, the surgery was supposed to last 30 mins, but it ended up lasting 3 hours! had 8 screws, a metal plate and a pin put on my ankle. and cnt walk for 6 weeks, well it’s been 2 alrdy!! and on the 6th week i gotta have a second surgery to get the pin removed so i cn start walking.

I was in Singapore all alone, well i’m a student, i study there, and i got friends and flatmates, they were the ones by my side 24/7, but of course nothing like home and parents, so my dad took the next flight to singapore and on the 9th at night he brought me home (i’m from costa rica but my parents live in the philippines, business).

The airport in singapore was giving us hell!!!!!! at the end my dad brought in few lawyers he has in singapore, and the director of the airport kinda freaked out, so he himslef pushed my wheelchair all he way to the airplane and no one checkd me, the x-ray and metal detector beeped liek crazy but no one stopped us.

Now i’m home, the pain was bad at the begining, it felt heavy! not the pain is perhaps 90% gone, but it is still swollen, im scared to death of stairs, when i got down the stairs here i go on my butt, same when i come up. My parent’s bought me a wheel chair, walking frame, cane, and crutches, but so far i prefer the wheel chair when i go out, and the walking frame when im at home. 2day i’m getting my stitches removed!! i’m kinda excited, it makes me feel as if im moving on with all this.

I’m rly scared about else, i got another x-ray here in the philippines, and it showed that one of the scres is dislodged… has this happened to anyone else?? what now?? anyways i’m going to the doc again 2day so lets see what he says!

Hope everyone is doing fine, it’s nice to know you are not alone in this right?

Speedy recovery everyone!
Pam on December 16, 2008 at 1:29 am said:

This has been a wealth of knowledge and so helpful as I’m going crazy with a break! Five weeks ago I broke my foot playing baseball with my kids, the base turned and my leg didn’t and my right foot was caught in the middle.
Here is my question, what about driving? I haven’t been cleared for putting weight on my foot yet, (hopefully in a few days). How did anyone make the transition to driving?
Thanks for all of your stories, I feel semi normal 🙂
Madge T on December 2, 2008 at 7:16 am said:

Hi Everybody –
I came across this blog this morning and I read about the first fifteen or so entries and then noticed how l-o-n-g the page is! I was really excited to discover it was still an active blog on a subject so near, but not dear, to my heart! On August 30th I walked out my back door, missed a step, fell about 8 inches and broke both ankles! The right was a hairline fracture and severe sprain, but the left was a doozy – broken fibula, dislocation, torn ligamnets, etc. I have a plate and screws in the side of my leg as well as a long screw thru the ankle to stabalize it while the ligaments heal. I had to keep ALL weight off the left for three months,and hop around on the right (which really hurt!) and on the day before Thanksgiving I got the go-ahead to put weight on it and “walk.” My doctor said she’d send me to therapy if I wanted to go. I kinda figured it was a given, but I guess not. Anyway, I had hoped to start therapy right away, but now I have bronchitis and conjunctivitis, so it’ll be a couple weeks, I guess. Meanwhile I can actually hobble around without the walker, although I look a bit ridiculous. I was amazed that I could maintain my balance. I guess it’s going to be a long struggle, but it’s great to know that there are others going thru the same thing and I shouldn’t expect to cured overnight. I’ll go back to the beginning and read more now, and I’ll write again!
LIZ (Trimal, rt ankle DOI: 5/21/08, DOS: 6/2/08) on November 30, 2008 at 1:24 pm said:

Hi Mandy and Derinda, So sorry to hear of your injuries, but glad you found our little corner of the internet. 🙂 You’ll find a wealth of information from people past and present who have shared their experiences here.

Mandy, I feel your frustration… just know that it WILL get better. The first few weeks are the hardest. When I was at that stage I thought things would never get better, but here I am 6 months later and feel mostly “normal” again. Definitely keep your leg propped to help with swelling and keep those ice packs handy. When mine started aching at night I’d put an ice pack on for 10 minutes and it helped. Are you still taking the pain killers? I took Percocet for probably six weeks after my break.

Derinda, everyone’s situation is different, but from my experience I was in a splint cast for two weeks after surgery and then got the big Air Boot. I wore the boot for 4 weeks before they let me put any weight on it but only small increments at a time. I wasn’t full weight bearing until 8 weeks after surgery. I’m guessing that even when they give you the boot you won’t be able to weight bear for several more weeks, but like I said, everyone’s doctor seems to treat things differently. 🙂 I know it must be hard having 2 young children and not being able to get around easily. Hang in there, it WILL get better. 🙂

Well, hope everyone had a wonderful weekend. It’s back to work for me tomorrow after having the whole week off. That’s one great benefit of being a teacher… we get long breaks. 🙂

Stay Safe,
Elizabeth
Derinda on November 30, 2008 at 1:03 pm said:

Hi All..I just want to day this site has helped me so much…

I broke my ankle on Oct 30 2008..I fell down my front porch steps..actually I think i missed all the steps!!

Anyway has surgery that night..plate 8 screws on one side(outside) two screws on the other..and one long one going through the middle..I also damaged the tendon that connects the 2 major bones??

I was in a plaster cast for 2 weeks now I am in a fiberglass cast(purple..very fashionable) shich I think I am getting off this Friday..but I am alittle confused..I need to have the long screw removed..and possibly the two on the inner side because the may be tooprominate..eww just the thought make me queasy!!
Anyway..If I get the cast off does anyone know if I immediately go to the big black boot? And Can i put weight on it..I am really confused..still have to take percocet…
I have two boys seven and 3…my husband is supportive but I don’t think he really understands what I am going trough.
judy on November 29, 2008 at 7:33 pm said:

Hi Mandy,
In Sept. I broke the tibia and fibia at the ankle and had surgery with plates and pins. I now am in PT and still can’t walk without my walker. I put pressure on my leg but my knee has such pain until I can’t walk.
I am hoping the PT will eventually help.
Yes, I too proped on pillows and with the help of painkillers made it thru the night.I don’t talk any meds now only when the pain from Pt gets to me.
HOw you have success with your break ,let me know how you are progressing.
mandy on November 29, 2008 at 4:32 am said:

Hi I substained a broken fibia, tibia and ankle slipping over at work on the 11th November 2008. This resulted in having a rod put in and plates and pins put in my ankle. I was operated on three days after the accident because of the swelling and then I had to stay in futher five days after. When they discharged me I was still not in a proper cast due to the swelling and I was to go back to the hospital a week later to have a proper cast put on . As the days past and the swelling went down it became really uncomfortable the pain was like a dull toothache but constant .Bruising started to appear and the temporary splint and cast was becoming loose. After many sleepness nights tears before bedtime and very strong painkillers I went back to the hospital. What a relief they sympathised with me and put the cast on early . No more pain I thought, wrong every night I wake with the dull aching pain will it get better I ask I try and prop my leg on pillows I massage the top of my thigh what else can I do ? Anyone have any suggestions out there?
john on November 17, 2008 at 7:10 am said:

juan,I dislocated my ankle 8 months ago playing basketball and severed all three main ligaments, but luckily had no breaks as you had.I can relate with the morning pain and stiffness—I lost half inversion and eversion and about 20 percent plantar flexion,which I think is what your talking about—-It does feel strange walking and not being able to flex your foot all the way down.How bad is your overall range of motion?It sounds strange that your dr is considering a subtalar fusion?? with very minimal pain. I understand you lose almost all ROM after this surgery.Anyway, I had a cortisone injection 2 and a half months ago and just recently pain started up after running or playing ball–Luckily my ROM probably isn’t as bad as yours. Im scared now that arthritis is setting in and might have to have the same surgery you might have.I see the doc in a month and hopefully he considers some surgey—maybe an arthrosopic to break up the scar tissue that your friend talked about as my ankle also is a bit larger and swollen than my right one also.How did you dislocate your ankle? Funny, I understand about wanting people to just step on your foot and force the darn thing down!Wanna here from you.
judy on November 13, 2008 at 9:24 pm said:

Well, I went back to the doctor today and he says my leg bones have healed and now I have to learn to walk again. I will be having pt 2x a week for 6 wks.He put me in an aircast and tennis shoe.He says this will really hurt putting full pressure on my foot.
Does anyone have any good suggestions about how to walk so that it doesn’t hurt so bad. It is really swollen toda.
Rebecca Nelson on November 13, 2008 at 11:14 am said:

Hello Everyone,
In December of 2004 I took a nasty slip and fell on top of my ankle to do nothing other than crush my tibia and fibia and completely dislocate my ankle. I had to wait about 5 days before the doctor was able to do surgery because it was swollen so badly. (Hematoma sp?) My surgery went very well. The ortho doc ended up putting a plate and about 8-10 screws on the outward facing side and then 3 screws through the middle of my ankle. The pain after surgery was HORRIBLE. Every time I stood up I felt like my leg was literally going to explode.
About 3 months later I had another surgery to remove the longest screw which went through my ankle. The recovery was only about a week.
Now practically 5 years later things are going OK. I have had several follow-up visits over the years with two different orthos and each one has told me that I arthritis is definitely setting in and (my personal favorite) on a scale of 1-10 for ankle injuries mine was a good 11 or 12. Nice. Guess if you’re going to do something, do it with all of your might, right??
Anyway, the pain has been manageable, although I don’t think I have ever had a single day where I was not at least sore. My ankle stays constantly bruised and when the weather changes (hot to cold or cold to hot) I get really stiff and have trouble moving. My only REAL complaint is that I cannot run for a long distance. I did ask about having the hardware removed and I was told that it can be done, but that it is really not a good idea b/c if anything were to happen again (and I’m accident prone) that it would just be 1,000 times more likely to completely break all over again and that the hardware simply acts a reinforcment.
So my best advice to anyone is to continue with the PT for as long as you can, continue with the ice and heat (especially for pain) even if it is years later and just know your limits.
I probably spent the first year and a half limping pretty badly and for people who dont know me, they still say that I have a slight limp. One really important thing is to make sure you have good shoes. I am a woman and used to LOVE very high heel and those are definitely a no-no now. It wasn’t until about 3 1/2 years after my injury that I was able to actually where a very low “pump” style shoe. Now I can wear about 2 1/2 inch heels, but usually only for a short while.
So to all of you fellow ankle injured persons – I know what you are going through and I wish everyone the best of luck with their recoveries. Just remember to be patient with yourselves! 🙂
anklequest on November 7, 2008 at 10:01 pm said:

Juan, Celinda, Judy, Gina …. We have moved. Try the site below. This site takes to long to load as it has so many posts.

https://www.twistermc.com/christi/87/broken-ankle-2-years-later/#comments

Celinda, I’m glad to hear from you. All your old freinds are on the other site. They’d love to hear from you.

Jaun, my short version of advice: See another doctor for a 2nd opinion and try another PT.

Anklequest
Juan on November 7, 2008 at 6:20 pm said:

Hi there everyone,

So here’s my story. I broke my left ankle, tib and fib and I dislocated it. My girlfriend said that then they relocated my ankle I jumped up from the hospital bed but of coarse i didn’t feel it with the meds they had me on.

Well this happened in Oct. 2007 It is now Nov. 2008. I am walking on it but it is so still. I hate walking around at work cause I feel that I look stuped walking with such a limp. My doctor (whom I haven’t seen in 4 months) told me that he would like to fuse my ankle to get rid of the pain. I’d rather deal with the pain since it’s not

So after 12months I’m not sure what to do, I lost my job so I no longer have insurance and I’m not a temp and I don’t have the option to get insurance for another 6 months. I didn’t feel that my PT did anything. they just had me use machines and then they would walk away. I really thought the PT was going to actually hands-on work on my ankle and strecth it out and do stuff like that. So I’m been going to the gym and doing some stuff for my ankle. I don’t have the range or flexabilty to do calf raises. In fact my left ankle can’t even stretch out half as much as my “normal” ankle. When I try to stretch out as much as I can, it notmally take me about 45 seconds to a minute to do it because of the pain. The only time it really hurts is in the morning after I wake up and start to walk on it again, the rest of the day it doesn’t really hurt it just gets annoying that I can’t walk normal.

My friend said that I may just have scar tissue that needs to be broken or removed and that’s what’s not allowing me to stretch it. Sometimes I whish I could get a stranger to just step on my foot and force it to fully extend and then just see if that helps.

Has anyone been going through this for a year and still can’t run? Let me know cause I can’t.
JUDY on November 6, 2008 at 8:43 pm said:

Today I put weight on my broke leg for the first time.Pt says that I did good. My leg was in a goodbit of pain afterwards. I go back to the doctor this Thursday and he might take me out of the boot.Pt says I will be put in an aircast for a while. I hope I can return to work then. It has been a hard go as my husband is blind and with me in the bed it has been hard on both of us. Pt told me to use ice on my foot as it is a bluish color and swells a lot. I have been having to keep it elevated because letting it hang down it really hurts.
Gina on November 6, 2008 at 5:23 pm said:

Hi there, To some of the newer breakers, I broke my ankle- trimaleolar fracture- in January 2008. Here is what I would say the healing breakdown was for me chronologically:
First month: surgical healing,learning to use walker then crutches. Figuring out pain medication and how to deal with work/kids etc…and how to bathe.Foot shed skin like crazy, turned crazy colors, swelling.
Second Month: Back to work but had to be driven. Can’t carry anything, so tired from crutches and pain. Still lots of swelling. Always wearing boot.
Third Month- Start PT, back to driving. Wear boot 2/3 of the time. Putting weight on the ankle in the boot. Better at crutches. Move to one crutch. Less overall pain.
Fourth- 6th Month Out of the boot, wear brace sometimes. Still limp quite a lot. Going down stairs still hard. PT helped a lot, wish I had gotten more from my insurance.
6-9th month- Try to walk as much as I can. Still less flexibility. Swelled a lot in the hot humid weather. Was able to walk on the beach in the sand with bare feet. Couldn’t have imagined that a few months ago! Icing every night to reduce swelling and discomfort.
9th-12th month- which is where I am now. Still gets swollen, especially when doing a lot of walking. Dr. said that for me I had about 15 % more healing to do and that that healing takes the longest to do. I lost so much calf, quadracept and hip strength so I feel much weaker. But I am able to do things like easy hiking, walking around legoland with the kids all day. Wear the brace only for something like a hike where the ground might be uneven so I can relax more. Still take ibuprophen and use ice sometimes. When I get up after sitting it takes me a minute to stabilize, limp once I get tired but less and less.
I Hope that is somewhat hlpful in terms of the first year. I have not gotten all of the way there yet but I believe I will be *almost* back to how I was before the surgery somewhere between a year and 15months and that is without being super good about exercising and stretching. If I could find more time for stenthening things would have improved faster I am sure. Best of healing to everyone, Gina
Celinda on November 6, 2008 at 3:46 pm said:

Hi everyone,

I am sorry that it has been a while since I visited last. Well, since the last time I talked with ya’ll, the doctor wants to do a 4th surgery on my left ankle,he was to try another fusion. I told him that I really did not want to do that, because I did not feel like it would take just like the first one did not take. I am able to walk a little bit, not much. I stay in the wheelchair mostly. I do everything that I need to do from the wheelchair, I am able to do what I normally did, just in a different way. I am not depressed like I was, I know that everything is going to be alright. I just hate the thought of winter coming because I know that I will be in alot of pain due to arthritis.

I hate to hear so many other people have broken their ankles. It does get better, it just takes time.

Talk to ya’ll later. I hope that everyone does well and God bless.

Celinda
Ana on November 6, 2008 at 2:16 pm said:

Dear Kay,

I do not know the magnitude of what you have been through, but like you since I have broken my ankle I have been in pain. Some days tha pain is just there, and some days I can’t walk. Every step sends a pain shooting up my foot like no other pain I have felt before. I have so far had 2 surgeries and on my second had the hardware removed, plate, pins, screws, etc. It doesn’t feel better, and I do the cortisone shots about every 3 months. I don’t want to go through another surgery, even though the doctor insists I will eventually have to. I read you had your foot fused and that will be in my near future. Please keep me posted on your recovery and if it’s something I shouldn’t fear. I am so afraid of not only the recovery time, but also the end results of not being able to run after my children like I do now. I am sorry for what you have gone I am. After 2 surgeries, I said no more, after 18 I don’t know how sane I would be…Good luck to you and please keep me posted.
kay on November 6, 2008 at 2:20 am said:

I broke all the bones in the ankel and foot in a car wreck 13 years ago.i have not had a pain free day yet.i have plates scews pins and wires.i have had the clots and the hardware coming lose. in the 13 years i have had 17 surgerys.ending up getting staph infection and had to have most of the hardware replace.Just had my 18th surgery last week.had all the hardware taken out and the ankel fusion.the frist 3 days was so much pain it was unreal.but after day3 the pain has been less and less.after day 5 i have not even needed pain meds.it is well worth the few days of pain.i will be in a cast for 18 weeks. when they took my hardware out. where it had been in there so long. they done bone grafts to cover the holes in the bone.i realy wish i would have had it done 11 years ago.best of luck with yours. iam very please with mine.the last 4 days i have not had any pain meds. this is the only 4 days in 13 years i have not had to the pain meds. i feel like a different person.
JUDY on November 5, 2008 at 9:53 pm said:

I BROKE MY TIBIA AND FIBIA BONE AT THE ANKLE AND HAVE BEEN ON BED REST AND I AM NOW ON A WALKER HOPPING ON ONE LEG. PHYSICAL COMES TWICE A WEEK BUT I AM STILL IN A GOOD BIT OF PAIN. HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE THIS TYPE OF BREAK TO HEAL AND WALK AGAIN. I HAVE A PLATE AND SCREWS IN MY LEG. THIS HAPPENED ON 9-23-2008
anklequest on September 21, 2008 at 3:49 pm said:

Michele

We have moved!!

TO ALL WHO FIND THIS SITE, WE HAVE MOVED!!!

Try this link: https://www.twistermc.com/christi/87/broken-ankle-2-years-later/

We’ll share our thoughts with you. Many of us have good ideas and good advice. Please describe the injury, surgery & age a bit more in detail when you you post for the first time.

Anklequest
michele on September 21, 2008 at 12:04 am said:

This site has been so helpful. I have been reading it for hours trying to find a story similiar to mine. My son had surgery yesterday … 2 long pins into his fibula for a break. He gets staples out in 2 weeks and we really don’t know what to expect after that. I also am unsure how long to keep him off school. He has been medicated since he in hospital yesterday, so no way to tell what kind of pain he in! I don’t know what the “normal” time off school is for a surgery like this; it seems most of the people that have written in had far worse surgeries! I would appreciate anything a person can offer that has had a similiar surgery. thanks!
lois on September 18, 2008 at 9:04 pm said:

Fit, and everyone else. Both sites now appear to be back up and running again, thank goodness. There is a fair bit of chat as of this afternoon on Anlebreakers 2… come and join us over there and tell us your story.
Fit on September 18, 2008 at 3:13 pm said:

where did ankle breakers 2 year go.. nothing shows on either one of these pages?

this one at least registers that ther are over 1400 comments.

Testing to see if it posts..
CONFUCIOUS on September 13, 2008 at 2:34 am said:

Comment by CONFUCIOUS
Copied from Ankle Breakers Two!

September 13, 2008 @ 2:23 am

THESE WONDERFUL POSTINGS, ONCE MEANINGFUL,
NOW CARRY RAMBLINGS OF MEANINGLISS WORDS!
THOSE ONCE INJURED, THEIR WORDS LOST TO THE PRESENT,
ARE SENT TO THE LISTINGS OF THE PAST!
AND THEIR 0LDER RAMBLINGS NOW GONE, REPLACED BY
MISSIVES OF VICODIN WITHDRAWL AND BOWEL MOVEMENT
MISFUNCTION? TEE HEE, TEE HEE!
ONE WOULD HOPE NOT, BUT TO GET THE “GIST” OF TODAYS POSTINGS, ONE MAY AS WELL WATCH “DAYS OF OUR LIVES” OR THE “BEVERLY HILLBILLY’S”!
AND BE JUST AS MOVED! (NO PUN INTENDED!)
AND ONE WONDERS WHY THE ELDERS, NO MORE ADD WISDOM?
PERHAPS TO AVOID EMBARRASSMENT, ONE COULD SAY, BASED ON THE BAR SET SO LOW OF TODAYS BLOGGERS.
BUT NOT WRONG, OR BAD, AS EVOLUTION SETS NO MINDERS!
T-REX WAS ONCE FEARFUL, BUT IS NOW NO LONGER MEANINGFUL,
AS ARE WE, THE ANKLEBREAKERS NOW PASSED OVER!
ENJOY THE MEANINGLESSNESS OF YOUR WORDS, IMPORTANT
ONLY T0 YOU!
WALK CAREFULLY!
~ Liz on September 10, 2008 at 12:58 pm said:

Hey Courtney… Glad you found us, but sad to hear you’re yet another ankle breaker. 🙁 I feel the frustration in your post and I know exactly what you are going through. I went through a period of depression and worry in the beginning… thinking my life would never be “normal” again. I broke my right ankle on May 21st, had the surgery on June 2nd, so you’re about a month behind me. Did you have surgery? or just a cast?

I can tell you, It DOES get easier. Once you get permission to bear full weight, things will start gradually improving. I think the hardest part is those weeks when you’re unable to walk, everything basically just comes to a standstill and you can’t really see or feel improvements, but once you start walking again your spirits will be lifted. 🙂 Hang in there.

I have been out of work since May… I think it just depends on the type of work you do as to when you might be able to return.

Anyway, just wanted to let you know that we’re here and we know what you’re going through. There is a second site… “update-broken-ankle-2-years-later” that is much more active than this one. This one just takes too long to load so most people go to the other site. Here is the link: https://www.twistermc.com/christi/87/broken-ankle-2-years-later/

Come join us! 🙂

~Liz
courtney on September 10, 2008 at 11:14 am said:

I broke my ankle on July 11,2008 I have had 2 casts and been in walking boot for 2 weeks now I still cant put my full weight on it . how long do you think it will take before I can ever walk again. i have been off of work since july 14th Im really getting tired of the crutches but cant be without them. I just want to be normal again and back to my old life.
Mike on September 9, 2008 at 8:51 pm said:

Hey everyone, about 2 weeks ago i had 4 screws put in my Tibia and 1 in my Talus. Anyone else hav something similar to this?
Jodie on September 8, 2008 at 2:12 pm said:

Hello, my name is Jodie. I broke my ankle last October, and have a question for you long timer broken anklers.

I have a plate and seven screws in my left ankle, and not only does my ankle swell and bother me at times, but I seem to have more of a problem with my foot. Sometimes when I walk, it feels like the ball of my foot and toes are swollen? Anyone else have this problem?
My husband is pushing me to get the hardware out, says that would probably help.
Ana on September 8, 2008 at 12:06 pm said:

Dear Erika,

Exactly what you mentioned, no. I know that when I over do things, I can’t walk at night and in the early morning. After I get going it’s kind of like putting grease on motor parts, eventually I can walk normal. I had my hardware removed last December. If they tell you to remove it, I promise it’s nothing like your first surgery. Ask anyone. You kind of expect the worst, but its not as bad. Ask them for a block before they put you to sleep. This literaly “blocks” the pain in the ankle, and when you wake up, there really is no pain. This way you have some control on pain-meds later and not as soon as you wake up. I had mine removed since the screws were loosening up themselves. I have gone to the ortho several more times, the arthritis is really bad and I have osteophytes growing in every direction. I also have no cartiledge left. I have it quite bad, but I am always hoepful that I am not worse and that I am walking. So heads up, good luck, and keep us posted with what the ortho recommends.
Erika on September 8, 2008 at 11:11 am said:

Hello everyone! Sorry I have not visited the past couple of months – Summer is so hectic with my son and work.

Anyway – I thought over the summer my ankle was getting better every day. I actually went to Hollywood Studios in Florida (the old MGM) and was able to walk all day! That was in August.

The past week or so, my ankle has been feeling very “weak” and has been more painful. This Saturday, I was at home cleaning. I did not overdo it, I did not twist it or anything. By Sat. afternoon, I could not walk on it. I felt like my ankle would break and it hurt so bad. I still am having trouble today. I cannot walk without a severe limp or I have been using my cane as well.

It will be one year since my break on Sept. 23rd. I broke 3 bones – can’t remember what they called it – I know there was a break in the tibia and the fibia. I have a plate and 8 screws on the outer ankle, and 2 large screws on the inner ankle.

I am getting paranoid that I might have to have the hardware out. I feel like a bone or something in my ankle is moving or popping – it is on the outer side and above my ankle. Right about where the plate ends on top.

Has this happened to anyone? Did you get the hardware out – and did the pain get better? I have an appointment tomorrow with the Orthopedic Doctor for an x-ray and exam. But I am really nervous. The pain has not been this bad for 3-4 months.

Hope everyone is doing well. Sorry to be a downer.

Erika

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