Well I just thought I would let everyone know that almost exactly two years ago I had a trimaellor ankle break which I never thought I would walk again from. Slowly over the past two years I have re-learned to walk and run on it. It has gotten better with time. Two weeks ago I decided to see how healed it was. We went to Disney World. Which if you don’t know you walk ALOT….. As I told my husband this was a great test to see how it would hold up to all this walking. It did amazingly well. There was only one time that it twinged enough with pain that I took an hour break to put it up. Otherwise I just kept going and it was fine we went to all the park (even some twice all day long for one week and it held up really well. It still gets swollen here and there and it still lets me know its not perfect but I figure since I still have metal down there and since it was hanging off my ankle at one point I can’t complain.
Randomness of Christi
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Hi Louise! So glad to hear from you. Sorry to hear about the pain. I wonder if you’ve got some junk in the joint? Scar tissue or loose bone fragments left over from the original break? Only an MRI or CT scan can tell … or it may just be that the cartilage has worn thin and you’re getting bone on bone pain. Not sure, but it’s worth having checked out. Anklequest has had similar issues.
Glad to hear you like Monaco!
Cheers,
Lee
Hello all!! I thought I would stop by and say hello! I used to post on here quite a lot….
I broke and dislocated my ankle (tibia and fibula) in April 08, nearly 2 years ago now. Had an op to put in some pins, and a plate, and had some of it removed in July 08. Since then, in July 08 I went to NYC, and walked around ok with no crutches etc, and have done a little skiing in Norway (NOT a good idea!) but I have recently started getting a lot more pain in my foot! 🙁 Not swelling really, just really sharp stabbing pains sometimes when I am walking, enough for my ankle to give out, and me nearly fall over. Then the next step I take is ok again, for about 10 mins or so, then I get another pain etc… Does anyone else have this at all?
Since I had my injury, I have moved from the UK to Monte Carlo, in Monaco, and I work as a full time nanny for a little girl. I worked in a nursery before this, and have really noticed a difference being on my feet for up to 12 hours a day, and Monaco is very hilly, so walking up down hills cant really be doing much for it. Where I lived in the uk was very flat so not had this problem before. Hmm….
But hello to everyone! 🙂
Hi all new to this group. I Severly broke my right ankle about 1 yr. ago my problems stem from swelling but also unrelenting nreve pain. A vascular surgeon I am seeing has told me that some of the problems are related to veins in my leg that have bad valves meaning the blood pools in my ankle and does not flow correctly he has treated 1 of these but there are 3 more to go. This was a workmans comp claim so I am fighting them to get it paid for. I guess my question to you all is Where do i start and who do I see to get the pain that never ends to be treated. Especially since at every step I must fight workmans compensation for payment. Is a pain clinic correct? I work on this every day then come home after work only to sit and ache till i go back to work the next day. I am not as far into it as some of you are and may not be in as much pain I am not sure but I am the only bread winner for my family and I have to be able to work. Thanks in advance for all your help Robert
Hi All,
Good to see the posting going again. So, all the discussion about aches and pains reminds me of where I was just a few months ago, 18 months after my initial break and a few months out from surgery #2. While I’m a bit younger than some of you in this discussion (I’m 42), I too have gained about 25 pounds this past 2 years and was moving pretty slowly. I think that the body needs motion, movement and activity to stay in good working condition. As my PT says, “motion is lotion”. The less you do, the worse things get. You have to push yourself to stay as active as you can, stretch, and limber up. Body mechanics get out of whack when you favor one side or limit the use of one part. It’s unavoidable with a severe fracture, but once the fracture is healed, you need to push to activity. Find the balance between pain and healthy discomfort.
We went up to Tahoe over the kids’ holiday break this last month. I have to say, I was terrified of walking on the snow and ice, but I did it. I went slow – at my own pace, wore shoes with good soles, and pushed past the fear. I didn’t make it onto the slopes on skis though. Maybe next time. But I did run into my Orthopedic surgeon at the ski lodge and he asked me if I was going to ski. He has every expectation that I will. I think I can – I just can’t get my foot into a ski boot yet. But I also noticed this last week that things are feeling much better and I’m actually skipping down the steps as I used to, though still holding on to the railing. I never thought I’d do that again. And we went to Ano Nuevo this last weekend to watch the Sea Lions and I hiked 3.5 miles on the sand – not something I would have considered 6 months ago. And it was fine. I was sore after, needed some Advil, but I did it.
I guess my point is that you need to take it slow, but you need to push yourself to rehab. I’ve had to make accomodations – like I never wear anything but properly fitted running shoes with a custom orthotic that support my foot issues. I long to wear my pretty shoes again, but it’s not to be. Not yet anyway. And when I exercise, which I try to do 3-5 times a week, I have to alternate weight bearing and non-weight bearing activity so I don’t overdo it on my ankle. I used to just go for it on the elliptical trainer, 60 min a day x 6 days/week. No more. Now I can do that every 3rd or 4th day for about 20 min, but in between, I can ride the bike or do the rowing machine without bothering my ankle. The key is to find the balance that your body will tolerate and pushing yourself to do what you can with just a bit of soreness. Then ice. It’s key to keep the rest of your body moving so it doesn’t all just fall apart.
Now there’s no way to avoid the arthritis and I know that’s coming my way in some years. I too will likely face a fusion or joint replacement in time, same as Anklequest. But my goal now is to be as active as I can without causing harm or damage to the ankle, or anything else. All things in moderation. And that goes for diet, exercise, rest, shoes.. you get the point.
Good luck to all of you and keep posting. It does and will get better. And like Anklequest, I remember that it could always be worse and I try not to complain, as someone else always has it worse than me. I do have my moments of self pity, but I keep them to myself or vent to those who I have permission to do so. Oh, and you have permission to vent here!
Cheers to all and stay safe.
Lee
Happy New Year to all contributors to this blog. Anklequest I don’t know how one might go about trying to avoid traumatic arthritis in the injured ankle. Please take good care of yourself. It is now 7 months since my trimalleolar fracture and operation. I am getting so much better. Today I bought a new pair of joggers. Since June I have been wearing shoes with velcro straps. I’ve been a bit phobic about the joggers I was wearing when I slipped. I told the young basketballer working in the sports shop that I have a plate and 11 screws and explained how it happened. He said that there are no shoes made that can protect against certain slippery conditions. I noticed today that I still have the habit of getting excitable and turning suddenly to look in a shop window or talk to someone behind me. i don’t want to change myself too much but I know I have been a bit more cautious, even quite hesitant. Yet now I am feeling stronger I don’t want to become over confident! I can still get very scared in certain situations such as uneven stony paths, steep stairs or wet footpaths. Sometimes I get a sharp pain on the inside of my ankle that stops me in my tracks but I rub it and try to go on. This has only happened occasionally. I agree that stretching and exercises such as pilates help a great deal. Elevation at least once a day when possible is still very helpful. Who knows what the long run will be but we are all doing our best. Love and best wishes to all for 2010.
Hi Marina,
My name is Karen, and haven’t written on here for months. I had to write though when I read your post about body pains following ankle breaks. I broke my right ankle in December, 2007, not as bad a break as yours,and I developed very similar body issues.
I am exactly the same age as you, which probably increases our chances of body injury from weeks of inactivity and walking on crutches. It’s almost like the sudden change (lack of) in our physical routine caused it.
Shortly after 8 weeks of using crutches, I developed pain and soreness on my “good” side, which, like you said, is the side I was using to support my body while on crutches. A year later, the ankle pain left, but the knee, shoulder, elbow, hip (whole left side of body) continued to hurt. I couldn’t put on a jacket without pain due to my shoulder, for instance. I had a cortisone shot in my elbow, my worst complaint, but the effect was very temporary. I started weekly chiropractic treatments, but can’t say that helped me at all. I still go, a year later, but doubt myself on that one.
These painful areas (can feel the soreness when pressed) are stubborn and I still have them two years later, but what has helped me the most is an hour pilates class once a week. The stretching done in pilates has given me much more range of motion and less discomfort. I think if you try to protect your body from pain upon movement, it becomes worse due to spasmed muscles. I started getting better also by “forgetting” about my sore muscles and doing everything I used to do, even if it hurt. Remaining active, and doing stretching like pilates or yoga, walking, etc, are the best things you can do.
I think I may always have these problem areas, but think I’m minimizing them by staying fit and hopefully, losing more weight. Being aware of good posture is something else I have learned, which is helpful.
A year ago, I was afraid to pick up my grandchildren for fear of further pain/injury, and now, I just do it! It will get better!
Happy New Year everyone hope this finds all well and hopefully a better 2010. I to had a trimallor dislocation and fracture in May 09 it required a plate and 8 screws, I along with others don’t enjoy the cold weather in the midwest here. It actually frecks me out to walk on the snow. It is awful I know but I can’t help it. When you’ve had a horrible fall and flashbacks it will always be with you. I pray about it all the time and it has helped I just keep having to believe that. Have a safe New Year and happy one. Keep both feet on the ground and wish all well.
Hope everyone had a Happy New Year…no dancing for me though! I’m a 58 yr old female and had a very active lifestyle at the airport. Tri-mal break right ankle on Oct 7, surgery with plate, pin, screws on Oct 22. Weight bearing since Dec 4. I can now walk with my walker but still use the small wheelchair occasionally. When we go out, we still use the bigger wheelchair because it’s faster. Big news….I can now get in our Tahoe! Woo-hoo! Not driving, of course, but my husband doesn’t have to boost me in now. It takes me a few minutes to get my good foot on the running board and get a good grip with my hands, then I can get in.
I have noticed since I’m up more that I now have more aches and pains. My left knee (good leg) has really been bothering me and that’s because it was overused when I was non-weight bearing. Sometimes it hurts so bad when I’m trying to stand that I actually sit back down to get my courage up. Now that I’m ‘walking’ my right knee hurts when I straighten it. It wasn’t straight for over 8 weeks while I had it elevated since it was on pillows. Therapist says I have no muscle left around it. Now notice my back really starts to hurt when I’m up walking more than 5 minutes, but as soon as I sit down, that hurt goes away. Of course, shoulders, neck and upper arms hurt from using the walker. Are all these aches and pains normal with anyone else? My therapist says it is because of the significant break. Several days after therapy as I was laying down with ice on the ankle, I started to feel what was like a pinched nerve running from my behind down back of my leg and down back of my calf (on my bad side). Brought tears to my eyes. Therapist told me to not get discouraged that it will take me a good year to get to feeling somewhat normal. He said, “I’m sure your surgeon told you this.” I told him that no, my surgeon basically said get rid of the boot and start walking and stretching the heel and calf. (His work was done…the bones were healed!)
I too have gained some weight. Not too much because I can still wear the same clothes but snug in the waist…maybe just spreading from inactivity? I don’t have scales and refuse them even at dr office!
I can hobble a bit but it hurts to put all my weight on my ankle, especially around tendons on sides. (I found out there are 100 tendons in my foot! And most of them are messed up!)
Still can’t wiggle my big toe much and have numbness on top. I still have the wound on top but more and more of the scab is coming off with just about 1 inch left…with a crater in my foot…so can’t swim yet for therapy.
My goal is to master at least 3 steps. I would like to go to visit my grandchildren and both homes have at least 3 steps to get up into the house.
Let me know if anyone else has had comparable aches and pains. I would hope that I’m not just a ‘wuss’ as my grandkids would say.
Marina
Nancy,
You bring up a serious problem for many of us: weight gain and decreasing fitness. I’m now extremely committed to getting my weight down…I was up over 220 but now am back below 200 with a goal of about 180 or a little less. I found out that doctors have reservations about ankle replacements in overweight individuals. This is not surprising since ankle replacements are still in experimental stages and no one wants these to fail.
Basically I started by cutting back on ice cream. Once I could do that, I began cutting out other items and eating less.
Anyway, all this ankle business is very life changing if you have the types of breaks we had. Fortunately, at age 65, I am still able to walk, work, and do most of the things I was once able to do with much more ease. I do try to be positive and do not complain, ever, about what I am going through, for every time I turn around, there is someone worse off than me. Let’s hope by the time we need replacements things will be much more advanced.
All you newer anklebreakers….cheers! Things will get better…but very slowly. If you are lucky, and if you are careful, you will not get the “traumatic arthritis.”
Anklequest
Hi Anklequest,
I remember you from the old site. It has been 21/2 years for me and I am in the same perdictament as you. I have the bad arthritis and my only options are fusion or ankle replacement. I have gained a lot of weight because of no activities. It is so hard to understand an ankle break can end up like this. Always pain and swelling. I wish a happy and safe new year to you and all the ankle breakers.
Hi Lee,
Hoping everyone here will have a better 2010 than 2009. Getting broken ankles to improve takes time and patience.
As for me, my ankle, after 4 years, is slowly getting worse from the “traumatic arthritis.” (I had a relatively bad trimalleolar fracture with plate and pins.)This really started to increase about a year and a half ago. I did have arthroscopic surgery this past summer which helped a bit but does not “fix” the underlying condition.
I am seeing my doctor in a few weeks and will see what he says about pain meds. I’m using tylenol and occasional NSAID’s which I really cannot take. Cortosine shots I’ve also tried, and these are not helpful after about a week or two.
OK, so I’m limiting my activities 🙁 and getting out of shape. Sadly, our elderly dog finally also died and that limited my activities even more.
Lee, my future is either ankle replacement or fusion, perhaps in two years or as long as I can last with bone on bone.
I keep reading this great blog, but feel that for the new ankle breakers are the ones best able to help each other with the daily difficulties and the initial shocks and discouragements that occur with everyone.
All the best to everyone!!!
Anklequest
Hi all,
Just checking in to wish all who might still be lurking a Happy New Year!
Cheers,
Lee
Wishing all my broken ankle friends,,, old and new,,, the very best of the season. May each and every one of you have the happiest (and safest) of New Years. Lois
HEY Trac!! good to see ya!! Its awfully quiet round here.. Hope everyones enjoying the holidays!!
Whew! This works, yay! Marina, I have that kind of swelling in both of my feet (I broke both both ankles) and I use ace bandages wrapped tight to help with circulation. I also have dealt with the wounds on top of my feet. It is painful. However, I wish I had listened to my surgeon and became weight bearing sooner than I did. But, I would trust your therapist. My therapist says he likes to see me in enough pain it makes him smile, but not so much that it makes me cry. About right. I never wouldve guessed it would be 30 months and I’m still healing. But keep gritting your teeth and pushing through, soon you’ll feel strength, but you may be like me, and have to wear sandals year round. I wear Tevas with wool socks in winter and try the diabetic socks, they should fit your foot better. Sucks doesn’t it? I have the UGLIEST foot and leg all crooked and swollen, never mind scars…but, hey no one else can
At least we have feet and legs no one else has, right? The way I see it, its a mark of survival and I’m always happy to be reminded I survived! Cheesey, but it helps me when I start feeling sorry for myself. Take care of yourself!
Hi! Great to see everyone and how we are all managing. I gave up internet for a few months in order to save for a kayak for next summer. Priorities, huh? Ha! I’m learning to do stuff on my phone. We will see how this turns out. Things are okay with me. I’m starting to see effects of life with Epilepsy and the heavy meds it takes to control mine. My liver is not good, so we have to work on my liver before we can do any more ankle surgeries. I’ve known for years this could happen as I take 3500 mg of Depakote, which is a liver destroyer. But, it really controls my seizures like nothing else. So, other than that, happy here. Busy making piles of diabetic friendly goodies for The Elderlies, and organizing a big fancy steak dinner party for 60 of the seniors. Excited
, but a lot of work! Loving winter, really glad I got the “off road” tires on my wheelchair! Well, I’m going to see how this works and post now.
Happy Christmas!
Hi everyone,
Wow, reading all the posts make me feel not so alone. I don’t think anyone fully understands, I am thankful I found this site again. I too like others are afraid with every step, it is amazing what this injury can do. am sorry for all of your pain, but happy to know someone else understands. Happy and safe holidays.
Noreen
wow reading your post it was like i was typing..lol.. i too have a lot of the same things
broke my ankle dec 08 surgery same day was severe and now almost to the 1 year anniversary I am doing well i comparrison to others however have my own issues. weight gain far exceeds any of the others i was too very proud in beginning look at me im losing weight,,then waammm there it was
as for pain it is actually getting more painfull now then before.i have alot of injury (far more then i think the doctor thought at first) in my foot. had a lot of problems in beginning couldnt feel my foot now i can most of the time i just get sharp electrical shock type pains in the bottom every once in a while. very annoying alot of leg pain where they put the metal rod in hopefully will see doctor soon. also noreen i can still close my eyes and here the bones snapping my partner who was there when it happened also feels the same its a sound that will never go away i have nightmares alot more than i would like to admit. i have the recurring walking and slipping. i too am afraid of wet/slippery surfaces and avoid them at all cost. and you know what thats ok by me i wish i would have been more aware then
anyway sorry all to ramble. lois,trac,wes.sharon and everyone else… long time no talk hope all is well.
Hello Marina, Wes, Trac. Lee, anklequest and everyone out there who is part of this anklebreakers ‘club’ past and present plus alumni! I think it takes 12 weeks for the bones to really heal. Then there are the muscles, sinews, tendons etc that may also be suffering. It is December 15 today and my accident occurred on June 3. I had the operation early June 4. It was considered urgent because it was compound. I didn’t even know that this expression referred to the fact that the bone had broken through the skin till this happened to me! Anyway, although my foot still swells a bit and feels tight at times (like a rubber band around the ankle), and I’m still not back in pretty shoe shop shoes (although the Homy Ped velcro sandles from the pharmacy aren’t too bad at all), I am walking around shopping centres doing Christmas shopping. Also last month I did a couple of days casual teaching ESL students – on my feet all day. Even going downstairs is improving. Of course the spectre of future arthritis hangs over us all but maybe it isn’t inevitable. The hospital PT says I can continue my own exercise regimen and gave me some handouts. I am going to continue with a private PT once a fortnight for a few more weeks. I still have some PT insurance cover. As it’s close to the end of the year I don’t need to save any hours I have left because it gets renewed in the new year. He is really only massaging the foot and calf now. But it feels wonderful. My partner also will do this for me. At times it is like a ‘thirsty’ ankle begging to be massaged. I can also do it myself when watching television. I think it all helps. I had been feeling too proud of myself for not putting on extra weight while I was on crutches but all of a sudden the scales have shot up. After N Y I will try and get a gym program going again. Psychologically I am still shocked when I remember the way I heard the snap as the bones broke. I also am still scared of surfaces that look wet and slippery. I have had a couple of bad dreams. Overall though I feel very lucky. I had prompt and excellent treatment and there are even worse things that could have happened. Good luck to each and everyone of you and may we all have a happy and safe Christmas and New Year. You are friends on line to me.
Hello all
I’m 58, female and my tri-malleor fracture and dislocation occurred Oct 7 and surgery with plate, screws and pins was Oct 22 (due to immense swelling and fracture blisters). Had another follow-up appointment on Dec 4 with surgeon and x-rays were taken. He tells me bones are healed and throw away the boot and start walking. My sister and I both looked at each other and almost laughed. I told him: “Did you see the size of my foot?” It doubles in size in just a few minutes. He told me to get a sandal to wear. I still have a huge blister on top of my foot and foot is still numb. He feels the swelling is because I have bad blood vessels. He left the room and my sister asked: “How old is he?” I do know he just completed residency several years prior and just set up private practice. He came highly recommended….but….doesn’t look you in the eye and instead types on his computer while you answer questions. Really no bedside manner which is why he probably became a surgeon…not much follow-up required. I had absolutely no flexibility so he told me to stand facing the wall and start stretching, then he left the room.
The guy in the office that fits the boots, braces etc, then came in and he was pretty personable. He laughed too when we told him what the surgeon said. He said that as far as the surgeon was concerned, his work was done and bones are healed. “Bracing” guy said to follow the lead of the physical therapist and use the boot to walk on until I can walk out of it. He felt I should be able to walk without boot or assistance in 6-8 months – which is what my therapist said too.
I started weight bearing exercises and PT is doing more stretching. I am “walking” very short distances with the walker…maybe about 25% weight. It feels like little stabbing needles in the bottom of my foot. I also feel periodic twinges where the pin and screws are and also burning in the back of the ankle where one fracture was and a calcium deposit formed over it.
PT also laughed when I told her dr. said to “just start walking”. They have upped the PT and I rode a stationary bike today. Had trouble pressing hard enough to ride forward with the resistance, so pedaled backward with no resistance to get the hang of my ankle moving again.
I’m only wearing the boot now to “walk”, and cut slits in the top of an old houseslipper to get my fat foot in it for around the house. I can’t even get one of my own socks on my foot…just my husband’s old stretched out cotton socks that he is ready to throw out.
I filed for long-term disability through my insurance and certainly hope their approval is based on what therapist says and not what the dr. feels. I run up and down a jetbridge all day and open aircraft doors. Kind of hard to do that in a walker and turn a flight in 20 minutes!
Just thought I would give you all an update on my condition. I feel progress is slow, but excited with each new improvement.
Hope everyone has a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!
Marina
& Hi to Karen Noreen& say HeLLo to Trac when you all see her online again 🙂 and hello to the new anklebreaks and healing alike..
..had to quickly say, Sorry for all the typos.. when I type from the phone it thinks I want to scroll up and down to different comments throughout the web page so Im doing this all blind lol 😉
Night all 🙂
Yes it doesseem to be a bit quiet on here… maybe thats why my ears were ringing 😉 lol I got a new phone a new computer since old one bit the dust & i got new classes starting in January.. I swear Im busier than ever … HowEvEr..as I lais down this evening and had to put my down throw pillow under the covers for my foot to rest over (since Im a face down sleeper) I thought of everyone on here and wondered how all were doing =) I have gotten lazier & lazier the more i study. But starting to go back to the gym at least a couple time a week. Havent seen my buddy there 🙁 hope Glens doin alright. I’ll have to deffinately get this link saved in my new computer & this phone too. I swear, learning new electronics after using the old ones for more than 4 years is mind herrassing and i find myself not even waNting to use my expensive phone & just in over my head figuring out and filing my lap top so im ready when school starts. well HeLLo to all Lois, Ankleques, Lee i see you all are still her
shoot.. our family did a family reunion & made me think we need to gather the hobblers together sometime..
nice thought
anyhow 😉 hopefully Ill be back on soon,
Wes
Thank you Lee for your advice about calcium. I am also taking macuvision (don’t know if you’ve heard of it), but I haven’t taken any tablets except my thyroxine, for a week because of the ‘indigestion’ feeling the other tablets had given me. I will start trying them again now and stagger them across the day. It’s hard when you get busy to remember and then it’s, “oh. I forgot!” I’ll leave it till tomorrow.” I never do that with the thyroxine.
My ankle has given me quite some twinges on the inside of the ankle today. In that little space under the right ankle bone. That is the side with the plate and 7 of the screws. The other screws are 2 in the front and 2 on the left side. A significant stab stopped me in my tracks going up some stairs from the car park to the shopping centre when I met my sister for coffee this morning and I squealed out loud! I stopped a second and then climbed on and it went away but came back 3 – 4 times while we were out.
Maybe I should get back to the specific exercises the physio gave me. Fitting everything in!
Yes, where is Trac? I hope you are doing okay. Happy Christmas evrybody.
Yes Trac where are you??? I don’t post much any more but still care about and follow how every is doing so I miss you. All good wishes to the rest of you as well. Lois
Thank you Lee for your advice about calcium. I am also taking macuvision (don’t know if you’ve heard of it), but I haven’t taken any tablets except my thyroxine, for a week because of the ‘indigestion’ feeling the other tablets had given me. I will start trying them again now and stagger them across the day. It’s hard when you get busy to remember and then it’s, “oh. I forgot!” I’ll leave it till tomorrow.” I never do that with the thyroxine.
My ankle has given me quite some twinges on the inside of the ankle today. In that little space under the right ankle bone. That is the side with the plate and 7 of the screws. The other screws are 2 in the front and 2 on the left side. A significant stab stopped me in my tracks going up some stairs from the car park to the shopping centre when I met my sister for coffee this morning and I squealed out loud! I stopped a second and then climbed on and it went away but came back 3 – 4 times while we were out.
Maybe I should get back to the specific exercises the physio gave me. Fitting everything in!
Yes, where is Trac? I hope you are doing okay. Happy Christmas everybody.
Where’s Trac ? Please let us know how you are. Karen
Hi Noreen,
Take 600 mg of calcium 2 or 3 times a day (depending on your age – I think it’s 3x per day for women 40-50 yrs old) along with 200 mg Magnesium 2x per day. You body can’t absorb more than 600 mg of calcium at a time, which is why you have to take it a few times a day. And the magnesium will keep the calcium from making you quite constipated.
take care!
Lee
Hi Marina, something else I get is some numbness running along the side of the foot up to the big toe about a 6 cm long and 2cm across. I told the surgeon on Thursday and he looked at it and said it may be nerve damage from where they had to manipulate my foot. There is some feeling because when I run a fingernail along it I know I’m touching it but it feels like I have a cloth over it. He said it may or may not improve. Sometimes it tngles so maybe the nerve will regenerate. I read that an ankle break like ours is a life changing accident. It certainly is for a while that’s for sure. It is a big shock to the system so not only are you getting over surgery and anaesthesia but you are also probably suffering from after shock as well. Gradually you will feel like your old self again. Have they recommneded you take calcium? I have started but I think it upsets my tummy. Not sure what is the best way to take it.
Noreen
Hi, Noreen
Several have said they were surprised about the length of time from fracture until surgery, others have said they also waited. Surgeon said it was because of the blistering of skin from swelling and chance of infection. He started me on antibiotics right away. At least I didn’t have to wait in the hospital, but think I would have preferred to sleep away the two weeks between FX and surgery just to ignore the pain.
I’m getting around in the house pretty well with a small transport wheelchair that I move around with my good foot/leg and use a big chair when I go out and my husband will push or I’ll wheel with my hands. I have a prescription for the rollabout knee scooter, but haven’t gotten to medical supply yet to pick up. Can’t use crutches due to bad elbow….plus just too old to manage!
Great forum. I appreciate the sharing!
I too had a right tri-malleor fracture with dislocation in May of 2009 the weekend of Mother’s Day. It hasn’t been easy to get back to normal either it seems it really sucks the life out of you. I am just now starting to feel like doing things again it seems it is never an easy task to do small things like it used to be. I love this site I was fortunate enough to have met a gal in MN this summer who had a fx as well similar to mine and saw I was struggling on vacation of all things,she gave me the website and what an encouragement it has been thank you everyone for helping me know there are others with the same issues. Everyone be safe and keep your feet on the ground.
Hi Marina, October 7 till October 22 seems a very long time to await an operation! I am 65 and on June 3 I also had a trimalleolar compound ankle break but was operated on within hours. Perhaps because of the compound aspect. I think they worry about infection. There was a 30 year old guy in hospital with me who waited a week for his op but they explained my situation to him. His was a motor cross accident. Mine was a wet, steep, slippery driveway! It was the night before heading off on a sailing holiday! Anyway, I now have a plate and 11 screws and yesterday was given the go ahead by the surgeon to do anything I want and he won’t need to see me again unless I have problems. My ankle has taken almost 6 months to feel okay 85% of the time and inproving. I don’t know if it will ever be 100% again. I haven’t tried dancing or jumping yet! And psychologically I am more wary about where and how I put my feet! It was quite traumatic for me the first time I went back to where it happened, in my brother’s driveway. I didn’t want to walk down to the house! The screws and plate will stay in unless they cause trouble. It can still swell up and frequently twinges and, although rarely now, sometimes really hurt but I am doing the exercises and also find that elevating it at least twice a day is very very helpful. I still can’t wear pretty shoes but managed to get my crocks on yesterday. He said it can take up to a year before I won’t have at least a bit of a limp. Of course I have got some projected worries too such as, will the crack in the joint which I also sustained, lead to arthritis later etc but I am just being as positive as I can and being as proactive as possible. I will rejoin the gym after the Christmas holidys. (I live in Queensland, Australia). This blog is an amazing site with so many good people on it. It was a saviour for me. My partner also said, “What do you want to read about other people for?” Maybe because he’s a man! I certainly have valued the communications and even enjoy just reading discussion between other contributors.
By Easter you will have moved on a long way. All the best. Noreen
Hi, all you ankle fracture writers and readers.
I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving.
Just an update on my broken right ankle. I’m 58 and was “lucky” enought to have a right tri-malleor fracture with dislocation on Oct 7, surgery with pins, screws, plate on Oct. 22. I slipped on a pile of loose dirt/sand while snapping a Kodal Moment of a lake.
Began Physical Therapy for non-weight bearing on Nov 16. Pain has greatly decreased…I didn’t think that was ever going to happen! I now have a boot that I am fortunate enough to be able to take off. I can now wiggle my toes and “gas-pedal” about 1 inch! The huge blister fracture with about a 1 inch white square of dead tissue plus damaged nerves on top of my foot isn’t clearing up too much, but plastic surgeon doesn’t believe I’ll have to have a skin graft. All the other blisters with scabs are all healing nicely.
Unfortunately, it seems like the rest of my body has fallen apart with the ankle. The pain medication caused horrible constipation (nobody has mentioned this on the forum…unpleasant subject but maybe it didn’t affect anyone else), that resulted in painful hemorrhoids that sent me to my dr. He said no more recliner, although my foot was propped. It was too much pressure on my bottom. So I’ve been laying on my side on the couch. Of course, I’ve been on metamucil and stool softeners now, but the damage is done. Sitz baths 2-3 times a day.
The couch is a bit lower to lift myself up from to the wheelchair, so then my left knee (on my good leg) began to hurt, pop and swell. Well, this wasn’t good! I need that leg to work! So now back in bed since it’s high, and I can use my arms more getting up and down. I now ice my left knee along with my right ankle!
PT gave me exercises to strengthen my left knee. I do these laying in bed. My husband said if I was a horse, he would have to shoot me! But he’s been a rock and very supportive.
I still can’t get in and out of the shower by myself. We did get a grab bar installed just inside the shower. He lowers me onto the shower stool. I am able to get my whole body wet now (and not have to stick my right ankle out the shower door). I scrub and scrub and dead skin still keeps coming off.
My right calf and quad are greatly diminished. Not quite the way I wanted to have skinny legs!
I have made progress…Just 2 days ago…I can now put the non-stick telfa pads on the blisters and wind the gauze around my foot and ankle to hold them on by myself. I can also slide my husband’s old stretched out sock onto my foot and put my own boot on myself.
It seems like I can’t do much when I’m typing it, but when I consider that the first 3 weeks the pain was so horrible and I was so weak, I had to be lifted out of bed and off the toilet, I see progress.
We were going to get together for an early Christmas in IL with our children and grand children, but because of the swelling, the physical therapist doesn’t recommend flying for 4 hours, then driving for 2 more hours. That depressed me because it’s too hard to get everyone out to AZ.
Swelling isn’t as bad as it was. PT said the more movement I get in my ankle, the less swelling because blood vessels and lymph nodes will begin to heal, so I’m doing my best.
I return to the orthopedic surgeon on Dec. 4, and I assume he will tell me to start weight-bearing exercises.
Thank goodness I have 3 months of sick leave built up and I filed for disability thru my insurance.
I’ve been wearing my husband’s baggy gym shorts for so long, and really didn’t feel I’ve gained weight because I haven’t had much of an appetite. However, we were going to my mother-in-law’s for Thanksgiving and it took two pairs of pants before I found one that would button. I think what muscle I had (since I was quite active) has now turned to sloppy fat and I’ve spread.
But those simple things of decorating for Christmas or getting wrapping paper down to wrap gifts aren’t simple and require help.
Sometimes I get discouraged because I’m so limited on what I can do. My husband and I both work for an airline, so I get discouraged that I can’t even accompany him on his overnight trips.
He took a month off work to care for me but is now trying to make up time. The first couple weeks after he returned to work, his 87 year old mother or my unmarried son stayed with me at night, but now I stay alone during the night. My son or sister check on me and bring me a meal if there aren’t any leftovers in the fridge. But I can fix cereal and sandwiches! Just too much up and down on one foot to cook anything.
it’s been great reading everyone’s experiences. I thought I would be back to work within a couple months and at first got really discouraged hearing how long it has taken everyone else. My husband didn’t want me to even get on the forum anymore if it was going to depress me, but now realize realistically, it may be 6 months or more before I can run up and down a jetway, push wheelchair passengers, and carry bags and strollers down the jet stairs to the bins of the aircraft. I may be closer to retirement than I thought.
Thanks for everyone’s input and all the sharing. It makes me realize I’m not alone and others are going thru similar experiences.
Marina
Hi Nancy,
Welcome – so sorry to hear about your troubles. These ankles are difficult. there are a few readers on this board who have had fusions and some who are considering them as well, or will need them in the future. Read back over the old posts and you’ll see a bit of discussion about it. I too have gained weight sine breaking mine at 40. So sad. I’m working now on losing it, mostly with diet and non-weight bearing exercise (bike, rowing machine), though I am doing a little walking. Keep us posted on how it goes.
To everyone else- so quiet out here. I hope all are well and will have a good Thanksgiving. I’m actually not cooking this year – well, just pies. Trac – I learned how to make a mean crust this past month. I’ve been thinking of you and your pies. I do hope you, and everyone else is well.
Happy Thanksgiving to all.
Lee
Hi, I am Nancy, 63. I broke my ankle at 61. It has never really healed and although I can walk, I live in pain and swelling by the night. Because of the way I walk my lower back stays in pain also. They say the only thing I can do is try a fushion and they can’t gaurantie it will work, so in that case why go through it. I was 9 months on weight bearing when it happened, don’t think I could take that again. Has anyone had a fushion? How did you do? I have gained a lot of weiht and can not get rid of it, it is so discourageing, but most do not understand. I will keep all of you in my thoughts.
Cathy,
Welcome – wow, you are a wealth of experience. So, any idea what is causing the issues now? Have you see a Dr to check it out, or are you just living with it? Another question – have you managed to stay active despite the ankle? I’m 42 now (broke it at 40) and really struggling with keeping my weight down … it just keeps going up up up….
thanks!
Lee
Hello everyone! Great website! I’m 45yrs old and broke my ankle when I was 19 yrs old (26 yrs ago…)Shattered my ankle, had 3 surgeries..same type of things I am hearing. Had a cast, boot, leather ankle brace with metal bars, gel brace, tie up cloth brace.. Bad brake. Had plate, pins and skrews. Reading all these comments brought back alot of painful memories. My ankle would swell immediately and throb unbelieveably!!Probably took a good year to get back to walking ok. I have had years of swelling and pain. My biggest issues right now are my ankle buckling on me and last couple days, sporadically, my ankle feels like it tearing inside. Very painful for about a minute or so. I found I could never run again, or do any high impact motion on my ankle. I’ve led a very productive life, and have not let my ankle get me down, but I will be honest and say I just had to learn to tune out the persistent aching throughout the years. There are times it fine, and times it’s not. I just keep truckin..Good luck to all of you. I hope your experiences are much better than mine.
Hi Susan P. I’m sorry to hear about your mammogram results – sounds like familiar territory. In the midst of all of my research on my 2nd ankle surgery, I too had a bad mammogram. I was so overloaded with holiday stuff last year and the ankle, the mammogram was the last thing I had time to think about – so it just nagged at me until I got it all cleared up. Mine just needed a level 2 ultrasound. When that was read, it was clearly fibrocyctic tissue, which will need to be watched yearly. No big deal. Best to get it all done and off your mind. Keep us posted. My thoughts are with you. How’s the ankle?
-Lee
Hello everyone, sent a long post last week – don’t think it went through – I didn’t see it on the site (will send another post in a little bit to repost what I previously added) – just found out that my mamogram has come back positive and I need more tests – I scared….
Marina,
Don’t know abut the hematoma – could be just that – bruising and bleeding under the skin, or something more. Push your Dr. to explore further. You must be your own advocate and ask, ask, ask. The Dr.s are so hurried and only you can tell them what’s not feeling right. I do still have some numbness, but I think mine is mostly topical – just at the skin level – from all the cutting and stitching it back shut. I would push for this one to be resolved a little further.
Keep us posted.
-Lee
Nicole,
Thanks for the information and sharing of your hematoma-looking sore. I definitely will forward this to my doctor, as I feel a lot of numbness and burning pain in that spot. Dr. seemed concerned but not enough to do anything further. I guess we have to be our own advocate for further consideration. I have taken my boot off once today for 20 minutes and iced it, but forgot to ask the dr about removing the ace bandage he put on when the 1/2cast-splint was removed, so haven’t taken that off. Yesterday I felt like all the pain nerves were re-awakened when the boot was put on, but today is much better. Again thanks to all who are sharing their experiences with me as it is so helpful.
Marina,
I as well had a large hematoma-looking sore on the side of my ankle after surgery it was discovered when i went back three weeks after surgery to have cast removed and staples out. he looked at it and looked scared and basically put me back in a cast for 4 more weeks with a lot of gauze around it and it did open and drain. but now i truly believe that is why i still cant feel the bottom of my foot it was located right where there are all the nerves for the bottom of your foot running. so its getting better now but i had not heard of that compartment syndrome ? what is that all about??
Trac, Lee , Susan,Louise hope all is well with all of you.. know i forgot alot of others its been a while…
Nicole
Lee, Wonderful idea about the boot covers…one that I will definitely use. I do have a concern and was wondering if anyone would have an explanation. After my surgery, the dr. mentioned to my husband about a large (about 3″) hematoma-looking sore on the top of my foot. I have a lot of burning in that spot but assumed it was from the dislocation. Today at my first post-op visit was the first time I saw it. Dr. thought I must have hit it on something when I slipped, but I didn’t because I only slipped in loose dirt and nothing was around. Dr. said the dislocation was further up on my foot and didn’t have an explanation for it. I’ve been reading about complications following ankle fracture/surgery and found information about compartment syndrome which can lead to something quite serious.
If anyone has an explanation for me, please let me know. It’s a very deep purple, almost scab looking but isn’t a scab. I appreciate any information. Hate to have more surgery or further complications for not being more vigilant.
Hi Marina,
Yea – you got a boot! that’s excellent. It is great to ice it, and I promise you, when you open it up to do that, you will wiggle it a bit here and there. And that will get it going. The burning is likely the tendons which have shortened a bit due to not being at a 90 degree angle when in the splint. It’s stretching them, and I do indeed know how much that hurts. Remember, elevate and ice. And while the capri thing is frustrating, it made me giggle – I too got stuck in my pants. I actually cut mine off, as I wasn’t supposed to take the boot off at all. They were cheap, but still – was a bummer. Now, it’s one of the sadly funny stories from the summer of the broken ankle. A suggestion – as soon a you start putting the boot on the ground, you’re going to want to get some shoe covers and put it over the boot when you get into bed at night. The boot gets really gross, hauling all over town, and then you put that into your sheets. Ick. I found that painters shoe covers (they have them at paint stores or Home Depot) worked really well. Just an idea for ya.
Take care – keep it up and iced, and it will heal in time.
Cheers,
Lee
I just came home from the doctor. He removed my cast and cut off the stitches (ouch) and put me in a boot. The boot is heavier that the 1/2 cast/splint and much bigger. The therapist forced my foot into a 45 degree angle (I thought it was but the boot proved me wrong) and was much too painful so doctor said to put some pads under the heel to change the angle a bit. That required a different boot (I swear it’s even bigger!). I can take the boot off twice a day to ice my ankle, but I have to sleep in it and wear 24/7 for another 4 weeks. In one week, I can remove it and get my ankle wet (yay, a shower!) No weight bearing for another 4 weeks but I’m supposed to start therapy in one week. I am not looking forward to that since I have just barely been able to wiggle my toes. Then I came home and I can’t get my capris off over my boot. So will have to loosen the boot to take off my capris and put on some baggy athletic shorts!
My foot knows it’s in a slightly different angle is greatly protesting and has a strange burning pain. Dr. was pleased with the surgery and is ordering a knee scooter for me. I return in one month.
Hi Marina,
Welcome, and I’m so sorry to hear about your fall. As I’m sure you’ve learned from reading this discussion group, it’s pretty typical – something quick and silly, which changes your life for quite a while, if not forever.
So, all that you are seeing and feeling sounds pretty typical and normal with these terrible fractures. The swelling is due to the dislocation, more than the fracture, and it will be pretty persistent for many months to come. Mine swelled terribly for the first 3 months – could never have my foot down or it would turn purple and blow up like a balloon. I feared I had a clot, but no, it was just the swelling associated with a terrible injury. Keep it up, keep it iced, and settle in for the long-haul. Mine goes up every time I get a chance.
As for the boot versus cast – I’d ask for the boot. It allows for more flexibility in managing the swelling – you can open it up and ice right on the leg, which is really helpful, versus trying to get cold to go through the cast. I had a cast from weeks 2- 5, but kept having to have the cast cut open at the ER when my foot would swell toward the end of the day. The Dr. re-cast in every week, hoping the swelling would dissipate, but it never did. He moved me to a boot at week 6, but I had to wear it just like a cast – could not take it off for shower or bath. Put it in a garbage bag just like a cast. Every Dr. is different – yours will do whatever he/she feels is best for your healing, but perhaps you could sway him/her.
So, I was non- weight bearing for 10 weeks, then in that boot until 12-13 weeks-ish. It was slow getting off the crutches and cane, but by about 4 months post injury, I was doing pretty well. I did end up having a non-union and a second surgery to remove metal and repair some ligaments and tendons, so 16 months later, I’m still “recovering” …. but, it’s all pretty darn good, given that my foot might have been lost due to an artery problem. So, I’m happy. No running, jogging, skipping or any other high impact activity – ever again. But I can do all the things I need to do, just not all the things I want to do. Oh, and I’m 42 and was very active before. It’s been a big change for me and my family. My kids have had to become quite more helpful around the house, and I think my husband learned what a nightmare his life would be if I disappeared (i couldn’t drive for 3 months – right leg). So, be thankful for the things you can do, be patient as you get through the healing, and be persistent with PT as you get up and around. It will be a lot slower than you think. And most of all, be kind with yourself. The injury is just that – an injury and it will slow you down for a while. Eventually, life will settle into a new normal and you’ll adjust your activities and work to how you can manage. Mine keeps getting better and better, though I avoid things I know could be problematic.
Keep posting – we’re here to support you as you go through it all. It’s tough, but you will make it – we all did – and we’re full of lots of good info and ideas to help you manage and you wait to heal.
Cheers,
Lee
Just to tell you how my ankle was broken…. My husband and I decided to take a day’s road trip since he had been out of town for 6 days we decided that would be a way to spend together without distractions. In Arizona, we have a series of 4 man-made lakes…Sahuaro, Canyon, Apache and Roosevelt. The road between all of these is 15 mph switchbacks and turns into a dirt bumpy road between Canyon and Roosevelt Lakes. We stopped at Apache Lake for a picnic and as we were leaving, we saw a “kodak” moment and I stepped out of the car and stood on a 2 foot dirt berm that the roadgrader had pushed to the side of the road. I snapped my photo and turned around and began to slip. Unfortunately, I was wearing flip-flops and didn’t want to fall on my behind and drop the camera so dug my right foot into the dirt to catch myself. I heard and felt it snap. My husband was still sitting in the car and he said he was getting ready to laugh at me sliding until I screamed that I broke my ankle. He ran over to me and somehow got me up and into the back seat. I didn’t want to look at my ankle because he said it aiming the wrong way. After he got in the car, he said a prayer and then had to sit to get his thoughts together as to whether to continue onto Roosevelt Lake and then hit the hard road and the nearest hospital or to take the dirt switchbacks back to Mesa. Returning the way we came on the one-lane road proved to be the fastest although it seemed mighty slow as we returned. The ER was terrific and I had no waiting and immediately they had the IV with anti-nausea and pain medication before my husband had the car parked. I was given general anethesia and the bone reset and splinted. (My husband now says flip-flops are banned in our house!) I’m 58 years old and held a very active job as operations agent for an airline. I ran up and down jetbridges many times a day boarding passengers, wheeling wheelchair passengers, carrying strollers and bags. I ran up and down the back steps carrying items to the ramp agents and talking to the fueler as I was responsible for weights and balances of the aircraft.
It’s now been 3 weeks and 4 days since my trimalleor fracture and 1 week and 3 days since surgery with plates and screws. I’ve been in a cast/splint the entire time. On my post op this coming Friday, the dr. will decide to do cast or boot. Boot will be nice to shower. No weight bearing for 5 more weeks. I really didn’t think the pain and swelling would last so long. I am able to get from wheelchair to bed and to toilet on my own. Still need help getting into the shower seat. I feel as though all the laying around is giving me bed sores and the pain medication makes me constipated which is another whole issue of feeling miserable!
Went to church with my husband today. We live close enough that he was able to wheel me around the block then I sat in a pew with my leg up on a pillow. Church members have been wonderful providing periodic meals to take the load off my husband. He’s taken 4 weeks off work, but will be returning the end of this week. My son is coming out to visit with his family and I’m hoping to get him to install handrails in shower and tub.
I really thought this would be an injury that would be pain free once surgery was over and I would be back to work within 8-10 weeks. I never figured the pain would be constant and unrelenting as if a vice was put on my ankle and constantly squeezed. I am amazed that it only takes a matter of 1-2 minutes of sitting up for toes to turn purple and swell. At least it feels like it swells but toes are big anyway from the general swelling. I am able to wiggle smaller toes a fraction but still not the big toe which is basically numb.
I don’t know what my prognosis is but from reading many blogs, I can see I was overly optimistic and a nurse friend of mine said I should probably lower my expectations so I wouldn’t be disappointed.
God bless my husband for all of his lifting for first few weeks and still his constant help in feeding me, cleaning, laundry, etc. I would have been recuperating in a nursing home without him as my children all live out-of-state.
I appreciate all the posts and encouragement and will check back to see how all are progressing.
Marina,
I had no cast or boot!!! (Oh a half cast -splint- until staples were removed.) Since I also had a serious external wound that took 6 months to cover with new skin growth and had to heal without any pressure, I had to go without, although I kept things wrapped with 4 inch ace band aids. I could look at my foot every day and change the dressing myself. This I was grateful for. Once I could get into the shower sitting on a chair, for 6 months I had to wrap up my foot with garbage bags and duct tape to keep it dry. I had no problems staying off that foot for the first 6 weeks since I was scared it would be reinjured. Also, the doctor said I could do the foot and toe movements, just no weight bearing. Now, they put boots and casts on to do what? Drive people crazy? I would most certainly go for the boot. Besides, I controlled swelling with elevation and ice packs. After all, you are not a teen ready to play basketball. I controlled swelling with wraps, socks, elevation, and ice packs.
I agree with your friend, things will not be normal in a few months. It will take longer.
Ok, all the best! There are many possibilities. People here will give you good ideas but in the end, you have to be your own advocate.
Anklequest
Hello All,
Well I had a sub talar fusion on sept 16th 2009, still in a hard cast with NWB Dr. says at least 2-3 months depending on the healing. I will have a cat scan 2 days before thankgiving and hoping that I will be able to start weight bearing. I am a bit anxious about it , afraid that it will still be painful and swell like crazy like in the past.
On Nov. 6th it will be 1 year since my accident!! I have come a long way with all the injuries I have.
I never thought at 51 I would be disabled either but it beats not being here.
This site has been a big help and it helps to know others understand how it feels to be in our various situations!!
Thanks everyone and Happy Halloween !!!!
Hang in there everyone ; )
Pam
Thanks Anklequest for words of encouragement. I just turned 58 in September and am hoping my age won’t slow down healing. It is discouraging to know that my foot swells just as soon as I put it down and the pain is constant. I guess I thought I would b back to normal in just a few months but a friend of mine advised me to lower my expectations and to take it easy. I return to dr. for 2 week post op next week. He sai I would have either a cast or boot put on…but still no weight bearing for 5 more weeks. Any advice on which is better….cast or boot? At least with a boot, I could remove it for a real honest to goodness bath or shower. But which offers more support. I’ve heard there are some pretty high tech boots out there to control swelling.
Marina,
First, I am so very sorry to hear of your situation, which, I’m sure, has been a big shock, as it was for all of us. I too had a trimalleolar fracture..my situation too was really bad at first like yours. I think I went on the internet about the 3rd week as well. Yes, it will take a while, and you will not be hopping around on your feet for months…6 months at least. Hopefully you can start out slowly, doing some walking type things after 8-12 weeks. Given your type of job, yes, disablity it is for the time being, and only time will tell how well you will do in the future. It mostly depends on the exact type of injury within the joint. In my case, the joint was quite damaged. After one year I was doing quite well but not nearly back to normal. Now, after 3 years, the ankle is now beginning to get arthritic and rapidly getting worse. I could never have done work like you do after my break, but then I am now 64 so that too might make a big difference as you are likely younger.
It has been difficult for most of us but we have been supportive of each other here and will help you and give you our best advice. We have gradually all had to learn to cope emotionally as well as learn to change our lives a bit. I hope our posters here can help give you encouragement and get you over the initial rough parts. Thankfully you have someone who can help you out!!
All the best… and hello to all my friends here!!!
Anklequest
Finally got a laptop and searching for information on my injury. Have to say I am very discouraged as thought I would heal quickly, but everything I read says the progress will be slow. It has been 3 weeks since my trimaellor fracture and 1 week since surgery. All I have been able to do is lay down with foot up…higher the better. Progress was when I could finally get out of bed on my own and into wheelchair and onto toilet all by myself. Pain is immense…like my foot is in a vice all the time. Big toes has no feeling. Next week dr. will decide whether to do cast or boot, but absolutely no weight on foot for another 5 weeks. Wish I knew a realistic time from work as my work requires me to be on feet 7 hours of the day. I work for an airline and I board the passengers and push wheelchairs down the jetway and lift bags. Requires actually jogging up and down jet bridge many times for each flight. Any ideas? I filed for disability through my personal insurance but it doesn’t quite pay the bills. Bless my husband for picking me up and lifting me in and out of bed and on and off of toilet until I could do it myself.
Lee,
I haven’t posted for a long time, but had to reply to your post about not daring to walk on dark streets trick-or-treating with the kids. Follow your instincts!
I broke my ankle almost two years ago and have been paranoid since. A few nights ago, I let down my guard and walked around the block with the kids after dark in a Halloween parade. My foot found an uneven pavement surface. Now I am nursing a sprained top of foot, with a popped blood vessel. I’m on antibiotics to prevent cellulitis.
Karen
Hi All,
Quiet on the boards. I am well – just chugging through the Fall. Happy Halloween to all too – I won’t be taking my kids trick or treating tonight. Too scary to walk on the streets and sidewalks in the dark. Just too big of a chance of falling. So sad. But I will stay home and pass out candy to other kids, so that will at least be some fun.
Cheers to all,
Lee
How is everyone doing? Just busy getting leaves raked and stuff put away for winter? Trac,Lee,Anklequest,Noreen and others has everyone been doing pretty well? I am I guess. Partially fell down my upstairs steps my other leg hurts like no tomorrow I hope I didn’t do anything major maybe just bruised it will see how it goes in a few days. My luck I tell you.
Take Care everyone,
Jamie
Is this still working?
Lee & Jaimie,
Wow — yea, Lee — I got behind the wheel of a car, and couldn’t do it. I froze, couldn’t move and I started crying. And, I’m sure if I saw something like what you mentioned, I’d react. This is so difficult, almost more difficult than re-learning to walk. I cannot do Xanax, it made me so sleepy, and feel like a zombie. However, I do know people who take it w/o a problem. I’m going to have to find someone to help — esp. as now, I can tell I am beginning to bury my head. By this I mean, keeping myself so busy I don’t have time to acknowledge how I feel. Not good, because it always catches up somehow.
Well, I am going to, hopefully, make some progress here — and I really thank you for being so supportive and helpful. I have become quite depressed lately. Today was better.
I’m sorry you had to experience, that Lee. And, Jamie, please keep us informed of how Xanax treats you. I am afraid of it. But, need to do something.
Take Care,
trac
Lee: I am on the Xanax due to the PTSD I freak out when anyone goes down those stairs and it does seem to help however they do say it is addicting but it does work for me I know just little things can really trigger things alot
Jamie
Trace – such odd timing on this PTSD discussion. Yesterday, I was watching my son play flag football at another school’s field. All of us parents were up on a hillside that was riddled with little ditches and holes. Another mother jumped up and began running down the hill to give her son a bottle of water and, you guessed it, her foot landed in a hole and over it went. I saw it, heard the pop, and just freaked out. I got nauseous, sweaty, shaky, and just panicked. Another mom on the field is a psychologist – she was watching me. After we helped the fallen mom ice and elevate and determined it probably isn’t broken, just sprained (though I’m still not convinced after hearing the pop), the psychologist mom came up to me – she said what she just saw was a classic PTSD reaction. I’m not sure what to do about it at this point. I was so shaken, and the image of her fall will not leave my brain. It’s making me nuts. So, I guess I do still have it. I think I may really need to do something about it. The psychologist mom suggested seeing a cognitive therapist. The flashbacks are still bugging me today. She also suggested Xanax – but don’t know anything about that drug.
Seems crazy – but I guess my brain dealt with the trauma in such a way that the nerves go on edge anytime it’s re-triggered. Lovely. The gift that keeps on giving.
-Lee
Lee,
Thanks! That was actually quite helpful. As far as the weight loss. Yes, I know what you are talking about, it didn’t begin to happen until I moved into my own apartment. Cooking for others, and eating what they cooked for me, didn’t help at all. So, I would agree that it is much easier when you are only responsible for yourself.
The PTSD — yes, very helpful. I cannot agree more on drugs. I take depakote for epilepsy (have since I was 11) and I am not eager to add another pill. The dr. at the nursing home had me on Prozac & Xanax which I did not come off of until I was home for a while, and I realized what they were doing to me. I will definitely look and try to figure out a way to go to a talk therapist. I thank you a lot for your comments. This site has been very supportive.
Take care!
trac
Hey Trac –
I’m so glad to hear that you’ve been successful losing weight. Awesome. I need to follow your example. My problem is that I don’t love fish and have to cook for my kids daily, so there are temptations everywhere. I’m working at it – just not hard enough.
So, the PTSD. I wouldn’t hesitate to call it that. I was a little surprised when it was diagnosed as such. Seemed silly to me. Evidently, any trauma (physical or emotional) can cause these flashbacks and dreams. For me, they were terrible the first 2 or 3 months, then subsided, but I was having little panic attacks when I would walk places. The SSRI helped – it went away, but I didn’t love the side-effects. Now that I’m off of them (with some icky withdrawal issues, mind you), I see the little panicky moments return, as well as the flashbacks. But I have the rest of my emotions back too. On the drugs, I could not cry at anything. Off them, I well-up at everything. Saw “Where the Wild Things Are” this weekend, and it was a many-tissue movie for me. Goofy. Anyway, I’m told that while PTSD can be treated with anti-anxiety meds, it’s better to use talk-therapy. The SSRIs really should only be prescribed if the incidences are getting in the way of work and life – like you can’t go outside or can’t concentrate. I think my Dr was too quick to prescribe and I was too quick to jump at it. In retrospect, I should have seen a psychologist and talked through the mourning of a changed life and my feelings about the support (or lack there of) that I was getting at home. In any case, I think I still have symptoms, but I know now that they will be there for a while and I just need to notice them, acknowledge them, and move on. It might make me feel better to talk to someone, but I don’t have time, so I talk to myself and to all of you here … free therapy!
So, the dreams and crying are part of the healing process. I’m not surprised it’s taken 2 years for you to feel it. I think the brain protects you until you’re strong enough to handle it. You were so busy with daily medical intervention, that I think your brain hasn’t had time to process. So, my non-professional opinion is to notice them, welcome them as part of the healing process and a sign that you need to vent a little, and if they prevent you from managing your life, perhaps see a Dr for meds. But I would be cautious about leaping to that. It just delays the inevitable, as far as I can see. Though I could have stayed on them my entire life and never woken with dreams or sadness, that seemed ridiculous.
Let me know if that’s helpful at all…
Cheers,
Lee
Hello everyone!
Don & Anklequest, so glad you had a great day, I think you both would be great to talk with in person. And, Lee, yes, while I treasure my support system here in Nebraska, 2 of my really good friends have moved to San Francisco, and I miss my life out there. I hope to visit early in 2010, and am greatly hoping we can meet then, it would fantastic!
As far as me? Well, I can honestly say my leg looks better than it has since the accident (07/07). My wounds have finally healed, and I believe a lot of it has to do with diet. Unable to get things healed, my dr started treating me with diet alterations. It is working nicely. Especially, as Anklequest once commented, antibiotics should be avoided unless absolutely necessary.
As far as weight gain? Ohhhhh lordy! Where do I start? I gained 70 lbs! Yeup. That’s right. I laid in bed, depressed for over 8 months. And, my friends and family were trying to make the nursing home a less bleak place, so I got food, brownies, cakes, all this stuff I didn’t normally eat a lot of. And, then, I was hooked on using food as a comfort blanket. It has been very difficult to lose, esp. with the wheelchair. But, such a necessity. What I have done, is I fill my freezer with Schwan’s fish (salmon, cod, halibut, others). They are very tasty, and individual cuts. It makes it very easy for me to take a piece out of the freezer, wrap in foil with some olive oil and herbs, through some veggies on, and I have a healthy dinner within 15 minutes, and with very little clean-up or calories. Schwan’s is a little more expensive, but they deliver and are very good. It helps to have support. But, weight is a very difficult issue, and then add on the stress of a severe break, rehab, it no wonder many gain weight. I just hope most did not gain what I did. It is true, gaining it was a lot easier than losing. But, also, sadder.
I haven’t made any more progress with the insurance companies. I am very frustrated. I have 3 very respected surgeons telling them that a fusion would benefit me greatly and yet, one desk doctor is telling all of them that it would not. I don’t understand, because I can’t imagine some undergoing a fusion unless it would benefit them. My ankle pain is progressively growing worse. Also, my ankle is getting weaker, while my leg itself is stronger.
Sorry about the long post, but I wanted to ask — has anyone, I thought Lee mentioned it once — suffered any PTSD? I hesitate to use that phrase, as it is not diagnosed. I do not have any recollection of the accident or of most of the two weeks afterwards. Over the last few months, I’ve been waking up from dreams that are relevant to the accident. Such, as I see the wall of the building I hit and I am saying in my head, turn away! turn away! but, I don’t and I wake up with a severe headache and on the verge of tears. And, then I can’t fall back asleep. I eventually do, but then I’m tired. And, I went to a concert with Sean, the other night. A band I love, Yo La Tengo — and they were playing one of their songs and I suddenly started crying. I couldn’t figure out why — until later Sean & I realized that the song was the first one on my ipod collection I played when I would go trail running. I’m guessing this is all usual, but is it odd that it has taken 2 years to affect me like this?
Well, I’m actually doing quite well, despite frustrations. And, everyone, the weight can be lost, just keep your spirits up, and don’t berate yourself for the difficulties of it. It is far more important that you be happy than lbs lighter. But, if you can achieve both, more power to you! And I hope you find the power!
Happy Healing,
Peace,
Trac — 55 lbs lighter.
Noreen ~
“Shank’s Pony”, that’s a new one, had to look that one up ! Thanks for the new saying !
Hello Nicole, Wow! 27 screws. I thought my 11 screws and a plate was a big deal. Very comforting to hear that you are walking better. I still can’t do stairs normally, EG one foot forward followed by the other one. I have to toddle down by placing both feet on the same stair step by step. No running up and down the stairs for me, not yet anyway. Still I have very lucky to have been born in an era where i can be repaired. I am up on the boat now. Thank you to those who urged me to go for it. I have bought an ankle brace with me but haven’t used it yet. The boat itself is not too bad but getting in and out of the dinghy to go ashore etc makes me nervous. I still complain because my foot swells up by the end of the day yet I can now put on my canvas boat shoes as well as stand up in the mornings without waiting for my foot to ‘warm up.’ I guess we are all aiming to get back to exactly where we were and maybe that will take a long time or even maybe never exactly the same.
If only scientists could now invent new antibiotics forpeople struggling with infection or new ways to knit bones without the need for plates and screws. Are we never satisfied?! I guess that’s what makes human society progress. Always searcing for better and better ways to do things.
All the best to lee, Sue, anklequest and everyone else old or new to this site. I have to return my crutches to the hospital at my next appointment. I went down to Canbeera using a wheelchair at the airport and flew back up on Shanks’s Pony.
hello all!!
Its been a while since I have been on here.. lots of catching up to do… refresh: Broke my ankle on both sides in 4 spots and broke my fibula have a rod with 27 pins and a few screws. This happened Dec.31/08 now almost a year in proud to say I am still walking well. have been since March 1 I had a lot of problems with not feeling my foot at all that is starting to get better slowly still having problems bending my toes and foot goes numb occasionaly have a small limp no am wondering what about having some of the metal out one of the screws is going across the top of my ankle causing frequent pain. I have tried to look up online the success stories of having metal out.does it hurt?Is the recovery painfull? i am very nervous about the pain factor i have just learn to cope with the pain now and dont want anymore!! any suggestions or advice?
trac louise !! how are you ?
Hello anklequest and Lee and everyone from this site,
It is indeed a wonderful support site and some people have a wealth of knowledge to share. I walked around the Canberra Science Museum for 3 hours yesterday before my foot told me it had had enough. I am finally flying up ti the boat this Wednesday. I have bought an ankle brace ‘just in case’ but PT would prefer I allow the muscles to do the work. Nevertheless, if the boat gets a bit rocky it could be of benefit. Hopefully I will get into the water as well. I know that some people who have just returned from a week on the same boat went snorkelling. Something I have not done outside a swimming pool. I also would like to lose a few kilos. It doesn’t seem so easy. I had my birthday down here in Canberra and was taken out to a smorgasbord lunch complete with chocolate truffle birthday cake!
Anklequest and Don – what a great support system! I wish I had someone to share with in person. Thanks goodness for this board! My husband can’t even stand to hear me tell people how it is when they ask. He’s so tired of it and thinks I’m just a whiner. Sigh. And the weight gain – yes it’s a problem. Though i have to say that my 35 year old friend with the ankle fusion is in excellent shape. She was a huge athlete before and still uses the elliptical, bike, pool, etc. She’s still so strong and thin. I too am working on it, but I tend to be an all or nothing sort, and when I can’t do what I want, I tend to do nothing. So, I’m “resting” now and trying to watch what I eat while I fix the tendonitis issue and wait for my orthotics. Walking more, but not working out. Gotta get back to the gym, even if it’s just on the bike. It’s too chilly now for the pool. I’ll keep at it. i will get back into fighting shape – I feel like I’m to young to just let myself go. I’m putting it out there…working on it!
Take care all.
Lee
Hi Everyone!
Don and I and my husband, Michael, met at the brew pub for lunch on a lovely fall misty/rainy afternoon. Michael listened to his MP3 player while Don and I talked broken ankles, and the like. (Michael just hates to talk anything medical.) Don is doing great! Don walks a lot more than I expected to see. It seems like he has not worsened since we last met, while I’ve gotten much worse and had the scare tissue removed. There are certainly great individual differences in the progression of ankle deterioration with serious breaks like ours.
One thing we have in common: weight gain! We both weigh more than ever before. In both cases I am sure it is related to lack of activity since we both were very active people before our injuries. If you’d look at us, you’d think we are fit but not nearly close to what we were. I’m trying to lose about 25 lbs, and Don about 20. So this is what we talked about quite a bit…how to get back in shape. Also, for the really overweight folks, the future is bleak when it comes to ankle fusion or ankle replacement so I never want to be there.
Don is going back to the gym and recommends the elliptical. I’ve been trying to ride my bike down our road, but haven’t been able to go too far (its hilly around here). I need to figure out more for this winter. There’s not a pool to join anywhere near us or I’d do that.
OK, ankle breakers, let’s start sharing weight loss stories to motivate each other. WEIGHT is a big facter in keeping ankles from getting worse.
All the best from both of us! We talked a lot about the value of this board! We talked about all of you by name. Trac..we especially though of you!!!!
Anklequest.
Anklequest & Don.
Enjoy your day!
Have been keeping tabs on everyone and will post soon.
Watch your step.
Susan R. x
Don,
We’ll see you Sunday at 1. Michael will be enjoying the beer and burger.
Anklequest.
Greetings all
Ankle Quest if you need to get a hold of me so we can set up some time to get together and a day give me a shout at Home
(973) 579-1552
Don
Hello, everyone has been awhile I am now unemployed due to my FMLA ran out. I just started getting unemployment after a fight with employer. I am still so tired since my accident. No energy to do hardly anything. I am walking much better a slight limp but better now that the weather is changing my foot aches more which I am attributing to the weather. Dr said it looked good. Hope all goes well for you Trac and Anklequest you all have been such a help to me and I am thank ful for this website. Be Blessed and everyone keep your feet on the ground.
Lee,
Thanks so much for the tremendously insightful post. I’ll start with the end. Your anxiety/depression med story is fascinating and so common. Way before I broke my ankle, I had very traumatic nightmares (going back to childhood) and anxiety (related to a variety of real serious situational items that occured all at once) which cased a serious sleep disorder. I was treated the same way you were for about as long. Then, when I broke my ankle, I was able to “manage” the nightmares associated with that event so it did not have a serious impact on me and I did not need medication. Live and learn! I am a great advocate of mental health, and know that in no way could I be in the position that I have now were it not for my ability to deal with my own issues.
OK, now for the orthotics. Once again, great information! I tried every insert I could find over the last few years, and only was successful in finding something that worked by finding it in a sporting goods store…a rather large arch gel insert used by runners. I have a high arch, so probably that was my problem. I now use these inserts daily wearing my ASCS running shoes. the shoes look stupid with most of what I wear, but so what…better to walk around with a minor limp with such shoes than make things more difficult for myself. Eventually, if my foot gets worse, I may have to try the “heating in the oven” one that you mentioned.
As for braces…I’ve likely tried every drug store type. I have a shelf full of them and try various ones depending on how my ankle feels. I now mostly stay away from the elastic ones for they actually make my foot hurt more as they often get too tight.
Every one has a different situation and has to find a solution for themselves. The important thing is to keep searching and you will likely end up with something better. Saying this makes me think of Trac in her search! Good luck Trac!
Anklequest
Hi Anklequest –
Well, I’ve been wearing lots of different insole inserts over the last year – from SmartFeet to PowerStep to Spenco. You can buy most of these at running specialty stores or outdoor stores like REI (here in CA). I even ordered a slightly customizable one from Sole (online) – you put it in the oven to warm it up then stand on it to mold it to your foot. It was ok, but not great for me (though I loved the flip flops with a great arch support). So, after now more than a year of working with all of these, I finally got a prescription from my surgeon to go to an Orthotist to have some custom orthoses made. This particular orthotist makes artificial limbs and custom braces for people like us too, so if I ever get there, he’ll be the one. But he basically evaluated my foot shape, listened to the extent of the damage and surgical repairs, played with my foot a bit, and decided that a full length insert is the way to go for now, as the tibial tendon is being stretch b/c of the fallen arch and my foot anatomy is wrong now. He took a mold of my feet, and is now making them. He said there will be adjustments that will need to be made as I walk with them, but the goal is to end up in a neutral foot position so that the pain and deformity of the injury is corrected. Once we get it right, he’ll make me a 3/4 length set for “dress shoes”, as opposed to athletic shoes. I’m hoping this will do the trick! I’ll keep you posted.
As for a brace, I use 2 different things. I have a simple elastic pull-on Ace brace from the drugstore. It just provides a little support when I have to walk lots. And if I’m going to be in a situation where the ground is uneven and I’m afraid I might roll my foot, I wear a lace-up brace. This has a criss-cross strap that goes under the arch of the foot, providing support, but also making it impossible to roll. I think I bought that one from The Brace Shop on-line. You have to try a few … pick what’s comfortable. Lace up braces are sold in drug stores or med supply stores too, but on-line was easiest for me.
Not sure what to make of the numb toe, except that I was told numbness was a potential side-effect of the surgery that I was warned about. Lots of nerves that can be damaged. It may improve in time, it may not. I have lots of numbness around my incision lines and pretty much all the way down the inside of my ankle to my heel. I figured it’s just from the cutting. Cest la vie with this stuff, right? If it doesn’t cause pain, I wouldn’t worry about it. If it’s painful, the only option is to see a neurologist for meds like Lyrica. My nerve damage isn’t bad enough to justify the meds and their side effects.
So, another related experience to share …. after my accident, I was having really bad nightmares and waking up screaming. I couldn’t come up to a curb and get down it without freezing. It was almost like a mini panic attack. Thought I was losing my mind. A friend of mine is a psychiatrist and suggested I be treated for PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder) … I thought he was nuts. Good lord – I fell – I didn’t go to war or have a car crash. But I was having flashbacks and was pretty anxious, and it was interfering with my life and work. My temper was very short. Anyway, long story short, they put me on an SSRI (anti-anxiety/antidepressant med) to see if it would help. And it did – surprise, surprise. But after a year I wanted off. It’s made me gain weight and be just a little flat with all my emotions. So, I’ve been weaning off for about a month and now am 2 weeks off the meds. It is hideous. Awful to get past the side effects of the drugs as my brain chemicals readjust back to normal. My lesson learned is that unless something is really bad, if you can live with it, manage it, as opposed to taking the meds. For me, the side effects aren’t worth the gain that the drug gave me. Now, don’t get me wrong – many many people need and benefit from these drugs and they are a miracle for them. I just think it was overkill for me in this situation. So, if nerve pain is bad and you can’t live with it, it’s might be worth trying a med. But consider the side effects and long-term implications. I didn’t do my research and had NO idea that you had to “withdraw” from an SSRI. It’s no fun right now. It’ll get better and it’ll be over soon, but if had understood this before going on it, I might not have done it. Well, lesson learned for me!
Hope you are all doing well.
-Lee
Lee,
What kind of custom orthotic? Where will it be? and what kind of brace? All these little details could be very helpful..i.e. to me as well! Right now I’m using a gel support in my arch that I found in a sporting goods store that seems to help. The drug store ones were not high enough.
By the way, Lee, I’ve had a rather numb big toe since my recent recent surgery removing scar tissue. Any thoughts on that? Feels like there is a rubber band around it.
Anklequest
Debbie – one more thought…ibuprofin. anti-inflamatories can be helpful too. But watch that they don’t cause stomach issues. My Dr. told me to take them every 4-6 hours to reduce the inflamation. Ice too help. And rest. the usual stuff.
-Lee
Debbie – I’ve had constant pain on my instep and the arch of my foot since I got out of my boot a year ago. When the ankle dislocates, it stretches the heck out of the posterior tibial tendon. And, the fractures and dislocation has caused my arch to collapse, which causes even further stretching and tension on that tendon. It’s quite painful. I’ve learned that I need to balance what I do – can’t overdo any exercise that causes more tension on it. Too much walking, elliptical, etc. can cause searing pain in the muscles in my calf. I am having custom orthotics made which I’m hoping will adjust my foot and take some of the pressure off the tendon. And, ankle braces also seem to help support it. So, yes, I think it’s pretty common to have this side effect and it’s a bear. I’m still not sure how it’ll all work out in the end, but I’m still working on it – try the orthotics.
Trace – thinking about ya!
Hi Anklequest!
-Lee
hey ankle breakers
Debbie
Good to hear you are improving 🙂 I had both ankle broken along with lots of other bones due to a car accident with a Drunk Driver back in Dec 2006. The tired feeling you talk about I call the wall. Yup we talk about it in running and physical activity but when you go through a physical injury this wall hits back. 🙂 Once your body gets tired it takes a long time to get back the energy and when you run down you run down LOL. But time will help that and it is not something that happens quick it does take a long time.
As for the pain in the feet. to this day mine still cramp and most of the time if you touch the skin ontop of the foot it feels like pins and needles in the skin. I wear a rubber stocking brace I picked up in the drug store and that helps give enough a support to keep the ankle and foot from getting so tired. Its not much but for me it is enough and also seems to have helped with the cramping and pain across the arch of the foot. Give it a try may help who knows.
Remember ankle breakers keep the right part of your feet on the ground. Any way else creates to much trouble for all of us
Don
Hi Everyone,
I haven’t posted for a long time but continue to read and draw inspiration from others. I am almost 11 months out from my trimalleolar ankle fracture. I have returned to work as a nurse and just yesterday did my first 12 hour shift! I am very tired today, I feel like my stamina and endurance will never get back to where it was. I continue to have pain especially across the top of my foot towards the instep. People have suggested an ankle brace but the discomfort is more in my foot than my actual ankle. My Dr who is less than than helpful at this point, said it may be a form of tendonitis but didn’t really offer any ideas on gow to manage the pain. Any suggestions or has anyone else dealt with this in their healing process? Debbie
Anklequest
good to hear about your walking? and all the news from the others. we can always make it for the next weekend or something if that works better? But we will do it soon
Don
Thanks, Anklequest,
I wish you could see them, too. Because while I’ve worked in public health for quite a while, I’m the one in advocacy dept — getting help and money for people who need it, and need access to healthcare. Love the work, but I never spent enough time actually in the clinics to understand what I’m looking at — and I worked in radiology! Yes, that vanco resistance was very frightening, unexpected.
Thanks for stressing this — because it comes up very suddenly, and it keeps mutating. Any medical care I receive from here on out — even physical therapy, it has to be noted that I have MRSA/VRSA, so they can be extra cautious.
Everyone — be careful.
thanks Anklequest for all your advice — I have a feeling that the next few months are going to be full of research and intense decision making for me and my dr.s.
trac
Trac,
Those sites have many many posts you can look at..thousands. Fusions…all kinds of fusions. And there are about 8 ankle replacements although FDA approval is now only for two. Some people have flown to Europe to get replacements as they are much more common there (no FDA). The replacements are at best, about 80% successful. The fusions..much better, but cause problems later as one can no longer flex and extend the ankle.
From time to time I just go into the sites (at first they are a bit confusing in how they are organized) and read back posts sort of as “leisure” reading. Only an ankle breaker would likely do so. In so doing though, I sure have learned a lot.
About the MRSA, I would assume you may have those things “forever” so be careful. Maybe some day down the line when you are much better you will not have to be as cautious. “Normal” flora is always the best..so to everyone on this board…do NOT take antibiotics UNLESS absolutely necessary.
Trac..keep us informed. I wish I could see your x-rays.
Anklequest
Anklequest,
We have found an antibiotic duo that works. Which they will give me if/when I have surgery. My dr.s are acutely aware of antibiotic resistance, which is good. Also, re-strengthening and keeping strong my immune system. While not a cause, it could help keep it at bay. Honestly, I did not realize it could come back, until this last bout, so I will do whatever is needed.
I, too, will be looking at both of those sites, as they have mentioned ankle replacement. I will know a lot more after my appointment on Thursday. I picked up my x-rays today. I’ve never seen the ones of my ankles, only my knee. Frightening. I just want a final answer. Or at least final for now.
I will let you know what I find out.
trac
Lee,
There’s another group as well, the [email protected]. This group has mentioned the Oakland group that you referred to. Several posters had surgery there.
I’ve occasionally looked at posts from these groups. You can go crazy with all the information but much of it is valuable if you are headed someday for fusion or replacement, like I am. My doctor has mentioned both possibilities to me. At first he was hesitant about replacement saying I was too young, but more recently he’s suggested just waiting a few years until the replacement prospects and results are clearer. He has done about 100 of the replacements himself, and many more fusions.
I’m sticking with this group, by the way, as far as posting, even though I haven’t posted that often lately (am very busy for a person who is of retirement age). I feel I have great friends on this board and they cannot be replaced.
Trac! Finally!
I am so glad 1) that your MRSA is gone and 2) that you have great companions in the arena of damaged limbs that you can enjoy! The 3rd item I’m still waiting for would be that you get to have some surgery that will give you more hope for the future.
How will the MRSA be kept at bay?
All the best to everyone with broken ankles!
Anklequest
Hi everyone!!!
Happy Birthday, Lee! Yes, I am pretty much back to myself. I was very exhausted from the infection, and I don’t think I realized how much. As far as the tendon — not the exact same thing, but I know the pain. That is what happened when I pushed and ended up injuring my Achilles tendon, which it turns out had “shortened”. I had a lengthening surgery, which was not bad at all.
Don, I hope your wife is okay. I am sorry, too. From what I understand you and I have had similar injuries, so I follow your progress. It is discouraging how long healing can take, yet oddly encouraging how our bodies do heal…
Hello, Anklequest and the rest of ya —
take care,
trac
Hi all,
Oh I’m so glad to see everyone back on the board. Trac – you sound good. Like yourself. I’m so glad you’re infection is under control and that you’re out and about. Anklequest – I have to look at the fusion site. Hope I don’t need it any time soon, but I suspect that knowing all about it is a good thing, as the time will likely come some day soon.
My life has been tooling along. I got myself super motivated to lose the weight I’ve gained during this lovely odyssey and put myself in the pool and the gym about 5 days/week. Well, I over did it and really messed up a tendon in my leg that is affected by the change in the shape of my foot post fractures. SO, Im back on rest and limping around until I can get some custom orthotics done which will hopefully correct much of the issue. It is SO painful – feels like a knife ripping into the back of my calf. Not even close to my ankle. So odd. I am so ready to be done with all of this stuff, but it is not to be. How one small step has changed my life …. I know you all know about that feeling! I’m trying to quiet those thoughts by going out and having fun! Took my 8 year old to her first concert last night – we saw Miley Cyrus, and she was amazed! It was actually pretty fun. Celebrating my b-day today by cutting the work day short, taking my son ad his friends to play football, and then out for dinner. Should be a nice day.
Keeping my eye on all of you and will keep you posted on my doings.
Cheers,
Lee
Hi Don,
I’ll discuss with Michael. One glich might be that one of my relatives, my oldest nephew, is in New York City this coming weekend. He’s never been there before so we might show him around. That might happen earlier though, so I’ll let you know. Sorry to hear your wife also still has problems related to the accident.
Hope to see you! I hope to be walking almost normally by then.
Anklequest
Anklequest
🙂 good to hear from you again too. Saturday I can’t make but what about sunday for a lunch date? I would be able to make that time. We should talk, My wife goes for an MRI today monday the 21st and then we see when she goes back for knee sergury but when we are up in the air about now. Hope this time will work for you guys too . Look forward to seeing you let me know
PS — My uncle is a from the hip amputee (whom I’m very close with), my step-father was a double amputee (since passed on) and a very close friend of mine makes prosthetics, plus I’m going to see a counselor and I’ve met a whole group of guys (funny that they are all guys) who are amputees, so I’m surrounded by very positive influences and support groups. If (when) it happens, I hardly doubt it will be easy, but, having had an incredible group to watch — such as my uncle who dances, hot air balloon races, water skiis, etc — will make it easier to cope with.
I stopped a guy friday night at the store, I could tell he had the preliminary leg on — asked him about it, what dr he had, etc. We got to talking and he and his buddy went out for a beer with us. So, it was good to get to ask him questions, and he said it felt cool being able to answer them for someone.
Sorry — I just have started to become myself again, and it felt good to rattle on, so I wanted to share all.
🙂 trac
Hello!
Well, Anklequest, I am with you — no typing for a while, as it has been absolutely beautiful here! Wish I had a deck, but, then, I’d find a way to fall off it… 🙂
Things are not bad. I am doing well. I am having a bit more pain, and x-rays showed that my ankle is getting worse. This was not unexpected. As it was explained to me, that when they put my right ankle (and rest of leg) back together. There was always the fear that in a couple of years my ankle would show the inability to hold up. What was not anticipated was the knee issue. How could they? So, I am going to see another surgeon – one who deals with the leg on a whole, to talk, yet again, about amputation. I said to my dr that it is imperative that this time that an answer be made, and he said he thought it would happen, as he’s met with the surgeons and spoken with my insurance company. So, I am positive, for the first in a while. Unfortunately, I have a bunch of new scars after the rash from the infection, but, I’ll take that over the infection…
I love reading about everyone’s trips and improvements! Feels good to know that people are making progress and still enjoying life.
OH, and Glenn, I’m with you buddy, I’m so tired of the wheelchair! 🙂 We will both get out of it, of that I’m sure…
Peace and happy healing,
trac
HI Don,
Thanks ever so much for your post. I’m sitting on our deck in this lovely fall weather we are having here and I assume your weather is the same. Yes, lets meet in our same place. Next Saturday? I’ll tell you about my recent ankle surgery on Aug. 17th, and where I am at right now. I was diagnosed with severe arthritis in my ankle and they removed a lot of scar tissue. Fortunately I am back at work and able to teach my classes, etc.
Last we here heard from you, you were giving up that 2nd job and taking over a new role in the family plumbing business. I waqs a bit worried that we hadn’t heard from you due to medical problems, but thankfully, that’s not the case.
Noreen, thanks for keeping in touch! I think of you and wonder if you are now on that sailboat. Sorry to hear now about other concerns you have re. your daughter. I am curios…is the Australian medical system like the Bristish or like the Canadian or like the French????
Typing is tough on a beautiful autumn day here in New Jersey with a laptop on my lap on our deck. I am seeing lots of migrating birds in our yard that I cannot identify
All the best to everyone..
Anklequest
[email protected]
Glen from Houston…check the above website! It’s apparently a great site for fusion folks.
We have a great group here but our website here deals with recovery from broken ankles. We don’t have fusion folks on here except for on poster who doesn’t post much. Some of us eventually may be headed for fusion but we don’t know much about fusion.
I wish you all the best.
Anklequest
My ankle Fusion was on Monday Aug 17, 2009.
Surgeon said that it was kind of radical operation, took 2 1/2 hours
He put four screws that look like they are 4 inches or longer in ankle.
Was in Hospital for three days.
Went to rehabilitation for 12 days and was Glad to get home.
On September 9 he put me in a hard cast and should get a walking cast on October 9
I am tired of being in a wheel chair.
Good thing is that I do no have pain in my ankle at this time.
I have not taken anything for pain since I got out of the Hospital on Aug 19.
I have not been very good about doing my exercises since I got home.
What can I expect when I am put in a walking cast?
All input is appreciated,
Thanks,
Glenn in Houston
Hi all im finally back on the site after moving home twice in the last 6 months.
Hope everyone is hanging in there. Its now 13 months since the dreaded day that life changed for me, and as we all know everyday has been a battle with the ups and downs.
The ankle brake was a Hawkins type IV etreame injury but as time has passed ive become very aware of patience in the healing process.
Now 50% weight bearing for the past 3 months and due to see he consultant next week so fingers are still crossed that I will soon bee told that it has heled and I will have some form of mobility. Have to laugh as I cant remember how to walk I think I know but then my leg does something else :-).
hello!
Don, nice to hear from you again! Susan, congrats on the marriage — blessings to you both!
Hello, to everyone else, Noreen, Lee, Wes, Susan, Anklequest — it has been a little while.
Well, we’ve cleared up the infection. I got so used to saying “for now” — I hope it is for good. I am very tired of everything being so difficult, and am looking towards progress. Friday I meet with my GP about seeing a different Ortho re: further avenues that can be taken with my leg. At this point, to go back to work will leave me w/out benefits, or will put in a predicament of having a pre-existing condition. So, I really need to get going on somehow getting the surgeries I need. But, seeing as I received yet another appeal denial, I don’t suppose they are going to ever approve the fusion.
Well,
time to get some sleep,
so everyone take care!
trac
Congratulations on your wedding Susan P. The mountain top sounds a very romantic location.
Hello Don. I first found this site in June or July this year. It has been most helpful to me in many ways. Especially keeping a positive outlook.
Are any of you in Australia like me or are you all in the USA?
I have been asked to teach at TAFE from October 5 until December 10 but I have put that on hold. Partly becuase I really am not yet up to standing all day and partly because if my daughter gets some good news from the neurosurgeon then I will fly from Canberra up to the islands on October 7. When I told Admin that I wouldn’t take up the offer they asked me to let them know in the new term (for us that comes at the end of January after the summer holidays), so I am glad they still consider me on their list. I have always enjoyed teaching but I guess full time work and full professional responsibility comes to an end for all of us eventually. I will turn 65 on October 4. But some extra money and a professional connection makes me feel productive.
I hope those of you with medical insurance problems are getting it sorted out. We currently have a good medical insurance system in Australia. I hope your President Obama will consider our ystem.
Cheers, Noreen
Hey everyone,
I haven’t posted in a few weeks – but I’ve tried to read everyone’s post (have to admit that I haven’t been able to read them all)…..
Work has been super, super busy as well as my personal life.
Oh a positive note, I got married on September 4th – wore my running shoes but what the hey :-)! It was a simple wedding and outside and when I say simple I mean simple, just me and my husband and the wedding officiant on top of our mountain (oh and my dog :-)!)
Leg/ankle – well it’s better than it was – I still know everyday that I broke it – but I have hopes that this time next year I will have days when I forget about it.
I walked two miles this morning – limped this afternoon but I walked this morning…. It’s been a little over 5 months since the break and I know from all the other posts that I’ve read here that it good have been so much worse, so I’m grateful.
Trac, how are you? How is everyone else, Lee, Lois, Anklequest, the other Susan?
To all the new ankle breakers a big “hug” and hang in there will get better.
Greetings to all the Ankle breakers:
My name is Don and it has been along time since I posted on here. I am glad to see some old friends are still stopping bye to talk and check in. I thought I would stop and drop a note. It was Dec 10th 2006 that I had my car crash and broke both ankles and asundery other parts of my body 🙂 ahh well the fun of being hit by a Drunk Driver. Still have a limp with the right leg and the pain comes and goes, As Sandra Posted awhile ago. Some days I walk pretty good and others I can barely walk and need to use my Cane. But all in all not doing to bad still able to move and get around.
AnkleQuest
Long time no see? I see you went and had more surgery? I hope you are coming along quickly but I think you and I will be in the same boat in the future. They still tell me that I will face ankle fusion, Knee replacement and hip too. Ahh well the fun of it all. I am hoping we can get together for lunch again as I had a great time meeting you and your husband. You should call me at the number I gave you (home) and we can set something up.
Sandra, Tac and Wes wow glad to hear all are doing somewhat better but good to see you are all around helping the new ones that come this way. I promise I will be back on soon to catch up and update everyone some more on my travels.
Remember Ankle breakers, Keep the right part of your feet on the ground, we seem to do bad things when we let our feet get ahead or behind us. But keep them on the ground and life will be safer for all. And less painful
Don
The physio and hydrotherapy in Canberra has been going well and I am now walking, albeit limping with no crutches everywhere. I just need to hang on to something when I get up. Especially if I have been on the floor with my grandchildren. There is a man in his early 40s in the hydrpo pool with me. he has had lots of problems since he fell 2 meters at wotk in January. He really smashed his ankle rather than snapping or breaking it. This week he has been told that 2 areas have not knit and he will have to go back in to hospital where the will link these parts to some kind of mesh screw. I am terribly concerned about my 4o year old daughter. Very scared actually. She has rheumatoid arthritis which onset when she went on IVF. She has been getting migraines and yesterday had an MRI and X rayrs and she has been told she has atlantoaxial instabilty in her neck. The neurologist says that a sudden jerk could lead to quadraplegia. She is going to see a neurosurgeon. I am saying my prayers.
Hmmm – 4 days, no comments? Checking to see if all is well with the site?
-Lee
Hi all,
Sorry – been on vacation and getting kids back to school yesterday. Trying to settle into our new schedule, but it is crazy!
Kelley – so sorry about your job. No fun. i can only imagine the stress.
Noreen – swimming is great! It’s really helped me get things moving again. I can’t say it feels normal, but it’s pretty darn good.
Hi Anklequest, Chirsti and others. Christi – congrats on the baby! Keep us posted on how all that goes. It’s such an amazing time – challenging, fun, exhausting …. cherish each moment. It goes quite quickly. Mine are 8 and 11 now – not sure how that happened.
So, we are just back from a vacation to Chicago. We walked everywhere and had a great time! I did pretty well. the ankle was sore by the end of every day and I loaded up on Advil, but we got around and no one was the wiser. I even managed to work out a few times while I was in Ann Arbor. Did 45 minutes of hard, fast work on the elliptical. So, it’s coming back. Still a little trouble with the posterior tibial tendon, but i think that’s going to be there for a long time. I had a really nice massage and the masseur suggested Biofreeze, which I tried on the inside of my ankle, and didn’t feel a thing – proves there is nerve damage there and explains a lot of the pain and burning I was feeling when I was healing in the cast last year. Interesting. Nothing to be done about it – it’s not worth taking Lyrica for the small amount of discomfort I have and I have good function, so no nerve sensation it is. Just interesting.
Ok – back to work. Just wanted to check in with everyone and say hi.
Trace – how’s it going? No posts from you makes me worried. You’re in my thoughts.
Cheers,
Lee