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.
ATTENTION ALL ANKLEBREAKERS: MAINTAIN BALANCE WITH ONE OR BOTH FEET ON THE GROUND AT ALL TIMES. I REPEAT, AT ALL TIMES. THIS IS NOT A DRILL.
NATE, THANKS FOR THE INFO. I THOUGHT EMOTICONS WERE THE YELLOW OR WHATEVER COLOR SMILEY OR WHATEVER FACES THAT I SEE ATTACHED. MAYBE THOSE ARE JUST SMILEYS. EMITOCONS MUST BE THE FACES ONE CAN MAKE USING THE EXISTING KEYS ON THE KEYBOARD. I KNOW ABOUT THOSE.
I JUST WONDER HOW SOME OF THESE MESSAGES COME IN WITH THE DIFFERANT FACES AND COLORS THAT ARE SENT IN. NOT THAT I WOULD USE THEM, AS I AM A STRICTLY NO NONSENSE BY THE BOOK BLACK OR WHITE, NO GREY AREA KIND OF GUY.
YEAH, RIGHT! WATCH YOUR STEP.
NATE, OR ANYONE FOR THAT MATTER, HERE IS MY PERSONAL EMAIL. I KNOW THIS IS OUTSIDE OF THE RULES, BUT I WANTED TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT THAT OTHER THING.
[email protected]
ANYWAY, TAKE CARE ALL.
CLARK
Clark,
Yeah I am still realing from the incident with the caseter (spelling) the device they insert in your baby maker to drain you before the opporation. Anyway something went wrong and I ended up bleeding from that area for a day and a half. Oh the agony! It was not constant bleeding, but whenever I had to go to the bathroom it would reopen the wound.
Erika,
That was a very romanitc. I wish I could believe that Jehovahs Witnesses are the only religeon in all of the world who have it right. It sounds good, but hard to believe that they are the only ones who got it right.
Clark,
There is no edit button for the emoticons. You have to manually just type them in using the key board.
Maybe this will help:
http://codex.wordpress.org/Using_Smilies
Anyway if I don’t need the meds I will send them your way in 4 weeks.
Greetings all
Wow it is interesting how all of our stories are different. From accidents to slips, falls, twist, turns. The stories run the whole gambit. In the end we seem to end up in the same place. With the same aches and pains. Our trubles and fears are the same,will we be able to do the things we use to? will we be able to walk or run? Will we be able to enjoy what we have left ahead of us? Will our circle of friend deminish as are movement deminishes?
So many questions so many unexplored answeres till we get to the place we need to be in order to answer the questions. Here is a place we share those thoughts and fears and questions. A place where others ask those same questions to people that will understand.
I check this board when I come in mon thrue friday at work and miss you all during the weekend. Strange thoughts for all we see are words typed on computers but the understanding is there, the shared pain and troubles. The shared questions and thoughts.
Thanks one and all just for being here when we all need others that understand
Don
Hey all
Thanks Clark as I said before you and Sandra have also been a good insperation of dedication for me too. But one of the things I like best about this board is I see and learn new things all the time from people tht are in the same boat as us. I want to thank you all for that help and inspiration because with out it I do not know where I would be.
Ashley
Congratulation keep up the hard work you will get there sooner then you think
Good luck to all of you keep safe and keep working
Don
Attention Anklebreakers: Watch your steps.
Don,
Glad to hear that the driver that hit you will be busy for the next 8+ yrs or so. Justice does work sometimes. And he certainly does fit the profile. Good thing you had the added coverage as well, for both of you. It doesn’t cost but a few dollars more for the full boat allowed by the ins. companies. In California I think we still have the 15/30/5 minimum limits; bodily injury, collision and medical. With my policy I have also gone 100/300/100 and it is probably less than $50.00 more per year than the minimum but look at the coverage you get. And that is what saved you. The other thing is to go full boat on the underinsured and uninsured as well. The adage that “sometimes bad things happen to good people” is so true. Sometimes there is no rhyme or reason for the accidents that befall us, but we just have to take our lumps, pull our boots on and keep on walkin down the road. You and your wife can never be repaid for the pain, suffering, worry for each other, intrusion, loss of income, everything this guy took from you. But yet you made it, and without having to lose everything, and that counts for something. I wish both of you continued health and speedy recoveries. Your attitude is a tribute to the courage it takes to keep on keeping on in the face of insurmmountable obstacles.
Nate, you are right that overpopulation is the biggest problem out there. We are like rats in the cage, no more room or sustainability but just keep on reproducing. Look at the number of mass murders last week: the 5 women killed in the back room of the store in Chicago, the guy in LA that killed his 3 cousins or whomever and then wounded one SWAT officer and killed the other, the two students killed by their fellow female student in school, the husband that walked into class and stabbed his wife in front of the whole class, the angry city dweller that walked in to the city council or board of supes meeting and killed 5, wounded several others. The daily body count in the east bay area here in California, from Richmond to Oakland and all in between, and the same in San Francisco. Much because of the pressures caused by overpopulation. Be fruitfull and multiply doesnt cut it anymore.
I usually throw that in, but I forgot. Thanks for reminding me.
Take care Anklebreakers.
Clark
Greetings all you ankle breakers.
Thank you all for your kind words and appreciates your thoughtful kindness.
Clark
You are correct in a lot of your assumptions about the guy that hit us. He is an illegal alien who had no real driver’s license. But he had 2 false ones and 2 false green cards. He had borrowed a car from the guy who lived in the same rented house as his family. So fortunately the guy did have the lowest possible insurance on the vehicle but he did have something. Most of the expense was picked up by my car insurance as we were smart enough when my wife and I were younger to put a majority of the coverage on me so when the accident happened we each got $250,000 coverage but because the guy that hit us did not have the coverage it kicked in a $300,000 coverage as I was in the car.
So in all at this time we are very fortunate we have only received an out of pocket expense of $3000.00 for both of us. But this does not count the six months of pay I lost from my two jobs and my wife’s job. But at least we are here and able to talk about it. As for the guy that hit us we were surprised that the prosecutor went in asking for 10 years with mandatory 85% then instant deportation when he was released from jail. At sentencing I got to talk before the court and my Wife choose not to, my daughters also decided not to (we expected the guy to maybe get 1 year). I can’t blame them but when the Judge asked him to rise and then read his decision we were floored. The Judge asked my Lawyer and the Prosecutor if he could speak to me and my Wife immediately after sentencing. They asked us we all agreed and then the Judge sentenced the guy to 10 years in Jail and wanted to give him an0other 3 for fake paperwork but had to run in concurrent instead of consecutive. The he said he has to do 85 % then immediate deportation and Federal listing so if he ever comes into the USA he will immediately go to Federal Prison.
As for the rest of the stuff we have it in the hand of our lawyers and we will see where it lands. But as for the health part, we will always be in the OUCH that hurts club and I will forever be in the anklebreakers club with all of you. And I want to thank you all for your understanding and support Because there have been times if it had not been for you guys I do not know how I would have made it through some of the days and to find people that understand what I am feeling and going through is so amazing and helpful.
Thanks again
Don
HEY ANKLEBRAKERS OUT THERE,
WOW, I GOT UP THIS MORNING AND OPENED UP MY EMAIL AND THERE WERE ABOUT 12-15 EMIAL FROM “RANDOMNESSS” THERE, AND I WAS FEARFUL ABOUT WHAT PANDORAS BOX I HAD OPENED UP. I WAS THINKING I MAY HAVE TO TRY TO RUN LIKE HELL LIKE FRANKENSTEIN RUNNING FROM THE TOWNSPEOPLE WITH PITCHFORKS, BUT LUCKILY IT WAS ABOUT EMOTICONS AND AMPERSANDS. I FEEL BETTER.
NATE, THANKS FOR TRYING SO HARD TO HELP ME WITH THE COLORS, EMOTICONS ETC… WHEN I WRITE BACK FROM THE SUBMIT BOX, THERE IS NOTHING THERE TO EDIT OR ADD EMOTICONS OR ANYTHING. I WAS JUST CURIOUS ABOUT HOW YOU DID IT. AND THANKS FOR OFFERING THE OTHER THINGS, BUT I THINK YOU SHOULD HOLD ON TO THEM, AS YOU NEVER KNOW WHEN YOU MAY NEED THEM. ALSO, JUST FOR INFO AND I CERTAINLY DON’T DOUBT YOUR GOOD HEART AND INTENTIONS, BUT ONE CANNOT EVEN GIVE THOSE AWAY, LEGALLY, MAIL THEM OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT, AND EVEN FOR SUCH A SMALL AMOUNT AND WITH THE BEST OF INTENTION, I WOULD NOT WANT YOU PLACING YOURSELF ON THE SCALES OF JUSTICE WITH THE WAY THINGS TEND TO BE OVERPROSECUTED THESE DAYS. KEEP THEM FOR THE DAY YOU HAVE ANOTHER HEADACHE FROM ALL THE HONEYDO’S ON THE LIST YOUR GIRLFREIND WILL GIVE YOU WHEN YOUR ARE WELL.
GLAD TO HEAR THAT YOUR PAIN IS DOWN ALOT AND THAT YOUR ARE GETTING BETTER. KEEP IT UP.
SANDRA, MYSTERY SOLVED, SOMEWHAT. OF COURSE IT IS THE AMPERSAND SIGN, BUT I DON’T KNOW WHY IT COMES ACROSS THE SCRIPT AS “&”. IF YOU INTENDED THAT THEN IT WORKS, AND I AM JUST NOT UP ON THE LINGO, ANDDON’T KNOW WHAT THAT MEANS, OTHER THAN WHAT YOU ALREADY ALLUEDED TOO, AND IF NOT, THEN THERE IS A GLITCH IN THE SYSTEM SOMEWHERE. PERHAPS I AM JUST TOO CURIOUS.
ASHLEY, CONGRATULATIONS ON THE IMPROVEMENT. SOUNDS LIKE YOUR BACK ON TRACK TO SOMEWHAT NORMALCY. GOOD LUCK BUT DON’T OVERDO IT. YOU WILL BE BACK TO 100% BEFORE YOU KNOW IT.
TAKE CARE ANKLEBREAKERS. WATCH YOUR STEPS.
CLARK
Sandra,
Looks like you did both a semi colon and a colon then the parenthises. Just remember the colon is the eyes if you look sideways and the parenthises is the mouth. So you would want to choose between one. Yes you just type them in. Hope this helps.
Take care!
Hi everyone ! I just got back from my 1st PT visit were I actually excercised. I can push with my injured ankle 115 pounds ! I get to do all kinds of stretches and have alot of 1 on 1 time with my therapist. My scaley skin is virtually gone. I have some small spots but nothing to extreme. I have alot of bruising still and discoloration. It is gross. I have been relaxing and doing the in home theraputic stuff bath exercises etc…. FYI: my therapist said that with the moving of my toes and the excercise I did hanging off the end of the bed that it was a GREAT thing to do b/c I will not have to do a whole lot of PT. I have such good range of motion in my toes that they don’t even have to bother with them ! So I suggest moving your toes around as much as possible! I am hanging in there I walk a little with my injured leg down and can stand without the aid of crutches. I am expected to be off of my crutches completly within the next 3 weeks. My recovery looks good. I am finally starting to perk up.
Best of luck,
Ashley
Nate. Emoticons did not work at all. Do you just type them in the usual way?
;:p
Hi. Another beautiful day here in Sheffield, England. A bit cooler, but lots of sun. Don’t know about the weather and aches but being able to get outside in this sunshine makes me feel so positive.
Environmentally I am polluting more, cause I can’t walk, therefore using the car for little drives in the countryside. Plus we don’t get glass, plastic recycled from the house. Have to go to supermarket for recycling, or to tip, so at present contributing to world waste problem. They just do papers and cardboard from the house.
Hi Nancy, so you had to wait for an ambulance too. On your trip – such a small one – a few seconds and life changes.
Erika. Around the same timne as me, with your breaks. Amazing that you are going it solo, even with the pain. I am still plodding on with one or two crutches outside. But getting stronger.
Clark. Amp may be short for ‘ampersand’ which is the correct name for the ‘&’ sign (short for and).
Nate. Never tried these emoticons, so giving it a ago.
:;D
Testing…Testing…
Just posted – didn’t go through? I should have copied it first…..it was a long one.
Erika
Sorry Clark! Sorry AnkleQuest! Wrong name. Yes. Both feet. What a pain “literally”. I wish I was carrying groceries. At least that would be an excuse. I was just walking out the door to go and weed my flower garden. Did a complete 360. Ankle on right was the wrong way. Foot on left had a broken bone on the top of it – which was slightly sticking out. Not fun. Left foot still hurts if rubbed or if I walk on a long time, right hurts ALL THE TIME! It is really aching a lot lately – especially at night. Can’t get a good position on it. It might be the weather – Im from massachusetts and we keep having snow, rain, cold weather (5-10 degrees), warm weather (high 30’s)…and then back and forth again.
Ok. I am going to have to comment on the discussion of earth and its plight. You are all so right. But there is a logical answer. I am one of Jehovah’s Witnesses, and I study the bible almost every day. There are a few scriptures I’d like to quote. Please read them in your own bible. They may be slightly different, some bibles are translated slighty different – The New World Translation comes directly from the Greek and Hebrew writings. Here it goes:
God created the earth to be inhabited. The earth is large enough for all of us and more:
Isaiah 45:18: “For this is what Jehovah has said, the Creator of the heavens, He the [true] God, the Former of the earth and the Maker of it, He the One who firmly established it, who did not create it simply for nothing, who formed it even to be inhabited: “I am Jehovah, and there is no one else.”
Man cannot rule himself. Only god can:
“I well know, O Jehovah, that to earthling man his way does not belong. It does not belong to man who is walking even to direct his step.”—Jeremiah 10:23.
The wise man Solomon commented on the disastrous results that follow when humans attempt to dominate their fellows, as they have over the centuries. “All this I have seen, and there was an applying of my heart to every work that has been done under the sun, during the time that man has dominated man to his injury.”—Ecclesiastes 8:9.
God will bring to ruin those who ruin the earth:
Rev. 11: 18 “…the small and the great, and to bring to ruin those ruining the earth.”
God will make the planet back to what it was and allow us to live forever on it. The earth will NEVER be destroyed:
Ecclesiastes 1:4 “A generation is going, and a generation is coming; but the earth is standing even to time indefinite.”
Psalms 78:69 “And he began to build his sanctuary just like the heights,
Like the earth that he has founded to time indefinite.”
We can live forever on earth. That was god’s original purpose before sin.
John 3: 16 “For God loved the world so much that he gave his only-begotten Son, in order that everyone exercising faith in him might not be destroyed but have everlasting life.”
Psalms 37: 29: “The righteous themselves will possess the earth, And they will reside forever upon it.”
Here is a link to a great article about the Rain Forest and why it will be saved and other articles about endangered species, etc.
http://www.watchtower.org/e/19980508/article_03.htm
How about “no more sickness” EVER:
http://www.watchtower.org/e/200701/article_01.htm
or you can visit http://www.watchtower.org for lots of other information on how to study the bible and it’s meaning.
I really and truly believe all the above. I tell people about this because I want everyone to know the truth and to be happy. Hope you enjoy reading. I’m off my soapbox now (before I fall and break something else 🙂
Erika
😀
I guess the winking cheeky emoticon does not work.
I think for a big grin you need to do a colon or semi colon with a capital D.
;D
;P
Just and addendum to my last thread. If you want to be cheeky you can use the colon and semi colon and the letter p which will give you a smiley sticking its tounge out at you like so
😛 😉
Clark,
I am not sure about colors, but for smileys if you just use the colon (eyes wide open) or semi colon (winking) then place a left (sad face) right (happy face) parenthises keys. This blog automatically turns those into an icon. You can google the others.
Clark,
Ah I missed that part in your thread. I think fundamentally our biggest problem is that we are becomming too many. Our numbers are too great for this planet to properly support!! Too many (dare I say it) stupid people are being allowed to breed. I am not talking lets all go into a George Orwell 1984, but people if you can’t support yourself mentally and physically, please do not have a baby because you think they are cute and cuddely. I have noticed that whenever someone is concerned even in the slightest with the environment, they are labeled or immediately branded as a “tree hugger” implying that they are a lesser human being. In my own circle of former friends and even some relatives you are considered a four letter word for a brittish ciggerette although the meaning is a uphamism something else in America (trying to keep pc for the kiddies). It cracks me up but there are a ton of people that simply do not believe that there is such a thing as global warming.
Some believe in global warming but they do not believe it is humanity that is causing it. These people are the real road blocks. I think another road block is religeon. I know that whenever something like this is brought up to my folks who are fanatics, they always say “god will sort it out”. Meanwhile the planet is going to hell in a hand basket. Okay stepping off my soap box now.
Anyway hope everyone is healing nicely!
Good news is that I have not been in any real pain for almost 2 weeks! The tenderness is really subsiding as well.
P.S.
Clark do you want my leftover Norco if I do not need it in 4 weeks? Honestly I seem to be fine with Motrin 600mg if I am really in pain. Norco makes me nautious even when taken with food. I have at least 25 pills left.
HEY NATE,
THANKS FOR REPLYING SO FAST. I QUOTE “It already is I fear, and though many are enlightened and care about the planet, personal and corporate greed
will no doubt prevent anyone, any country, any institution from making a difference until it is really too late.” I KNOW THAT MANY CARE, AND THERE IS MUCH ENLIGHTENMENT IN THE WORLD, BUT I FEAR THAT WE WILL LEARN TO LATE, TO CARE ENOUGH FAST ENOUGH, TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT IT. LOOK AT WASHINGTON, A GREAT IDEA PUT FORTH BY THE FOUNDERS, GREAT MEN OF THEIR TIME, REVOLUTIONARIES TO BE SURE, AND THIS NATION STILL WORKS, BARELY, FORGET ABOUT THE WRONG TRACK WE’VE BEEN ON FOR GOING ON 8 YEARS, BUT THERE IS SO MUCH HATRED, ANIMOSITY AND DISSENTION AND POLARIZATION BETWEEN THE DEMS AND THE REPUBLICANS THAT IT HAS STOPPED. LOOK AT THIS GIFT, THIS BAILOUT OF 163 BILLION DOLLARS TO PLACATE THE MASSES. $300, 600 AND 1200, 300 MORE PER CHILD, WILL BE NICE TO GET, BUT IT IS ALL BORROWED MONEY, FROM CHINA, INDIA, JAPAN, ETC… AND WE WILL PROBABLY BE TOLD ONCE AGAIN TO GO SHOPPING. THE PROBLEM IS TO STOP SPENDING ON UNECESSARY THINGS. THEY KNOW IT. THEY JUST WON’T DO IT. LIKE THE ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES. EVERYONE KNOWS WHAT TO DO, THEY JUST WON’T. FOR GODS SAKE, EVEN IF WE HAD TO GO BACK TO THE HORSE AND BUGGY AND THE TELEGRAPH, JUST GO BACK IN TIME, IF THE WORLD TOOK A STEP BACK TO SAVE THE PLANET, AND IT WORKED, THAT WOULD BE GREAT. BUT NO ONE EVER WILL. “NOT GOING TO DO ANYTHING (SUCH AS SIGNING THE KYOTO TREATY) THAT WILL DAMAGE OUR ECONOMY”, GEORGE BUSH AT THE STATE OF THE UNION ABOUT 3 YRS AGO, AND HE STILL MAINTAINS THAT. EVERYONE WILL SUFFER, BUT IT HAS TO START SOMEWHERE.
I DRIVE A DODGE HEMI, THAT GETS 15-15 MGS GOING DOWNHILL ON BLACK ICE WITH A TAILWIND ON A GOOD DAY. BUT I DON’T DRIVE IT MUCH, AND MAKE MILK RUNS, FULL TRIPS WITH MANY ERRANDS, WHEN I DO GO OUT, AND I DON’T GO OUT SINCE I BROKE MY RIGHT ANKLE. I USE THE RIGHT BULBS NOW, RECYCLE, WATER REDUCED SHOWERHEAD, A GRAVEL BACKYARD INSTEAD OF GRASS (ITS A RENTAL, NOT MY CHOICE) BUT I DO EVERYTHING I CAN, AND MOST DO, AND IT HELPS, BUT ITS THE COAL PLANTS, THE FREEWAY COMMUTES GOING 3 MPH, THE GENERAL WASTE OF EVERYTHING, AND IT ALL COMES DOWN TO GREED, ON EVERY LEVEL. JUST MY OPINION, AND I’M NOT BITTER, ONLY WHEN IT COMES TO DEFENSELESS ANIMALS THAT BECOME ROADKILL OR FURNACE FODDER IN OUR MANY SPCA’S AND COUNTY KENNELS AROUND THE COUNTRY. ANIMALS ARE INNOCENT, AT LEAST THOSE THAT DEPEND ON US AND WERE BROUGHT ALONG AND DOMESTICATED BY US, FOR FOOD, ETC… I WON’T GO ON WITH ANY MORE EXAMPLES OF OUR NEGLECT AND SELFISHNESS BECUASE IT WILL BECOME MORE SERIOUSLY DEPRESSING. SO I WILL STOP THERE, ON THAT SUBJECT.
REMEMBER THE “FACE ON MARS”? AND THE MOVIE “MISSION TO MARS” THAT SUGGESTED THAT MARS WAS ONCE AN INHABITED WORLD THAT SUFFERED A CHAOTIC CLIMACTIC EVENT RESULTING IN THE LOSS OF ATMOSPHERE AND WATER, AND THAT PERHAPS THE “MARTIANS” SEEDED THE EARTH WITH OUR DNA AND THATS HOW WE BEGAN, WE ARE/WERE THE MARTIANS. FAR FETCHED I KNOW, AND IT LOOKS LIKE THE REASON MARS LOST ITS ATMOSPHERE AND WATER/OCEANS WAS BECAUSE IT LOST ITS MAGNETIC FIELD AND THERE WAS NO PROTECTION FROM THE SOLAR WIND AND COSMIC RADIATION, ETC… EARTH IS SLOWLY LOSING ITS MAGNETIC FIELD, GETTING LESS STRONGER EVERY YEAR/DECADE. CHECK IT OUT, LOOK IT UP ON GOOGLE, BUT IF THAT HAPPENS, AND WE LOSE THAT, THEN NOTHING ELSE WILL MATTER, BECUASE WE WILL END UP AS COLD AND DRY AS MARS IS RIGHT NOW.
MAYBE WE SHOULD JUST PARTY LIKE ITS 1999. (PRINCE IS ON THE GRAMMY’S TONITE).
BUT WE CAN’T GIVE UP. ITS THE ONLY PLANET WE HAVE, AND WE WON’T GIVE UP. I KNOW PEOPLE CARE OUT THERE, ON MANY LEVELS, BUT I JUST DON’T THINK IT WILL BE ENOUGH. THE NIMBY’S AND THE CORPORATE GIANTS WILL NEVER ALLOW IT. LOS ANGELES COULD HAVE HAD THE GREATEST TRANSIT SYSTEM EVER BUILT, IN THE ’20’S, OR SO, AND IT OR PART OF IT WAS CALLED “THE A TRAIN” AND THATS WHERE THE SONG ORIGINATED. DO YOU KNOW WHY L0S ANGELES IS FULL OF CARS NOW, EXCEPT FOR THE LATER ATTEMPTS WITH MASS TRANSIT? BECAUSE GM, GENERAL MOTORS BOUGHT IT OUT AND SHUT IT DOWN. RENT THE MOVIE “WHO KILLED THE ELECTRIC CAR” THAT CAME OUT SEVERAL YEARS AGO, ABOUT THE DEATH OF THE FIRST ELECTRIC CAR THAT WAS MASS PRODUCED AND TESTED IN LOS ANGELES. VERY INFORMATIVE.
I CARE, I KNOW YOU DO, MANY DO, BUT I THINK ITS ALREADY JUST TOO TOO LATE. BUT I WON’T GIVE UP. THE PLANET IS IN PERIL AND CAN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE, MUCH LIKE THE INHABITANTS OF THE COLONIES WERE UNDER THE OPPRESSIVE KING GEORGE BACK THEN (HISTORY DOES REPEAT ITSELF) AND THE SONS OF LIBERTY, OF WHICH MY ORIGINAL FAMILY WERE MEMBERS, WAY BACK THEN, KNEW THAT REVOLUTION WAS THE ONLY WAY. AND IT WON’T HAPPEN OF COURSE, BUT THE SITUATION WITH THE PLANET IS SO DIRE, THAT IT WILL TAKE A PARADIGM SHIFT, A SERIOUS CHANGE IN CONSCIOUSNESS, TO SURVIVE. AND WE JUST WON’T DO IT UNTIL ITS TOO LATE. BUT I’M COUNTING ON THE WORLD POPULATION TO PROVE ME WRONG, I’M PRAYING FOR IT, WE NEED IT . . . BUT I’M NOT HOLDING MY BREATH.
NOW BACK TO THOSE ANKLES OF OURS.
MY BRACE HURT SO MUCH AFTER THE FIRST DAY THAT I STAYED IN YESTERDAY (AS I DO MANY DAYS) AND JUST WORE THE BOOT. THE BOYS WANTED TO GO FOR A WALK TODAY SO I STRAPPED ON THE BRACE AT 100PM, AND JUST TOOK IT OFF. DIDN’T HURT THAT MUCH, BUT STARTED ITCHING SO BADLY THAT I COULDN’T TAKE IT ANYMORE. SO OFF IT CAME. ITS GREAT TO BE WALKING SOMEWHAT NORMALLY AGAIN. REALLY.
ARE YOU GETTING THE “&” THING IN YOUR BLOGS, OR IS IT JUST ME? I CHECKED THE BOX ON THE BOTTOM OF THE BLOG THAT SENDS NEW ENTRIES VIA EMAIL, AND I OPEN UP THE SITE AS WELL. IF THAT IS REAL, AND NOT JUST ME, DO YOU KNOW WHAT IT MEANS?
THANKS FOR THE TUNE UP. AND HOW DO YOU GET THE SMILEY FACES AND COLORS IN YOUR ENTRIES? ARE YOU SENDING THEM OUT AS AN EMAIL AND NOT USING THE SUBMIT FORM?
TAKE CARE.
I REMAIN, CONFUSED AND ENRAGED IN NORTHERN CALIF. OH, THERE IS SOMEONE AT THE DOOR. PROBABLY THE NSA SWAT TEAM.
CLARK
Clark,
Cheer up buddy! I agree with you that the world is in dire straights, but I disagree that there is no one who cares. I care! I do what I can. I am by no means a saint, but I definitely try to live as green as possible. Itmay not be enough, but it is something. I am a person who was raised on the nature. I was birding as a baby on the cliffs of Oregon where I supposedly saw Tufted Puffin (my favorite bird that I have not seen since I was a toddeler). The thing is you gotta be positive and not give in to despair. Here’s to seeing the glass half full! 😉
ANKLEQUEST,
NOT MEANING TO BE A PEST, AND I APPRECIATE THE HELP.
I KNOW WHAT THE “&” MEANS, THE ONE ABOVE THE 8, EVEN THOUGH IT COMES OUT STRANGE LOOKING WHEN I TRY TO TYPE IT OUT, BUT WHAT DOES THE WORD “AMP” MEAN? PERHAPS YOU ARE NOT EVEN SEEING IT OR TYPING IT BUT IT COMES THROUGH ON MY COMPUTER. JUST CHECKED THE OUTLOOK EXPRESS PART OF MY EMAIL AND IT WAS THERE, YOUR BLOG SAID “THIS BONE AND &, THAT BONE AND &, THAT OTHER ANKLE. WHEN I CHECKED IT UNDER COMCAST WEBMAIL, IT READ “THIS BONE $ THAT BONE, THAT OTHER ANKLE”. SO I GUESS THE QUESTION IS: ARE YOU TYPING OUT THE WORD “AMP” AFTER THE & SIGN? MAYBE ITS A GLITCH IN MY PROCESSING PROGRAM, OR THE WAY “RANDOMNESS” READS YOUR COMPUTER ENTRY. I’M NOT NUTS. JUST CURIOUS AND PERHAPS FOUND A GLITCH. IF YOUR STILL UP WRITE BACK. KNOW ITS GETTING LATE BACK THERE.
THANKS.
CLARK
Clark,
My & test did not work
This bone & that bone& that other ankle.
Erika, Nancy, good to hear from you both. Sounds like progress is being made on the part of both of you. You both sound better than previous posts. “time heals”.
Clark, it took me a while to figure out &.
I think the program has a bug. Whenever someone types the ampersand symbol it comes out that way when it is posted. I’m going to type it a few times and see what happens when I post.
&
&
&
For some reason this puzzled me too, so I read all the posts over and saw that it happened to everyone so then I knew it couldn’t be typing errors. And about the spelling..probably the best thing is to use spell check & then post. In my work life I have to be exact about such things as I write lots of documents, but here I try not to worry about it.
Finally, Clark, I do agree about what humanity has done, first to those who are weak and powerless, and then to the unfortunte creatures who “we” are systmatically wiping out. Us Americans are so very blessed and yet so many want more. the level of “consumption” is awesume and awful! Now, with the economy going down, a solution is to consume more??? All this is nuts!!! And the religious guys on TV are teaching how to get rich.
We try to watch our resources carefully. My husband sometimes walks behind me and turns the lights off since I tend to leave them on too often.
Anyway, everyone..don’t fall down any more steps and don’t trip over yourself!
Hello All Anklebreakers out there,
Hope this finds everyone doing well and bouncing on the trampolines with both feet. Yeah, right! But hope everyone is doing well anyway. Sandra, Nate, Don, everyone that keeps up when they can, it is good to hear from all of you as well.
Erika,
You broke your left foot too? Along with your right ankle?
Thats just too much. Was that when you were carrying in your groceries? I remember that story and was very
touched by it. I didn’t realize that you broke both your ankle and foot. Haven’t heard from you in a while. Hope you have been alright and healing well.
It has been too long since you’ve checked in.
The National Geographic special “6 Degrees”
is on and it is so depressing to have so many realize that we are killing our planet, yet no on really does anything about it, and no one will, no country will, the UN won’t until it is causing such
problems that we have to do something about it, and then of course i it will be much too late. It already is I fear, and though many are enlightened and care about the planet, personal and corporate greed
will no doubt prevent anyone, any country, any institution from making a difference until it is really too late.
Bush’ energy bill just mandated that CAFE gas milage must be upped to
35 mpg by what, 2020? Give me a break! Want to start a war or exert
power, start with the countries burning their respective RainForests at an
alarming rate, to plant crops that will burn out the soil within a few years. The mountain Gorilla is almost extinct due to warring factions in the Congo, maybe less than 200 of our cousins left, and no one intervenes. Elephants killed for their tusks, made for pipes and wastebaskets, Siberian Tigers killed for their medicinal properties and sold on the
black market in China. Japan kills over 1000 whales a year for food, oil and whatever, and we all just go along. And we will until it affects us directly, and then it will be too late.
When whatever happens to this planet happens, and the adjustments are made, it will be because we were not decent caretakers of the most wonderful amazing gift God, the Cosmos, Zues and Athena, whomever or whatever could ever have bestowed upon us, and we just literally flushed it down the toliet.
Careful. Almost fell off my soapbox. Almost lost my balance and could have become more unbalanced than I normally am. Shouldn’t watch these eco programs while writing to this blog. I guess it is the militant eco tree hugger in me. Can’t help it.
I make so many typing errors that I decided to try something new. Brought up the website on the computer, and under files added a Word edit program, which may help with the spelling errors, but the box to type in is so small doubt I can make it come
out decently when submitted to the ethernet, the void, where lost socks meet with posts that never posted. Somewhere with Sandra’s 3 missed attempts and my lost two attempts. Still think I’m being censored. The NSA is probably reading this right now.
Will see if it works and I can edit and spellcheck it or not, as this is an experiment anyway.
Erika, glad to read from you again and thanks for the kind words, but the bear story is Anklequests, not mine. I just wrote back to her. Hadn’t heard from you for such a long time that I went back and re read all of your entries, and the followups and the others, and
could go on and on and on as I said in my last entry. We should definetly have a convention or something of some sort, because based on all of the many interesting posts on this blog, we must all be quite interesting people. There are so many interesting comments out there. I just skimmed them, but it is good reading when nothing else is going on.
But glad to reread all those, and become re educated of all the breaks, pains and treatments that everyone submits, and it is very humbling to be part of this group to be sure. Makes one realize that our personal situations are not that personal, and yet they are, to us, in the subjective, but we all share the same concerns, pains, etc… the main one seems to be just how damned long it takes to heal or have some semblence of normalcy.
——————————————————
Alright, hitting the submit button now.
Treadlightly everyone, and if this looks odd in the blog, remember
that it is only a test. Couldn’t get the spellcheck to do the spellcheck,
at least don’t think so. It said I was finished with no mistakes and I can’t
believe that.
——————————————————
Editors note: The Word edit file thing didn’t work. So I copied and pasted to the real blog, and edited so that it could be read decently. the above paragraph delineated with hyphens top and bottom shows how screwed up it became from typing in that very small 1 1/ in. by 1 1/2 in. box. At least I tried.
Questions: Anklequest, or whomever uses this abbreviation, what does “&” or something to that effect mean? I can’t figure that one out.
That’s it I guess.
Tread lightly, everyone and be well.
Clark
Clark: Loved the bear story. I told mine before but as a reminder. I just walked out my front door. But my right foot was the wrong way, and, of course, I was alone. Broke inner & outer ankle and tibia. Of course, I had to go and break the left foot too!!
I shimmied into the house and tried to reach the phone, but could not. I was only alone for about 15 minutes before my husband came home. I cannot imagine crawling that far!!! It has been almost 5 months, and I am walking with no crutches or cane. My ankle hurts with every step, is still a bit swollen, and throbs every night. But, I am walking and driving – so I just take it easy. I have 8 screws and a plate – it is very stiff, but I hope I can keep everything in. I don’t want to go through this again. I am 38. Love this site. Read your posts every day.
Tread carefully,
Erika
Hi everyone. I keep up with all the messages and it is amazing to me how we are all going through the same things even though our breaks might be a little different. I would have never guessed 6 months ago when I broke my ankle that it would be this long. By all the readings, I can’t wait for a year, it seems to be a magic number.
One of my main problems is a tight ankle and calf. It scares me because I only have about 6 more PT visits for the year and they just can’t get those two things moving. I hope it won’t be like this forever.
All of you are in my thoughts and I wish speedy recovery for everyone. The stories of how the break happened are amazing. I was walking a long a path carrying my grandson and tripped on a root. I concentrated so much on him, I didn’t think of the foot until I realized it was in the opposite direction. He was fine!!!It was like 40 minutes before the anbalance came and what pain!! I am 61 so that probably was not in my favor.
Good luck’
Nancy
Tried to post three times and no success. Not sure if that has something to do with the glass of wine I had.
So here goes again. Clark – enjoying your ramblings very much. Let us know about the fusion.
Don. An awful accident, and your injuries far worse than mine. Laughed out loud at your aversion to sharp pointy things. I quite agree.
Anklequest. Thanks for clearing up the mystery of the bears. A long way to crawl. Can relate to the mobile phone thing – mine would not work in rural Norfolk, UK.
Tim on one foot – how is your balance. Tried practising any yoga poses on one foot?
Andy – I feel like I will be careful for ever. Would be great to walk along a beach and ‘dip my toes’. Sea is a bit cold here though, so no idea how achey the ankles might get.
Glorious day here today. Live on edge of Peak District – a national park. Hills, rocks, sheep on the road, dry-stone walls. Beautiful out today. Masses of people out hiking or rock-climbing. Went out for a drive and felt a bit wistful. Don’t want to climb rocks or abseil, but wonder how long before I can put a pair or walking shoes on and clamber over some boulders.
But I can drive, and walk with two crutches – sometimes one (and a bit with none in the house). And that’s immense progress in just over five months. So for those of you out there more recently injured keep trundling along. There is loads for you to achieve.
Sandra
Man Clark,
Hard to believe your a loner. With your personality! Seriously. You have one of the best personalities in a human being I have run across.
MS ANKLEQUEST,
Thanks for spilling the beans. At least the ones the bears didn’t get to. What a story. Good thing no hungry bears came by while you were stuck at the end of the road. Sorry you went through so much pain. I know I was lucky that I had none at all, until after the repairs, that is. Sounds like most of us got stuck somewhere with our broken ankles. You at the end of that long driveway, me at the lake about a half mile from my truck, Sandra on the sidewalk with noone stopping to help, so many more and I know I can’t recall who they are. Perhaps I’ll come back later and fill in the blanks. Ms. Quest, do you ever get close to the bears at all, can you tell if they are friendly, or always unpredictable. North American Black and Brown bears, Grizzlies. I love bears and envy you your closeness to nature there so close to Manhattan. I’m sure feeding of any kind is verboten!
I understand how you feel right now, at the end of your entry, about feeling good. I’m 55 and have led a full life in Law Enforcement, etc… and I have no regrets. I’m pissed off that I can’t ever drive a stick again and had to trade my Mustang in for a newer 2004 Dodge Ram. There are pros and cons, but I’m not mad. Like you I’m glad it wasn’t worse. I could pound the walls, kick in the doors and yell at my friends but what good would that do? Nothing except create a lot of carpentry projects and drive everyone away. If I could I would go back and change things to the way they were, but I wish I was a multi million dollar lottery winner too. And I’m not.
But we all trudge on becuase we have to. The alternative is not acceptable. And it would be very hard on our friends.
I’m a loner and always have been. Not by choice, just the way it is. I do most things for myself out of necessity because I have to. As we get older the circle of friends and acquaintences grows smaller and smaller, and although we are only letters on a page to each other, you all have to know how much the back and forth and interaction of this blog and the familiarity mean to me. Usually the highlight of my day. Oh my God, how far I’ve fallen. (humor).
ALL OF YOU ANKLEBREAKER ARE GREAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for being out there. And even though you are not mentioned by name now and then, you are all in my thought and I wish all of you less pain and better healing.
Take care, and tread lightly.
Clark
To Anklequest,
Your story was great! I don’t meen that in a bad way,just the part about the bears as I love the contry and wildlife. We to have been having more bear sightings here in Missouri and folks freak out about them. Our problem with them is not as bad as yours however we have had a few vehicle accidents involving them in our local area. The bears here also have been sighted getting into trash and making a real mess. The last article that I read on them we only have aprx. 280 around here but the population is growing very rapidly.It’s a good thing there were none around and hungry during your crawl to your home on that cold scary night.
Well, be careful my friends and keep in the upright position with your feet planted firmly on the ground, or if your like me your foot. Ha Ha !
Have a wonderful weekend and take care of yourself and those you love.
Tim
OK, briefly my story!
My husband and I have lived for 18 years in Ringwood NJ, which is a wooded mountainous town an hour from Manhatten. Our property area apparently has great appeal for bears (swamps, rocky ledges, & local garbage cans, etc.). Over the last 10 years or so, the bear population has dramatically increased in Northern NJ, and so to in our towm. We now see a lot of bears. They are very scary and very dangerous. At first this was a novelty, with neighbors calling each other when a bear was sighted. More recently, that has stopped since sightings are so frequent. I can now even tell which bears are “teens” and which bears are males (they are huge and very scary) & females. We have many, many bear stories.
We now have bear laws in our town as a result of various human and dog incidents. We cannot put out food (including bird feeders) and have to have bear proof garbage containers.
Well, one day in the fall of 2005 our large rubber maid “bear proof” bin, situated at the end of our driveway in the woods, which held two garbage containers, was completely torn apart by a bear. Claw marks were deeply embedded everywhere in the thick plastic. It was awesome..the distructive power, bears are really awesome creatures.
The container was in pieces for a time and so eventually the garbage containers were destroyed by bears as well. We were to busy to get this straightened out. Finally, one cold and snowy Feb 2006 Friday evening I decided it was time to get the new Rubber Maid bin & stop the garbage problems (raccons and dogs too). A new bin was purchased at Home Depot, the heavy box loaded in the van by staff and I planned to assemble it that weekend. I drove to the site, tried to pull the box out of the car and just drop it on the ground. It hedged and in giving it a bigger pull it fell right on the side of my ankle. I heard everything snap and break but was in denial and actually tried to stand up. My foot was almost backwards and I tried to straighten it out. There it hung.
It was terribly cold. What to do? Lying on the ground in the snow, a quater mile from the house. No one around. Cell phones don’t work here in our little valley due to the mountains. Well, knowing I would freeze before my husband was due home I ended up crawling to the house up a steep hill in the snow. I finally got in the house, called my husband, more or less passed out on the kitchen floor, and after that of, course all the police, neighbors & and hospital drama.
Anyway, I told the doctor that it started with bears and then a rubber maid bin. I think he thought I was crazy.
Everyone here has an interesting story. A common thread is that there is really not much anyone could have done to prevent the enjury.
After 62 years of a very vewry active life without illness or injury I am so greatful to walk, and to still be able to work and enjoy the woods, all the wildlife, and of course, the bears.
Hi Everyone!
New ankle breakers..I know you go through a period of shock and depression but be encouraged by us on this board..things will get a lot better. Some people spend a lot of time crying at first. There is a LOT of encouragement and good advice on this board which you can see if you read all the old posts.
CARK..you are just so great and so very encouraging!!! Thanks so much and I hope all does go well with your situation (which sounds very bad to me!)
DON, what a horrible thing happened to you and your wife. I wish they made all drunk drives visit and work in hospitals with the horrible results that they inflict.
SANDRA, I love your posts with your lovely sense of humor. I remember your first posts with your two boken ankles sounded pretty miserable.
SAMMY, I am so amazed you are working already. What great progress!
OK, my next post will briefly tell my bear story.
HELLO TO ALL ANKLEBREAKERS, MALE AND FEMALE,
BUT SINCE I DID SAY “ALL” PERHAPS I DID NOT HAVE TO QUALIFY THE GREETING. STILL, I DID SO BECUASE CHRISTI’S BLOG IS SO SUCCESSFUL THAT I EITHER HAVE TO GO BACK AND REREAD THE ENTRIES TO KEEP ALL YOU ANKLEBREAKERS STRAIGHT, OR I SHOULD TAKE NOTES AND HAVE A CHEAT SHEET BESIDE ME WHEN I AM WRITING. AND THE REASON I QUALIFIED MALE AND FEMALE IS BECAUSE I WANT TO OFFER MY HELLO’S TO ALL WHEN I WRITE IN, AND I PROBABLY HAVEN’T KEPT UP WITH THE LADIES. BUT AT THIS POINT I’M WINGING IT, SO WILL SAY DROP A LINE OR TWO TO AS MANY AS I CAN.
NATE, THANKS FOR YOUR KIND WORDS RE MY LAST ENTRY. WHEN NOT EARNING MY DEGREE FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT WAY BACK WHEN, MY MINOR WAS SCIENCE AND ANTHROPOLOGY, AND THERE IS NEVER A CHANCE TO REFERENCE IT. UNTIL MY MESSAGE TO ANDY. NOW THERE HAVE BEEN SO MANY ANTHROPOLOGICAL AND PALEOLOGICAL FINDS SINCE THE EARLY ’70’S WHEN I WAS IN COLLEGE THAT IT IS FUN JUST TO GOOGLE THE LATEST AND TEACH YOURSELF TO KEEP UP. IN BETWEEN “LUCY”, AUSTRALOPITHICUS AFERENSIS, THE PRE LUCY, AND POST LUCY, TO HOMO ERECTUS, THERE ARE PROBABLY MANY SUB GROUPS OF HOMINIDS THAT HAVE BEEN DISCOVERED AND NEVER SUCEEDED, LIKE NEANDERTAL, WHICH DIED OUT WITH NO KNOWN UPGRADE, JUST DIED OUT, BUT WITH MANY AT LEAST LEAVING A GENE VARIENT AND ADAPTATIONS TO FORM THE NEXT BRANCH OF THE TREE. THE STUDY OF MAN, OF US, IS AMAZING. AS ARE OUR ANKLES.
ANKLEQUEST; WHAT ABOUT THOSE BEARS, EH? REALLY CAN’T WAIT TO HEAR THAT STORY. DON’T KEEP US IN SUSPENSE.
MIKE; YOUR SITUATION IS SO UNIQUE. FROM PERHAPS THE WRONG DOCTOR AND TREATMENT WITH THE ELECTRONIC STIMULATION RESULTING IN YOUR SHORTENED TIBIA, TO THE NEW DOC AND THE BONE LENGTHING, AND ANKLE REPAIR, BESIDES THE SECOND OPINION, HAVE YOU CONSIDERED RUNNIG YOUR CASE BY A LAWYER FOR SUBSTANDARD CARE, NEGLIGENCE OR MALPRACTICE ISSUES. VERY HARD TO PROVE BUT HAD I BEEN IN YOUR SHOES WITH YOUR CARE I KNOW I WOULD RUN IT BY SOMEONE, JUST TO KNOW. HOPE YOU ARE DOING BETTER WITH THE PAIN.
ASHLEY, HOW IS YOUR ANKLE DOING SINCE GETTING THE CAST OFF? ABLE TO GET AROUND ABIT ON YOUR CRUTCHES AT ALL? I GUESS ITS ONLY BEEN TWO DAYS SINCE YOU LOGGED IN BUT SEEMS LONGER. HOPE YOU AND EVERYONE ARE DOING BETTER.
REALLY HARD TO KEEP UP WITH A LINEAR BLOG LIKE THIS. AT LEAST FOR ME. NEED A MASTERS DEGREE JUST TO KEEP EVERYONE STRAIGHT. IF I DO GET ANYONE MIXED UP, AND I HAVE, CALLED NATE MIKE BY ACCIDENT, FORGIVE ME. BUT I KNOW YOU CAN ALL RELATE. PERHAPS THATS WHY WE ONLY WORK OFF THE END, THE LAST ENTRIES. IT IS REALLY HARD TO ADD THE INFO AND KEEP EVERYONE STRAIGHT IN MY HEAD ANYWAY. AND I USED TO BE FAIRLY ALRIGHT AT MULTI TASKING.
ALRIGHT, SIGNING OFF FOR NOW. WISHING ALL WELL AND CONTINUED HEALING. AS FOR MY ANKLE, THE NON UNION SEEMS TO BE NOT BECOMING A UNION, BUY MORE OF A NON UNION, FARTHER APART, WITH SEVERE BRUISING AT THE SIGHT, AND PAIN. THE LAST APPT WITH MY DOC I LEARNED THAT OVER TWO YEARS OF THIS TYPE OF “HEALING” IS NOT UNCOMMON, BUT THATS NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME. WHEN THEY FUSE IT, HOPEFULLY SOON, I AM GOING TO REQUEST THAT THEY REDO THE NON UNION AND GET IT TIGHTER, CLOSER TOGATHER TO PROMOTE HEALING. I’VE UPPED MY PAINKILLERS (NORCO 1O) TO 3 OR 4 A DAY INSTEAD OF THE USUAL 2. GETS OLD AFTER A WHILE. STILL HAVE TO SLEEP WITH THE BOOT ON, AS THE BRACE ONLY GOES HALFWAY UP MY FOOT AND LEAVES MY TOES UNPROTECTED, AND I DON’T WANT ALL THE WEIGHT OF THE COVERS COMING DOWN ON MY FOOT IN THE MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT, CAUSING ME PAIN AND KEEPING ME UP MORE THAN I WANT.
SO THATS IT. WATCH YOUR STEP(S), OUT THERE, ANKLEBREAKERS.
CLARK
Clark,
Niiiiicccceee Post!! Very deep!
Always enjoy reading your posts. They are interesting and entertaining.
Thank you all for the nice messages. It is refreshing to “talk” to others who know what I am going through. TIM, looks like we got our cast off the same time and hopefully as time goes by we will be able to walk again. I know I will always be careful when walking on ice, a beach, by a curb, going on stairs, etc. Thanks for making me feel like I will be OK and make a recovery.
Andy
HEY ANDY,
Welcome to the club. If nothing else, just writing and getting some frustration out is healthy, and can’t hurt in the healing process.
Tim had it just right. Do not overdue it. Don’t know the extent of your break but sounds like the doc is telling you that you will have a good outcome. So relax, let the healing process begin, use ice and heat and elevate with pillows, and when you start PT, unless you already have, go slow and don’t push it. No sense in ending up with one step forward and two steps back, just because you are in a hurry. This is definately one of those situations in which speed in recovery is not a good thing.
Funny. We are all different but all have one thing in common. A fall or an accident resulting in a broken ankle. You did yours on the driveway ice. Nate did his with ice on the asphalt taking out the garbabe. Sandra stepping off a curb, me walking the dogs at the lake and a loose piece of rock, Don and his wife in an accident with a DUI, Sammy on his motor, and on and on and on… And all the breaks are a bit differant and all somewhat the same. Thats what makes this (to me) such an interesting and unique injury that unless you live it, most will never get it. Broken arms and legs heal, so do fingers, toes and shoulders. But the ankle is very complex, and is one of the reasons we have survived and evolved so well as a species; Australopithicus Aferensis (the first hominid with bi-pedal locomotion (hips and ankles) and Homo Hablis (opposable thumbs, tool maker man) that ended up with us; Homo Sapien Sapiens (big brained man) and these ankles of ours are quite the thing. We are the only species that has them, And with all that, the recovery can be a bitch; painful, expensive (but the doc and PT’s can give you home exercises to offset the cost, or make it disappear except for monitoring check ups) and this blog, and go back and read from the beginning or just keep on reading backward, which can be very interesting and which has great members full of all kinds of info, and the main thing is you are not alone. So d0n’t hesitate to turn on the computer and start clicking away if you want to. Hell, I do it all the time. Besides, no one can really complain. No one is pointing a gun to anyones head making us read these. Read it, or don’t. But I think they are all interesting.
Take care, take it slow, and welcome to the club.
Watch your steps out there, anklebreakers.
Clark
Andy,
Things will get better I promise, just dont over do it! that is one of the most important words of advise I can give you.
I hope everyone else has had a good week and as pain free as possible,mine has been rather rough. I think the weather plays a big roll in the pain.I had my cast removed last week and dear ole doc. said I could put some weight on it,well thats not going so well for me.
Take care all and be carefull.
HEY ANKLEBREAKERS OUT THERE:
Don, as I stated before, you and Sandra are truly inspirational. Both of your stories as “double breakers” go so far beyond the norm that I am almost speechless. Almost, becuase like you, I tend to ramble also. But as an retired police officer, who has probably arrested betweem 500 amd 750 DUI’s, my heart just goes out to you and your wife and anyone who has had to undergo the intrusion, pain, loss of work, everything, that this drunk put you through. I hope he ended up doing prison time and ended up responsable for your medical bills, but the odds and the profile are a severely intoxicated driver, with several priors, on probabtion, unliscensed or suspended, and no insurance, and unhurt from the accident, so if you ever want to share, I would be very intersted in his sentencing, and injuries, if any. If he has insurance, I hope you sued the hell out of him.
I see my doc on the 15th, and am going to discuss doing the fusion then. Yesterday I recieved my “AFO BRACE” and if had been out of touch with my injuries thus far (you know, complacency, you get used to it, recieving the bill for the $1000.00 brace was a shock) thank God for Medicare and the AARP supplemental plan (which I reccommed to anyone over 50 with continuing medical problems, I paid nothing for the brace as was covered by the plans). For those of us on Medicare and AARP, having complete coverage for undern $300.00 per month is a good deal. The brace is a beautiful black leather tightly fitted over black styrene plastic, fitted with an arch orthitic and side steel interhal straps on each side formed as tight 90% angle at the ankle, and extends to the ball of the foot back to just above the calf.
it has 4 lace loope on either side over the foot and 4 velcro straps (much like the boot but much nicer) the lock the leather calf cover top of the brace in over the calf.
It fits very tightly, and I thought if felt pretty good. The orthotic fitter, Mike, said that would probably end after several hours as it takes several weeks, several hours a day, to make the change from a velcro exo-skeleton boot to the brace. And by the end of the day, after strapping it on at noon, I was out of it by 600 PM. It hurt. He said that any adjustments can be made as we go and I go back for a recheck next week on Thurday. But it did hurt a bit, and is a tighter lock on the ankle than the boot. He said that fusion may still be necessary becuase of the bone on bone and pain, but said that it is a stonger fit than the boot and just short of a fusion.
The fitting, and wearing makes you realize that it is in some ways the end of the line (much as the fusion will be) but with the brace, you are out of the boot and the cast and wearing a shoe again (first time in 10 months for me) and that was the reward. You walk with a noticeable limp, which can be offset somewhat by building the heel of the good shoe, with an insert, and “learning” to walk properly, with the brace, and it is a differant gait than regular walking, as the ankle does not bend, but the limp will never go away, as it is physically impossible due to the limitations to the stride or gait caused by the brace. Still have a lot to learn and get used to, but it is definately a step forward (pardon the pun) and am now a bit more normal than I was. But it makes a subtle statement about the finality of the situation. But not as bad as it could be. Not bitching. Very fortunate, in fact. But then, you always have to strap it on.
So thats that. No great shakes, but a step in the right direction (pun intended) or another step up the ladder (pun intended), or … hell, cant think of any more.
Your story, with the rods and pins and nuts and bolts and your wifes injuries just slays me, regarding the guy that did that to you. If he had great insurance than hopefully none of it came back on you, but the odds are against that. Hopefully the judge gave him a new one at least a year in jail or years in prison depending on his priors, and a huge financial fine as well.
Take care, stay in touch.
To all anklebreakers out there; watch your steps.
Clark
Greetings all
Glad to see we al seem to be heading in the right direction. So let’s see if I can answer some of the questions that were put out here.
Clark
Hope all goes well for you and you are correct, I did break both ankles at the same time. I can give a quick run down. On Dec 10 2006 my wife and I were hit by a drunk driver in this accident my wife got a broken back, broken arm, broken collar bone, injured right knee and severed intestines.
For me, I was pushed into the back seat of my car through my seat by breaking it in half. The engine transmission and all the other parts came up through my side of the floor and smashed both ankles which had to be put back together because the pieces they had to work with were the size of quarters. My right ankle has a tee that goes down into my foot with two plates and two rods, my right knee has a bar above and below the joint the right femur has a bar in it. My left ankle has 18 pins two plate and two rods , my left hip has eight pins and 6 screws that hold my pelvis together that was broken in 6 places and I have a bar above and below my left elbow .:-) So all in all I am more metal then bone.
I was in the hospital for 3 months till March 10th non weight bearing till March 7th when I got to walk for the first time. When I did, it was the most gosh awful pain I ever felt in my life. I stayed in the hospital doing PT from Jan to march and when I got out my Doctor who let me walk on March 7th let me out March 10th saw me on March 28th told me the same thing as you guys go off to the gym and work out. I got a trainer who was experienced in PT and she worked with me three sections then off by myself. That was my month of April, in May I went back to work, the first week I went to my first job the second week I returned to both my jobs. And have been doing these two ever since for the last 9 months.
Weather bothers me terribly as I can feel every storm coming and going but feel great when it is here. Clark I am like you in the part they wanted to fuse my right ankle as it is full of arthritis. I decided to wait and am interested in how you think it went with yours and what to expect?
As for my metal parts and pieces there is never anyway I am ever going to get my Doctors and me in a hospital again where there are sharp pointy things at the same time ever again if it is up to me. Now don’t get me wrong I am happy for what they did for us as my Wife and I have the same Doctors. But I had enough of the pain the rehab and the crutches. Sorry just don’t know if I could start all over again and come out the other side again. I have learned a lot from people here and I got a lot of inspiration from all of you. Yes Sandra you are indeed one of the tough battlers as you are Clark. Believe me this does not take away from any of you and the hard work you have and are outing in. But these two people have been through the ringer and are still up beat and fighting forward to get their ;lives back to where it was and for that I have drawn a lot of inspiration and knowledge.
Keep working, Keep smiling and keep pushing forward and above all be safe
Thanks for listening, Just my Ramblings
Don
I am from Wisconsin where whe just got 18 inches of the good stuff on Wednesday. Broke my ankle(Dec14th) slipping on ice in the driveway, headed out to a Christmas party. I had my cast off(last week) and then much swelling and the Dr tells me I can put as much weight on it as I feel fit to. Ouch!! I just want to walk again. I feel like I am never going to get better and I am sad. Anyone got any words of wisdom? thanks
For people more recently injured and out of plaster like Mike and Ashley, the pains in my foot have wandered around an awful lot, and come and go. Always worst at night when I try to get to sleep, but I have actually got used to this – move around a lot in bed. I have got used to some degree of pain in the day too – if low level, self-manage – often block it out completely. Amazing what our bodies can go through and still function.
A gold medal day for me would be to wake up without knowing I have broken my ankle. That’s not just about pain, but about the stiffness and tightness. Sometimes I can pretend my ankle is like it was, if I sit, or lie in bed just so.
Ashley, glad your plaster is off. Hope that the ‘grossness’ is wearing off already.
Anklequest – admiration for crawling that far with your injuries. Thanks for the summary on hardware. Let us know how you get on. Your friend seems to have gone a long time to get to ‘normal’, but that’s really encouraging. Sometimes you do sit and wonder if it will ever arrive. Wish her well from me.
On the salt thing – I have a savoury tooth, and confess to worrying at times about my salt intake (but have not given it up yet!).
Not sure about the weather link. Cold draughts make my ankles hurt, but damp does not seem to affect it. Sun makes everything feel better. Been sunny here for three days, so I have walked outside and felt much more energetic. If I sit on my bed in the morning I can stick my bare legs in the winter sunshine and convince myself it’s helping the healing.
On physio, someone put a useful physio site on here a while back. Scroll back and see if you can find it. Has some exercises.
Hi Andy Brown. Not alone as you can see. You get lots of physio but sound as if you need it. Great to have Disney World to look forward to.
Wishing the rest of you progress.
Sandra
Andy: Your brave for thinking about disney. Are you going to use a wheelchair? It will help you family out too. They will not have to wait in line as long. Where are you from? Lots of ice and snow? I’m in Massachusetts and it will not stop snowing!
Wow!…I thought I was alone in this. I get to go to PT 3 times a week, wound care three times a week(infected), have a blood clot in calf, but am planning on going to Disney World in July.
Hi everybody, been a while. I’m recovering okay, I guess. My leg hardly hurts anymore, but I’m getting a lot of muscle pain in my back, I guess from having to sit and sleep in such awkward positions. I’ve been using my down time to practice guitar and read, and I’ve been putting a lot of time into my bar. I’m bartending again on the busy nights, as the swelling has gone down and it doesn’t hurt anymore when I lower my leg. I’ve been coming in early every day and working on quiz night questions and on our new drink menu. Lots of experimenting on myself and friends. I started making 1 oz cocktails so I could try a bunch of different combinations without making myself sick. Anybody got a favourite cocktail I could look up?
Sammy
Nate,
I came to this board asking about the hardware and have never gotten a clear answer (for my case). This probably means there are not clear answers. Here’s what I’ve gathered from the infor I’ve read:
1) If it doesn’t bother you than leave it.
2) Certain specific types of hardware situations do require removal..i.e. those blocking certain movement possibilities.
3) Certain types of enjuries never require removal.
3) If it seems like a screw is coming loose than that should be removed.
4) If you are 18 or some other youthful age then removal is more frequently recommended.
5) If you have persistent swelling over time than that might lead to removal.
6) Some doctors are willing to remove at the drop of a hat.
My case is “iffy”. After about 2 years I have some swelling and pain problems, although I can walk normally and do normal activities (except running & biking). My original doc was very willing to remove everything. Since my ankle was not put together the way it had been, some people have told me not to go back to that doctor & get another opinion. This I plan on doing soon. I have to get a good recommendation at this point.
I have a good freind who also had a trimalleolar break like me..in her fifth year now, and just went back for review. She is almost 60. Her ankle is now in perfect shape (this took 4 years), she doesn’t feel a thing, and the doc said to leave everything in the way it is. She showed me the x-rays a few days ago. The ankle is loaded with metal. Like me, she had very little PT..we each went about 4 times and did the rest on our own.
Finally, from this board I have learned that every individual case is different. If you are going to a great place that you have confidence in, than stick with the recommendations they give you.
Good Luck everyone!! It’s easy to “see” the progress some of you are making.
Thanks all!
I figured this was the problem, but after breaking it in July and going through 8 weeks of non weight bearing then starting to rehab it myself, the tibia wasn’t healing properly and it started to crush down onto my ankle joint, the doctor I was going to at the time dismissed this as “ok”, not until I started to get additional input from other doctors at weeks 15+ did they tell me I was in trouble and needed total ankle reconstuction surgery. I get a bit paranoid now with this rehab process as I am concerned about the bone grafting to relengthen the leg can collapse and I would have to start over. The doctor also told me I could do the rehabing myself as I am quite active and go to the gym regularly. This is what I have been doing, at his advise, riding the bike, streching the foot on the calve machines (that kills), and doing light leg presses. I did assume this was normal pain especially because I do push it at the gym, but I want to get walking again without the crutches (still need one around the house and two outside)
Thanks!
AnkleQuest,
Oh that sounds terrific! Go on and minimize the break! The more minimal the better! 😉
What do you think about the fact that they want to leave the hardware in? Do you agree with that?
Thanks for the encouragement!
Weather related Item for Sandra & Ashley..
In my case, after some effort, I cannot correlate the weather with pain in my leg/foot. sunshine vs. rain seems to make no difference since I have good days with bot & bad days with both. Given weather in the British Isles, that would mean the British suffer a lot more than those of us who have more sunny days. Has anyone ever proven that? Just a thought. Ashley, I do hope the sunshine will help you!
What does seem to correlate with pain and swelling in my case is eating a big bag of potatoe chips. Some of you know that one can easily get to eating junk food while sitting around. Salt in the chips seems to really promote swelling for me. Just another thought. Next thig you know it might be eating ice cream.
Sandra, I can relate to your broken ankle story. I had to crawl to the house or I would have frozen to death since no one would have been around at -10 C for at least two hours. We live in a remote wooded area only one hour from Lincoln Center in Manhatten. It’s hard to believe but it was the bears in our woods that caused my broken ankle. those of you from New jersey know all about this sort of thing. I’ll tell the story later.
Nate,
The fracture you have is far less “serious” than the fracture types the rest of us have. Your fracture is up higher and not on the main weight baring bone (tibia) or near the talus. This being the case, even though you have a large plate, you will likely improve rapidly without many problems. I can see, given your age and your fracture that you might not need any extra help from PT. the PT that you might need you can do at home with ease. I don’t mean to minimize your break for you you is certainly is serious, but be thankful that it wasn’t any worse.
Good Luck!
Hi to all
Shel – keep us posted on your hardware removal surgery. I’ve decided for now not to do but anxious to hear your story on both the outpatient surgery and recovery. My foot still very stiff and tight and it is almost 11 months. But no pain. Dr. says it could still be the tendons and ligaments that bother me.
Mike – my Dr. gave me exercises also and said I didn’t need PT – I told him I had a pool and he told me that would be the best ever PT – so I spent the summer – which was my 3-7 months of recovery. I think it helped greatly. Then I started walking again – I really missed my daily walks. That is what seems to bother my ankle the most. Hopefully when summer is here again I will get in the pool (live in Florida but water gets too cold for me!)
Best wishes to all who are just starting out -it seems like a long road -and it is but it does get easier. I never read so much in my life and watched TV and movies. I also fixed my picture albums. If you keep your mind busy the time goes quicker.
Take care all
Dev
Mike,
i recently had surgery on nov 28 and am walking now. i also get that same pain. my doctor said it was normal, so now i have to get physical therapy. my doctor tells me its just because the tendons aren’t used to being used yet.
Ashley,
i got my cast off a month ago and the swelling went down. you seem better off than i was, my ankle was so stiff i had to move it with my hands to get it to move. the bruising will go away soon too. let me know how that PT is i am starting that soon. i already had it before for my other ankle, but that was for ligament damage not bone damage like i have now… i am wondering if they use the same exercises.
Mike, totally normal for you at this time honestly from what I am understanding. I am sure that it will get better.
As far as PT, I paid 30 bucks a week, to bend rubber scarves, go up a step, pick up marbles and towels with my toes. So YES, get the exercises from the doc and save the money, it really isn;t worth it! Use the money if you want and go to a pool. My PT said that is 100% better therepy for a broken ankle, and her recommendation, is get in the shallower end and just “walk”.
I seen my ortho today. My break was in early october and we are taking out the hardware on 3/10/08. Surgery will be outpatient and two weeks non weight bearing with the boot.
More fun ahead…
Nate,
I just got back from the ortho and asked the same question about the pt. He also told me that I should be good in another month and I shouldn’t need pt because of my age (30) and that I’m healthy. I know mine agreed to show me some things as well so that I won’t have to sit for hours at the doctor’s office.
Trina
The doc did say he might show me some things to do at home instead of physio. Seems weird.
Does it seem normal that my doctor does not think I will need physical therapy for a high fibula fracture. I have a plate and probably 13 screws. I am 32 years old. I am reasonably healthy although the doctor says I am very healthy. I hardly believe that. I know that this great lakes ortho is supposed to be great and comes highly recommended from a friend who has broken his foot several times and had knee injuries from skaterboarding accidents. I just wonder because I have no insurance and it is uncertaint if the condo association will use their insurance to help or if medicaid will be approved that they might be giving me the business.
Mike:
The day I was given the green light to walk I was in heaven. A few days later I was in so much pain I can’t even describe it. Like you, the pain was on the other side of my ankle, not the side that the plate and screws were. I was told that it was from being non-weightbearing for so long and then over-doing it. Back off the weight bearing a little. I went back to using “one” crutch for about a week… the pain then subsided. Good Luck.
Kris
MIKE,
I’M HEADING OUT TO GET MY BRACE BUT WANTED TO OFFER MY OPINION OR YOUR PAIN BEFORE I LEAVE. BUT FIRST …
ASLEY, CONGRATULATIONS ON GETTING YOUR CAST OFF. DON’T WORRY ABOUT HOW IT LOOKS. NO ONE LOOKS GOOD WHEN COMING OUT OF SOLITARY CONFINEMENT. BUT YOU ARE ON YOUR WAY. AND THE FACT THAT YOU CAN BEND IT IS GREAT NEWS. JUST DON’T PUSH IT. CAN’T BELIEVE YOU ARE NOT IN A BOOT, OR A CLAMSHELL, OR ANYTHING. IF YOU WERE TO FALL AND STRESS OR REBRAKE YOUR ANKLE THAT WOULD BE JUST ABOUT THE WORST NEWS, SO BE CAREFULL. I WOULD ASK HIM ABOUT A BOOT OR A BRACE, BUT THATS JUST ME. BUT CONGRATULATIONS ON A GOOD START.
MIKE, SOUNDS LIKE YOURE OFF TO A BETTER START SINCE YOU CHANGED DOCTORS. DID YOUR LEG SHORTEN BECUASE OF THE BONE ON BONE OVER THE 4 MONTHS? OUCH. CAN’T REALLY TELL FROM YOUR EARLIER BLOG, BUT SOUNDS LIKE A BI OR TRIMELLEALOR FRACTURE, WITH YOUR ANKLE ROTATING INWARD AS YOU FELL. THATS WHY THE PLATE ON THE INSIDE, TO HOLD RIPPED LIGAMENTS AND TENDONS, AND REATTACH THE DISTAL (BOTTOM END OF THE TIBIA) BACK TO THE TIBIA. BUT EVEN THOUGH THAT BROKE AND RIPPED THE INSIDE, ALL THE STRESS WAS ON THE OUTSIDE WHERE YOUR LIGAMENTS AND TENDONS ATTACH. THEY USUALLY TEAR OR STRESS AND ARE BRACED OR REATTACHED WITH SCREWS (I HAVE THREE OR FOUR ON MY OUTSIDE) AND IMAGINE THE PAIN FROM THAT STRESS. COULD ALSO BE CAUSED JUST BY USE AND WALKING OR HOBBLING AGAIN.
ADVIL DOESN’T DO MUCH FOR ME, IN FACT NONE OF THE OVER THE COUNTER STUFF DOES, BUT ALEVE (NAPROXIM SODIUM) MAY BE BETTER. BUT NORCO IS WHAT I DEPEND ON, AND COMES IN STRENGTHS OF 5 MG, 7.5 MG, AND 10 MGS. I TAKE A 10, AND THAT HAS 325 MGS OF ACETOMINIPHIN (SP) AS WELL. FAIRLY STRONG AND THE STRONGEST YOU CAN GET WITHOUT THE DOC WRITING A TRIPLICATE (3 COPY FORM WITH COPIES GOING TO THE STATE DRUG ENFORCEMENT, AND TWO OTHER PLACES I CAN’T THINK OF) BUT IS USED TO DOCUMENT AND PREVENT ABUSE.
SO THATS IT. NOT A DOC BUT THATS WHAT MAKES SENSE TO ME, AND IF IT DOESN’T GO AWAY IR IMPROVE, SEE THE DOC AND HAVE HIM CHECK IT, AND PERHAPS WRITE A SCRIPT FRO SOME PAIN KILLER. LIFES TOO SHORT TO LIVE WITH PAIN.
OH, BY THE WAY, CALL THE DOCTOR AND BUG THE HELL OUT OF HIM. THATS WHAT HE’S THERE FOR, AND YOUR ANKLE IS MUCH TOO IMPORTANT TO TAKE A CHANCE, MUCH LIKE YOU DID WITH THAT FIRST DOC. SO DON’T FEEL BAD ABOUT CALLING HIM. I’M SURE HE’D RATHER YOU DID THAN NOT AND TAKE THE WRONG PATH TOWARDS HEALING.
TAKE CARE ALL, AND WATCH YOUR STEP(S).
CLARK
As I have already stated earlier, after four months I finally had surgery on Nov 6th, to put a plate and screws and a external fixator attached to my bones to relenghten my leg an inch. I was given the green light last week to walk and rehab it now. I have a question that only you guys can possibly answer(people that went through it). My plate is on the inner part of my ankle but the outer part of my ankle hurts like heck, it feels like a tendon, this seems to be a majority of my pain and if not for that I would be walking much better( I still need my crutches). I take advil but I feel this will not get better and am worried that it is something more serious again. I don’t want to call the doctor to bother him. Any ideas about this or experiences in the rehab process?
Thanks
Mike
THE PLASTER IS OFF ! and it looks gross. I can’t begin to tell you about the doctors office. I was there for almost 2 hours. We did the x-ray thing then they took the plaster off and I saw it. It is ugly, purple, scaley and anything else that could be used to describe something gross. They took the stiches out there were probably at least 20 in there and that hurt. I can bend and my Ortho told me to put no more than half of my body weight on it when walking and standing NO BOOT but I still have the crutches. I can do it and it makes me feel a little more ok about it. I start PT tomorrow morning at 7:30 a.m. and I am content with resting till then. I am bending my ankle and it is starting to look like an ankle instead of a cankle. It is bruised still but I hope now that it is in the sun it will be better.
Ashley
Hey Anklebreakers,
Just a short note, as always (drink your coffee, take your NO-DOZ) to try to get this out before I am censored as the last two longer ones never made it to the blog and had to reduce down and cut the fat.
Sandra, your musings are certainly not boring, and are in fact a delight to read. Thanks for your many informative emails regarding life in the UK, insurance, physio, hills, curbs, holes in the pavement, etc… but your emails give insight to another side of life in a much differant way, dealing with the same problem. Many emails ago, when I said that my hat was off to you and Don, because you had both gone through double ankle breaks, its just that that is commitment and courage above and beyond the call of duty. If I awoke in the hospital the next morning with TWO BROKEN ANKLES, I would have probably tagged myself with a DNR (do not resusitate, sp) and gone back to sleep, forever, lost in an overdose of Morhpine or Demoral. Not really suicidal or would have been gone long ago, but want you to know that when I learned of the double ankle breaks regarding you and Don, it raised my level of awarneness, squared or cubed. I had a double bunionectomy back in June of 1997 and got through it, quite painfull, but with the one broken ankle I do have, and imagining two is beyond the pale. Thats why you and Don (whom I also believe is a double ankle breaker) have earned my respect. Well, enough of that.
Regarding the geneological thing, did some back checking on my own, and learned that the cabin boy, son of John son of Robert son of Harry who married Elizabeth Poole back in 1535 CORNWALL, was Leonard, and I knew that, but had forgotten and handlily replaced his name with John. Look up the Faniuel Hall Grasshopper on the webb and it will become clear whom one of my famous ancestors is. He is the cabin boy that made the thing that started my family line here in the Colonies way back when now Kittery Maine was part of the original Massachusetts Bay Colony, which was later annexed by Maine, when whatever assorted treaties back what, 400 + years ago, fixed the damned thing. But history is a wonderful thing, and the only way to gauge where we may be going from here. So thanks for the input, just wanted you to know that we came from Cornwall, not Plymouth or Portsmouth. Details are important.
The more that I write, the more I wonder when I hit the “submit comment” key makes me wonder whether I am being censored on not. Probably am.
Going in for my AFO brace (ANKLE FOOT ORTHOTIC) tomorrow, and have even purchased two pair of shoes, a full leather casual Clarks Desert Boot, and a pair of Athletics, wide, and a bit longer, so that I can load myself up with extra thick comfortable socks and wear shoes for the first time. Then off to the Docs on the 15th, and will submit my request for the fusion to take place and get this thing over with. Have been dealing with this for going on 10 months on the 18th, and figure the sooner the better to heal and move, if I don’t stay here.
Don, I guess I am lucky that I don’t have to deal with the temperature or pressure changes affecting my
hardware and pending arthritus. Be thankfull for small favors, I guess. As I said, sometimes I wish I had that problem, as a warning sign for upcoming weather changes, but as I said, would rather have a girlfriend who’s hardware could read the stock market instead. You did break both your ankles also, at the same time, right? Thats the impression I am under, and like Sandra, that is a hell of a thing. Double the pain, depression, everything, trying to recover and regain a sense of normalcy.
Nate, can’t help you with your headaches, as lucky for me, I am not afflicted with that problem. Don’t be bedridden quite so much. I got up after awakening and moved to the recliner in the living room and set that up as my awakened home base, and stayed away from the bedroom after I awoke. My dogs and cats would grab me and herd me to the bedroom about 1100 pm, but when I awoke, I stayed out of there, until it was time for bed again, and that kept me moving somewhat, back and forth, and when able, took the dogs for short walks up and down the street, weather permiting, but did something to keep moving a bit during the day. That was 10 months ago, and now don’t even use the crutches unless I am out on the town. The cane is OK for home, but the crutches handle the fatigue much better than a cane. As I will be using one for the rest of my days, I just have to get used to it. But don’t worry about getting tired. Takes abit to get used to crutches, and make sure they are fitted correctly, as that makes all the differance in the world. Using non fitting crutches can really wear you out. And did you once mention being fitted with crutches with not much training? Can’t recall, but as for stair is, up and down, the rehab guys use the saying “GOOD FOOT TOWARD HEAVEN, BAD FOOT TO HELL” meaning when climbing up lift the strong, good foot first, then pull up the weak, broken ankle, and reverse going down the stairs, sending the weak broken ankle down the stairs first, followed by the strong foot. And by all means, anyone who reads this, DON’T HESITATE TO KEEP USING THE RAILING. THATS WHAT IT IS THERE FOR.
My 15 year old Golden Retriver, Nathan, is telling me it is time for bed, and my 10 year old Chow, CJ, is also giving me the eye. And its 1135 PM pacific time, and that means that Stryder, the cat, has alread staked out his claim on some part of the bed. Had a California King before I moved, and now we all share a rather small cozy Queen Sized bed. They relegate the outside two feet for me, and they all hog the rest, but I wouldn’t have it any other way. My kids.
And so, anlkebreakers, off to bed with no appologies for being long winded and writing about life in general rather than just the unfortunate details of our assorted breaks, as they will always be there as new members of the club join up and ask questions that I probably once asked.
So good nite. As I hit the submit button, I wonder again whether this addition to the blog will make it through the void and onto the main page, as two of my others have not.
And heres to the adventure of the uknown … G’nite.
Clark
Nate
Might want to see if you roll a towel and put it under your neck for support might help. At times the pillows are fine but the neck needs support also and for me laying down and just having the weight on the back of my head will give me a headach from the pressure on the back of my head.
Something to try
Don
Does anyone else get headaches simply from being bed ridden? I find that I get a headache just from having to lay down all day! It is so vexing! I have alright pillows behind me, I just can’t seem to not get a headache. Frustrating.
Sunny day so spent some time in the Botanical Gardens which was great.
Thinking about those of you in the States, it’s surprising that some of you have similar injuries as me, but don’t get admitted straight to hospital, and ability to pay seems crucial. A bit shocking.
My story in UK was that I fell in a small village in Norfolk where I was staying with friends. Was alone at the time, no-one about and no phone reception. I heard a bone break as I went down so just lay there screaming for help – not moving. Young man found me and phoned ambulance. Because I was not bleeding or unconscious I was not an emergency. I lay in the road for 45 minutes waiting for the ambulance. He fetched my friend, and cushions and blankets. Long slow journey to Norwich, and we even got a puncture.
Into A and E where I waited in a wheelchair for about 20 minutes for an Xray. Within five minutes of that I saw the Consultant who showed me the Xrays congratulated me on going from a minor to a major emergency. Because I had an unstable fracture I was not going anywhere, so admitted right away. Temporary plaster, on admission ward, and presented with a consent form for surgery. Given a long list of things that could go wrong, including having my foot amputated. Went onto an orthopaedic ward the same night to await surgery.
After five weeks in hospital, not allowed home until Consultant, OTs and Physios satisfied that home environment safe, I could manage, and that support was in place. I was worried about bed-blocking, but as you can see no hurry to get rid of me due to my injuries, the surgery and being non weight-bearing.
We have problems with our ambulance service, and not everything is perfect, but the way that some of you in the States have been treated – not admitted, surgery delayed etc – seems shocking. So do the costs.
We have heard a lot about your recent politics, but it all seems about personalities, rather than policies. Only the Iraq war comes up as an issue. Do any of the candidiates intend to do something about healthcare? I know Hilary has a track record, but not sure about recent policy.
By the way, those of us who work/have worked do pay for our healthcare system via National Insurance and taxation, plus prescription costs heavy. Private sector increasingly involved here. People also pay to go overseas for surgery which can be cheaper and quicker. Waiting lists for non-emergency surgery can be long. The most positive aspect is we don’t have to pay at point of delivery.
A lot of other countries have mixed systems with insurance, and state provision. The US seems to be held up as a country that is problematic in terms of providing healthcare to those who might need it most, and cannot afford it. Is that an accurate perception?
At the same time the US also seems to be at the forefront of some medical developments,
so the skills and knowledge are obviously there. (Plus, you seem to get more physio than we do.)
Hope my musings don’t bore you.
Sandra
Clark,
You sound like you have led an interesting life if at times a bit unlucky.
I know what you mean about the traffic!! I could not believe it took me 45 minutes to go 5 miles where I needed to go in Concord a few years ago, down there on a visit.
I hope you can get to some nice place on the coast like Petaluma, Bodega Bay, Fort Brag, Mendicino (maybe willits although not right on the coast, pretty close). Although I worry the rainny weather will get you in touch with Aurthur more. Although then again you are getting the fusion to avoid that right. Then again with global warming all of those places maybe much more mediteranian and dryer then they once were now. I think I want to move to AZ somewhere myself. Just like the idea of living in a dry climate. Especially thanks to this broken ankle and possibly the early arrival of Aurthur!
Anyway good to read your comments, helps take my mind of this crap! Take care!
HEY NATE,
GOOD TO TALK TO A LOCAL, EVEN IF YOU ARE NOW AN EXPATRIOT. BUT ALWAYS FOLLOW YOUR HEART, ESPECIALLY FOR THE RIGHT GIRL.
I GREW UP IN SACRAMENTO, VALLEJO AND NAPA, AND AFTER BEING SMITTEN BY THE BADGE, ENDED UP DOING 5 COUNTY AND 5 CITY WITH NAPA SHERIFFS AND CITY OF NAPA POLICE.
SPENT A LOT OF TIME IN COCO COUNTY, OFF HWY 24, AND HWY 80, DRIVING TANKERS FOR UNION 76 OFF THE RICHMOND TERMINAL, WHILE STILL A RESERVE DEPUTY WAITING TO GO FULL TIME. ONCE MY SHIFTING TOWER CRACKED AND FELL OVER TO THE PASSENGER DOOR WHILE GOING DOWN THE BACKSIDE OF THE LIVERMORE GRADE, STILL IN LOW GEAR WITH THE JAKE ON, BUT COULDN’T SHIFT DOWN IF I HAD TOO. HAD TO MAKE A DIRT SLIDE PANIC STOP OFF THE GRADE BEFORE SPEED BUILT UP TOO MUCH AND I LOST THE TRANNI. GOOD TIMES. HAD ANOTHER TRUCK COME OUT, PUMPED THE LOAD OFF AND STILL DELIVERED IT TO THE NAVY TEST RANGE FOR THEIR MUNITIONS DEPT. ARE YOU FAMILIAR WITH “FIRE HILL” OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT, WHERE THEY USED TO TEST FIRE THE BIG CALIBER NAVAL GUNS?
ANYWAY, DON’T KNOW WHEN YOU WERE LAST HERE, BUT THE TRAFFIC IS MUCH WORSE SQUARED, JUST SITTING IN TRAFFIC AND GOING NOWHERE. BUT THEN I GUESS TRAFFIC SUCKS EVERYWHERE. JUST BAD WHEN YOU REMEMBER WHEN THE ROADS WERE EMPTY AND THE HILLS HAD GRASS AND COWS, INSTEAD OF NEW SUBDIVISIONS.
LIVED 2O YEARS IN L.A. AFTER MY POLICE RETIREMENT, WORKING SEVERAL CONSULTING AND RETIREMENT TYPE JOBS, INSURANCE FRAUD, PRIVATE INVESTIGATION, ETC… AND THEN MOVED BACK TO NORTHERN CALIF TO OROVILLE, MY GRANDFATHERS OLD PLACE, THEN MY DADS AND THEN MINE. OROVILLE IS A SMALL OUT OF THE WAY PLACE ABOUT 20 YEARS BEHIND THE TIMES, BUT ITS RELATIVELY QUIET. UNLOADED THE PLACE AFTER I BROKE MY ANKLE AS I COULDN’T CARE FOR MY HORSES AND THE LITTLE RANCH ANYMORE, AND NOW LIVE IN CHICO, COLLEGE TOWN 3O MILES NORTHWEST OF OROVILLE OFF HIWAY 99. FASTER LIFESTYLE, MORE TO DO, BUT I’M STILL HEADED UP TO THE NORTH COAST, AFTER I GET THIS LAST ANKLE SURGERY, A FUSION, OUT OF THE WAY, AND REHAB. FIGURE I MAY HAVE ONE MORE MOVE LEFT IN ME, SINCE THINGS HAVE CHANGED SO MUCH SINCE THE ANKLE BREAK.
YOU SOUND LIKE YOU ARE DOING MUCH BETTER SINCE YOUR FIRST LETTER. GLAD TO READ IT. KEEP YOUR CHIN UP AND KEEP GETTING WELL. AND THAT GOES TO ALL OF YOU ANKLEBREAKERS OUT THERE.
TAKE CARE EVERYONE,
CLARK
Clark,
Amazing article. What a crock! Guess maybe we need to vote for Hillary since she is for reforming the health care system. If she would follow through on her promise of course is another thing.
What part of the bay area are you living in now? I am originally from the east, east bay contra costa county. Pretty much grew up there. Been in Michigan for 10 years now.
Really miss it there, but I fell (not pun intended) in love with a girl out here and the rest is history. Fortunately she has been absolutely amazing through this and is extremely supportive.
Anyway hang in there!
NATE,
NO NEED TO FEEL SORRY. DIDN’T MEAN TO CHASTISE YOU, HOPE IT DIDN’T COME OUT THAT WAY. JUST AN OBSERVATION ON THE CURRENT SITUATION RE MEDICAL COSTS, ETC. FOR INSTANCE, YOUR AMBULANCE RIDE WAS $500.00 TO THE HOSPITAL AND YOU WISELY CHOSE TO DRIVE. I WAS UP AT THE LAKE WALKING THE DOGS ON THE LAKESHORE WHEN I SLIPPED AND FELL, AND MY RIDE WAS $2500.00. I FIGURED THE ACTUAL COST OF TWO PARMEDICS, TRUCK PAYMENT, INSURANCE, FUEL, TRAINING, ETC… MAY RUN 500 TO 750.
I ASKED THE LADY IN BILLING WHY SUCH A HIGH BILL, AND SHE CANDIDLY TOLD ME THAT THEY CHARGE UNINSURED SO MUCH MORE TO OFFSET THE “DEALS” THEY HAVE WITH THE GOVT. FOR MEDICARE, MEDICAL, ETC…. AN ARTICLE IN TODAYS SAN FRANCISCO CHRONICLE RAN AN UPDATE ON AN ARTICLE THEY RAN LAST YEAR, SHOWING THAT HOPITALS REGULARLY CHARGE AN AVG OF 18% MORE TO UNINSUREDS TO OFFSET THE COST OF THE AGREEMENTS TO THE GOVT. HMO’S AND PRIVATE INS. CARRIERS. LETS SEE, HMMM, THEY GET A REDUCED RATE, SO THE INSURANCE COMPANIES MAKE MORE PROFIT FROM THE PREMIUMS, BUT THE HOSPITALS TRY TO MAKE IT UP OFF THE BACKS OF THE UNINSURED, WORKING POOR, AND FAMILIES THAT MAY BE ABLE TO AFFORD EVERYTHING, EXCEPT THE COST OF INSURANCE ITSELF.
SOMETHING SMELLS HERE.
ANYWAY, DIDN’T MEAN TO CAUSE ANY DISTRESS, IF I DID SO. WERE ALL IN THE SAME BOAT, LIMPING AND HOBBLING ALL OVER THE PLACE.
BE WELL.
CLARK
Clark,
I had no idea! Sorry for my ignorance. That sucks! You have my heartfelt sympathies.
HEY ANKLEBREAKERS,
JUST WROTE A NOT TOO LENGTHY OBSERVATION ON SOME OF THE NEWEST ENTRIES, BUT IT NEVER MADE IT TO THE BIG ANKLKEBRAKING BLOG. THIS ALSO HAPPENED FRIDAY NITE, BUT DID NOT THINK MUCH OF IT. I WAS ON MY SOAPBOX ABIT, BUT NOTHING POLITICALLY INCORRECT, OR LEWD, OR ANYTHING, IN THIS LATEST OR THE EARLIER ONE.
SO HERES THE CUT DOWN VERSION: DON, WISH I HAD AN ACTIVE BAROMETER WORKING FOR ME AS OPPOSED TO TEMP, ETC… BUT NO, I DON’T. WEATHER AND BAROMETRIC PRESSURE DOESN’T AFFECT ME. HOPE YOURS IS ENDUREABLE.
NATE, HAD INSURANCE PROVIDEDE BY MY PENSION SYSTEM FOR MY POLICE DEPT. WHEN I RETIRED YEARS AGO, WASN’T FREE, I PAID $150.00 FOR A MID LEVEL MAJOR MED WITH DEDUCTABLES POLICY, AND MY DEPT. PAID $10.00.
THEY STILL ONLY PAY THE $10.00 OFFSET, BUT THE PERSONAL POLICY NOW WOULD COST ME ABOUT $790.00. OR UP ROUGHLY WHAT, 650% ? I KNOW MY INCOME LEVEL DID NOT INCREASE THAT MUCH, BUT THE MEDICAL COSTS HAVE. AND THATS WHY MOST PEOPLE CAN’T AFFORD IT.
STAY WELL ANKLEBREAKERS, AND WATCH YOUR STEP(S)!
CLARK
Greetings all
I agree as far as the weather goes. If the storm is moving in and just kind or hanging around the edges it kills me. The pains I get in my ankle and then it goes up my legs. If and when the storm moves in the pressure changes and I don’t feel the pain any more. For me it can change like walking through a door. On one side the pressure is unbearable and then I cross the door and it is like a weight has been lift off my shoulders. I for one am looking forard to some warmer weather and maybe some relief but we shall see.
Later all
Don
Hi all.
Nate, yes we do have a free health service, but not always problem-free, and we do seem to get less physio over here.
I am a side-sleeper. With two legs in plaster spent ages on my back. When I went to one plastered leg, I did go on my side – had two pillows length-ways down bed for my legs. I found I could sleep for a while lying on the plastered side. Did get worried about doing too much of it, cos of blood clots etc., so would rootle around a lot. (Even though I was giving myself anti-bloodclotting injections in my stomach – not something I expected to do.)
Ashley, this is Tuesday evening here, so not sure if you have had your plaster off yet. Hope it goes well. Be careful with the exfoliating. Your skin needs tlc, with the emphasis on tender.
Hi to Tim. Not been on a scooter or anything. Brave of you to go to theatre. I am still debating whether or not to try the cinema on crutches. Not liking snow ice, or strong winds – a bit of a bind this time of year.
But we are promised a milder sunny day tomorrow.
Not sure if this is an English obsession with weather, or an ankle-breaker’s obsession.
Looking forward to spring.
Sandra
Update:
I guess I broke my fibula in 3 places near the bottom. It shattered a bit near where the bone touches the ankle. Saw the x-ray today and it is amazing what they did to fix the damage. I have a plate and 13 screws. Then there are 3 screws near the bottom.
Doctor said that because I guess I was so healthy (no smoking, excellent blood pressure no health problems) I should be able to walk in 6 weeks or so. HAHA. That seems like such a joke! This is Great Lakes Orthapedics btw in case anyone wants to know. They do amazing work from talking to others with similar problems.
Will get the sutures out next week and be placed in a boot I think. Right now in one of those splints ( I think it is called a splint it was this hard material that turns soft when wet and then they mold it to the back of my ankle and leg, it then gets rock hard) they ace bandage the rest.
One thing I have noticed is that I get fatigued super easy on crutches. I seem to get out of breath over nothing (just moving from bedroom to living room like 10-20 feet if that). Hope that gets better.
Thanks to all for the encouragement! I think I am more devastated about the financial aspect which is said. Let this be a warning to everyone out there. GET HEALTH INSURANCE (the best you can afford), simply because you just don’t know! I mean I suppose the argument could be made that it was my fault for trying to take the trash out at night, on a cold night whene there could be black ice. Even though I had non-slip shoes on I guess it may have been more prudent to take the trash out during the day, but one rarely thinks taking trash out at night and having done so for 10 years during Michigan winters would have such a devastating outcome. But it did and you just never will see it coming. Hopefully I will get medicaid but they are telling me that it is difficult and I have special circumstances (see previous comments).
Anyway happy Paczki’s (Pounchki) Day. Naturally my gf dad well intended bought me a full box today 🙂 Of course can’t have a single one. Even left the box next to me after he dropped me off from the doctors office.
Hi All
Broke my ankle Feb2005 Lateral Malleous pin and screws put in it, never healed and though I could go out with aid of stick I knew it was not right. Now on Feb 2008 went over on ankle and now in plaster again with a avulsion fracture talus Go to hospital on Friday to see what happens next, talk of taking screws and pin out
Hello everyone !
Sandra – Thanks for the info about the ‘shedding’ I bought some exfoliating body wash so I hope that helps with it.
Nate – I broke my ankle in 3 places December 23, 2007 and I am set to get plaster off tomorrow. I know how you feel with this sleeping stuff I have a tough time as I am also a side sleeper. If you get a blanket and roll it up and lay it next to you in the bed you magically will have your best nights sleep as your body automatically will awake in some weird comfortable position. Lots of blankets and extra pillows is my advice. That what I used (once I could get to sleep) and it works great.
Anna – Don’t be discouraged about non weight bearing thing. I was super discouraged about it and now I have come to terms with it. Just take it as a sign to relax and enjoy the sceanery <–sp?.
Ashley
Hello to all of my steel plated screwed together web friends. hope everyone is doing well and much stronger today! MY FOOT IS KILLING ME TODAY ! Dont you just hate going to the grocery store and riding those damn electrict carts to shop, everyone just looking at you like your some kind of sicko. They walk right in front of you when your at full speed of .001 mph then just stop and look at you with those sorry filled eyes and say….Oh I’m sorry,you just wan’t to jap slap them! Then you finally make it to the back of the store to the meat department to find that they are out of chicken due to the weather being bad….what does that meen did all the chickens die because it snowed outside? oh well meatloaf will work.I went to the theater the other night and WOW that was fun getting thru that crowd of people but they were all friendly even the lady that STEPED ON MY BROKEN FOOT (toe) I’ll tell you one thing when I am past this I promise that I will be so much more aware of folks on crutches and in wheelchairs.I have to say I really like this site and enjoy sharing this chapter of my life with you all,thank God for laptops!
Is anyone here from Missouri? Wow what weather we have had lately, I try and explain to people how hard it is to get around on crutches on snow and ice,they just don’t get it.
Well thanks all for listening, I’m not really a negitive person just trying to get a laugh out of you! keep on keepin on !It will get better,time heals everything !!!!
Sticky,
Good luck with therapy hope all goes well for you. sometimes I could just bend these crutches in half! or maybe wrap them around the doctors neck :O(
NATE,
SURE, LAY IT ON ITS SIDE, WHATEVER. BEST TO KEEP IT ELEVATED DURING THE DAY. WHEN YOUR ASLEEP, YOUR OFF DUTY. NOW IF YOU WERE IN A PULLY THING AND YOUR LEG WAS LIFTED UP AND YOUR WERE STUCK ON YOUR BACK, THAT’D BE DIFFERENT.
BUT YOUR NOT, SO DO WHAT YOU HAVE TO DO TO FEEL COMFORTABLE.
CLARK
Clark,
Thanks for the detailed info! The main thing that worries me is that I was mearly trying out the ebay thing I never did it with a business liscense or as a “Business” so I have not reported the income to the government. I did not think I needed to since the earnings came from crap I bought and sold over ebay.
All,
Is it okay to have the leg that is suspended laying on its side if your on your side? It is still in the air about 2-3 feet.
btw,
I knew you were talking to me no need to correct yourself. You are a wonderful human being and thanks for the encouragement!
Sandra,
You are a Jammy Blighter simply for the fact that you live in the UK! I hear you have free health insurance! That is sooo nice! Thanks for the kind words. Wishing you a speedy recovery!
For those of you in plaster, the peeling skin thing lasted about a week – ten days with me, improving each day, before stopping altogether. Just wanted to make sure I didn’t scare any of you!
Make sure you get some cream in and treat your leg gently.
Sandra
From Sandra
Ashley and anyone else due to be de-plastered – be prepared for major skin shedding when your plaster comes off. Six weeks of dry skin to deal with. I left trails of it around the house – gross. I have sensitive skin and could not use E45 which hospital recommended, so used Avene – a sensitive skin cream I normally use.
Diana – managed to talk to Personnel today, and appointment being arranged with Occupational Health to do a risk assessment, either next week or week after. Then my medical certificate runs out, unless I request another from GP – and they agree. Don’t want to, as I will be on half pay.
Nate – what a story, and the healthcare system in US sounds so unfair. Hope you can get some support with the bills/some kind of income. Don’t give up on your dream you will get there. On the basis of this site, recovery time seems to vary so much, and you really have to go at your own pace.
Don – so true that people don’t know what it’s like to recover from this. Tim – on the pain front – I was not sent home with any painkillers. Maybe that’s a UK thing. Taking paracetamol at present all the time, and it is really helping with the pain, and as a consequence with my mobility. (Apart from that blooming scar I keep on about!) A bonus is I have stopped pulling so many ‘pained’ expression.
I am just over five months since doing both ankles, left one worst with plate, screws, pins, wire . . . Today I spent the longest time out at shopping centre – on one crutch, and managed it, but with a couple of sit downs and cups of tea. Plus walking at snail’s pace. Did not think I would be able to go round shops with one crutch, but I have managed it, so there is light at the end of the tunnel.
Nuisance that the shop that sells the best range of comfy shoes had closed down.
Anna, the five weeks will pass by quicker than you think. Non-weightbearing is a nuisance, but your leg is quietly repairing itself through all that time.
All these stats about arthritis are worrying. Here’s my story for today. Buying some facial moisturizer to treat myself, was offered choice of a bottle with pump or a tube. The sales assistant pointed at my crutch and said the bottle + pump might be best for me. My instant response was ‘weird’, and I said ‘I won’t be using a crutch to put it on.’ She said I thought you had arthritis, and that the pump would be easier for you. I can add that to the people who think I have had a hip or knee replacement. Interesting what assumptions people make.
I would like to say I did this abseiling down the Eiffel Tower in Paris. But as some of you may remember, I just stepped off the kerb and into a hole in the road. Hence, I spend most of my time out walking perusing the ground.
Night from UK
Sandra
Forgot to say thank you for everyone who has empathized and spoken of their injuries, pain and struggles to stand and walk again. We obviously are not alone. Just alone with the experience in our own environments. One really sees the importance of doing now what one wants, and acting in present. With the broken ankle we no longer can do what we thought we’d get around to before fate stepped in and made a change. Thank you everyone. Love helps the healing so love to you all. Be strong, compassionate with yourself and others, thankful for what you still have and patient. Watch funny movies. Keep laughing. Love the ones your with who stand by you.
Anna
NATE,
ALTHOUGH I ADDRESSED MY LAST TO MIKE, I MEANT IT TO BE FOR YOU. NOT SURE WHERE “MIKE” CAME FROM. SORRY. NO ONE TELLS YOU THAT BREAKING YOUR ANKLE INCREASES AGING AT A QUANTUM RATE.
MY APPOLOGIES AGAIN.
CLARK
HEY MIKE,
SORRY TO HEAR ABOUT YOUR STORY BUT WELCOME TO THE CLUB. YOUR STORY IS VERY SIMILAR TO MINE, EXCEPT AND AM RETIRED AND WAS ON SSA DISABILITY FROM AN EARLIER CAR ACCIDENT (I WAS REAR ENDED QUITE SERIOSLY).
I ALSO HAD A TRI-MELLEALOR FRACTURE AND DISCLOCATION THAT WAS RESET (LOVE THAT FENTENYL, SP) AND SURGERY THAT NIGHT. THE NEXT DAY THE DOC SAID THAT IT WOULD LIKELY HAVE TO BE FUSED.
FIRST, CHECK TO SEE IF MICHIGAN HAS ANYTHING LIKE CALIF. MEDI-CAL. MUCH LIKE MEDICAID BUT A BIT BETTER, AND THEY COVER CATASTROPHIC INJURIES LIKE YOURS.
SECONDLY, DON’T SELL YOUR STUFF QUITE YET. AND DON’T DECLARE IT TO ANY STATE AGENCIES. JUST TELL THEM THAT YOU ARE UNEMPLOYED AND ADMIT THAT YOU HAVE BEEN SELLING STUFF ON EBAY, AND THEN IF THEY ASK, TELL THEM YOU HAVE NOTHING LEFT TO SELL AND DON’T TELL THEM ANYTHING ELSE. CHANGING ACCOUNTS NOW WOULD LEAD TO WELFARE FRAUD, SO DON’T DO THAT.
THIRD, WHEN YOU GET A FAIRLY GOOD IDEA OF YOUR PROGNOSIS, AND IT MAY BE BAD, PERHAPS HEADING FOR A SOLID RIGHT ANGLE NON BENDING FOOT LIKE I AM, THEN YOU MAY BE CONSIDERED PERMANETLY DISABLED AND BE ABLE TO OBTAIN SSA DISABILITY. IF THEY SEE THAT YOU QUALIFY, THE FIRST THING THEY WILL DO IS OFFER YOU A QUICK SSI DEAL, WHICH CAN ANOUNT TO LESS THAN HALF OF WHAT YOU WOULD GET WITH TAX FREE SSA DISABLITY. DEPENDS ON WHAT YOUR BENIFIT WOULD BE, SO DON’T SIGN ANYTHING OR AGREE TO ANYTHING WITHOUT FINDING OUT WHAT YOUR BENIFITS WILL BE. IF YOU DO PRESENT A CLAIM FOR SSA DISABILITY, 2 YRS AFTER INCEPTION YOU WILL GET MEDICARE, REGARDLESS OF YOUR AGE, BUT IT IS A STANDARD TWO YEAR WAIT. IT IS ALMOST IMMEDIATE (I THINK (WITH MEDICAID FOR SSI DISABLITY).
FOURTH, CONSIDER A BANKRUPTCY AFTER ALL THE MEDICAL BILLS ARE IN. GOOD THING YOU ARE NOT MARRIED RIGHT NOW OR THAT WOULD AFFECT YOUR WIFE, BUT NOT YOUR GIRL FRIEND. YOU CAN ABSOLVE OR DISOLVE THE MEDICAL BILLS WITH A BK, AFTER THE TOTALS ARE IN. IF YOU DO CONSIDER A BK, YOUR BK LAWYER WILL USUALLY LAY OUT THE PROS AND CONS WITH A FREE CONSULT, TO DETERMINE YOUR ELIGIBILITY.
FIFTH, GO SLOWLY WTIH YOUR REHAB. THE FASTER YOU PUSH IT THE MORE CHANCE YOU HAVE OF HAVING TO REDO EVERYTHING OR LESSEN THE CHANCE OF RECOVERY. GO SLOWLY, PUT YOUR FOOT UP ON PILLOWS AND ICE IT. SLEEPING AS A SIDE SLEEPER IS A BITCH, FOR ME TOO, BUT UNISOM OR THE GENERIC EQUIVELANT HELPS MUCH.
THIS SITE HAS MUCH INFO AND MANY GOOD PEOPLE WITH ALOT OF EXPERIENCE WITH ANY QUESTIONS. DON’T HESITATE TO KEEP WRITING IN.
HOPE THIS ALL HELPS. JUST FOOD FOR THOUGHT. BUT DON’T SELL YOUR STUFF. AFTER THE SURGERY (IES), YOU WILL GENERATE REHAB AND XRAY BILLS, BUT THE WORST WILL BE OVER. I’VE HAD 3 SURGERIES SO FAR SO MY CASE IS A BIT DIFFERENT, BUT USUALLY UNLESS THERE ARE COMPLICATIONS THE ONE USUALLY DOES IT, UNLESS YOU NEED A FUSION. THAT WILL BE MY FOURTH AND HOPEFULLY LAST.
KEEP YOUR CHIN UP. THE JOURNEY HAS JUST BEGUN, AND IW MAY BE A BUMPY RIDE, BUT YOU WILL MAKE IT.
CLARK
HELLO TO ALL THE OTHER ANKLEBREAKERS OUT THERE AS WELL. WHAT ABOUT THOSE DAMNED GIANTS, EH? THE BEST SUPERBOWL YET, I’M THINKIN.
CD
For Nate,
I understand your frustration fully! 2 years ago I had 2 major colon surgerys and almost met my maker.The financial part of these type of things can be devastating and takes time to recuperate from them, however you will! just take a deep breath and try and stay positive that is soooooo important.Good luck to you and God bless you! I am also at home now with a broken ankle with steel plate and seven screws so I really do understand.
Ditto on breaking your ankle while unemployed and uninsured. Did the same thing 1/12/08. I broke my mine walking in the woods. Stepped on a fallen log with left foot which went flying up in front of me; fell on log on top of right foot, which must have been torqued. Snapped tibia through. Epic rescue ensued to get me out of the woods, could not walk on it, no weight at all. Crawled a few feet on knees. Was finally carried to a rock. My friend went down and across field and got farmer to come w/ his ATV. The two carried me to ATV. Was taken to his truck, then he took my friend to his truck, I waited. Had to convince him to take me to Emergency. Had surgery 1/23/08, and now have metal plate on tibia. Had first post-op visit 1/31/08 when I saw the ankle for the first time since the day I broke it, since the Orthopedist left the temporary cast from Emergency until surgery. Under general anesthesia, she sliced open my ankle and screwed a metal plate to the tibia, sewed me up and stainless steel-stapled the 3 + inch incision closed, followed by armature under foot covered with miles of soft gauze topped off with an ace bandage, so that the foot could swell and the wound could bleed as necessary. As of 1/31/08, all the soft batting was removed and I saw the still-swollen, black and blue foot and ankle. Now I had to push down through the heel to bring the foot closer to a flat position and out of arch. Major major pain and she’s pushing it down too. It still needs to come down more, but she put a hard cast on it, leaving in the staples. 2/14/08, Orthopedist removes current hard cast and staples and recasts. I still am ordered to PUT NO WEIGHT ON FRACTURED FOOT FOR AT LEAST 5 MORE WEEKS.
Hello fellow anklebreakers. My heartfelt sympathies and best wishes to all of you.
I recently was involved in a slip n fall accident outside my home recently. I was carrying some trash to my dumpster which you have to walk on a lit sidewalk and then through a parking structure onto asphalt to get to. When I hit the parking structure everything fine right when I was nearing the edge in a flash I fell and my right leg went underneath me. Apparently there was some black ice. I called for help, luckily someone found me and went and got my gf. Unfortunately I do not have health insurance. I have been unemployed for a while and have been surviving by buying and selling things on ebay for the past year. I should have invested in health insurance. Anyway the paramedics came and offered to take me to the hospital but my girl friend and here financial sense though to ask how much it would cost, after hearing that it would be $500 for a ride to a hospital, we decided to go on our own. They were very nice and helped me into my girl friends car. We initially went to a hospital that was known for being affordable per the recommendation of the er where the paramedics suggested we go to.
This was apparently a bad choice! They made me wait while a bunch of people with simple sniffles got admitted first. Finally the nurse puts me in another waiting room (why do they do this) half hour later the doctor comes in. She tells me its bad and cant believe I am not crying out in pain. Relates that she has broken her leg and then sends me off for x-rays. Upon review of the x-rays the doctor determines that the break is so bad that I will need to come back to see an ortho in the am. She sends me home with a splint and ace bandages and a script. The bill for that little crap $240!!!
My girlfriend is so upset she decides to call her parents. Her dad is outraged and makes us go to another hospital (thank god for him, according to this hospital who had no prior knowledge of the previous hospital experience I would have got clots or gangrene if I had waited) and so we set out to a hospital that is recommended to him by the doctors he sells insurance to. No waiting, immediately admitted! The trauma doc tells me its “bad” and rushes me off for x-rays. Upon review (I was too shocked to ask, but my girl friend got the details I guess) I had dislocated my ankle and broke the part of my leg that meets the ankle in 3 places. Although I thought more had happened from seeing the x-rays. Amazingly the pain was pretty minimal. They decide that they will set the foot and put it in a temporary cast. They also decide surgery must take place, but that there is too much swelling to proceed. So they knock me out and do the setting and casting. I guess the doctor talked with my girlfriend and let her know that it was very, very bad. Anyway after this I was admitted to the hospital for 2 days and then sent home for a week, where I was to sit with the leg elevated above my heart as much as possible. After the week I went back to the hospital and apparently I got the swelling down enough to proceed with the surgery (too shocked to ask how many screws or whatever). The Doctor told my girl friend that the procedure went really well! I was then sent home and a week later (tomorrow) I will have an appointment with the doc to see what’s next.
It really gets tiring and achy keeping the legg elevated at all times. I am a side sleeper so it has been really tough trying to get sound sleep. Fortunately the 600mg motrin I take just before sleep seems to almost knock me out. The toes are a bit tingly when I move them. I try to move them as much as possible. The nurse said I should recover in 6 weeks. But now I see that is probably a farce. I am going to try and ask the doctor exactly what happened tomorrow and I was wondering if there are any other questions I should ask?
I have a pair of crutches the hospital gave me. It has been really hard getting up as the pain from the blood rushing back into the leg is tremendous! Slowly I have been getting more strength to take showers and go to the bathroom. Boy is that tough. Really tough not being able to take a shower on my own everyday. I have to wait for help from my girlfriend who works and is only able to help me out for a few hours every other day. Otherwise I am on my own.
Hopefully I will get Medicaid, if not the hospital has some kind of charity. However I am worried because it request to have my bank account information which will show that I have been making money from buying and selling things on ebay. Which of course without mobility is an impossibility as I have no partners to help me.
I was getting good at bird photography and hoping to be a professional a couple years from now. Guess I will be selling off the equipment I had to save 5 years for. In order to pay a few months rent and groceries. Unless Michigan has some kind of state disability you all think I will qualify for?
Anyway I cannot believe how out of all the things I have done in my life, doing free runs down forested hills as an 19 year old, running across rows of elevated platforms and jumping across the gaps in succession, all of the stupid ways I could have done this, in the end a simple slip and fall does it!!
I am 32 how long do you think it will take to fully recover?
Greetings all.
One of the things that helped me more then anything get the pain under control when it was to great is to get into a tub and soak (if you can) in thew hottest water you can stand. I wouls sit in it for about 10 to 15 minutes then let it run over my ankle and foot for another 5 to 10 min. The heat at least for me took the pain out of my legs and ankles.
Hope this idea works for others.
Don
Hey all
Diana
Hmmm Morristown in the UK ?? Maybe I can get them to send me there for my next check-up:-) Now that would be cool..
Ok Anklequest
Think we can get them to send both of us there might make for an interesting trip. We can see if insurance will pay for that one??
Mike
I can understand the frustration and the desire to work out and get better faster. But be careful with doing to much to fast! You can set yourself back sometimes by doing to much.
Keep with a steady program and work it moving ahead but at a guarded pace.
Tim
Most people see someone that has broken their ankle and think it is the same as breaking a leg or an arm. But most people don’t realize that the ankle does most of the work of balance and support. The pain is just from doing the balancing while you stand or walk. The ligaments, tendons and muscles need to be more developed then in other parts of the body.
Also most people that have these types of injuries get arthritis. More then a few have to have their ankles fused. For me I know that after a week of work I come home on Saturday and if I do not keep moving I will stiffen up and trying to walk is incredibly painful. Just putting weight on my foot is painful.
If you have never been through this you may never be able to understand the pain or the difficulty of recuperating from this type of injury. I have had broken toes and played sports with them, and had knee surgery and with a little rehab was back climbing trees for the power company within 2 months. This without a doubt in my mind and my soul has been the most devastating injuries I have ever had.
Granted I have more injuries then just the ankles. But my ankles (both) had to be put back together and I was not allowed to put weight on my legs for 3 months and then from that point on I had to get up and start walking. It was the most painful experience I ever had in my entire life. Keep working keep struggling, in the end it will all be worth the hard work and tears.
Good luck all keep working and get better soon
Don
OK I get my cast off in 2 days and I cna’t wait. I need some expert advice here. What did everyone use for the dry skin on there legs and toes ? Mine is really bad. I would like to get a cream or something what works and works well b/c this is gross looking. I am taking suggestions and open to just about anything (besides sticking my foot into grease)
Ashley
Tim
I’m with you…. Had my cast off last Wednesday and the pain is detroying me… Can’t see a way past these crutches… I start Physio 2moro and look forward to see what happens..
I tried swimming today – Went well…
Good luck
Hey yall,
Slipped on ice Dec. 11th. at work broke left ankle,7 screws and plate. I just had the cast removed 3 days ago. Major swelling and pain. the doctor acts like I don’t need anymore pain medican however I think it help’s keep the pain under control somewhat.I do not abuse it my wife has her MSN and watches my intake of my medican close. how long were you all on pain med’s? What is a normal time off work expected? and what are the benefits of having the hardware removed?
All I can say is OUCH! I had 2 major colon surgeries in 2005 and I don’t think the pain was this great. I have always thought I could stand pain rather well but this has been really bad pain. I am and have been very frustrated with the situation as well as the pain and really hate these damn crutches. your thoughts or ideas would be most appreciated. It seems as if talking with someone who has never been thru this has no idea, including my wife who is a nurse and teaches student nursing at the local college.Oh well it could be worse I’m sure. best of luck to all and may you all have a fast recovery.
Mike, I know it is tempting to push ahead with the exercises but it might be too much to soon, especially if it is that swollen. Be sure to get advice from the doc or physical therapist. One problem: all the info I can find says that 80% of broken ankle people eventually get arthritus. Some of this can be prevented from “overuse.” Think of all the football players, etc. who eventually have joint problems.
As far as scar tissue formation, you will prevent that simply by slowly increasing range of motion. That is different from exercise in that it does not put as much pressure stress on the joint articulation points.
Good Luck and be patient!
hi all anklebreakers
hi Trina
welcome to anklebreakers,what a journey to go on.its like a run away train you cant get off.but it does slow down ,and you will step off.
don and anklequest
been reading you have places in common,even though i live the other side of the world to you,i had my op in morriston hospital thats in wales uk,
sandra
been to see personel ,and yes i have to see occupationel health,see them in the morning,i could be back to work that afernoon,thats the NHS for you,they must be jokeing,its scary what is expected of you even though we are recovering from a broken ankle plates pins and screws two broken ankles in your case,take care.
Mike:
The swelling will continue for quite awhile. I can’t tell you how long I had a “kankle”. Continue to elevate and ice. It will get better.
Kris
Kris: Yes I live around the corner from MB&G and frequent both places often.
I know many have discussed this already but the swelling is incredible, my foot barely fits into my sneaker, I wear a hightop for the support and it does help. I may go get a ortho wrap to support my ankle too. Any general guidline as to when the swelling goes down, I know it will never go away but its like twice as large as the other ankle.
I do alot of calve raises (no/little weight) at the gym and lots of biking there as well, bike feels good, calve raises hurt alot from the stretching, but I know it needs to be done as I am sure there is alot of scar tissue build up inside.
Yes, my first doctor never said anything about having arthritis if I didn’t have the surgery, just that he felt I could do without it…bad choice on my part!
I certainly learned my lesson on second and third opinions. I am seeing the billings come in to the insurance and it is topping $165K and still going.
Hi to Trina. The stairs are a problem for most of us, but they should at least show you what to do.
Snow here in Sheffield, UK, though sunny. Won’t be out unless it melts.
Mike – Hi. Amazing that you had to wait so long for surgery. On the weight stuff, I sympathize, but then yours will be mostly muscle, and means you are stronger so that should aid recovery.
Anklequest – should be trampette – small trampoline thing. No idea what I wrote. I will avoid sonic waves!
Great to hear about the one year anniversaries approaching, by which I mean the progress you have made. Still some way to go, but it is encouraging for people like me.
I have lumpiness around inner ankle near scar that was not there before and now seems permanent. Anyone else experienced this?
Sandra
Hi to all ankle breakers. Let us rejoice and it is FRIDAY! Carol and Trina – sorry about your weather. It is a balmy 76 here in Miami FL. Guess we are the envy of a lot of northerners. I enjoy everyone’s stories. There is someone else out there that is always having a rougher time than you are. My year will be end of March. I guess I’m going to try and live with the stiffness and discomfort of not being able to walk without a little limp. Just don’t want more surgery.
Mike can’t imagine waiting that long for surgery. I broke my ankle by stumbling over a low fence at a baseball field – around 6 PM just a simple stepping over it and stumbling and trying to catch my balance – broke in 3 places and torn ligaments. Rescue squad called – decided to go to urgent care first as Miami ER are a nightmare. After two hrs at urgent care xray said break too bad – had to go to ER – had 4 choices. 1st had 18-24 hr wait, 2nd had 12-16 hr wait, 3rd had 10-12 hr wait and last choice had 6-8 hr. Took the last choice. Just wanted to make sure they took my insurance. Was there for about 7 hrs before they took me back to see Dr. Pain was incrediable! But wouldn’t give me anything in case of surgery. Well one look at ankle and I was wheeled into ER waiting room. They finally gave me something for the pain. There I stayed until next morning until Orth Doc saw me. Was told I needed surgery that afternoon. But by then they had me knocked out – and on IV so I didn’t care.
Did not have cast – just the boot. That was enough and that walker!
To all – just keep up your chin. I was long road but now that year is about up – I look back – and can’t hardly remember how bad it really was.
I still hold on to railing up and down stairs and watch my every step. It is something I hope I never have to go through again.
Have a great weekend and stay SAFE!