Update-Broken Ankle-1 Year later

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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?

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

  1. Hey Shel

    Glad to hear your doing OK as for the armpits OUCH try some baby powder on them might make it a little more bearable. And as funny as it may sound massage slowly and gently may take some more of the sting away. But glad to hear your doping better and soon will be walking much better
    Don

  2. Just a quick update: My armpits HURT, lol

    I still feel like the crutches are not needed, I am not in pain, but I know I must as since the hardware removal my bones were deamed not strong enough with my osteoporisis to walk around with holes in my bones.

    But my armpits are so sore! One of then I shoved thr crutch into wrong and have a bruise.

    I’ll stop complaining now 🙂

    Otherwise all is still well, stiches out, scars healed nicely- Note on a second surgery they will not use self disolving stiches as the risk of infection is high, the first surgery I have the disapearing ones.

    Sounds like everyone is doing fairly well these days.

  3. Tim,
    One screw? Did the doc just make a little hole for that screw? Why that screw?

    Dev, thanks for the update! You are encouraging to those who have to have a little patience.

    And Sandra!
    I think you might be using the crutches as a “crutch”. If you can walk around in the house without them, go right ahead and walk outside without them. Maybe take a cane or the hiking stick (yes, we do have expensive fancy versions of those here)so you can feel a little more secure. These are not so much for support, but for balance. Also, strengthen that weaker leg. Getting off the crutches will help with that. You will be amazed at how nice it is to be without those horrible crutches all the time and how fast you will adjust. Be brave!

    I also thought you might like to know that my husband Michael probably knows more about those kings and queens of England then one can imagine. I myself get them all totally mixed up. He majored in philosophy, liturature & history. When we’ve been to England & gone to the various castles & places of beheading it seems that he knows even the details of which queen had an affair with whom and where they slept. As for me, when I had to read some of the Canterbury Tales in high school, that was almost the end of my reading of anything “English”. My English teacher was also my Latin teacher, and mybe that had something to do with it. As it turns out, the Latin served me well, as I ended up in Biology, where the roots of terminology are Latin. Now about those Canterbury tales..how they served me, I don’t know. I do remember I had to report on the Miller’s Tale to the class, which was a great embarssment.

    Regards and good luck getting rid of the crutches.

  4. Hey Dev and Tim

    Sorry I didn’t get to say hi before when I was typing in 🙂 good to see you both.
    Tim Wow one of the screws removed, are you going to have them all taken out over time? I hope it all goes well with that and as for the slow progress, Don’t worry so much about that it will all work its way out when the time is right. Time is always shorter then it seems to us. So take all the time you need you will get there.

    Dev

    Glad to see you are doing so well and are improving. Keep up the good work and we will all get there sooner then later

    Don

  5. Hey ankle Breakers.

    A strange thing happened to me on Saturday. I was standing outside of this pub and these two people stopped bye and seemed to know a whole lot about some people I know. They knew names and some of the injuries these other people had it seemed so strange to me that people just out of the blue would know so much about complete strangers . Nahh just kidding Anklequest and her husband Michael are delightful people. I was so pleased to meet them. Anklequest is a bubbly lady whose personality could light a room with just a little smile. And her exuberance could push anyone to try harder.

    Anklequest
    It was indeed a pleasure to meet with you and your husband and I do hope that we can do it again in the future. And that maybe sometime we can get a whole bunch of us gimps together in the same place. That would be a blast to meet people and put faces to the words I look forward to doing that someday.

    Sandra.
    I am still waiting to find out if I get to make that trip to England someday. If things keep moving forward as they are now I hopefully will know soon if and when I get to come over there? So I may get to meet others in the group. As for walking, around without the crutches? I also say the house is great to start. But for outside you get the best of both worlds you can either have a cane like I used on uneven ground or for you a shillelagh  and you can use it or carry it. But either way it will give you a little extra support for uneven ground.

    It is indeed nice to have someone from the group that is close and as we have all said all along someone that indeed understands just how frustrating these types of injuries are? We all share a very interesting bond of painful and seriously funny injuries and stories. I think back to the things I tried when I was told I was not allowed to walk? To things I still try when some people are not looking. One of the examples was a couple of weeks ago we got hit by a huge ice storm here in NJ. Trees came down and broke in my yard. So being the knuckleheads that use to cut trees for a living I went out side with my future son in-law and we started cutting limbs. One was still stuck on the tree about 20ft up. My Daughter told me to let my future son in-law go up the tree with the chainsaw? AHHHH neah I didn’t think that was a cool idea since he had never done it for a living so I didn’t want him to get hurt and if he did I didn’t want to get yelled at if he did..

    SOOOO the most logical thing I could think of was put up my aluminum extension ladder and then walk up the ladder bring my chainsaw and position myself to cut the limb. I learned something that I could actually read my wife’s mind when she is glowering at me from the ground and I am 20 ft in the air on a ladder with a chainsaw in my hand. Wow I know why they have the term if looks could kill  Ok so not one of my smarter moves but I got it done and came back down the ladder. Hmmm still didn’t earn any brownie points for this stunt.

    But keep working all keep struggling and moving forward step by step no matter how small as long as they are forward steps. 

    Keep the right side up and the right side on the ground Ankle Breakers
    Don

  6. Anklequest,

    I have dispensed with the crutches inside the house – except for the stairs, and doing okay. Not ready for that outside (but nearly!), but then this long winter has meant less practice outside. Inside is familiar and safe, the walls are close, and my feet know the surfaces they are walking on. So, it’s partly physical and partly confidence, and about practice.

    Did you use a walking stick at all? In two minds about this, because at the moment it feels like I might need something sometimes. The physio who has just left my exercise class wanted me to get to walking without anything. I can imagine going a short distance, but not a proper walk. Got up my short steep drive today without putting the crutch down, but then had to stand and rest at the top.

    On a positive note, I did get to walk outside today, and pushed myself a bit – swap crutch around and do bits without using it. That felt really good, and I did 40 minutes of walking. Then some exercises at home.

    Tim, it was sunny and cold today, and a few snow flurries outside, but it’s just so great to get out in the fresh air. The MSN site (UK I suppose) has a little video of our weather. Why did you have your screw out and where was it? I assume it was causing you problems.

    Dev. Always good to hear from you and thanks for the advice. I guess we all get impatient at times. Reassuring to know that you made the decision to keep the hardware, and are walking so well. I would just so love to avoid any further surgery myself! Maybe I should get a new pedometer, then I could tell how far I am walking – which gives something to aim for.

    Has anyone tried walking poles? They seem to be quite popular over here, and I have wondered about them (one or two?) – not for shops etc., but for country/woodland/hilly walking. That’s because most of the walking around here is uneven, hilly etc. . .

    Off to chill out and watch some TV.

    Sandra

  7. Hello all,
    I hope everyone had a wonderful Easter, we sure did but ate to much ham and other goodies. The sun is finally shining here and the water is going down since the recent flooding. Has anyone heard from Clark? Sandra,how are you getting along? you still have snow blowing there?

    I had one of the seven screws removed last Thursday,WOW what fun. my pt seems to be helping but things are moving slow with the recovery,but expected.
    I should be released to return to work on April third.

    I have not been on in a while, glad to see the new comers, thats Great!I have enjoyed reading and sharing stories over the last three months here, we are all from different walks of lives however share this same chapter of our lives going through the ups and downs from the accidents we have had.

    Clark,if your out there and can read these notes we hope you are ok and doing well!

    Take care all,
    Tim

  8. Hi everyone -Happy Easter.
    Wow – Anklequest and Don – what a wonderful lunch it sounds like you had. Anklequest, I validate you for those kind words about Don and his outlook on life. That is so important with all of us – our own outlook on this hick up in life the power above has given us. And it sounds like Don and wife have had some rough times. But it is his “outlook” on life that has helped him move forward. Always think – no matter how we feel, there is someone else that has been given even more than us. Anklequest you are so lucky to have a supportive hubby – he sounds like gem – count your blessings.
    Sandra – keep up the spirit. At 7 months was when I got impatient. Went bak to Dr. and discussed having the hardware out. My ankle was stiff and swelled at times. He said I could be the part of 20% that will want hardware out due to my active walking. Told me to take it easy for several months – he thought I would be doing better. It was holiday time and I did not want to be laid up over that time – and you know what – those extra months proved to take me further up the road. The swelling is not as much – it is still a little stiff but I’m always rotating my foot around and I’m back to walking almost 2 miles a every other day.
    So – give it a chance. I ditched my walker at 4 months but walked with a limp but was determined to get walking and bone was healing. Wore the big black boot for months after. Swam a lot during the summer – I think that therapy really helped me along.
    As it has been said by so many – keep the faith – smile :)- move forward at your own speed – your ankle will let you know when you’ve done too much. But don’t sit back and feel sorry for yourself. That doesn’t help healing.
    Have a great week everyone.
    Regards
    Dev

  9. A note for Sandra,
    Just walk around your house without crutches. Try it. See what happens. You’ll probably be OK. Your bones are probably healed by now. No one gave me guidence about crutches either and so one day I just quit using them and never used them again. I kept them in my car for a while.
    PS: It’s lovely weather here again today so I spent part of the afternoon outdoors. My ankle feels better for it.

  10. Hi Anklequest. Great to hear about your lunch and to learn a bit more about Don. He and his wife have been through a lot. Sounds as if you had a fun time, and I hope you get together again as planned.

    Liked the point from Don about taking the initiative and moving forward yourself. Currently I am not getting any support in terms of walking/moving off crutch/crutches. At this point have decided I may just have to take that leap for myself.

    Not this weekend though, while those of you over the waters may be enjoying Spring, we are having more of the white stuff and lots of cold weather – from Norway apparently. Not too much snow lying around, but this weather is not great for achey ankles. Have the rest of the week booked as leave, so hope to get some short spells where I can get to walk outside.

    Dev. Good to hear from someone at one year on. I am approaching seven months, and sometimes it can feel like I am stuck. You still get stiffness, but has it got better than it was say, six months ago? I am still quite stiff, and it would be great it loosens up some more!

    Hope you lucky people in sunnier places don’t get too much of a good thing!

    Sandra

  11. UPDATE: Don & Anklequest’s lunch at the pub.

    Hi Everyone!
    We met! Don’s a fabulous guy! A really bubbly, enthusiastic, very hard working family man. He was waiting at the door for us when we arrived.

    We heard nore about the accident. Don and his wife are so lucky to be alive. Don has pounds of metal holding himself together but you’d never know. He can only turn his left arm sideways a little but you’d never know unless he revealed this. Still, he is able to do his work. I don’t think he ever much felt sorry for himself even though he went through far more than any of the rest of us could ever imagine. We didn’t get to met his wife since she and Don’s daughter were working on getting the Easter dinner together.

    We talked about everyone on the board and wished you’d all been able to join us! We talked about many things we learned on this board. Since Don is one of the double ankle breakers (his were “smashed”), we especially noted Celinda, Sandra, and Achilles. Don really has empathy for you doublers, but also says you have to take a lot of initiatives yourself in order to move forward because no one really can get you going other than yourself.

    Michael (my husband) did not use his MP3 player–not that he would have anyway. He thought Don was just a gem of a person. Besides, we did have a lovely drive on a sunny day through the countryside, able to see lakes, fields, mountain ridges, and many other things we normally don’t see during the summer. That more than made up for any broken bone talk.

    OK, I don’t wish to bore those of you who are fairly new to this board about more of this, but just want to say we do think of you all, and wish you all the best. We plan on getting together again sometime as a follow-up.

  12. User Rating: 4 out of 5 stars (11 ratings)
    Krogh’s Restaurant & Brew Pub
    (973) 729-8428 kroghs.com
    23 White Deer Plz, Sparta, NJ 07871

    Here is some information on the pub

    Don

  13. Oh one more thing tell Michael not to worry there will be other things to discuss other then ankle breaking and accidents 🙂 not that I don’t enjoy talking with all of you on here but I bet as you all know it does become a bit boring after telling and retelling the tory all day and then all night so I look forward to alot of other things to talk about too. 🙂

    Don

  14. Ok
    So Anklequest

    I know that your husband’s name is Michael and your name is ? ok so I am going to be 48 and am 5’6″ well maybe 5’51/2 now that they took alittle off the bottom. I wear glasses if the weather is bad have a very noticable limp if it is not I do not limp to bad. I have dirty blond hair and drive a dodge 1500 4 door grey pickup. My wife is Lynn and is 47 is 5’6″ wears glasses and at times walks with a limp has dirty blond hair and drives a big black conversion van (dodge) I get off at work at 12:00 in newton and it takes me about 15 maybe 20 min to get to kroh’s resturant. so I should be there around 12:20 to 12:30.

    I look forward to meeting you there and I will look for you when I arrive.

    Don

  15. HI Don,
    Well we are on for meeting Saturday around 12:30 at the Pub. Michael, my husband, was warned by me that the talk might be about broken ankles and other related ailments. He also knows that I have no idea who I am meeting other than someone I met on the Internet by the name of Don, and his wife, both of whom were in a terrible accident. He said he’d survive ankle talk(if needed) by taking along his MP3 player and listen to that in case he couldn’t take it. That, along with his beer sampler, and he should be OK. We might be late since he has a chiropractor’s appt. Saturday morning too.

    I am really sorry to hear about the closing of the Sparta Stationary store. We plan on stopping there Saturday after lunch. I always liked that place. I happen to like small local stores.

    Anyway, I’ll wear a red turtle neck sweather with a black quilted vest. I have short blond hair and blue eyes & glasses… a dumpy looking 62 year old. Michael has a full head of gray hair, is 65, and limps & might have a cane. I do not limp unless my ankle is bothering me.

    Ok Don, see you Saturday. We’ll let the rest of you know how our date went sometime this coming weekend. If anyone else wishes to join us, everyone is welcome to come to the Kroh’s pub in Lake Mohawk, NJ on Saturday.

  16. Hi again – I love this site – it is
    SO uplifting. Amazing how the knowledge from the “real”anklebreakers is. It just takes one to go throught this ordeal to realize what a struggle it is – I’m so glad I’m almost past a year and lot of that “fall -pain – emergency room – hours and hours waiting for a room – the pain – the surgery – AND of course = the bummpy ride home – the darn walker that woulnd’t fit through the door so I had to go sideways -AND everyone having to help me with everything AND the PAIN! Those pills putting me in la la land – boredom – watching so much TV – I hated it – trips to get xrays – AND then finally stitches out – and that wonderful HUGE HEAVY BLACK BOOT. But you know what – a year did go by and now it is “better.

    SHEL – you ARE the poster child for us – braving having the “dreaded hardware” taken out and those brave encouraging words – you are an inspiration and for many of us still coomptiplating that additonal surgery – well we are still listening to you and how your 2nd recovery is going.
    I never had a cast so can’ comment on those who do. So many different situations of how we “aquired our broke ankle(s). Prayers and thoughts to those of you still struggling with pain – but you will survive. And you will be a year later. It is still a little stiff and I watch every step and I go down the stairs a whole lot slower. But I am alive and a kickin! –
    Keep the faith and smile.
    Enjoy SPRING and have a lovely holiday.
    Dev

  17. Hey Ankle Breakers

    Ok my docotr did not have me in any cast. now I was in the accident on Dec 10th 2006 and went into 4 surgeries over the next 19days with a 5 day layover for an inffection. when I came to on the Dec 29th (the first day I can remember) I was in rehab and going back in to remove the fixator that was in my right leg and work on both ankles again.

    When I got my head squared on streight again it was about Jan 7th and I was able to move my ankles my legs and arm. I had no weight bearing on my left arm my left hip restrictions and both legs. but Doctor wanted me to move my ankles the Rehab Doctors even came in and measured how much movement I had they would push against my ankles and watch and make me move them in circles and stretch them even the nurses and nurses aids came in and to measurements so yeah they made me do alot of range motion.

    AnkleQuest

    The pub you are talking about is streight ahead of you when you go into the town of Mohawk. there are trwo ways to get into it one if you face the town library you can go on the road to the right of the main road where it Y’s and follow that down into the squar in that case Kroh’s resturant will be on your left if you make a left out of the Sparta Stationary store go to the light and at that light make a right you will see the sign for Lake Mohawk go down to the square and on the left side will be Khro’s resturant.

    Either way if we can’t make it up for this weekend we should set it up fdor another time. I think it wpould be a cool idea to get a day to meet up. the four of us would have a great time hooking up and just talking. Oh by the way sparta stationary stor is closing if you are not aware.

    Don

  18. Sandra:
    just do everything your physical therapist tells you,
    mine told me the things you do at home are very important, just going to the PT office and working your ankle out there isn’t enough.

    julie:
    i was getting the same thing when my cast just came off this was back around the 15th of january. just keep moving your foot that will allow everything to loosen up and everything will get used to moving around. since your in a cast for so long all the soft tissues in your foot and ankle get really stiff and tight and thats probably whats causing the pain, well thats at least what happened to me. even though it hurt i just kept doing ankle movement exercises and forcing myself to walk on it. i got my surgery on november 28th, and now i am almost back at 100%.

    toedragger:
    i was also getting the same thing as you where i would get pain and if i pushed on it the pain would subside.
    i for one think it could be a muscular thing, i’m not a doctor though so i could be wrong, but it just seems the more i work that part out it goes away but will come back the next day. also i did the same thing as you are doing, i asked my doctor if my bone was strong enough and then i just started aggressively exercising it on top of my physical therapy, my recovery started to increase rapidly after i started doing this. And as for that time of inactivity, it really atrophied my muscles in my leg, i lost like 15 pounds in the six weeks i was in the cast.

    and as for my last post:
    turns out i grew a little bit… i never thought that would happen i’m 21 years old and still growing lol. thats why my skates didnt fit when i went to go and try to play hockey >_<

  20. Nate,it seems your ortho and mine must have went to the same medical school because I am getting the same treatment. I had medical insurance but they dumped me because they used the hazardous activity cop out.
    Like I mentioned before you are in charge and yes things are going to be real stiff and sometimes the doc just dont understand the pain this can cause, but in my experience things do loosen up and amazingly quick. One question I ask my doc and PT is that if my bones are stable; when they say yes then I got more aggressive on my weight and stretching excercise. I found an exercise bike and heating pad very helpful to get things warmed up, then the stretching of tendons and muscle. In my injury and tore my deltoid ligaments in half so my rotation was very tight. Lastly, the reason they put me in walking shoe was because I had muscle atrophy and might twist ankle so the doc was being conservative but build I am really working on leg muscle so this wont happen and also will keep it from happening again.
    Keep the faith, things get better. :thumbsup:

  21. Susan, as the poster child for hardware removal, I will have to say go see a good dcotor and have them take a look, after that long I wonder if something may have shifted a bit and it may not be better to get it at least looked into! Also, when they did mine, he was able to scape out some of the arthritis and scar tissue that I had, which maybe why I have less pain and much more movement.

    Let us know how things progress for you!

  22. I broke my ankle back in 2002 and have 6 screws still in. These past few months I have started having pain everyday in my ankle. I cannot stand pain killers so I take arthritis tylenol and that helps some but not all the time. I get to where I can’t even bend my ankle when I walk. Anyone else have this too?

  24. Hi Anklequest,

    Thanks for the comments. I will keep working on left leg strength and stability, and maybe get an exercise band. Like you and Don know, it takes time. Now being told to try walking backwards in the house, and sideways just to challenge my body. These physios are full of bright ideas! Son popped round yesterday and pumped up my fit ball, so no excuse not to use it, and I have started using weights for upper body strength.

    You might have more kingfishers than we do. I see woodpeckers quite often in the woods I used to walk in before this.

    Hope you and DON enjoy your get together, and can post us a little summary. Your husband should be proud of how cyber-savvy you are!

    CLARK. If you are out there and when you can read this, hope it’s all going well for you.

    Karen. Appreciate what you say about the stairs, and looking down and planning what you do. I love to sit curled up on a chair or settee, but have not done this since my breaks at the end of August, 2007. And don’t anticipate trying it in the near future. Debbie – you are brave, though everyone’s injuries are different.

    Toedragger. Not sure about range of movement exercises, but here in UK they get people up on their ‘feet’ as soon as possible after surgery. Hence, a day after mine I was hopping on one fractured, plastered ankle with a frame, the other plastered one off the ground as it was non weight-bearing. It felt like carrying a lump of concrete around or a couple of brieze blocks. And what horrible surgery you have had – you must be a maze of scars.

    Julie. I think you can expect to get all sorts of strange pains. Fascinating how you bust your ankle and all sorts of other bits of your foot and lower leg start hurting/paining you. If it’s really weird or bothering you, tell a doctor or a physio (despite comments below!)

    Nate. What a contrary lot doctors can be, and costing you more money. Who knows why they say what they do, and when they mean what they say. When I asked about recovered in January I was told 6 – 12 months, but the expression on his face seemed to mean ‘How long is a piece of string?’ You think they sometimes just make things up as they go along?

    Just done another day in at work and it’s very tiring and I get really hungry, so took lots with me to eat -mostly health – but not so healthy tonight at home.

    Would love to get some weight off, but still moving at a snail’s pace, so it’s quite difficult unless I go on the hospital starvation diet. Not nice, and probably not good for my body.

    Chat soon.

    Sandra

  25. Nate,the injuries are ankle and leg fx. Mostly with ORIF that will stabilize the bones. The exercise is not going to be weight bearing but more range of motion to keep things loose. Since I didnt have this ortho I cant give you an example of this but I am no stranger to operations since I have has seven and one included an open synavectomy which requires you leg to be filet open to the bones and had extensive bone grafting done to knee joint with k wire fixation. I was put in a machine right after surgery that flexed my leg through its range of motion to keep things loose. It is strange sometimes how things work but my ortho then also had me do bending exercises the whole time and I still lost some range but without him doing this,my knee would have taken over a year to start bending right.
    I had the regiment that you are having on my ankle as you; doc would try to bend my ankle and say it isnt bending enough and give me a walking cast. Funny thing is he didnt order PT until three months post surgery. I cant give medical advice but will judging from my own experiences; the earlier the range of motion therapy is done the quicker the recovery. 😎

  26. Just an update on my own progress. 7 weeks have passed since my surgery. Went for a follow up visit today. 2 weeks ago was my last visit, where my doc put me in a walking cast with one of those velcro shoes. Anyway came in today and the nurse immediately breaks me out of the cast (very roughly she hit every one of my scars, thought I was going to explode). The Ortho came in and gave me some options. Apparently he is really worried about me accidentally tweaking my ankle. Wants to put me in the moon put, but cannot just give me a boot without insurance. I tell him that I am in negotiations with my condo associations insurance and how much is it. He tells me it is $400 a nurse walks in and immediately corrects him, guess it is $250. So anyway he leaves and comes back and decides to put me in another walking cast. In two more weeks he will put me in the boot, we will put the charge on credit. I just cant believe he told me 2 weeks ago to bring both of my shoes. This week he is very conservative and telling me I need to go in a walking cast and then 2 weeks from now go into a boot for a month I think! He tells me that I had a very traumatic break. I just don’t understand the sudden change. I think it is because I winced subconsciously when he had me take a few steps across the office. It was not that I was in pain at all, but just a little stiff and I did not even know I was wincing. But I guess he didn’t believe me.

    One thing he did that was kind of traumatic and I could not believe he did this. He jerked my foot back super fast and hard because I guess he did not feel I was moving it back far enough to make the foot flat for the new walking cast.

    One thing I don’t understand either is why did they take the old walking cast off, if they were just going to put me in a new one??? Plus they charged me another $500 for this visit, new cast and all! Weird! No?

  27. ToedRagger,

    What kind of surgery are you referring to, that the doctor made his patients “exercise the joint” within 24hrs. That is not enough time for the bones to heal. Just curious. Could you be more specific. Thanks!

  28. Thanks to Don and Sandra for the welcome. Its sooo much better to share our experiences.
    I still am having the fibula plate problem that my PT couldnt explain;(putting pressure on plate while weight bearing relieves pain for a stint). I am having a ortho that specializes in traumatology look at all my imaging to see if everything is anatomically correct.
    The biggest common problem with me and others here is contraction. Just curious when doctors started moving or getting mobility of ankle mortise? Mine happen to wait way too long,(3 months) this is huge problem with
    making recovery longer because everything has tacked.
    I recently looked into a ortho that treats a lot of sports injuries including pros and he makes them exercise the joint within 24hrs. of surgery and they usually recover back to the sport within 3 months.
    Karen you I feel the same way but you are in control of getting better so keep stretching and exercising and you will get better. I was an extremely active person before and know the only way to get that way again is to get stronger by nutrition and exercise. I was told after a major knee surgery I would never be able to run or ride, even do my job; guess what I did all of it 7 years now. I get the same from my doc but keep pushing through and this blog also helps. 😀

  29. Hey everyone,

    Has anyone had strange “nerve shocks” when they try to move their foot? I just started moving it yesterday, and I am getting a most unusual pain over the top of my foot to my next to last toe. It almost feels as if a nerve is trying to stretch. Of course the top of my foot is sort of numb, so it all feels rather strange. The Dr. didn’t seem to be concerned about the top of my foot, only the bottom, and it was ok.

    Don and Anklequest – let us know when you are gong to meet, and we’ll raise a glass!

  30. Karen

    I had that same problem abouyt sitting with a leg bent under you. I always plopped on the couch with my right leg(broken ankle side) bent and tucked under my bum and then sat. Well, bay accident I did that about 2 months after the unjury and freaked myself out! It hurt a bit but I promptly called my Dr. and he laughed and said I couldn;t re-break it that way. He was right…it was just soft tissue stuff and now I sit like that all the time again!

  31. To all of the ankle group,

    I can’t tell you how much I appreciate all the words of encouragement and how it WILL get better with patience and time.

    I don’t know if anybody has noticed that when you ask the doctors if such and such will improve, they say they don’t know, but “hopefully you will be one of the lucky ones”. So, it’s so helpful to hear from others who have been through this that improvement DOES happen with time.

    As for going downstairs, I’m still having to go down sideways, not forward, more because of a sore knee from spending months compensating and using crutches. There are times I think these other parts of my body hurt worse than the ankles. I guess patience is the key for those things also.

    I know I’m gripping every handrail I can get my hands on – used to bounce downstairs two steps at a time with no railing. I also plan all of my moves – hope I get over my fear of falling again as that’s no way to live! I feel I’m missing so much of life by looking down.

    One thing I always did that I miss was sit on my knees with feet tucked under me. This was my favorite position when on the floor doing certain chores and also protected my lower back as I didn’t have to bend over. I try to do it now but feel like my fibula will snap like a twig as the stretch is painful. I’m sure this will also eventually be OK also.

    Karen

  32. Hi Don,
    Well, if we meet on Saturday, then my husband would come along too. There’s a brew pub somewhere not to far from Sparta, right near a lake (is it Mohawk lake?). I think I could find the place again. We went there once and my husband Michael had the sampler & liked the place. He said it was worth the trip. I don’t drink but they did have good hambergers there too. Are you familiar with it? Also, he’s not home from work yet, but I’ll ask him about Saturday afternoon & we’ll see if there are any conflicts. If not this Saturday, we can try some other time. I’ll let you know in the next day or two.

    My husband knows that I’m a contributor to an ankle blog but this will be a new thing..meeting someone that is an internet friend. Now he does think I’ve lost my mind from time to time, but hopefully he will not feel this is too crazy a thing.

  33. Anklequest
    That would be cool:-) I unfortunatly work two jobs so my day starts at 6:30 am and ends around 12:00 am but I do have saturday afternoon open and it would be cool to grab some lunch or coffee together. There is a resturant in the area of the movie theater in spara which is just above the palce on main street you like to go for your office stuff or there is a Pizza place down the street I think it would be fun to meet up. my wife and I often go to lunch on Saturday if that would work for you

    Don

  34. CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK CLARK

    Clark, I just wanted you to know that those of us who know you on this board are thinking of you. I hope everything went well with you. If you have someone with a laptop get you on-line, [lease let us know how you are doing.

    Sandra,
    Good to hear your trip went well. I’m a birdwatcher too, have been for a long time but gave up tracking my life list years ago & now take the birds as they come. The last kingfisher I saw was in our neighbor’s pond. I don’t know if it is the same as the one you were hoping to see. We have a (rare)pilated woodpecker in the woods around us that we see regularly, so very exciting to see. As for your left leg. Don probably nailed that one. One other thing..is that your legs are probably very weak which contributes to the balance & trembling problem!!! So strengthening them with the big therapy rubber bands while you sit will help. Time will take care of all of this.

    Don,
    I wonder if we could meet in a diner or some such for coffee. I have a few days of spring break starting tomarrow. I’m maybe going for a little ride through the back roads over the ridge to Sparta this week to a stationary/office supply/rubber stamp place that I like (next to a lumber company). I thought you said you live in that area. OK, our dog is calling me for a walk!

    Celinda, how are you doing today?

    Cheers to all you limpers! Watch your feet.

  37. Hey Ankle Breakers

    Sandra
    So glad to hear you made the trip without to much trouble:-) As for the wandering foot? I find that in the begining of walking with both ankles broken the one will try to find a place to keep balance of the body. It seems to do it on its own like palning done without thinking on our part. As time goes on your feet will work the right way and go back to ormal walking it may take some consentration to get it back the way it should be completely but it will go back.

    I found that I have to do things more by thinking them out then by just human nature like before. I have to approche each task in a new way look at how I can accomplish it see what my handicaps are and then think of how to overcome the obstical and get the progect done to the best I can:-) alot of work to do the planing but it is worth the end result of not having to rely on someone else to do everything for me.

    Keep working everyone we will all get there maybe at different times and levels but in the end we will all get there.

    Don

  38. For any birdwatchers out there.

    Big disappointment during my walk. An ambition to see a kingfisher in real life. My daughter, who was standing next to me saw one, but I still spend so much time watching where my feet are going I missed it!

    Keep safe and heads up now and again.

    Sandra

  39. Don – and anyone else who is interested.

    I did the drive three + hours each way without any real problems – a bit of aching, plus I could still walk yesterday!

    Had to use two crutches to get up my mum’s path which is very long and extremely uneven. Went for a walk outside Cambridge (UK) at a place called Byrons Pool. A circular walk, muddy path near the river, trees and birds, footbridges. Did this on two crutches, very slowly – with daughter and mum as company. Even managed to climb over a fallen tree. Very slow, great to be outside in the country, but it also reminded me of what I am missing.

    Which then brought me back to my plateau – where I am at the moment. Seem to keep getting these – at six and a half months. Bit of progress, then it stalls.
    It’s too easy to be negative, so I really work hard to stay positive, see what I have achieved, and it really helps reading the comments of those of you who are ahead of me in all of this. Hope the same applies to newbies out.

    My metal plate and one pin can be quite irritating at the lower end, and my ankle can still feel quite tight – as can the scar. Still room for improvement, and I am hoping and aiming for more. Would still prefer no further surgery, so I will give it another few months to see how things feel.

    At physio Monday, yesterday, it became obvious that my left leg still needs strengthening, and while balance is good, still more to do there. At present, my left foot tends to wander around a bit when I try walking on it unaided – like it’s trying to find point of balance. Anyone know what I mean? And some of the stuff I was doing made my left leg tremble.

    One more physio session on 31st March and not sure what happens then. Hope I get more support with walking and stairs and not limping.

    Off to work tomorrow, then hunkering down as we are promised really cold weather and even snow – just in time for the Bank Holiday weekend.

    Will we ever get to Spring this year? Seems an awfully long winter when you are limping around!

    Sandra

  40. Hi to all. What a lot of traffic here. Trying to pick up some of the themes.

    Paul. I had an airboot, which I put on, and pumped air into every time I stood up, so I would go carefully with your boot.

    Hardware debate still on, I see. Those who have, those who might, and those who would rather lot.
    DEV – see you changed your mind, and hope it’s still the same.

    SHEL – doing well with the stuff out.

    On feet and shoes. My left foot (worst one) not that much bigger than the right one, but it is sooooo sensitive! Pressure in the wrong place and that’s it, so the search for comfy shoes that look okay takes times. I find it helps to change shoes around so you don’t get pressure in the same place. Plus, I walk around at home in socks a lot to stretch out all my tendons, ligaments etc. and take the pressure of any sore spots caused by shoes.

    JULIE doing well, but hopefully no more falling about.

    DEBBIE – I remember you! Well done on progress. Encouraging to hear you are at the gym, as I am still thinking about this.

    NANCY. Your post is interesting. Do you have to pay for the clinic and the op.

    ERIKA. I still cannot do stairs. Practising excercises at physio for both up and downstairs. Going down is worse. Basically, not only does my ankle not want to do it, but my knee does not want to bend, when all the weight is on that one leg. Did a a lot on this at physio Monday afternoon, and had awful pains in the night, in both inner and outer ankel – where I am screwed together. Okay today – Tuesday, and I suppose I have to keep persevering with this one.

    Hi to Toedragger.

    Hi Don and Anklequest.

    Sandra

  41. I broke my ankle last January. I was just standing when my dog ran into my ankle. It caused my foot to turn and I fell. I knew right away that something broke. The doctor first applied a long leg cast, that I wore for three weeks. I ended up having surgery on the fibia, because it wasn’t healing correctly. Besides my leg looking so funny, my knee is swollen. Is all of this normal? The doctors office said the long leg cast can cause the knee swelling.

  42. Hi everyone,

    I have hit the next milestone. I went to the doctor today and he said I was healing beautifully and can now touch my foot to the floor (no weight yet) and do some ankle exercises. I guess my enforced inactivity is paying off. This really is harder than I thought it would be. I feel sort of guilty sitting in my chair, but then I remind myself that I broke a bone, went through surgery (doesn’t matter if it’s “outpatient” – it’s still surgery!)and have been balancing on my right foot for a month now. In addition, those falls I had a couple of weeks ago – ended up with a lovely black eye from twisting in order to shield my leg and ended up hitting the side of my face and mashing my glasses into my face. Guess it was for the best that I was inside the house!

    Anyway, one more step toward some kind of normalcy. I started looking at catalogs for cute, flat shoes!

  43. Dev,

    It’s worth it this far, very minimal pain and alot has changed since I had the hardware in. The lighning bolt pain I got once in awhile is gone, I think I will have more movement too. My best advice is if you think it’s limiting at all try the surgery. Yes you’ll have to hop around a week or two, but you’ll never know unless you try, and the pain is minimal for the surgery. I’m doing great aside from being depressed I can’t get out and do things 🙂

  44. Hey every one
    I found out some more info on Clark It seems in the old post he says the surgery is the week of the 17th so he is in that section of time now. So it may be a little bit before we here from him since he is doing the ankle fussion

    Don

  45. Greetings to all you ankle breakers and to all the new ones in the group.

    Glad you found this palce but sorry your all here being part of this club isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.

    Ericka

    Your welcome for the song 🙂 as for Clark the 13th should have been his surgery date to have his ankle fussed. and Nate said he was having trouble with his computer link .

    Sandra
    Glad to see you back around was wondering how you are doing? And how was your first long drive? Hope all went well and you had a good visit?
    Don

    ANKLEQUEST
    Glad to see you around again kind of missed you for a little while. Hope everything is working out for you and it is working better each day?

    Toedragger
    Welcome and yeah your Doctor was not kidding this is by far one of the hardest injuries to work back from. Everyone here had started out with the same thoughts as you. This won’t be so bad a little time off and then right back just as good as new. WOW were we all in for a big surprise? we found out how hard and how much work and pain this really is. Also how lonley this is, it is not like other injuroies people are there but then as time wears on and you keepo healing they look at you going come on it can’t be that bad? They don’t seem to know this is no ordinary break thsi is one that affects every other part of my body. But time will heal. Time and only time can’t rush it or it will put you back down quicker then a hammer on the head. Keep pushing but do it slowly and wisely or you will be here alot longer then you want to be

    Don

  46. Erica; Kerri,
    The stair problem is not uncommon at your stage. I did not have a big problem with it by about 7-8 months, but I know someone who did. She was told it might not fully go away, but after a few years she has no problem whatsoever. You’ll likely be fine with more healing time and patience.

    Sandra, I’m eager to know how your first big trip went!

    Clark, where are you???

  47. Erika,

    I have just reached the five month mark since surgery. I have a plate with 7 screws, and only one long screw in my tibia. Not sure if that makes a difference. I too had a lot of trouble going down the stairs. I was stretching like crazy with no luck. One exercise that has really helped with this is to stand on your bad leg and go up onto your tip toes and down, but not all the way down, and then back up. Of course it really hurts at first but within a week of these exercises I can go down stairs somewhat normally. Hope this helps.

  48. Don: Thanks for the song…I needed that 🙂

    I have a question for everyone. I am almost at the 6 month point since my break. It was the right ankle – outer & inner break & tibia. I have a plate with six screws on the right side and 2 very long screws on the left. The question is this. Well, first of all every step still hurts – is this normal? Second. I can go up stairs ok – one step after the other. However, I CANNOT go down the stairs yet one after another. I just can’t get my ankle to do that forward movement it needs to do. Anyone else unable to do this? I stretch my ankle – while I am sitting down, I bend me knee down and push on my thigh – to get the ankle stretched – but it feels like if it goes any further it will break. I think the tightness is more in the back of the ankle than in the front, but it is hard to tell, because it really hurts when I stretch it like that. I am done with PT – anyone the same here? NOrmal? Any suggestions? Thanks all –

    Erika

  49. Hello fellow ankle breakers. I was in a motorcyle accident about 5 months ago that broke,disolcated my ankle along with dislocating 1-4 metatarsal heads. The fractures nearly caused them to amputate my leg from the knee down. I received two plates for tib,fib and closed reduction for metatarsals. Until I came across all the stories on this forum I was starting to think my doctor had missed something. I started walking with severe limp about 2 weeks ago but still have to use cane after being on my feet for over an hour. I guess my doc was right about the severity and he claims to be amazed by me being able to do any full weight bearing at this time. Every morning my ankle is completly stiff and it take me about 30 min. to get it loose enough to start limping around but I guess this is good as I also take no pain meds since a terrible oxycontin experience. I was hoping to get back on my bike in a couple months, but onlt time will tell.
    As for some saying there hardware bothering them, I dont know if it my plate but when my ankle hurts I put pressure on one of my tib plates and pain subsides mostly,(thought it might be a nerve thing; my physio thinks it bone stability).
    Thanks for all the stories as it really helped me understand better and hope all to well.

  50. Hi all anklebreakers and welcome new ones. Been a while since I checked up on everyone.

    Shel – so you had hardware removed – how is it going?Was it worth it?

    Debbie – heels wow! It has been almost a year March 27 – since me falling and breaking my ankle in 3 place having surgery, plate and 6 screws and LOTS of PAIN and swelling for months. Was ready to have hardward removed (which brought me to this site) due to stiffness and not really pain but soreness. However, after waiting another 4 months I seem to feel better – HOWEVER – I can’t wear any kind of “heel” – must be flats and I agree with alot – tough finding a comfortable fitting shoe for work. I tried a pair of 1″ flat type heel shoes I have the other day it killed my ankle – had to change to a pair of sneakers I had at work – did I look goofy or what! But couldn’t stand the pain.

    Ankel is bigger than one not broken and I can feel the hardware but just don’t want to go through surgery and hobbling around again – so Shel how is it REALLY?

    Greg – roller blading at 4 months – WOW! Don’t push too hard. I did a 3 mile walk at 7 months and my ankle swelled and was very sore – back to limping and it was then I thought I needed the hardware removed – however after being “patient” as my Dr suggested and don’t PUSH it – now months later I can walk about 2 miles and getting better.
    I found swimming the BEST EVER therapy last summer – I think it helped me the most and can’t wait to get into pool soon to start again.
    Keep the faith – don’t rush it – each one of us has a different rate of recovery but you will get there.
    Someone had asked earlier about flying – I flew last week – my ankle did not set off the alarm (thank heavens) but I did get cramps in my calves the first night after the first leg of my trip – I think I did not move my feet around enough while sitting – but coming back I did ankle circle move and moved legs up and down under the seat and did not any more problems.
    Have a great safe weekend.
    Dev

  51. Hi Greg,
    You are expecting things a bit fast. Don’t push it and you will be just fine. 6 months to a year (if not more) is the minimum for swelling. Also, wear really comfortable shoes! That will make a big difference. A size bigger might be helpful until it goes down to the normal size.
    You sound like you are doing great! Much better than most on this board.

  52. I have an 8 week old trimaleolar fracture and all the hardware. I have had three PT visits so far and I have to say that they have really helped me in terms of flexibility- even though I start out the day feeling more stiff now that I have been working the muscles and joints. For the person who asked about putting weight on your ankle only 4 weeks after the break- my surgeon said the same thing- but I really think they mean that you can put as much weight as you can without pain (with or without the boot as you can). I think you have to listen to your body and be cautious but also let it get better. I realized at some point that I was not even looking to see what I could do- around week 6 or 7 I started to try to do more and I have surprised myself sometimes. So I think you have to find the point where you can take advantage of the healing that has occurred to do more- without crossing the line and pushing too far. Best wishes for your healing!

  53. I had the larger ankle thing until almost month 6, and it tends to get larger when I’ve been on it during the day, I have heard that that can take up to a year to go back to normal, and depending on hardware you may always see a difference.

  54. Hi everyone and new anklebreakers! It has been 7 months since my break. I had already been released by the surgeon and last week I was released by PT. They said there was not any more they could do for me, my ankle was stiff and they just couldn’t get it to move. Like the doctor, they said this is the way it will be. I decided no. I searched and finally found an foot and ankle clinic that would take me. After an exray, it showed that the long screw on the right was angled a little off and was in my ankle joint. That is why the tightness and no movement. I need to have the screw taken out but it can’t be done for a year, so I am looking at after august. They are giving me a new brace and a night brace. At least now I know I am not crazy, because no one understood when I told them something was not right. I guess we all can just tke a day at a time and keep on going, it is a curvy road, but we all can do it and have each other. Good luck everyone. Nancy

  55. Greg,

    Good question. It has been three months for me but my right ankle is so much bigger and thicker than the left. I have trouble also with shoes if they hit at just the wrong spot, aching, etc. I did ask the doctor about it at my last appointment and he said that sometimes when bone grows back it grows back more than we’d like. I didn’t like his answer, so are there any other answers to this question?

    Karen

  56. well its been almost 4 months since my surgery and i have been doing physical therapy for about a month. my ankle no longer swells and i tried playing roller hockey the other day. however this ended pretty quickly cause it seems my right foot (i got surgery on my right ankle) seems to have gotten bigger and was pushed up to the top of my skate, my toes were curled up and the screws in my ankle made the boot fit tighter around my ankle and it felt like the screws were gonna rub through the inside of my skin. i’m not sure if my foot has actually gotten bigger or if maybe there is still some swelling. has this problem ever happened to any of you guys? and if not anything similar?

  57. Shel

    NOT running….lol, just walking fast and yeah, heels are definitely a weakness of mine. I just couldn’t have too many cocktails!

  58. Paul, thanks for the kind words, right now, my main concern is getting rid of my stupid cold! If it’s not one thing it’s another huh? Having been through it before with the break trhis part seems easier, well right now anyway. 🙂

    Debbie: Running and heals, you BRAVE woman! I don’t think I could allow myself the heals after this, my main concern there is getting where I can walk on sand (or uneven surfaces) without issue. I love the beach and really hope IU can enjoy a vacation in October!

  59. Hey anklebreakers

    Sandra

    Glad to hear you are doing more firsts 🙂 i bet the walking is hard because of new terain and trying more things that normaly would not come up where you liove but glad to hear you made it through and the drive is cool too.

    Erica

    No problem about being down we all have those times so here is yours(hmmmmmmmmmmm) humming a tune for you —– Ok so its over time to move forward and get back to being the helpfull funny person that you are. I can also see wanting the family around but you have started a new family with your son and husband. The company stuff will eventually streighten out don’t let it get to you to bad I can also understand that one I work in a family business also. HARD AS ALL GET OUT to be family in a business.
    But it will poas and get better have faith. and remember we always care.

    PaulK

    Welcome to ankle breakers the only club no one really wants to be a member of:-) but we are all here with you in the same place. yes it is strang that you can break an ankle and in such a short time it can bear weight. We all felt the same, it is just that you can walk but it hurts and it takes a long time to get back to where you were or close to where you were. but keep working keep asking and above all keep talking we are here we all know what you are feeling and why you feel that way we all did the same. as for weight it will also ajust to the situation and so wil your body you will need to work at it and do what you are told when you are told to do it.

    Remember not to over do it but push it a little more each time you get to work out and in time with the siupport you will get there. glad your working towards that goal. weather is one of the big things that affects me also so when the sorms come in and leave it bothers me but it goes and comes with each one. as for fusing your ankle we will have to see what Clark has to say he will be around shortly he is having his done soon and will have more info. I am like you and said not yet maybe later I had enough of Doctors and hospitals at this point in my life.

    Talk to you all soon keep the right side up and the right side down or else you will flip and fall

    Don

  60. Shel, I’m sorry to hear that for you it is not so good. I appreciate your suggestions. For the next while I will keep the cast on when I am up. Swimming does seem like a good idea. When I was young, I swam competitively, it seems worthwile.

  61. Howdy all,

    I haven’t been on i quite awhile but I hope my story is helpful to someone.

    September 6, 2007 i broke my right fibula falling off a ramp that was only about 2 feet high. I heard it and felt it and knew it before I hit the ground where I laid in major agony on the far side of a horse trailer in the dirt where it was hard to be heard and trust me, I was screaming!

    My first thoughts upon calming down was “what am I gonna do?” I am a self-employed horse trainer and I knew this wasn’t gonna be good. Luckily when I got to the hospital I did not need surgery and just got the hard (waterproof) cast. I didn’t realize how hard this whole thing was gonna be. Because my injury wasn’t as bad as some of yours I thought I’d breeze thru recovery. HAH! The whole non-weight bearing thing was horrible and crutches were really hard for me, so I had to get a walker and a used wheelchair from Goodwill to get around the house. It was a life saver to be able to carry things around and make my own dinner, etc.

    The pain, swelling, frustration, DEPRESSION, weight gain, lethargy, self-pity and financial/job worry was too much. People that have never had this injury just don’t “get it”. Being my right leg, I couldn’t drive for quite a while and being so dependent on others to go to the store or just get out was tough.

    After a 6 weeks in the hard cast I was then put in th moon boot which was torture on the rest of my body so I was spending more money on massages and adjustments to help with the unbalance of that. Ankle massages helped me more than the phsio (IMO).

    One of my big worries….will I ever wear heels again! LOL

    Fast forward to today (March 14) and I am happy to say that my ankle is looking more and more normal as the days go by and I was able to start riding again in January. I still have a lot of stiffness in the morning so it takes me a few minutes to get moving but it is waaaaaay better than it used to be. Riding is good, it just takes me a bit to get warmed up but I am back to jumping and showing as well. (For any of you that know, riding English puts a lot of stress on the ankle joint….I also had zippers put in my riding boots to help with putting them on and taking off, that’s always been a chore in itself!) I go to the gym regularly and started slow on the treadmill and bikes. I can walk at a pretty fast pace now (slow jog speed). Never really been a runner but if I was I’m sure I’d be doing that a bit too.

    I guess I just wanted to say that if you’re feeling down, let it out here cuz we all get it and that it WILL get better. You just have to be patient. I know I’m getting better everyday becase last weekend I wore HEELS again and could function the next day!

    Peace,
    Debbie

  62. Paul, it really all depends on how your bone is healing. Some people get to go on weight bearing sooner than others if bone quality is good. For me, ity’s not good so I am restricted. However if your bones are healing nice then the best thing is weight bearing as it helps support new bone growth, just like all strength training and weight exercises do. If it hurts ease up a bit though, and do it gradually. Also, swimming really helped me with getting the walking down again.

    Yes, use the walking cast whenever your up, even if you don’t plan on stepping on it, if I know it’s a pain but of you slip or twist wrong it will support your ankle. Hope that helps,

  63. BTW, in case you are wondering, I’m 45 years old and weigh about 250lbs, so I’m not exactly a prime condition athelete —

  64. So things seem a bit weird for me when I read these posts. I broke my left ankle, the tibia, the fibula combined with a disclocation. I was hiking, and had to be airlifted out with a helicopter.

    I had the surgery about 24 hours after the accident and had screws and a plate in to stabilize both the tibia and fibula. I had a splint for a week then the stitches were removed and a fiberglass cast put on.

    After just 3 weeks they removed the fiberglass cast, and I have a walking cast, and am told the ankle can bear my full weight (and I’m not small). This seems just strange to me, reading these comments, that 4 weeks after surgery and I’m free to put weight on it. This is the point I’m at. Does this seem right?

    I do appreciate everyone’s comments here. The incident was traumatic, crutches are very difficult, made worse by the fact I live up a flight of stairs.

    I can also sympathize with those who feel depression. I was so afraid, I was (and remain) worried about long-term problems like arthritis, or problems with the hardware. I can also see how other factors make things a lot harder. My wife is very understanding and helpful; everything from grabbing a drink from the fridge to driving me to work. My employer bent over backwards to accomodate me both in time off and in office layout. This injury would be far more devastating if my wife or employer had a less caring attitude.

    I have a ton of questions, like:

    If I want to go just to the bathroom at night, do I need to put on the walking cast?

    I love this forum right now, reading it helps put the whole nasty incident in perspective. I do find it strange though that the break is severe, according to the doctors, but the recovery time is so short relative to others here.

    One last thing: if you break your ankle, and have the option of surgery or not GET THE SURGERY! Seriously, I’m so glad I did. If you do not, your break will not be stable for a while, and you risk moving it. Also you might not have perfect alignment, which can lead to arthritis in the ankle.

  65. karen

    sorry, not sure when you broke your ankle, but just trust that it will get better—– do as much phy ther as you can— I found sitting on the couch at night and just massaging the ankle and moving the foot was helpful
    I had a trimaleolar break about a yr ago—- hope to have 1 plate removed soon—- I am so much better since last Summmer— hardest thing is finding good shoes, I found sneakers created pressure and the ankle was even more swollen at night—- still seeking a good shoe—
    nervous about plate removal, but I think I will gain more mobility —- hope it gets better for you soon
    janie

  66. Reading about all of you all stories and hearing about how the progress went is really giving me hope to run again. Its been about a year and 3 months since i had surgery on my right ankle. I got in a car accident in (Nov. 06) hit a ditch head on. And Slam on the brakes popped my ankle opened. So i had an open fracture bimalleor with 7 screws and a plate. 2 screws are in the inside and 5 are on the right with the plate on the outside. Last time i went to the doc. he wanted to do another sugurey cuz he said the outside of my ankle was a piece of bone missing so he wanted to take a piece of bone out my hip to put down there in replace of the screws, it’s called a bone graph. I just don’t want to do that sugury and have to wait months for that to heal ya know. so i refused the surgery. What could happen since i didn’t have the sugery he explain to me that the plate could shift so i would have to end up having it anyway…i am walking but i walk now with more of my right foot outwards to the right without actually relizing it. Don’t have much flexiblity and it hurts sometimes especially when the wheather get bad. Im just ready to start running again. I use to play basketball and be active in running. Now i dont even know if i will ever do those things again. But i won’t give my hopes up!!

  67. I had my bone doctor appointment today – had a new x-ray taken. He says the fracture (distal fibula) is healed. Now that I’m home, I’m wondering why I could still see the fracture line on the film? Are fracture lines permanent? It’s hard to believe this has healed and I am still so very sore and achy. He says there is no guarantee that the soreness and aching will get better – feeling sort of down.

    Karen

  68. Char: Also jelous of foot message. My husband has been giving me a foot message if I beg. So, I beg alot. We had our 18th wedding anniversary last October, and he have me a gift certificate to a spa. I am getting a therapeutic message, facial and manicure next wednesday. I can’t wait! I didn’t feel comfortable with a pedicure. Did not want to risk putting scars into bacteria infested water (you never know).

    So, on a sadder note. I have not been doing too well this week. My husband actually went through the house and took stuff away that he thought I could hurt myself with. I am not going there, but he was worried.

    It all started in Sept. when I broke both of my feet. That was ok, by Dec. I was dealing ok, and back to the family business. But, I have in-laws who accused me of stealing $$ from the company business and “covering up my tracks” and saying horrible stuff about them. Not only do they own the company, but my husband and I ran it. They forced to to resign. A few weeks ago I did that. Felt like I lost a child. I have helped run the company for 11 years.

    Three years ago, my mom & dad (who I was VERY close too) moved to florida. Then my brother & sister in law moved down and took my nephew and niece. That was even harder. Now, my only sister just told me this week that she is moving down with my other neice (my little girl – she is 7 and I am the favorite auntie that she sleeps over all the time with). So, now my parents, sister, niece, brother & sister in law, and other niece and nephew wil all be down in Florida. My husband refuses to even discuss moving down. I am at the point where I can’t even imaging living here without them, but I don’t want to move down without my husband, because I love him so much. We also have an 11 year old son – who would stay with me, but it would be very hard on him. I DONT want to leave without Joel, I just wish he would atleast discuss the options.

    Oh well. Celinda – did anyone ever come and see you?

    Clark – missing your funny comments.

    Good night everyone.

    Erika – sorry for the negativity

  69. Hello to all.

    Nate, one of the nice things about this site is hearing about the progress of others – like you. Keep going.

    Don, I am about to drive down to my mum’s for the first time since last summer. That’s about three and a half hours each way is this huge country of ours – depedent on the traffic. Coming back Sunday. So hoping the ankle holds up.

    Another first today at lunch-time – first trip right into the city centre since last summer. I feel that I have walked on every kind of paved surface available, most of it not being very friendly to people a crutch/crutches. The city council spent a fortune several years ago to bring over Italians to lay special grey stones – a bit like small cobblestones. A bit of an outcry about it then, and today I got more of insight as to why (not just the cost!).

    Felt pleased I had summonsed the energy to get into the centre. Went into changing rooms in M & S to try some trousers on, and created such a positive impression that I was shown to the disabled changing room, complete with chair (very stained) and lots of handles. Well, I suppose they did give me something to hold on to.

    Other people’s perceptions are interesting!

    Had a nice ‘loose’ leg today, which is happening occasionally. That’s great in terms of progress, but at the moment, it does not stay for long. Anyone else been through that process? Hoping my periods of ‘looseness’ will extend.

    Shel – what did you have out? We are back on the removal of hardware theme. I am interested, like Anklequest – just in case I need to think about it at some point.

    Char. I am jealous about your foot massage. Never been offered one. I do my own most mornings and last thing at night. Was thinking about going for reflexology, but a bit worried about my scar. Anyone tried it?

    Jackie – and others. Just started using resistance bands in physio. I have a golf ball at home to roll around under foot, which gives it a massage. Walking on the duvet (on the floor) does help stretch feet out. The wobble board at physio has really helped with balance. And I have been told to dance – do little bits of that, but carefully!

    Clark. If you are out there – hi. Missing your warblings on-line. Hope all is going well.

    Celinda. Sounds like you are renacting old family rituals and roles with your mum. A situation like this might reinforce them. If you can talk to someone outside of the family that might help you. Don’t forget that you can’t change other people, but you can change your own response.

    Hi to anyone new and old that I have not mentioned, and ‘Night All’.

    Will check in after the weekend.

    Sandra

  70. Hi Karen,

    My PT has given me a massage both times I have seen her. She said my dorsiflexion is at zero, so she works hard at the massage to loosen me up. It makes a really big difference afterwards. I hope she does it every time I go in. It doesn’t feel all that great at first, but I know it helps!

    Char

  71. Hi everyone,

    I am still in my hard cast on my left leg. My ankle has not healed all the way. The last time I went to see the doctor, it had about an inch left to go. I do not know if it will be healed all the way this time, I sure hope that it is. I have had this cast on my left leg off and on for 13 months and it gets to me sometimes. It has been six months since my fussion on the left foot. This was the third surgery on it, and he said I could have a fourth surgery if this does not take. And that would be all he could do for me. Except remove the foot. I hope I do not loose my foot. But all I can do is hope and pray that it does not go that far and I hope that this helps.

    Thank you all

    Celinda

  72. Anklequest:

    I had it out for a few reasons, one it was painful at times, and I didn’t have much flexability at all. I was afraid if I was to trip I would not be able to catch my balance because I couldn;t bend forward very much at all.

    It was kinda funny that my pinky toe stuck out with the hardware in, then when it was taken out it just moved right back to normal. Strange but true!

    My PT said that those with smaller bones like me tend to have more problems with the hardware, and I guess years later it can sneak up on you and cause problems too.

    I still am not allowed to put weight on it but see the doc later today. It really doesn’t hurt that much, so for now, it’s worth it and the surgery was so minor. I really only had pain for 24 hours after, I will do my best to keep you updated!

  73. Hey Ankle Breakers

    Nate glad to hear you are doing so well keep it up. But like we all have said don’t over-push something we all tried:-) I also though Clark was about in Fussion on the ankle it is suppouse to be the 17th so as I wrote before are thoughts are with you Clark Pass our thoughts ojn Nate if you have any contact with him?

    Thanks
    Don

    Celinda

    your Mom is going through the same grief, worry and all the feelings you are. She is right in one way the only ones we can defiantly count on to be there is ourselves. No one else will be there when we need that extra energy or help us to block the pain to keep going only us so keep up the good work no back sliding allowed now. Keep moving forward.
    Don

  74. Char,

    Now that I have read your post about having had a good foot massage, I’m thinking a lot about having one. My PT never offered that but wish he had! Did you just have one massage or did you have it regularly for awhile?

  75. Hello everyone!

    Just wanted to let everyone know that I am much better I am walking, well gimping around thanks to a really awkward walking cast (cast makes my leg 3-4″ taller then the other so of course it is like my leg is a post), but their is no pain. I am able to move freely around the house without difficulty. I am able to climb up and down our 13 stairs as well. I was actually able to help my gf bring groceries in our house.

    Due to get the cast off next Tuesday. Doc told me to bring my shoe for the foot. Told me I will be able to go back to work, driving, etc in another month. I am just taking it slow and steady, but good news anyway. Hopefully this will help someone.

    FYI for everyone interested in CLARK,

    His computer’s hard drive quite possibly bit the big one so that is why he has not been on in a while. I believe at this point he is having his fusion. Clark my thoughts are with you big guy! Speedy recovery!

  76. Shel,
    Can you continue to keep us posted on your progress? Also, why did you decide to have the metal taken out? I appreciate your post very much, and I’m sure others do too who are interested in the metal removal issue.

    Celinda,
    Your “negative” mother is expressing her own worldview (and frustration) and conveying it to you. Maybe she’s trying to say “make the best of every moment” for life is too short. There is a truth to that. I am 62 and it seems like not very long ago I was 35. I wish I’d have had the “make the best of every moment” attitude earlier in my life and maybe I would have not have some of the regretes that I have (I do not have very many for my life has been quite good so far.) When I broke my ankle though, I tried to take advantage of those spare moments as best as I could. The day that I started to feel very sorry for myself (5th day after surgery) I met a man in rehab without a leg. So that was the end of that..real fast. So try not to dwell on your troubles too much, embrace the help you receive, and live to do a little more for yourself every day. My thoughts are with you!!

    Achilles..I think of you! I spent the last 3 days in a hotel (on a college business trip) in Manhatten facing the World Trade Center site. I was on the 40th floor & could see everything there being rebuilt, and so too thought about 9/11 and had nightmares about it. And in my nightmare there was a man hanging upsidedown, stuck in a crevice of rocks, with broken ankles. That man was you. Then I woke up! Such are the dreams of people who’ve had broken ankles.
    I am glad, after reading your story, that things have gone well for you considering how bad things were.

  77. Hello all,
    Hope everyone has been doing well and as pain free as possible. I started pt two weeks ago and WOW what pain afterwards but I am sure it is normal. My doc. also sent me to another doc. that did a pain block in my back that had no results. The pt has me doing some water exercise in the pool,now that seems to help some.

    everyone take care.

    Tim

  78. Clark,

    If you are out there and did have your surgery, sure hope it went well and you are doing ok.

    Thanks Don, I was wondering too.

    Nancy

  79. Hi all,

    How is everyone doing, hope fine. I wanted to share something with ya’ll that I was told this morning. I was told by my mother, which I know most of it is true, but it still bothered me. She said that life is moving so fast that no one cares what situation I am going through and they really do not want to stop and really care about it. I know that this is true, but it still bothered me when she said it. Until your in this situation you do not know. But I know that this is life and life does go on. I wish that she was more understanding than what she is.

    Thank you

    Celinda

  80. Hi All,

    I am 6 mos post-op (9 screws and a plate in right ankle) and have not posted in awhile. I was finally referred for PT in January and it has made a tremendous difference. I wanted to share a few things that I found most helpful. Pilates bands for stretching exercise, marbles (to pick up with you toes and drop into a cup), and a Bosu (which has been amazing for balance. I also have a BodyIce ice pack which is great after exercising or a lond day on my feet. If anyone else has any PT favorites or recommendations please let me know. I am always looking for something new to keep it interesting.

    I am also planning to have my hardware removed after July if all goes well. I am hoping it will help reduce some of the aching and tightness. Please let me know if removing the hardware has helped anyone. Thanks!

  82. Hey ankle breakers

    I was thinking today one of the reasons we may not have heard from Clark in a bit is that I believe on the 17th is his latest surgery? But Clark if your there were all wishing you the best

    Don

  83. Hi Anklequest,

    Thank you for the heads up. I got scolded today by my physical therapist for standing on my feet for so long. She said I should be gradually building up to 8 hours. I will definitely run it by my surgeon again. Luckily, my boss is really accommodating. Thank you again!

    Char

  84. OK, so many of you wanted to know about the Hardware removal, so here goes! I had it done yesturday!

    I had seven screws (two long) and a plate after trimelicular break in October 07. (sorry bout the spelling!)

    OK risks, typical surgery risks, clots, reaction to anasthesia, etc. Also, included risk although slight of rebreak, or not being able to take out a screw if irt’s too imbedded. Doc stated out of 1000 or so probably had only seen one happen. Sometimes they have to make the hole bigger to get the screws out.

    OK, so once that was all known and signed off on… Doc stated maybe weight bearing after surgery pending on what it looked like. I brought my boot and crutches back in.

    I had this done in an outpaitent surgery center. Total time for surgery an hour.

    Woke up, yes pain but not near as bad as when it was broken. Could tolerate it ok, they didn’t give me any pain meds till after I woke up.

    Surgery went “OK” Everything came out no problem. I have poor bone quality osteoporisis and doc stated bones were not in great shape so no weight bearing. They gave me hydrocodone and off I went in about 4 hours time start to finish.

    I go back for a checkup on Thursday. Then we get to see about all the rest.

    It’s bitter sweet, very glad to get it done, but so depressing to be back in the boot and crutches after being out of them for a few months.

    If anyone has any questions, feel free to ask!

  85. CHAR,
    A little warning…someone I met with a broken ankle told me he could not work for 6 months because his job involved standing all day. If he did not have to stand all day he would be OK. Just wanted to let you know. I suggest taking it slow..and don’t start out standing all day. Start slowly. Swelling a lot at the end of the day is not necessarily a good thing. Take care and good luck!

    Celinda,
    Be sure to ask the doc everything you can think of. And try a little more movement every day. If it gets better fine! If worse, than maybe there is a problem.
    All the best!!! We here on this board are really pulling for you!
    Regards,

  86. Greetings ankle breakers.

    Celinda
    If you had plates and pins moving YOU WOULD KNOW IT. The pain in the leg if you are moving on it is probably from the tendons, muscles, ligaments and all the fun other stuff inside. You have to remember your trying something that has not been done in a long time. 1 put weight on the ankles 2. Making them hold weight and move in any type of direction. 3 stabilize an already shaky body so give it time. .. But by all means when you go to the Doctor ASK about your feelings if you want them to check it by all means tell them to check it. Explains what you feel and what you feel like it is the only way to get better.

    Achilles

    Wow Dude you have indeed been through the ringer, good to see that you have had friends and are able to come out the other side. The double ankle break is a thing a few of us can understand. Your best asset is your attitude and it is what will and has gotten you this far. No your comments didn’t stir the pot. I believe you just got to them before some of the rest of us. Like I said sometimes we all need to be smacked into reality and taken to task when we start to have pity parties for ourselves. You did it with just the right amount of panache. We all knew that you meant to be helpful in a caring way and that is the way we all need to be dealt with when we forget where and how we all got this far.

    So No troubles we have and sometime will be there and sounding just like that. I am sorry to hear all for your troubles but good to hear you are moving forward and as far as chasing the young lady here is a secret. !!SHHH Butter on the floor works great then they can’t run as fast and are about on our level. Just make sure you don’t slip on it. 

    Sandra, Anklequest and clark

    What can one say you have all been around as long if not longer then me. You all have been a big inspiration for me and others and we all know that you are ALL here because your in between ski trips and feel sorry for all of us gimps.  What else can say but Thanks for the support along the way

    And Thanks to all of you I have no Idea where I would be with out all of your input and comments

    Don

  87. Hello all Anklebreakers…Hope everyone is doing well and being careful!
    I have wanted to write about the various milestones of my ankle recovery. I hope it can help some of the newer anklebreakers out there to possibly get an idea of what to expect when. I know that everyone heals at a different rate, but this has been my experience.

    I am 32 years old and had a bimalleolar fracture of right on 11/24/07. I had surgery and the requisite hardware. I also broke my right radius.

    12/13/07 (3 weeks): Flew to Las Vegas and got married on 12/14/07. It was the happiest day of my life! My foot hurt like the dickens and was ridiculously swollen from the flight, but we made the best of it.

    1/3/08 (almost 6 weeks): My surgeon cleared me for full weigh bearing as tolerated. Yeah, that wasn’t happening! It hurt like crazy. I had read on a blog once that just because the surgeon says you CAN do something doesn’t mean you SHOULD, especially if it doesn’t feel right. I err on the more conservative side. My x-rays showed the 2 tibia screws had backed out the bone 2-3mm each. Screw removal is my decision if they cause pain. I didn’t have insurance for PT, so I started doing range of motion exercises at home.

    1/14/08 (7 weeks): Started going to work 2 days per week. My husband drove me and I was able to sit on a stool and train people. My job is one where I will be standing on concrete the entire 8 hour shift, so they modified my job for me. I was still using my crutches because I wasn’t comfortable full WB yet. Over the next few weeks, I continued to work and put weigh on my foot both barefoot and in the boot.

    2/16/08 (12 weeks): I guess 12 was my magic numer ! I was finally able to bear weigh fully without a great amount of pain, just a little soreness. Wore my boot to work and walked on it all day.

    2/22/08: Walked with my ankle brace and regular tennis shoe. I walked a few steps without a limp and I cried like a baby! I could finally see a light at the end of the tunnel! Still waiting for my insurance to kick in, but I got some awesome PT advice here from several people. Thanks!

    3/3/08 (14 weeks): Drove a car for the first time! I practiced in my husband’s car, which is a manual just like my new one. My new car was ready at the dealer and we had to make sure I could drive it home the next day. I broke my ankle in a car accident, so I’m dealing with a bit of anxiety while driving, PTSD perhaps? I have to drive by “my tree” every single time I leave the house..yikes! I’m wearing my ankle brace with tennis shoe, using a cane for support.

    3/7/08 (15 weeks): Went to my first PT appointment. She did the most amazing massage on my foot and ankle. She said I had some adhesions and knots. It was uncomfortable at first, but it helped immensely..for $100/visit I sure hope so! We did a workout and I got a band and lots of homework.

    3/8/08: I worked a full 8 hour shift on my feet the entire time! Wow, my back and heels were killing me! My ankle was extremely swollen, but it never hurt, surprisingly. I went home, elevated it and took a nap.
    Now that I know I can stand on my feet, I am going back to work full time next week. Now I have to decide whether or not to remove these screws. Apparently they remove them in the office under local, and I don’t really feel comfortable with my bone exposed like than in an unsterile environment. I know several of us are struggling with this decision.

    All of us who have suffered this fate have been to hell and back. I have had more lows than highs, but after almost 4 months that is changing. There is a light at the end of the tunnel. This is such a life changing experience. I have pretty much been on “vacation” from work and school for 4 months. I have done lots of reading and spring cleaning. I got to slow down and enjoy the little things in life. Now that I have to rejoin the “real world” I am going to try being more positive and just be thankful I am still alive. Without struggle there is no progress.
    Hope everyone has a fantastic week!
    Char

  88. I need to ask a question. When the plates and screws come loose in your leg, is it really hard to stand on that leg without feeling a pretty good amount of pain. My right leg, feels like the plates and screws came off, but not quite sure. Whenever I go to the doctor, he only checks the left ankle, not the right one. I am afraid to say something, due to the surgery, and I do not have insurance. I am afraid of another surgery. That would make it four surgeries on my ankles and I did not want to do that.

    I not quite sure what to do.

    Celinda

  89. Hi Achilles. Like the name – reminded me of what a nuisance my Achilles tendon has been at times, but it is doing fine at the moment. Enjoyed your back story – serious injuries and personal stuff to get through – and your comments were valid.

    Just back at work, did one day in and that long commute – and I was exhausted for the next two or three days. I am really lucky that I can do work from home. Enjoying switching my brain back on, i.e. the search for knowledge bit. Also have a second part-time teaching job, but I am giving that up. Life is too short to be working so much . . .

    Went in to town yesterday, and walking there does nowhere near as much good as an uplifting walk in the park. Been to shopping centre today and bought sandals and shoes in advance for spring – and great news – managed to find ones that do not rub on that inner scar. Promise to slow down on the shoe front as I cannot afford to imitate Imelda Marcos.

    Anklequest – thanks to your comments, I laid off my scar massaging and it has really settled down. Massage around the area, and along the scar now – very lightly.

    Julie. What are you up to? Balance is totally affected by these ankles, and I hope that you will get to that in your physio soon. Take care.

    Erika – great news on the job.

    Hello to Nate and Don – a wise old owl.

    Connie – hi. I am at just over six months and get quite a lot of irritation from bottom end of metal plate and one screw. I was hoping it goes away, as I don’t want any more surgery. Let us know how you get on.

    CLARK – are you out there? Hope you are doing well.

    Celinda, you sound much brighter. Keep that part of you switched on.

    Here’s a weird one for you to think about. The past six months I have been focused on my injuries and recovery. Moving through life very ‘mindfully’ (which is I think a Buddhist concept). Being back at work is a therefore a bit of a challenge, given some of the negative stuff that comes with it. I want to hang on to my chilled state and positivity, and all the things I value from this whole experience. But you know what? That’s also going take some commitment and energy!

    Gearing up for gale force winds tommorrow (Monday) and just hope my bedroom window stays put. Sounds like it might fall out when the wind is up.

    Said it before – but looking forward to the warmer weather.

    Have a good week.

    Sandra

  90. Members of your Anklebreakers Club:

    Just over 2 years ago, I fell backwards while rock climbing, with both my feet locking into a crevice, when my fellow climber above me failed to keep the slack taught. I fell back, breaking both ankles, caught on the slopem, with both ankles Trimallealor breaks, the left one really badly, much worse, almost requiring amputation. I was lucky it was not worse. I hurt myself having fun, and there was no one to really blame. My friend and fellow climbers felt terrible, and have never left my side since the accident. Well, not literally. They work with me as well, and have been a major support system in my healing. My left ankle is fused, my right ankle is not, but may as well be, as I can barely move it. But there is no pain associated with it, yet! I cannot drive with it or do anything with it at all. It just did not require fusion, as of yet.
    Two weeks into the accident, just out of the hospital, my wife left me, and took my two boys with her. She conveniently moved to another state for a higher paying job (she’s in Human Resources Management staffing HMO’s for a health organization, for profit, of course) and we had always said that we would not stand in each others way. We were on shaky ground anyway, both upwardly mobile and very successful in our careers, and being self important ladder climbing successful career oriented people, we competed and kept moving upward, but also grew apart.
    But she did it at a very bad time and in a very bad way, filing for divorce as well, and moving in with a colleague of mine who lived in the state she moved to and referred her for the new job. A double blow. Not to mention my ankles. And that was over 2 years ago.
    But my buddies came through for me, and my position as CEO of my own firm (software, search engines, peripherals) left me very comfortable and in no way bothered by financial problems. So enough about my past. I got through it and it wasn’t easy, even without money problems, which I know most people have when an accident like this happens. For the record she married the guy, and he’s a good guy at that, a good stepfather thank God, a year after she left me, and the boys fly back and forth from Colorado to California on a regular basis with their nanny. We are all doing fine, and I am also engaged now to an absolutely wonderful woman. She has been a great help to me. She knows that I can’t chase her, so I am trying not to turn her away from me, or create any distance, as I did with my first wife. But my fiancee does not work, and that helps. No competing up the ladder of success, but I am very much slowed down now anyway. And that is something that I have learned through all this. Every cloud has a silver lining.
    I have been reading this blog since it started, and found it in my first year of healing. I’ve had 5 operations so far, and hopefully that’s it; 2 on my right foot, and 3 on the left, with the last the fusion. My right may have to be fused, but hopefully not yet.
    I write this from that reference of my experience, as do you all from yours, and I am no better or worse than any of you. I am the same, just farther along in my healing, with different breaks! For info, I usually get around in a small electric Jazzi vehicle, the kind advertised on TV. For me it works great, letting me still scoot around at work, and get around the house. I am still young enough to enjoy life and I won’t let this stop me.
    I write this because several of the later entries, and I am not naming names here, but the entries seemed to have gotten caught up in the “Gee I can’t make it what will I do?” variety, and there was no forward mobility, no growth. I know it has been hard for some, but wallowing won’t get the job done. Go back and re read the entries. Many of you have written in; Clark, Don, Sandra, Anklequest, Erika, too many to name, immediately after the request for help arrived, and all offered good advice and a superb amount of compassion and sympathy, and advice, yet it seemed unheeded, and still does. I just feel that if someone takes the time to offer sympathy, help, constructive ideas, and the letters keep coming back the same old tune, either someone is not getting the message or, and I do not say this lightly, I wonder if we are not just being “yanked” a bit, if they are real? I really hope not.
    I do not plan on being a regular member of this blog, as I have a business to run, and am quite busy, but I just enjoyed reading these posts for the last year and a half or so, and I learned a lot from them, and they really helped me get through my own bit of depression. Trust me, money and success do not help in times like these, but they do grease the wheels. But it is certainly not easy for anyone. But really, there has never been a situation like this one before in this blog, and believe me, I have read them all.
    I did not intend to stir things up, but am now perhaps glad I did so. Life is too short, and if your’e not careful, you can miss it. (Ferris Bueller, one of my favorite movies).
    There is my explanation, and my 2 cents worth. I hope that answers some questions.

    My best wishes of healing to you all.

    Achilles

  91. Hi Ankle breakers!

    I appreciated Achilles comments and perspective. It’s the combination of perspectives here that makes this a good board…not just dominated by one group or train of thought. At the same time I can feel for Celinda, as she sounds very depressed and needs our encouragement. There is no one answer for her..just small daily increases in what she does and what she is able to handle… and reaching out a bit more to others to help her out.

    Julie, a little bit at a time! I was very unsteady too and could not go up a few inches or a curb. The first time I tried I almost fell flat on my face. In a few days you’ll be moving much better. Have your son(s) do as much as possible for you for all men need to know how to do housework anyway. There are still too many pampered “little boys” out there.

    Connie, I came to this board to find out about the hardware problems & asked people about having the hardware out.. and to date there is no answer. Individual situations, age, degree of problems, willingness to undergo more surgery, and doctor’s opinions, & lack of mobility all seem to be factors.

    Celinda, I hope you had a better day today. Did you do one extra little thing?

  92. Hey all you ankle brekers

    Celinda

    No problem we all have down days and you are entitled to yours. BUT that’s ALL you get time to move on and move forward 🙂 HAHAHA You will get there just like the rest of us did. We all have those days just try not to let them get you down to much or to long you need to keep noving forward and life will get better Promise.

    Erica

    I have to agree with Nate. I think the comments were ment to boost Celinda’s mood not be mean? We have all been stuck in those duldroms and we need compassion and sometimes a swift kick in the butt to remind us how much life is worth liveing and just how important it is. So I think it was meant to come out both ways to be inspirational and a little nudge in the right direction. That’s all.

    Julie.

    Ok with crutches always remember not to let the good foot swing to much short little moves the long swings will pull you off balance. No matter how strong your upper body is. I remember my first time I let the good foot swing and just like in the movies I had the twist spin dip and dive to keep from falling flat on my back. 🙂

    Another one to remember good goes to heaven bad goes to hell. so take your time use the good foot to get yourdself up steps and the bad foot goes down first to go down the steps. Never lean to far forward on the crutches either you will toppel over.

    As for the trick of hights for swinging your boot over a little rise or lip of a door that I qam affraid is just experiance and trial and error.
    Good luck all keep the right side down and the best side up
    Don

  93. Erika,

    I don’t see what was so disappointing about Achilles comments? I thought they were very real and to the point. I felt like they were poetic and express what we go through very well. I think they were encouraging. It also addressed an issue which I think is bothering quite a few of us on this board.

    Just my 2 nuts.

    -peace

  94. I have to say that I was so disappointed in Achilles comments. We all feel sad sometimes, and how nice to try to give encouragement.

    Keep up the good work everyone! I just started a new job this week and it’s going pretty well!

    Erika

  95. Welcome connie – glad to meet you but sorry you are one of us.

    Ok guys. I need a reality check. I just fell the second time in 24 hours. I mean flat out on the floor. The first time I was trying to get into the house from my screened porch – only a threshhold about a brick high. It looks so easy in the pictures, but I just can’t go up on crutches. The second time I was just trying to get into my chair! I’m guessing that after three weeks of doing nearly nothing, my balance is compromised enough so that even if I feel like doing something, I am not processing it appropriately to account for the boot, stiffness, etc. I think I might be trying to do too much. Yesterday I took my son to the grocery store (he went in) which was down half a flight of outside steps, then up again on my bottom. I fell the first time trying to come back in from letting the dogs out, and the second time after cleaning up the kitchen. In the middle I have needed to touch my boot down briefly to get my balance. I am not putting any weight on my ankle, but in an effort to spare it have badly bruised my knee, which I was using to get up from the steps, etc.

    So, what say you?

  96. I broke my ankle and blew apart my foot on Nov. 19/06. I fell while walking downstairs in my home around 11:30 am. I was 54 years old at the time.
    I had surgery that evening around 9:00 pm and was fortunate to have one of the best OS guys in the province of BC to do the repair. I have a plate with the requisite screws and two long pins.
    I was temp casted for about 10 days and then had X-rays and a more permanent cast put on which I had for two more months. Got it off the end of January in 2007. My worst problem and pain during the whole time was that I couldn’t put any weight at all on the leg and had not good upper body strength for getting around very well on my crutches. Because of this, somehow I separated a couple of lower ribs at the sternum! Now that was painful. And then discovered I was allergic to the codiene in the T3s so did not have good pain control. But the good part is that I healed exceedingly well and after the cast was removed, had physical therapy for about 3 months and then off to the races so to speak.
    But now I’m having some aching and irritation from the plate screws and trying to decide if I should request that the hardware be removed. Can’t make up my mind.

    Connie Doan

  97. Thank you Julie, I will do that. I know that I must sound horrible, I am so sorry for that. I will be more positive about this situation, I guess I am just so tired of being this way. I am sorry.

    Thank ya’ll for listening to me.

    Celinda

  98. Celinda,
    Here is another idea. You and your son can have a little “party.” Pick a television show, and ask him to be in charge of snacks. Of course it must be very simple – even dry cereal and water to drink can be made into a celebration. Also, this is a good time to pull out those board games. Instead of looking at this as a time when you cannot take him places, look at it as a time when he can have your undivided attention. We all know how seldom we can actually focus on our kids without multi-tasking. A rousing game of Hi Ho Cherrio, or Candyland, or Fish with nothing else pulling at you is a gift you can give him over and over.

  99. Thank ya’ll for ya’lls replies. I know that I should not be having a pitty party so much, it seems like I am, but like ya’ll said, I need to be more positive. And look at all the pluses in my life already.

    Thank ya’ll for being there for me and my insecurities.

    Thank You

    Celinda

  100. Hello Anklebreakers,
    Hope this missive finds all, new and old, doing well and limping along famously. I keep reading every day, but have not had the words to offer the group, until today.

    My case involved several anomalies that I suppose every case does, all unique to us, anyway. I had no insurance when I fell, and on the 3rd day following surgery, 2nd full hospital day, my nurse came in and laughingly told me that as I had a huge bill, with no insurance, and would no doubt ever pay them, that they were kicking me out, just like that, and they did. I was 2 days post op, dizzy from the Demerol, with a boat anchor at the bottom of my right leg, and although I could barely walk, I could use the crutches that rehab had practiced with me, having already had 6 knee surgeries and 3 foot surgeries prior to that first of 3 ankle surgeries, and they kicked me out, without crutches or a walker or anything.
    As a result of that, or not, as the doc said it was the worst TriM break and dislocation he had ever seen and predicted a bad outcome, I had a surgical redo 90 days later, this time with insurance and an 8 day much too long stay, but what the hell, I love hospital food. Much better outcome, crutches provided, etc…
    But there were other things much to minor to mention here, but when added together the totality caused me to think that it could have been done better and I started lawyer shopping, to pursue a negligence or lack of standard of care or malpractice issue, or at least to explore one. That was a very enlightening experience. No one would take the case, or even look into it. Too hard to prove, the bar set to high, blah blah blah yada yada yada. Thanks for contacting our firm and don’t hesitate to peruse you case with another lawyer before the statute of limitations runs out, etc… And don’t let the door hit you on the way out.
    After about 25 rejects, the last lawyer I contacted at least requested med records and gave my case a real look. He also stated there was no there there, and in talking to the receptionist I found out what a small world we all live in.
    The firm sent the records back at a next day Air price, when I requested UPS ground, which would have cost about 6 bucks, and I only live 70 miles or so from the firm, which caused an extra $30.00 fee, and when I spoke to the receptionist about it I learned that she, Theresa, had been involved in a terrible car accident some 20 yrs, maybe less,ago, when she was only 17 years old, and suffered a TriM break and disco, and also had 3 prior surgeries before he fusion. Here was a mid 30’s woman with a fused right ankle that had gone through much the same thing as I am experiencing right now. I told her I was going in during the week of the 17th for my fusion, and she said the worst part was the bone removal from the hip to help rebuild her ankle, and added that it was very very painful (wonderful, more demerol, and a catheter and a lax no doubt, demoral chews you up, and has its side effects, but it works!) And although they took out all of her earlier hardware, they replaced it with much much morem, which is still with her, and she has no desire to have it removed. Just as my doc said they would also do with me, take mine out and place much much more in. Theresa said that she has very little limp, and that almost no one knows about her foot. She experiences little pain, if I recall correctly, but does sleep with her feet hanging over the edge of the bed, dangling her ankles of both feet.
    Don, Sandra and Celinda, she was also a double ankle breaker, and Celinda, is now the mother of 3 kids, and lives a very normal life. She is not only a survivor, she is victorious in her life. She had such a great story, for all of us wondering what life is like some 20 years later, after a serious TriM and dislocation, and a fusion, and she is doing great. I hope I can take her out to lunch when I am out and able to get around. Getting to talk to her and learn her story was definitely worth the extra $30.00 fee, no matter the screw up. I told her about this club and really hope she writes in, and from the tone of our conversation, doubt that I have violated any confidence regarding her ordeal. Remember her accident was many years ago and she is doing great.
    Other than that, I’ve noticed many knew members to the club, none that needed my input, but I welcome them all and wish all good luck and offer the same old admonition to everyone. Be careful and watch your step(s)!.
    Take care,
    Clark

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