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.
Kevin lots of luck to you….
Kevin, Glad to hear from you. I’ve thought about you several times in the past couple of weeks. You sound very good. You are so brave and I’m glad you are doing so well and have such a positive attitude. Bless You!!!
Kevin, you are a champ and a true inspiration!
hi to all of you and thanks for sharing your stories. A special salute to Kevin. My injury is two years old now and I’m finally running again, even though in pain. The internal ankle ligaments did not fix properly and I was told not to play soccer again, still I’m glad I’m better as the injury was quite ugly. I too was told to keep the metal work unless it caused pain.
I would like to wish you all good recovery and a great Xmas time.
Kevin I am happy to here that you are doing well, I applaud you for your strenght, you have a very positive outlook. Continue with that same attitude, you will be fine. I had surgery in January, to remove one of my srew, but be ankle is still not doing well, My doctor is suggesting ankle replacement, bone graft or fusion. I am in a state of confusion, don’t know which option to choode, sine the bone did not heal and has deteriorated since the scred removal in January. I am having serious pain especilly in the mornings. I went to see another Dr. and he suggested that I wear a removable fusion brace to see if that’s one of the otpion I would like, but after wearing tha brace all day and removing it the ankle actually feels worst, because after the brace is removed at the end of the day you foot want to turn and it’s extremeny painful…Does anyone ever wear a removable fusion brace, let me know what your experience is like…
Kevin,
I am so happy to hear that you are doing well. It is good to hear that you are happier. Hang in there. Happy Holidays.
I apologize for my typos and spelling errors they result from poor finger placement on the keyboard. 🙂
Monday Dec 13, 2010
Several weeks post surgery and my pain levels after the amputation are greatly reduced….not gone but reduced. I take a dirg called “Gabapentin” that is to help reduce the incidence of phantom pain. It must be working because I am not emperiencing any of that. All my pain in isolated directly to the stump. I expect to see the initial fitment of the first prosthesis some time in early January 2011. I have a sleeve and socks that stratch over the stump to compress it and protect it as it heals and shrinks. I am, in effect, happier now than I have been in nearly two years. The two year anniversary of the accident approaches on Jan 2, 2011. I am feeling very well and I am appreciative of all the good wishes of all of you on this blog.
I hope all of you with breaks out there current or old are progressing ……
Thanks,
Kevin Burke
hey
I completely broke my ankle in september of 2009 and hardware was put in. I have a plate on the outside with 5 screws and 2 screws on the inside. I am very seriously considering having the hardware taken out. it is causing so much pain and discomfort I just cant tolerate it anymore.
Krystin, It was a long & slow road, but no hardware or surgery for me. Mine wasn’t dislocated, well it was very, very slightly moved but not so much that the two breaks needs screws and plates. I did a whole lot of laying around for the first 8 weeks and was in a splint for first 6 1/2 weeks due to awful swelling. Then laid around a lot more for another 4 weeks. Didn’t really get mobile much until I had my boot. Had what they called a walking cast for about 4 weeks but couldn’t really walk on it since my foot wasn’t angled at 90 degrees and made that leg too long compared to my left leg.
Good luck with the exercise band, it really helped stretch my tendons back out.
Kristyn,
I have a plate and 8 screws on the outside and two screws on the inside. My doctor says he doesn’t want to remove the plate and screws if he doesn’t have to. He does want to take the other two screws out so I have a little more movement. But I don’t even know that the hardware is in there. I hardly have any pain at all. I love it.
Deana and Wendi,
Thanks so much for the advice!!I am going to try out the Ugg boots this wknd in the morning, when the ankle is not too swollen and see what happens. And I will definately try the band exercise with the ball of my foot. That is where it is soooo tight. I have noticed too, that when I stretch before I walk, I walk alot better without limping as much!! Now did any of you have hardware put in or removed?? Ok, well Happy Holidays and thanks again for sharing your info!!
Krystin,
My bi-mal break was on June 30th. I’ve been wearing UGG like boots except they are more like the fit shoes with a slight rocker bottom, not near as high as the Sketchers or others but enough to help stretch that achilles tendon that was not active while in the splint, cast & boot. The thing that helped me most to get past the limping phases was a very long band that I would place at the ball of my foot area and then pull up on each side to flex my foot and hold for 20 or so seconds and do this while watching tv. I think that was why I kept limping and after a few days of doing this it was pretty much gone. I did the PT for a week or two but wasn’t impressed, most of the stuff I could do myself for free. Some morning the first 10 or so minutes out of bed, it takes some steps to & from kitchen and this and that to loosen up knee/leg/ankle and get it going but hopefully that too will go away and I’ll walk normal from a.m. to p.m.
Good Luck!
Kristyn,
It was a year in August that I broke my ankle and dislocted it. I found that tennis shoes where the most comfortable but it took a while for me to get used to them. I still am sore and I still sometimes walk with a limp. it depends on how cold it is outside. It hurts the most when it is cold. I live in Calfornia but it does sometimes get cold here. I ride my horse which requires boots to be put on over the ankle and I can get my ankle out of them. Uggs should be fine. You should have no problems getting your ankle out. It might take a little bit but I think you should be fine. I hope everyone else is doing good and happy Holidays.
Hi Everyone,
My name is Kristyn. I broke my ankle over the summer: a tri-mal fracture and dislocation. I had the surgery in July and I have a plate on the outer side and 2 screws on the inner ankle. My life was totally turned upside down from this injury. I mean I have never had surgery before, not even a cavity! I am 29 yrs old and my doctor has me doing PT on my own. Now I am about to go back to work, but I wanted to know how long it took you guys to start walking without a limp? I mean it has been almost 5 mths since this happened, and I walk with a slight limp. My ankle still seems a little stiff, and still swells!! I am also wondering what kind of shoes might fit comfortably? I bought a pair of Ugg ankle boots, but I am afraid to put my foot in, because i think my ankle will get stuck! Any advice on the limping or shoe issue would be greatly appreciated….I am sure you all understand what this is like!! I wanted to wish you all a great recovery…… Thanks so much!
I have decided that this year my new years resolution will be to not complain about how my ankle hurts at times and to appreciate the fact that I am fully functioning and able to move around like I used to. Kevin I hope you are doing well, I am sure this is a hard time for you, and I know you will do great! I have been thinking about you since I read your story, and I know that you are probably sitting in the hospital with a positive attitude and thoughts of the future! Good luck with your recovery! Please let us know how you are when you start feeling better! It is frigid cold here today and I am wondering if I am going to be able to ski this winter, are there any skiiers out there, and how did u do getting the ski boot on after breaking your ankle?????
My prayers and thoughts to Kevin today. You are a very brave and positive young man!
Thinking of Kevin today – your comments have been an inspiration and certainly made me sit up and think how lucky am I? I hope you are recovering well from your surgery and wish you all the very best.
Trac,
Thank you so much for your post. I am so scared, how long has it been since your fusion? How long was your recovery? Blessings to you too… Thank you.
Dear All and especially Kevin
You are in my prayers today Kevin. May everything go as well as possible. I admire your positive attitude. It is helpful although I am sure that there will be times when things are more challenging than is easy to cope with. At times I have found it so – be kind to yourself at these times. May you have strength, lots of support and love from those around you.
I am three years away from the car accident where both my legs were crushed. I still walk a bit funny (and need a stick for long distances and rough ground) especially when I walk fast (which I like to do) and there is pain – and will have to have more surgery on my ankle at some point. But I am always grateful to just still have life. Keep safe all, Lindy
Oh my, Trac, I’m so glad you weighed in here and your words will be such a comfort to Kevin. Your positive outlook is amazing and, even though you’re still getting through the first stages, you sound good and looking forward. I have such admiration for your strength and have to admit that I’m feeling very sheepish about complaining lately about my injuries (yep, a complete whine party, minus the cheese tray).
My guess is that Kevin is in a dark place today, so let’s all send our best healing vibes his way for a speedy recovery and a return to a pain-free normalcy. He has a long road ahead of him, as most of us have had in varying degrees, and I think there’s no better comfort than knowing that others understand…which we all do.
Judy
Hello, all!! Esp. Kevin, I usually post to the 2yr site, but started on this one 🙂 my accident was 7/07, I broke and dislocated both ankles & left forearm and wrist. I shaTtered every bone in my right leg and my right foot was actually an open fracture, connected by a tendon. What I am writing about is, I too, had all the surgeries, complications, etc, and, Kevin, I had my BK amputation on 11/08/10. I, too, see it as a great thing.I have not really walked in 3 years. It sure will be nice to, huh? I’m home,back to doing everything, have been since 3 days after surgery. (Truth told, I did justhave a cry over how hard it is to make my bed and how I’m back to first base — AGAIN — HA!!). Stay in touch, Kevin, while not great to see you go through this, it is so exciting to find someone who has and is experiencing so much similar.
As to the fusion? Yup, it hurts, you will curseyour choice. And, then, you really will be pain free and you’l be recommending it to others. I became totally free of pain. Good Luck!!! Blessings to you!
Trac
Kevin..love your attitude! Be so glad you are able to keep your knee!! It makes all the different with prostetics. My father lost his leg above the knee and does really well…still drives with a left foot adapter in the van,still plays golf and still does yard work. It takes longer and takes alot out of him but it’s actually better than the pain he had before. of course he’s well into his 60’s so recovery was slow and steady. He said the knee is what he misses most so I guess it must be true. I hope that your surgery goes well, recovery is progressive and your pain is controlled. Good luck and let us know how you’re doing!! My one year ankle injury anniversary is tomorrow and I still have problems but I know it could always be worse. Same with your situation. May not feel like it on some days but keep pushing forward!!!
diane
Hi everyone, I just wanted to share that I just recieved the statement with the details of the costs for my ankle surgery, I have a plate and 12 screws, my ankle now is valued at about $6,000.00 and that is just the metal not the other surgical costs…..wow…thank god for insurance! Anyways, I am all healed up, back to normal, the only pain I have is when there is a drastic temperature change, I am on my 5th 12 hour day in a row, pain free! I am an ICU nurse and always on my feet, I am not sure what has allowed me to have an easy recovery, but whatever it is, I am thankful for it. I have a 3 yr old and a 5 yr old and I can again keep up with them. I hope everyone recovers well, and Kevin, good luck, you attitude is amazing! I wish you the best!
Happy Holidays to everyone!
Hello Everyone…
I havevn’t posted in a while… I had a very bad break and no luck. It’s been 7 years since my first surgery (wave runner accident), and it’s been 3 years since my 2nd (to remove hardware). Arthritis has settled in… I am only 34 with 2 growing and very active boys one is 13 the other 6. I used to be very active, now not so much the pain gets the better of me. I’m scheduling an ankle fusion for January, and I am so scared. I am afraid of the recovery and what my limitations will be. Has anyone had an ankle fusion? Does anyone know anything about the recovery and if the pain will really GO AWAY…. Please help.
Dear Kevin:
I am so deeply saddened by your post and also humbled by your positive attitude and strength of spirit. I wish you a speedy recovery and a future without pain. Please do come back to post as soon as you can to let us know how you’re doing.
With great respect,
Judy
This is a response for Kevin: You have my respect and admiration, Kevin. Your attitude is good, and you will do well with your prosthetic leg because of your positive thinking. My husband suffered injuries like yours 23 years ago. He did not lose a leg (his hip was crushed) but he can’t walk at all now. When my ankle was broken into pieces 16 months ago, I continued to remind myself that it could have been worse. Now, I read your post and am again reminded that life is not about what happens to us, it is about how we respond to it. God bless you, Kevin, you’re in my prayers.
My orginal injury was Jan 2, 2009…..I suffered many injuries including a badly dislocated and broken pelvic ring along with a very nasty pilon fracture of the right ankle.
After multiple surgeries and a fusion effort and more complications than I care to go into detail about…tomorrow I am losing my right leg below the knee.
Mine is not atypical but is indeed the result of a very nasty high energy break. The surgeon who did the first work was surprised he could find as many pieces of the ankle as he did.
Anyway …I look forward to a new life with a prosthetic leg …..and the ability to walk and live without pain and feeling crippled.
Hi people! I’ve had very much the same! dislocation fracture plate screww’s and loads of time off! I’m not saying i never enjoyed the time off, I did, sat around watching tv, playing games and enjoying seeing my family a little more, even if i was a little house bound! I’m due to have my plate removed next tuesday and then it’s time to finish the insurance claim. were i’m going take the family on a well earned special holiday for allways being there when I needed them, If you gain anything out of this experiance, is you know who your friends and family are, Only the other day did i giggle with my partner about the time’s she had to remove all the dead skin from underneath the plaster, The joy’s as she call’s it.
There were time’s when you feel down, there are times when you feel pain, there are times when you want it all to go away! Hopefully for all of us it will in one way or another,
Now after almost two years of thinking what will happen if i fall on the leg, stand funny on something or get kicked of the children,Jump off a wall and land on my bad leg! Well I’ve had all that and i’m still standing, I now train at least 7 times a week, took boxing back up after a 20 year let off and started running again, all with the plate in. It’s very much a mind game, and i’m fighting back, And the best of it all,after all this training to improve my mental state over a bad accident, I’ve lost over 10kg and looking better then ever! Dont let it rule you!!! your a stronger person now then you have ever been, Use that inner power to move onward and upward!
It has been 4 1/2 months since my injury, I work 12 hour shifts in the ICU, my swelling has completely ended, and the pain is gone, I feel normal! I hope everyone is healing and hanging in there, I see my ortho surgeon at work sometimes and he is amazed at how well I healed, thanks to exercise I got better so quick! Good luck to all! Happy healing!
Maria, I am sorry to say that I am a few weeks from my 3 year anniversary. I slipped on ice walking the dog and similar break to yours with plate, screws and pins and I still swell. I am walking without a limp but if I am on my feet too long or walking too far, my bad ankle swells and aches. I am just thankful that I am walking at all as it was a brad break and recovery after surgery was horrible. I have been taking glucosimine for about 6 months and I find it makes a difference in the morning. I find that swimming is a good exercize for me and deep water aquafit — anything else is too much impact on my bad foot. Part of my problem could be that I waited 3 weeks before agreeing to surgery. In retrospect, I should have just done it! For me, I don’t think about it every day anymore and I have accepted that this might be as good as gets, although I do think that I am still improving.. Good luck Maria!
Its been almost 6 months since I fell down the stairs, twisted my ankle so bad I broke all 3 bones in the ankle. 2 plates and 12 screws later I am still recuperating. I am able to walk, still limping but not back to the movement I want it to be. I am back to work since early last month but by mid day my ankle is the size of a watermelon…I just want to function like the good ole days but sometimes my impatience gets the best of me. Thanks everyone for all the words of advise here. Here,s my email to share with me how your recuperation is coming along: [email protected]
Great information here. Still looking for supplemental data on travel tips and would be thankful any suggestions. Thanks a lot!
Thanks for all the post I have 2 plates and 10 screws its been 6 mon since surgery and if I walk over 30 minutes it swells and hurts to the point where its hard to walk. I’m thinking about having plates removed tp see if this would help. If anyone has some advice please let me know thanks.
Hello! I am also a student recovering from a trimollear ankle fracture, It’s been 2 months now and ive been walking on it with out crutches with no limp, still can’t jump with out pain but my diet and exercises really pay off! I need to get back to gymnastics asap and getting round uni with crutches was too hard. I am very lucky the ankle never hurt not even when i broke it, if anyone wants to talk about my recovery send me an E-mail @ [email protected]!
Hi Lee, Diana and abby.
I’ve read all you’ve written on yhis site, and i gotta tell you that youre words really comfort me.
I’m 24 years old, and i’ve broken my ankle in the both sides, “bimalleular fracture” by running on a stares. I’ve passed surgury too and they put two plates with 9 screws. It has been passed almost 2 months already, and i’ve just has been told that i can put a weight on an ankle. next week i’m starting a PT. Untill that i’ve tried at home to put wight and it just hearts too much. O’m a student, and because of the long healing i cant go to the practice that i have to do to get my digree.
so all my situation is so messed up. i’m sitting and getting so deppressed.
I hope everything will be ok soon and i’ll get my life back.
Keep on wrighting and giving hope to people, cause we need it so much now.
I go back to the doctor Monday. I’m almost at 3 1/2 months and getting better and getting out more. Was back to driving my SUV yesterday instead of my husbands lower sitting car, felt so good to be back in my vehicle after so long. Easier to get out and about now and most times the handicap little card from the mirror does no good since all the spaces are taken anyway. My husband finally brought back home the stationary bicycle thing he had loaned a guy at work months ago. Started using it last night.
Tried to put on one of my Fall slip-on shoes that I’ve worn for several years and are my most comfy shoes around and couldn’t even slide my foot in half-way . . . so then tried a 1/2 sized larger Sketcher from wearing on our trips to WDW and still no go . . . so still in my Ecco strap on sandals for now . . . good thing the weather is still so warm. To look at my feet side by side, the right is noticeable larger than the left . . . but darn it, thought I could wear some different shoes by now.
Deana
I have been back to work for 3 weeks as an RN in the ICU, I am 14 weeks post op for a bad ankle fracture plate and 12 screws, and a broken wrist….I am amazed at how my ankle holds up, granted when I get home the pain sets in but it is crazy how I go all day and never notice it! I have 8 hours of overtime this week, it has been really busy. So for anyone who reads this, your ankle will heal and life will go back to normal!
Hey Dee, I too have pain on the inside of my ankle. Dr says it’s my posterior tibial tendon. My foot flays out (sits at 2pm all the time) and I can’t go up on my toes on that foot either anymore. Seems to be getting worse. Dr says it was probably injured in the original accident but the focus then was to put me back together. I am having 2 screws out on my inner ankle later this month so that we can get an MRI to see what’s up with the tendon. I’m hoping that just the screws out will help the pain I have with every step!! I am exactly 10 months out today. I get really discouraged but just have to realize I’ll heal at my own pace. i think I’m a baby too. Seems like I just cannot tolerate this pain!! I’m nervous but excited that at least we’re doing SOMETHING!! I’ve heard that the screws out is everything from “nothing” to “sheer misery” so we’ll see. I hate bringing the walker back out but…..Maybe the screw is irritating something?? PT didn’t help mine. I kept telling them it wouldn’t straighten out!! UGH Good luck!
HI ALL DEE HERE Its beig qute a while since i have posted ,i however manage to sometimes glimse at what is happening but work has me tied up . to lee. deana, abby vopal and all others hello its my fisrt meeting you guys but i used to post alot when i just injured my ankle 10 mths ago, so some light on myself 25yrs female broken and dislocated right ankle ,broken tib fib & to the back says my dcoc ,he also mentioned that one was broken up in approximately 3 pieces.did surgery now owns 9 screws and two plates all of which is still in,im still frustrated at times my flexibility in the ankle is no where near normal as yet,i still cant go down stairs normal as my injured ankle cant bend much ,it does not go as far ip as the other i still wonder if it is possible ,I still have a lot of stiffness cant run or jump either i have read some time ago that the hardware removal should increase the mobility of the ankle can any one testify to this.I am super proud of all of you here its great how you all face up to this struggle ,i was like that too initilallly until months after wtih each check up another cast ,i pretty mucuh went through it to point where the doc says putting you in another cast and please stay steady bascically lie down foot elevated so no shifting and pain was grinding my fibres ,people dont get it ,even now i struggle and they say im such a baby should be running by now , i try to outline the limitation of my ankle that it just cant bend enough to facilitate such but not even that helps ,its been a year and im starting to get weak now ,i remember when the cast finally came off sometime ago my doc says he is sending me to psio and if within approx 6 wks in did go up as far he would do another surgery to remove the long screw but i have been back several times and ater x rays he just says do some more psio ,he literally changed and now really seems as if he dosent want to ,but i think something has to come out ,to the inside of my ankle really hurts at times ,i sit for a while when i get up it is as if i can feel something sticking inside my ankle and its as if it has totally ceased up im so confused and depressed ,but i have come a far way ,god is good and i still trust that he will take me through ,some one please say something and let me know if anyone still has in the syndesmosis screw is it better out. take care all .
Abby, Oh Dear, that is not good news for me . . . I have CMT, Charcot-Marie-Tooth . . . it is hereditary and affects the nerves of of hands & feet. Mine hasn’t been so severe that it has adversely affected my life but lots of people finally get diagnosed with it after an ankle break. High ankle and double joint ankles are a problem. I hope it doesn’t cause me more problems with my recovery. I just can’t seem to get over the stiff legged gait with my right leg and right ankle after being in the cast and boot.
How long have you been out of your cast? Seems like you were out of your cast before I was out of mine by a couple of weeks and then I had the boot for 3 after the cast came off. I’m thinking you’ve been out 4-5 weeks so maybe there is a light at the end of this long tunnel for me too. 🙂
Back at work, you are doing TERRIFIC and your kids are much younger than mine and much more dependent on you so not like you had a lot of choice but to get healed and back in action. I was tired after reading your post that you worked all day, then got kids and everything they need like dinner, bedtime routine and THEN you went to gym!!!! WOW!!! 🙂
Deana,
I have the 411 on the arch issue, My PT told me that while you are in a cast the bones in your foot that create the arch settle. He said it is really common for casted people to have arch problems…..just add one more thing to the list of problems. So in order to get an actual arch support I have to go to a podiatrist….I think I am going to stick with Dr. Scholls for now! But the arch support is helping! I was having pain in my toes and top of my foot and up the inside of my ankle…now the pain is pretty much gone! I had to buy the stick in arch only part though because my foot swells and wont fit in my shoe with the whole insert….Oh and I tried to buy a pair of boots the other day and Right foot was a size 9 and left foot needed a 10 1/2…….Uuuuggggghhhhhh! Someday I will have nice shoes again!
Deana,
I was having a lot of pain in my toes and arch, I think the cast kinda messed up my arch. So I got some inserts and the pain is gone! So now I am doing better. My first week went really well! Hang in there!
Hey Abby,
How are you doing? How is the ankle doing after being back to work for a week?
My foot is still swollen and bruised on top . . . I started doing the exercise and pre-treat with a warmed in the microwave wrap and then throughout the day elevate & ice. I doesn’t really hurt, but it doesn’t feel great either I did take a couple of Tylenol last night and again this a.m. to hopefully reduce some inflammation but not sure it really helps.
I guess I need some more patience and that the day the boot came off doesn’t mean all is wonderful and cured after being off it for almost 12 weeks. Just since I had them almost to the same size and then after no more boot, this to deal with.
Hang in there Deana, I think u are doing great! Tell those people to leave you alone! They dont understand and probably never will, you dont get better over night but it will happen. And the swelling will subside and sooner than you think you will feel better! The stairs are still hard for me! I can go up like I never had a broken ankle but coming down is a whole other story. I started doing them like a toddler, one step at a time both feet on the step. Now once I get my ankle stretched out I can sometimes do them normally but somedays it just does not happen! I do recommend the pool and the stationary bike to build muscle back up in your leg! Plus the pool is a great way to start bearing weight without fulling bearing weight! Good luck this weekend, I hope you are feeling better soon!
Abby, thanks so much for a reply tonight! I will rest a little easier tonight knowing this is normal. I will try to do my exercises tomorrow. I don’t have anything around here right now except for the ace bandages that held my splint on, I think I have about 3 rolls of them. Just finished icing and it still is swollen and not very pretty. I’ve been using one and two crutches depending on time of day and when I go out of the house I’ve been using my boot to go up and down the steps, not ready for those yet without the extra support.
The hardest part, for me, is people expecting you just to get up and walk at full speed like nothing ever happened. That to me is so frustrating in that they just don’t understand. I hope & pray they never have to understand the way we do, but a little bit of empathy sure would help. I mean a broken rib, or in your case with your wrist . . . but when it is ankle, foot or leg . . . you must bear full weight on it and with foot and ankle so many bones, tendons and ligaments that it just isn’t like getting over a cold or even the flu . . . it is a long & difficult process and it isn’t fun and believe me IF I could do it I would, not like I’m slacking, which is what I feel like they think. Maybe I’m too sensitive.
Deana,
The day I got my cast off, they told me to use the crutches as needed, well I was a little nervous to go without them but then decided to try it, my foot swelled up like crazy, my toes and ankle were all swollen. It looked like me ankle had a love handle! I iced the life out of it, and elevated it, and the swelling was better. I am still swollen everyday just not near as bad! It gets better each week but even today after work it was puffy. I have a thing from PT it is called tubigrip, it is a tight tight tight sock like thing, it compresses my ankle, my toes are exposed, it goes to about mid calf. It works really well! I dont know if u could ask your doctor for some of this, it comes in a roll, they cut it to the right length and then you pull it on and double it over…probably sounds confusing, but nevertheless, it is a tight sleeve/ sock…I use mine everyday and take it off in the evening.
From what my Dr. and PT tell me the swelling decreases as Range of Motion returns..so if possible do the exercises and stretch your ankle! You will be amazed at how much stretching helps with your pain/movement/ swelling!
I have most of my pain on the top of my foot and on the arch…I think it is because my foot is weak and those areas were casted for so long…it is getting better slowly.
I will be working 12 hour shifts (36 hours a week) but for now I am on orientation and so I am doing mainly 8’s which is great because I am not sure my ankle can take 12 hours!
Hang in there and if you think you need to call the Dr. just call him, that is what he is there for and that is why he gets paid the big bucks! But from my experience, swelling, pain, and tenderness are normal this early in the game! Stick with ice and elevate, maybe try something for inflammation!
Abby, thanks! I don’t know what to think about my crazy foot this week. After my visit to the dr. on Monday, Steve & I stopped by Costco, still wearing my boot since I didn’t take a shoe with me . . . then around the house Monday afternoon and evening, starting aching a little more as the day went on, same yesterday, even using a crutch . . . my foot is swollen on top, a little bruising and shiny towards the toes but that stupid boot was really starting to bother the top of my foot and at the upper most bone there was a red spot when I took it off at the doctors and it isn’t like I put the straps on too tight or pumped it with air too much. So I guess the swelling and achy feeling are normal after not walking on it normal (well this isn’t normal with my small steps) and every so often a little creak/pop/cracking of bones, nothing drastic, kinda like popping your knuckles. Given this set-back or initial no cast no boot period, I didn’t do my exercises today or yesterday. I tried putting ice on it, then heat, then ice. I really hate to call and ask about it but IF it isn’t better by Friday, I might better call and see what they say. Weird. What do you think? Did you experience this the first few days after your cast came off?
Glad to hear you are back at work, thank goodness I don’t have to go put in an 8 or 12 hour shift with this foot right now. Do the hospitals there still do three shifts? When my Mother was in the hospital right before she passed away in Texas, the nurses pretty much did 12 hour shifts and they’d work 3 days one week and 4 the next, at least that way they only had a change of shift a 7 a.m. & p.m. and all that goes with hospital shift changes. The 3 day work week would be nice but I’m sure the 12 hour shifts are exhausting.
Lee-thanks SO much for the “good news”. I just get so down like it will never be over. I hope the screw removal goes well and then the MRI and then who knows. I jsut want them to find something fixable. i;m tired of thinking of EVERY step I take and not being able to work and do the things our family loves to do. (go bum around the mall, go to a football game, etc) I just need to look a little more in the future and realize that slow and steady wins the race. Glad there’s some good news out there and hopefully I will be there soon!! My surgery is Oct 26th so I’ll let you all knwo how it goes. kinda wish he would remove ALL the plates and screws but maybe if he needs to repair the tendon he could do it then?? We’ll see and hope.
Diane
Hi Diane,
I’m an old poster from the 2 year recover site … I had a trimall w/ dislocation in July 2008 (plates, lots of screws and bolts), then in 3/2009, had all the metal removed and a few ligaments replaced/repaired. My posterior malleolus shifted when healing, so it was a non-union and though it did heal eventually, it’s not anatomically quite right. But it works well enough.
So, I too had a terrible time with the posterior tibial tendon for a long time. It was damaged in the dislocation, but not enough that they could do anything to fix it. It basically was a huge mass of scar tissue. So, let me put your mind at ease. My experience is pretty good right now, a little more than 2 years later.
After initial break, I had terrible pain on the tendon area and arch of my foot. I couldn’t wear anything but running shoes and spent months in PT. Things got better after I had custom orthotics made – alleviated all the swelling from the tendonitis and finally allowed it to begin healing. I was moving pretty well by the time I went in for my metal removal surgery.
Metal removal is super easy. And I think it can be about 2 weeks off the leg, if they’re just taking out a few screws. Yes, they have to cut the scar again, stitch it again, and you have all the weird healing stuff with the nerves, but it’s not so bad. I was in a splint for 2 weeks and on crutches, and boot for 4 with no crutches, because I had some ligaments re-anchored and replaced, so they needed the full 6 weeks to heal. And it was not very painful. Easy recovery.
So, flash forward 1 year. I do still wear my running shoes much of the time with the orthotics to keep supporting that tendon. But, I’m back to many of my normal activities. I do have limitations – no running, jumping, or other high impact activities, but I “run” on an elliptical trainer 45 min every day and I’m finally back to the Bar Method Class – which is like The Dailey Method – up on tippy toes to work quads and other muscles. I still have some calf weakness, but I’m working on it. And if I’m not careful – meaning, I don’t stretch and support the bad ankle or I overdo it in “bad” shoes – I can re-inflame the posterior tibila tendon. I just have to take care of it. I finally bought my first pair of shoes with heels a few weeks ago. They do hold my orthotics, so they are comfortable and easy to walk in. But I don’t wear the a lot. Just when I want to dress up. And I plan to return to skiing this winter. Need to have boots custom fit and a plate on the heel, since I have very little dorsifelxion left in the leg, but it can all be done.
So, I guess my story is a long way of telling you that you will get there eventually. The tendon is a pain, but if you baby it and work with it, you’ll be fine. And you manage the other limitations. They haven’t really changed my life, in the long run, all that much, even though they did for the first 2 years. I thought my life as I knew it was over for the first 18 months. It’s really only in the last 6 months that I’ve gotten past that idea and tried to return to “normal”. I started slow – walking around a soft, flat track at a high school for 10 min at a time. From there, worked up to one hour a day, and finally back to the gym for more intense activity. I feel great. I’m proud of my progress and I don’t see my leg as a liability any more. Eventually, I may need more surgery, but I’ll cross that bridge when I get there.
The road is long and frustrating, but I’m here to tell you it’ll be ok. Go to the 2 year site and go back about 2 years to read my old posts – gosh, I was a mess. Thought my life was over. I was only 40 when I broke it and have 2 very busy kids. I was ready to quit. But I didn’t – the folks here helped me push myself.
Good luck with the metal removal. Ask for a prescription for orthotics to help with support of the ankle and arch so the tendon can heal, and go slow. You’ll get there too!
Best to all of you as you heal.
Lee
Deana,
I am soooo proud of you, you are one tough cookie! I cannot believe you made it through all of this without surgery! I am so happy that you are healed, We must be troopers! I am so glad we went through this together! Even though we have never met, I feel like we have been such a support to each other! Thank you for all your words of encouragement, it really helped me so much!
I did my first 8 hour shift in the ICU today, 11 weeks post op, I had some minor swelling but nothing to bad, and the pain was minimal! I am glad to be back at work, and cannot wait for that first paycheck! SHOPPING!!!!!!!!!!!
Hi Diane:
I understand your frustration, I had 1 screw removed on January 4th of this year, after the surgery I was non weight bearing for 6 weeks and it hurts like hell. These Dr’s need to tell the truth about recovery, there is no way you will only need two weeks to heal. I no longer live a pain free life, I wake up with pain everyday, I am just trying to deal with it, without complaining, because the people around me don’t understand, they really think am complaining for no reason, they have no idea about the level of pain am feeling with each step I take. Plan to be layed-up for a while. Each time they go in-and-out they are messing with the nerves and bones do have nerves. Good luck….
Hey all, my tri-mal is about 9 months ago. Stepped over the dog out the front door and here we are. 13 screws and a long plate later. Haven’t been able to return to work (RN in ICU) due to pain in inner ankle with every step. My foot flays out and “sits: at 2 o’clock!! Dr thinks it’s my Psterior tibial tendon that was probably injured in the original break. PT didn’t help it so here we are. Went to se him Mon and he wants to take out the 2 inner ankle screws so that we can get a MRI. He thinks the picture won’t be usefull with ALL the metal in. I also have warmth and achyness around my plate. Can’t even think about crossing my legs and putting pressure on it!! Dr said he COULD take all the hardware out but doesn’t want to right now. So OR on OCt 26th (he said it will take 15 min) and then 2 weeks to heal and then schedule MRI to see what’s up with the tendon. Such a long process. I’ve lost my job as of last month due to so much time off. I really loved that job. Hoepfully I can return and it will be available and my employer will take a chance on me again. I would do a desk job but I can’t work days and there aren’t any available!!! So discouraged. How bad does the removal hurt?? He said I won’t go all the way asleep and I’ll need my walker afterward for awhile. Sounds like a step back but I know it isn’t. Just want my life back. Don’t know what you got till it’s gone, right?? hang in there everybody!!!!
I broke my ankle doing gymnastics, I can still handstand in a cast, But the weird thing is it never really hurt when i done it, or having pains after the operation, never took a pain killer never needed it. In the cast i can put all my weight on 1 leg already and i’m taking calcium, zinc, and copper tablets! I can start to walk in 2 weeks i think, haha well i hope, been 5 weeks since the break!
Hi Josh,
How did you break it? It is a long and emotional at times process for sure. I thought I was going crazy until I read way back several months here on this site and found comfort in that I was not. 🙂
Deana
Hey Abby,
The doctor has declared me healed today!!!!! Says the bones are healed up and says I can put my boot in the closet. He made me walk across the examining room, tennis shoe on good foot, bare on bad . . . I was scared and carried my crutch with me across the room. Then had to lean up against the door and stretch right leg way back and keep foot flat on floor, not easy as it sound. Have a page of exercises to do three times a day. Been walking around a little around the house, like little baby steps, then ankle started getting a little tired so grabbed an old crutch from a previous injury of my husand, and now using my crutch. Don’t want to over do it the first day. Feels stressed on my arch and I have an extremely high arch. Said I didn’t need a brace or anything. A little swelling on the inside back near the heel where the inside break was and he said it was scar tissue??? Wonder IF that will eventually go down or dissolve or what? Also feeling a little pressure on the bones up towards my toes where it stayed swollen for darn near 7 weeks.
Baby steps . . . but I’m getting there. It would have been TWELVE very long weeks come Wed. night. Longest 3 months of my life. But considering I made it through the healing process of a bi-mal fracture, without open surgery and screws and plates, I’m happy with the final results . . . and I’m sure I’ll get better at walking . . . I mean after the boot it took me almost a week to go from two to one crutch and another week or so to do a little hobbling around with no crutches and the boot. I think I’ll keep one crutch by my bed for night use for a week or so.
Let’s still keep in touch and you have been such a wonderful friend to help talk me through this the last couple of months. I go back in three weeks! He said I could go swim, ride a stationary bike, walk on the treadmill once I feel like it and do those exercises but didn’t really prescribe professional physical therapy, not sure IF he will in three weeks or let me go on my own???
Woo Hoo!!!! Well I’m off to watch Dancing With The Stars. I love that show but I guess I’ll never be a dancer or wear those high shoes they wear either. I’d love to take ballroom dancing lessons but I’d never talk my husband into it, besides, I think I have two left feet when it comes to dancing. LOL
ttyl,
Deana
Hello everyone! From what i have read this is a place for ankle injuries and stories of recoveries, It seems really scary seeing everyone have problems this far on, I’m only 19 and recently suffered from a trimalleolar ankle fracture. I used to run everyday and do many sports, I have 1 plate and 2 bolts, I get my first cast off in a week I can’t wait to start building up the muscles again!
Deana,
I have had several brake slamming experiences. The first one was a little scary because I was worried what was going to happen to my ankle, and I did not know if I would be able to hit the brake fast enough to stop. But I managed! Congrats on getting out of the house! That is awesome! I am glad you are finally able to get around even if it is a pain in the butt with the boot! Maybe you will get to take it off for good on Monday! I will keep my fingers crossed for you! Good luck let me know what happens!
Hey Abby,
You are doing so wonderful! I drove around the block on Wed. with my husband for a test drive and went out Thurs. to get son from school on my own. It was a pain, getting out with boot, switching to ankle brace, and back to boot and wouldn’t work so well in the rain since I sit with my legs out. Can’t drive my vehicle yet, too high up, so driving husbands car. Went out to the high school football game last night even though my ankle was a bit achy, hadn’t been this year and both kids were there since they had the middle school play with them, kinda a tradition to give them a feel for it. Sitting on the lowest bleacher, too many rude people came and stood in front of us for half time show so will have to go back to another game in a week or so after homecoming and their next away game and sit up higher and plan to stay the whole time since I will be slow coming down the steps.
I go back to the doctor Monday. I’m guessing two more weeks in the boot but who knows????
I was nervous driving to Steven’s school, 60 mph and a couple of red lights and afraid they’d change and I’d have to slam on brakes with bad right foot, then figured I’d just go no matter the color at some point/distance . . . I think it was nerves after not driving for 11 weeks and the last time I drove was when I got rear-ended.
Hi everyone. Especially those who kept me sane ‘at the beginning’ – on 20 Jan 2010 while on holiday in Africa, I slipped and ended up with a tri mall right ankle fracture. Had surgery that day – screw on inner and 7 screws and plate on outer. FYI I am 41 – generally healthy female. Next few months were a nightmare – ups and downs and still having up and down days! In March I had one screw out as it was interfering with my joint. This coming Tuesday I am having the plate and screws out – yay! They will leave the screw on the inner side – it doesn’t worry me. The reason they are removing the other is that I can ‘feel’ them esp when I hit something against the plate without warning – i.e. when vacuuming, if the pipe hits up against it yowee! I am nervous at yet another surgery – third in 8 months but feel like it will be the beginning of a new era! My goal was to be able to run again – I can do 4 minutes and that’s it. Apart from that I can do pretty much everything else that I used to do before the fall. Some days it’s sore going down stairs, some days not. Sometimes if I have had a long walk then the next day is agony – sometimes not! So it’s always a surprise. I am still reminded every morning when I take my first few steps and wonder if the day will come when I get up in the morning and there is no discomfort?
I have learnt so much from this experience and would encourage people who are in the same predicament – there is light at the end of the tunnel!! I know that lots of you will be wondering what the process is when having the hardware removed. I will let you know how it goes and what my experience is. Hang in there folks.
I ran, I ran .8 miles on the treadmill yesterday, back to work on Monday, and I have been biking like a mad woman! I think I am in better shape now than before the accident! I actually feel like I am healed and back to mostly normal! The limp is slowly leaving, and only when I am sore does it reappear! I just think this week made me feel like I am finally over the hump and headed towards full recovery! Deana, how are u doing??? Long time no post!
Deana,
My long lost broken friend, thought you were healed and you ditched me! I am hurting like crazy today! I cleaned the basement…it seemed like a good idea! But now I am thinking not so much! I go back to work on the 20th, I am so nervous, not sure how my ankle is going to handle it! I am hoping for the best! I had PT this morning, then the gym! It is getting cooler here, and I feel like I am finally progressing well! It has been such a long haul! 10 weeks tomorrow! I cannot believe it! I remember the day they did the surgery and how I really thought I was never ever going to walk again! Now look how things have changed! I am walking, not perfectly but it has happened! The doctor said my ankle is completely healed, my wrist has a small chip in the ulna but not a big deal, and my knee, well that is a whole other story! I have to have it fixed next summer (10 more weeks of recovery) they will put in a prosthetic tendon and all sorts of things! I am not looking forward to that but I do not want to wear the knee brace forever! I did manage to take the kids to a county fair this weekend! And tomorrow Fletcher and I are going shopping, so life is coming back! I hope you are doing well! I love hearing from you! Heal quick, be careful, get ready for some serious shopping! you deserve it!
Hey Abby! Long time no chat. That is TERRIFIC. I am very happy for you. Glad you are looking forward to going back to work, me I’m looking forward to going SHOPPING! LOL
Please be careful though, I was chatting with my friend in CA and her sister broke her ankle, re-broke it the day she got her cast off. Her nephew, re-broke his in less than a week. AFTER hearing that, you can be sure I’ll be extra cautious.
Not looking forward to going down stairs. With the boot I’ve been going up them, just 5-6 getting into our house. But down, um no thanks, I’ll scoot down for now. 🙂
Been keeping myself busy with more paralegal research for our HOA. Might try to go to the high school football game this Friday. The middle school will also be playing with them, band, so a chance to see both kids in one night. Oh and I got the doctor office to fax the DMV form to the other office close to husbands office and he stopped by and picked me up a handicap hanging placard to use for the next month or two . . . figure it will help when I get back out to fun shopping and grocery shopping. I go back one week from today. Started walking with just one crutch this past Wednesday night. Calf of good leg is a little sore in the back and right hip of bad ankle sore when I sleep & toss & turn. Must be from the weeks of non-use and hopping around on one foot & crutches. Hopefully that will go away SOON.
Enjoy your last two weeks before heading back to work!
Abby
That is great news. Luckily when I had my accident I didn’t have a job. I don’t have to work so I was able to be at home. I know what you mean though when you say you are excited about going back to work. Good luck when you go back.
I have officially been released to go back to work…I start back on September 27th! I cannot wait, I feel like I am going stir crazy! I been keeping busy with working out and PT! I still cannot wait to go back to work!
I had PT today, and the focus was mainly on strength training and going down stairs! Let me tell you a broken ankle does not like going down stairs! I am hurting right now! I guess I never realized how much an ankle must bend in order to go down just one step! Everything else at PT is going great, I can do the other exercises with no problem but those steps are killers!
Deana,
I go back to the doctor on Friday to get xrays of both my wrist and ankle! I am hoping to be released and able to return to work!!!!! I cannot wait to be productive again! For now I work out every morning do PT 3 times a week and take care of the kids! Soon enough life will get back to normal! I absolutely love biking, it loosens my leg up for the whole day and gets the blood pumping through my leg. When I get up in the a.m. my ankle is so stiff and the early a.m. exercise really helps! I have been lifting some weights that they suggested at PT, so that is helping with the strength, I do all the stretches and then do ultrasound therapy at PT! So lots of work but it is helping and making a difference! If only recovering was as easy as breaking !!!!!!! Eventually we will all be healed up and back to life as we knew it! I am glad you are doing better with the boot! It seems like it would be awkward but I am sure eventually u will adjust and adapt to it! Hang in there!
Hey Everyone,
It is getting better with the boot. Not great but better. Still walking with the crutches though and always wearing a shoe on other foot so that has helped a lot.
Had another, my second, dream of walking with nothing on my foot and realized it and thought I better sit down. First was back when I still couldn’t bear weight. Mind plays funny games with ya!!!
I have 2 more weeks in boot and after that, who knows, maybe more maybe not. One day at a time.
Abby, I think with all your swimming and biking you are doing GREAT!!!!
Hope everyone is having a nice 3 day weekend!!!!
I am going to attempt to walk my dog this morning! Ankle brace – check, knee brace – check! How long does it take to be back to normal……
Deana,
Hang in there, I have only used a walking boot once and it was when I had a stress fractures from running (I used to run 5 miles a day) I was at WVU in college and everything there was on the side of a hill, I trekked around with it on, to bars, to class, etc…I however did not have a broken ankle when I used it. My advice is stay as active as possible. I had PT this morning, it was rough, they have stepped it up a notch and I am lifting weights, leg press, hamstring curls, stand on one foot (the bad one), stretch my calf muscles and lots of ankle exercises to get my ROM back. I went to the gym before PT and rode the stationery bike for 45 min. So now I am tired! The amazing thing is that it is not swollen, the activity decreases the swelling and I feel better after wards! This is my 8 week mark, I have a Dr. appt today to get my scar looked at since the sutures are still coming out! It is really weird, the antibiotics they put me on are killing my stomach but I guess that is just one possible side effect! Better than an infected ankle. So how long are you in the boot for and when do u start PT???? My advice about the daughter is make her wear the boot for about an hour and see how she likes it! Those things are a pain! but at least u can take it off and shower! U will be back on your feet in no time! Do leg exercises and keep moving as much as possible!
I had a horrible time wiht my boot too. It was SO heavy and higher tahn my other foot and I couldn’t get my foot “down in” enough so it felt like I was on my toes all the time. My ankle hurt so bad so I couldn’t SHOVE it down in. Then the padding squeezed it so bad that I could only wear it about 1/2 hr-1 hr at a time. My hubby and “know it all 15 and 16 yr olds” kept saying why can’t you walk in it? I’ve seen people at Wal Mart in those boots and you can’t tell. Nobody understands this unless you’ve been through it. I never walked in my boot and when I finally went to PT they said let’s just try without it in a regular shoe with my walker (couldn’t get the hang of crutches) and it went SO much better. that was about 10-12 weeks. I am now 9 months out and am having a really difficult time. Apparently it’s my posterior tibial tendon. It hurts when I walk and my foot stays at “2pm” instead of straight. I kept saying “I think the Dr screwed it on wrong” HAHA anyway I’ve done exercises and it won’t get better. Can’t go up on my toes anymore and it’s getting weaker. Dr thinks I may have damaged it in the fracture process. I go back 9/13 and I think he wants to take 2 screws out to get a MRI (better picture) to check my tendons. My hardware hurts so bad on the outside as well so we’ll see. Just discouraged that I’m not better. Just want to get back to work and walk longer than 1 hour before I have to sit. Just try your best with the boot but it was not helpful for me. TOo heavy and not fit right! UGH Hang in there!!
Diane
Deanna,
hang in there. I know your husband and daughter don’t know what you are going through but they will eventually. It put my marriage to the test and we got through it thank goodness. I usually take care of all of the animals and when I broke my ankle my husband had to do it all plus go to work. So it will get better. I hope you feel better soon.
Hi Abby
I’m not doing so hot. Got this stupid boot on Monday after 6 weeks in a splint & 3 more in a cast . . . well everyone around here, my husband and know-it-all 16 yr. old daughter thinks I should be jogging around the block by now. I still can’t walk in this stupid thing. I tried taking a few steps without crutches a little while ago and it just doesn’t work and my ankle hurt afterward. This thing is heavy, the inside of arch is super high, it rocks, and rolls to the outside and I haven’t walked in 9 weeks geez. Plus the bones are still healing, still have a bit of swelling and I freaking don’t feel like re-breaking it or falling and breaking the left ankle. PLUS after a couple of days my right knee really hurt yesterday and still hurts some today. So I’m not a happy camper tonight. I’m not looking forward to a 3 day weekend with them all here 24 hours a day either. I may just hide out in my bedroom most of the weekend. 🙁
I hope you are doing better than me for sure!!!!!
Deana,
How is everything going? I hope you are doing well! I have been progressing well, I biked 5 miles today at the Y which was plenty! Now I am wishing I could use a broken ankle as an excuse to not fold laundry…however I dont think it will work! My swelling is finally down! I really think those sutures were causing a large chunk of the swelling and now that they are all at the surface my swelling is minimal! I am still limping but working on getting rid of the limp, I have to think a little harder when I walk to try to walk the right way instead of favoring the bad leg! All in all I am healing up! I have 2 more weeks of PT then back to work! I am hoping by then the swelling will be even better and my limp will not be so noticeable! Hope you are doing great!
Hi Judy,
My boot seems much heavier than my fiberglass cast. I’m going to, starting today, count the pumps so I can get the right number since sometimes if feels fine and sometimes it doesn’t. I’ve just been pumping away and while your still sitting it doesn’t really let you judge what will feel the best when walking. Just re-inflated with 14 pumps and it feels fine sitting here so we’ll see and work up or down from there. 🙂
Hi Michelle,
I’m still sleeping with foot on a European sham (high) and a pillow and yet another pillow under my knee/thigh since without can become achy just sticking up there in mid-air. That is a very good point about still wearing at night in case of getting bumped, jumped on by kids or rolled over by husband. 🙂 My left hip is very achy today so I MUST make myself wear a shoe even just around the house tomorrow. I’m STILL using crutches at this point.
Abby,
Oh my, I hope the infection clears up soon. Sounds like you caught it early enough. I’m sure being a nurse you’ll protect it from the chlorine water when swimming.
The “slippery-ness” seems to be getting better. I was only able to get in two hours this afternoon without the boot and laying with it propped up and 5 minutes a couple of times sitting up with barefoot on the floor . . . not there yet but much better than Monday & Tuesday.
Everybody: My right foot still seems a bit bigger than left, foot, ball of foot, toes, ankle, not as bad as before . . . will my right foot/ankle EVER be the same size as my left one or will it always be like this? I’m going on 9 WEEKS as of tonight from the fall.
Let me explain my day!
I got up this morning and my ankle was looking pretty good considering it is rejecting the internal sutures and small bits of Vicryl suture are coming out of it! Then an area kinda popped open and oozed…PANIC….INFECTION….AHHHH, I called the Dr. immediately (of course my Dr. is out of town) so the other Dr. who is covering for him took 3 hours to call back. Now I am on Keflex in case it is infected and they want betadine soaked dressings on it….well the wound itself is only the size of a pin hole…so I am really not sure that the betadine soaked dressing is necessary…but the Keflex, that I asked to be put on yesterday, makes me feel better! I am glad I am a nurse because I feel like I have some inside knowledge…but it makes it really hard to be a patient! Well now that I have my antibiotics I am hoping all will be well!
Deana,
December 22 will be my two years anniversary and am still having alot of pain and swelling. However, regard the boot, it’s the safest way to go, it’s all about preventive measures, as far as the support goes and to avoid you bumping and anyone stepping or bumbing into you. Yes, it was heavy by with proper support under your leg, you won’t feel the weight as much while you are laying down or sleeping. When I did’nt sleep in my boot there was alway an accident, my kids would come in the room and lay right across my foot or my husband would throw his leg while sleeping not remembering my bad foot. You should not be coming off you bed with the bad foot first, it’s always the good foot first, the bad foot will buckle and cause you more problems. While wearing my boot I realized that my hip on the good side was being affected, so the therapist recommended that I use my cruthes for support, since I was off balance with the boot on. A sneaker with high botton will do the trick. Once you are complety out of the boot a (Fabric like) ankle brace is good along with your sneakers, preferrable New Balance. Take it easy, you have come a long way and it’s an injury that always reminds you when you are doing too much – (it make you slow down, if you want to are not) Also try to walk with the tip of the boot in a straight position, I found myself walking like a duck, I was walking with the boot turned to the side….
Deana,
I would sleep without the boot! I am sure at this point you could do that, call the Dr. and ask! I am glad u are without a cast! Sometimes I wish I had a boot! My leg hurt like crazy after PT yesterday!
Good luck
Abby
Hey Deana:
I hated the boot, too, but had to wear it for a long time. It was lighter than my cast, which was good, but awkward and I never did get the hang of inflating it properly. After a while, I just left it off at night and kept it next to the bed. That way, I’d put it on every time I got up. Not a great solution, but way better than lying awake at night.
It’s almost 14 months since my accident and, looking back, it’s really hard to believe how many steps and stages one goes through with these injuries. Keep smiling and looking forward, and you’ll do just fine!
Arrrgh on the boot. This thing is heavy. I slept in it last night, my bed is high and getting down, I go down on the broken ankle with most of weight on crutches and good foot on bottom step of the bed steps. Woke up at midnight and the top of my foot was screaming. So went to restroom and while there loosened up the straps a bit, not too much and then back to bed. I so don’t want to go back to sleeping on the couch but I don’t see how I could put the boot back on laying in bed in the middle of the night.
I took it off for two hours today and elevated it after all the walking and being up most of the day yesterday and transition from cast to boot. I put it on the floor, just sitting there with just the weight of my leg on my foot, no standing or walking, and the feeling of foot to floor seemed a little better so will do this again for another two hours after I finish posting.
Also, the rolling of the boot and the instep under my arch seems a bit high and I have HIGH arches to begin with, makes my foot seem like it is rolling to the outside. I don’t like that.
Oh and Abby, the YMCA here for family membership is 73.00 a month which is why I thought it was high for the Y or even a gym.
That pedicure and spa trip will be coming soon!
That feeling of slipping will fade, mine was like that too! I think it is because the cast was so big and the foot is so much smaller, it is just a perception thing, but still scary! I am so happy that you are doing so well. I was the same way, heading to the mall/outlets, after I could walk! I have been using a therapy band to stretch my ankle out it seems to have worked wonders! I also do the circles, and flex it alot. I just left the YMCA, I did 4 miles on the stationary bike today and will swim this afternoon when Sophia is done with school! She wants to go too! I think we are healing and moving on up pretty well! Scrub that foot and get it sparkling, tell that hubby you want a lift to the spa to get a pedicure, you deserve it!
Hi Abby
I now am the proud owner of a moon boot. Man this thing has about 6 or 7 straps for fastening and a little valve to turn and pump it with air around the ankle. This slippery feeling on the floor is so WEIRD when no cast and no boot. I did take the boot off for an hour this evening to lay down and elevate it and just to let it breathe and to start trying to flex it a little.
Go back in 3 weeks.
Only saw the Physicians Asst. today. More xrays. Said it is looking good.
Still can’t drive with this thing on. I can take it off to drive but will have to try a couple of days with it off laying down and flexing my foot up and down and TRY to maybe even do circles with my foot. Just sitting in a chair waiting to go into the contraption room where they have all the various devices to use on people . . . . setting my foot on the carpet (ewww germs) it just slid around when I moved it and felt very slippery and sort numbness/no feeling or I just don’t know how to describe it but it has been cooped up in the splint and then the cast for SIXTY ONE long days. It was sorta that same “slippery” thing right after falling when I stood up and tried to walk. It feels like my foot is on ice or slick glass it is VERY weird. They have NEVER done an MRI so my husband said maybe you have nerve damage. Gee Thanks Dear, just what I need to worry about now for the next 3 weeks.
I think I’m trying to take too big of steps, like a normal walking step, and will have to start taking 1/2 sized baby steps when I let go of my crutches.
I DID manage to walk up the steps, one step at a time coming back home into the house. I think I still may scoot down going out, down is much scarier.
Oh and we stopped at the mall and I walked, with crutches, to the Carlton store and was going to get the Wicked ornament. Was NOT impressed, especially for 27.00, and even though the nice guy held 2 for me and called me when they came in, I went over to the counter after looking at the small wall of ornaments and told them I had changed my mind but thanked them for holding them for me. It was exhausting the walk to the store, from the entrance about the middle of the mall and then clear on one end. We could have parked at Sears but that would have meant going down and then back up the escalator and I wasn’t ready for that. 🙁 Steve even offered for me to go up and he’d walk back & then drive down to Sears and get me and I said NOPE. I think my crutches were a little short having a shoe on the one foot and the boot on the other vs. being at home barefoot and cast/cast-shoe before. We did find Toy Story 3 silly banz. Two packs. The 16 yr. old LOVES TS1, 2 & 3 and so do several of her friends. We’ve gotten her a HUGE oversized TS coloring book at Sam’s before vacation, TS Band-Aids (she’s a dancer and marching band), TS Buzz keychain for her new (used) car, and now silly bandz. Funny how a little 5.99 each pack of those can still make a 16 yr. old happy. LOL Her friends were sooooooooo jealous, IF I’d known, I’d have bought several packs of each style since I had to work so hard to walk that far. It was my first time in a store in 61 days!!!! That is a long time of no shopping for a shopaholic like me.
My heel looked the worst as far as dead skin goes. I just took a shower last night, a REAL CHORE especially for Steve as he has to take sliding glass doors off, hang a shower curtain up there and we slit it to stick my foot out. Yay won’t have to do that anymore. But may try a bath tomorrow night and scrub that leg/ foot! GROSS. LOL
Anybody else experience the slippery feel of the floor with your barefoot at the time of accident and/or later when cast and/or boot were taken off?
Deana,
how was the appointment! Any good news????????
Deana,
Kindergarten was a success! She loved it! Fletcher starts this week! I joined the YMCA here today, it is 145 for 5 months! Which is not too bad! I was paying $7 each time! So this will be better, two of the stitches came out, 2 more are still causing inflammation and pain! Not pain when I walk but pain if anything touches the skin near them. I cannot wait to hear about your appointment! I hope you get the cast off! I hate casts! I am walking without a problem now, I swam for about 1 1/2 hours today at the Y and the swelling was gone when I got out of the pool! I go back to PT tomorrow! I really hate PT, it is all things I could do at home, but I have this rerun PT therapist who lectures me each time I go! I am about to request a new therapist! Let me know how tomorrow goes! Good luck!
Hi Abby,
Oh Dear! I was thinking I needed to type to you today and am so sorry to hear that you are experiencing problems but sounds like some time and patience will do the trick and no more surgery or anything invasive.
Tomorrow is my BIG DAY . . . I think.
I’ll either get:
cast off and moon boot on
cast off and nothing on
OR
worst case
cast on two more week or however long
I would be happy with either the first or second option and least happy with the last. 😉
Not much going on here, nothing to report. Trying to pass time, a little cleaning and some cooking too. Lots of just playing on the computer and watching TV.
How was the first day of K for the little one?
Also been looking for an indoor pool to join. After hearing how much you have enjoyed it . . . the Y is EXPENSIVE these days. Also a few other options, probably the nicest and newest one is in the worst part of town as far as crime and such goes so off the list for that one. Too bad I still don’t live in D/FW Texas. I had a lifetime membership at Presidents/Bally’s and my dues were only 25.00 a YEAR. They had EVERYTHING and of course I paid pretty big bucks at that time for the privilege of that low amount by paying UP FRONT. And now no reciprocating facility here where we live so I lost it all. 🙁
So I woke up this morning and my ankle was swollen, painful, and red! Hmmmm not good! It freaked me out, so I called my friend who is a physicians assistant in the OR, she told me to come over to the hospital so she could look at it. Because why would I call the DR when he is just going to call her! So she told me my body is rejecting the suture they used on the inside, and pushing it out through the incision. So basically I wait for the suture to come to the surface and pull it out, then the inflammation goes away! Gross yes, but better than an infection! So I am sitting here waiting for the suture to pokes its evil head out so I can yank it out and be free of the inflammation!
Hope everyone is doing well!
I had three surgeries and I am doing fine right now. In January my doctor wants to take out two of the screws. It will give me more movement. It is a little sore sometimes but all in all I go hiking ride my horse and walk all over. Sometimes I limp sometimes I don’t. It just depends on the ankle.
Wendi – you say it’s a year since you broke your ankle. Did you have surgery and how is your progress now?
Very interested – I am nearly 8 months and it’s been a long haul.
Thanks.
Deana,
I put my post op pics on my facebook page, one of the scar 6 weeks post op, and one of the swelling when they took the cast off! Should give you some idea of how the swelling is! Today is a long day for me, my husband is a college professor and teaches a night class, he wont be home until 9pm, so from 7am – 9pm I am on kid duty and they never stop, so I have not really sat down too much! Fletcher and I swam this morning after dropping Sophia at school, then shopped, the dogs ran out of food so it was a necessary trip! Then back to get Sophia….now baths, dinner, bedtime! I hope to have them in bed by 7:30, then I am going to ice and elevate my foot! It is slightly swollen but not as bad as I thought it would be after this long day! I cannot wait until tomorrow to go to PT again, my ankle felt so good after PT on Monday! They used the ultrasound patches and zapped every bit of swelling out of it! It was relaxing! Hope all is well with you today! How have you been spending your time???
Deana, I only have a scar on the outside of my leg. And a tiny scar on the front where they screwed a long screw through. I have been swimming at the YMCA everday because it has been cooler here, Fletcher and I went this morning. I walk in the shallow end and swim some laps whiles Fletcher chases me around the pool! He made a friend this morning she was about 38 years old and had downs syndrome so they swam together. Sophia started kindergarten this morning so I have a bit of a break today! Fletcher starts PK next week! I hope you get those legs working soon! I am feeling really good, and trying to get back to normal, I walk with a slight limp and my ankle swells, but I am making do, trying not to overdo it!
Hang in there you will soon be back in your old shoes walking!
Hey Abby,
How are you doing? Sounds like you had a GREAT time with your PT. I’m really happy you are doing so well. After seeing pics of that scar, man, is there one on both sides or just the one side? OUCH.
Not much going on here this week. I tried walking in the bedroom on carpet without my cast shoe on so right leg wasn’t quite as much longer than left . . . and it is like I am stuck, I can’t get my left leg to go. I sure hope when they are both back being the same height I don’t have this goofy problem.
Is tomorrow the big day for school? I hope it goes well!!!!
Deana,
Pt night one was a success. It started out with some evaluating how much everything bends. Then 20 minutes of ultrasound therapy via 4 small pads on my ankle. the pads were covered with a huge ice pack. Then hydrocortisone therapy for my knee, this involved ultrasound to get the hydrocortisone into my knee. Then lots of exercises with the resistance band and some 5 pound ankle weights. I also had therapy for my wrist. Then at the end I had to walk around the facility for evaluation to see how well I did. I have to do all of the resistance exercises at home daily. 20 reps 3 times each. I go back on Friday evening for PT #2…. I am a little sore now after all the stretching but it is mainly in the arch of my foot! The therapist said definitely back to work in 4 weeks! So grand total 10 weeks to get back to real life! There is hope! If u want any details about the exercises let me know I will be happy to share! The therapist did say the swimming was a huge help and to continue doing that as often as possible. He was pretty amazed that I could walk without crutches and that I was not limping that bad! My foot felt amazing after the therapy like the tightness was relieved! All in all, the therapy was good! I am looking forward to Friday!
Well today is the one year anniversary of my broken ankle. It feels like just yesterday that it happened. I hope everyone is doing well and Having a good day. It is really hot here in San Diego California so I think I will go for a swim. buy for now
She is heading to kindergarten, tonight, is a thing where you can take the supplies in and meet the teachers again. I am sure it will be super fun ( sarcastic). I cannot even imagine vacuuming in a wheelchair. As of Thursday I will only have Fletcher here during the day and then on September 1st he starts preschool 3 days a week all day so I will do PT on those days! Having both kids is hard with a crippled leg. I can get around but not fast enough for them! They are good kids and can occupy themselves while I sit with ice on my ankle. I managed to do 3 loads of laundry today which is a chore since the washer and dryer are in the basement, my husband will be carrying it all upstairs tonight. It is alot cooler here today so no swimming, but the heat wave is coming back!
Hi Abby,
You found me! I need to put some other pics up but hated having that “no person” icon. I just never get around to it so my Shelties were the handiest thing already on my computer.
I just tried to walk in the bedroom with carpet and use a cane and couldn’t do it. I think it is because this leg is longer with the cast and cast shoe or maybe I’m just a chicken. 🙂 Maybe later I’ll put a shoe on and try it or take the cast shoe off and try again.
Yes vacuuming from a wheelchair was loads of fun. The cord kept getting caught on where the legs rests go (I have them off otherwise too hard to maneuver in tight spaces) and the smaller little wheels up front and kept having to bump over the cord and it was a tangled mess. LOL
Used a steam mop in the kitchen but was easier to keep the cord out of the way on it due to much shorter cord.
Have fun at orientation tonight. So she’ll be off to Kindergarten? Or first grade? Time does fly!!!!
Deana,
If you have two really cute shelties as your profile pic on facebook, then I added you as a friend, if not then some other Deana is going to think I am a stalker…lol….Went to the store today with the kids, it was an adventure, we were out of apple juice so the trip was necessary! I start PT tonight at 4 pm ET, I am not sure what to expect, they told me to wear comfortable clothes! Then Sophia and Fletcher have a school orientation at 6pm, I will be on crutches for that one! I also tried to clean up a little today but made it about as far as the dishes then quit! I am not sure how you vacuumed in a wheel chair but I bet it was exciting and I would have loved to have seen it! Hang in there and have a great day!
Hi Abby
Couldn’t find you on facebook. I added my last name to this post so see IF you can find me. I don’t get on there very often, just once in awhile to check up on my teenage daughter.
Sounds like you are doing just wonderful! Please don’t do too much too soon though. I hope it goes as well for me too and I hope that it will. Hearing how great you are doing so soon after the casts came off gives me HOPE.
I couldn’t stand it any longer and swept, mopped and vacuumed in the wheelchair yesterday. Looks much better now. 🙂 Steve and the kids tried to keep things half way decent but their clean and my clean aren’t quite the same. THEN the dogs came in this a.m. with red muddy feet. Arrrrrrrrrgh I sent them right back outside and there they shall stay. I bet they are up under the deck as we had quite a bit of rain the past few days. Yay our grass is green again. Everything was so DRY and parched here.
Hey Deana,
I am walking, completely walking, no crutches needed. I have even been able to do the steps. I do the steps really slow but I can do them! I cannot believe that this is how I feel without that cast. I was so worried! Right now I am elevating and icing for some mild swelling but all in all this is not bad! I cannot wait until you get yours off and see how you do! My skin is semi back to normal. My arm quit shedding skin, my foot is still peeling slightly! My scar is about 5-6 inches long and pretty crazy looking but not bad! I want to send you pics so u can see it! if u have facebook and friend me I will show you the pics! I am really looking forward to PT, I went swimming this morning and the pool we went to had a hot tub, it was so nice, it made my foot feel so loose! I think that is the weirdest part is how tight everything feels! It really feels like everything is held together by a huge rubberband that wont stretch. I am able to drive without any pain or any problem. I drove about an hour to a friends house yesterday and an hour home without a single pain. So there is light at the end of the tunnel! Don’t get discouraged! let me know how u are doing!
Deana,
I am walking, no crutches! Only using them when I get sore, I am icing and elevating, I have minimal swelling and really no pain, my wrist hurts worse than my ankle. So all in all I am doing pretty good, I walk slow but that is normal!
Deana,
I am walking, no crutches! Only using them when I get sore, I am icing and elevating, I have minimal swelling and really no pain, my wrist hurts worse than my ankle. So all in all I am doing pretty good, I walk slow but that is normal!