1,654 thoughts on “Broken ankle-2 years later”

1. WELL,,, Houston Wes,,, I just HAVE to congratulate you… Wow,,, you ARE doing well… Boy,,, I remember when Anklequest and I and a few others on the blog were horrified that you were going to become a vicoden addict (is that how it’s spelled?) due to the horrible pain you were in with your ankle… NOW LOOK AT YOU. We kept telling you quit the drugs and use ice and elevation,,, and you took our advise,,, and wow,,, look at what you are accomplishing. I am really proud of you,,, and I am sure the others are too. Lois (the first one… aka…what did you used to call me Granny something I think… lol Lois (the first one)

2. Congratulations being accepted into your chosen course. Well done!!!

3. BOO!! =) Hello old friends.. I mean young friends and new breakers. I have been so busy in school I was unable to even breath long enough to look at anything on the web other than class work til 2 in the morning. I did 8 classes in 1 semester and got straight A’s… Better than that, I got into the Medical Radiologic Technologist Program at the college. 1 of only 22 students out of over 240 students interested and 174 applicants that were eligable. =) woohoo… I wish I could get my gear out of the ankle to get some more jumping mobility, but I just don’t have the few days or few weeks it could take to recover while running all over campus and start clinicals next semester… joy joy.

   Word to those new breakers.. Trimalleolar fracture 2 plates 8 screws in left ankle.. no dislocation – had a dirt bike boot on… wasnt wearing heals at the time I broke my ankle …(j/k.. I am a guy) 😉
   It does get better.. I somehow have found a life just living with it and no one around me even realizes it ever happened. I would like to push it here and there but it could have been worse and I can and do continually improve gradually. I broke mine on July 5th 2008 and its been 2 years. I can point amazingly, but still go back and forth on the mobility of knee over toe … Thats where eventually having it out would help. I sure push it (now) though… I went out dancing a couple of times and tried some break-dancing moves.. you know, I did fine but have been out of the dancing scene for so long that I got chewed up and spit out from young bucks (this coming from my a$$ that’s only 33 this month)

   But as for daily activity, I ride my 1200cc Buell everyday and have taken 3hour long trips where my back and arms got more soar than my ankle that I never felt. =) little advil and I was good.

   Okay.. gotta relax with the familly.. Program starts tomorrow =) HELLO and as Anklequest would say, keep the right side of your feet on the ground =))

   Wesley

4. Thanks Lois,

   We’re a club aren’t we?!

   Noreen

5. I’ve schedule an apt. with the ortho for next Tuesday a.m. I have a new support wrap on too. We’ll see what the dr. says! Have a terrific day and weekend to you…all over the world!

6. Hello Lois, (all),

   I am a 65 year old woman. Sixty six in October. My metal has remained in. Australian doctors tend to leave metal plates and screws in those people over 30 unless it is causing problems. I am now back to doing everthing I need to. Sometimes I totally forget about my ankle. But every now and then it reminds me by stiffening up, then I need to remember to do the dorsiflexion and plantar flexion exercises I was given. Sometimes my ankle ‘fattens’ up a bit and then it is harder to put my shoe on that day. I wear flatties or joggers most of the time. Nevertheless, I consider myself a very lucky woman in that I didn’t break a knee or a hip or crack my skull open! Also lucky in that I am pretty much back to normal after 14 months and lots of physio. I did notice however, that when I visited my grandchildren in Canberra recently I just couldn’t race around the whole garden with them playing touch. So thay gave me a position where I could just bar one area! I still get a bit scared of turning the ankle. I would like to go skiing with my daughter and grandchildren next winter. My daughter skis and the children will now be learning. However, I have never skied and wonder if it would be better not to begin. Someone said that the boots would protect my ankle. I hate not having a go but I also don’t want to end up with broken bones again.

   Keep up your spirits. Love to all.

   Noreen

7. Hello Lois (the other one)…lol I will caution you that this will get confusing,,,. There used to be a twenty something English student named Louise on here and bloggers even got she and I confused.

   Anyway I am a 66 year old from British Columbia Canada, and doing really well now,,, metal in but stop in to see how old friends are doing from time to time. Sorry to hear that you are having trouble now with the metal out… ouch…. Take care and cheers to you and all…. Lois (the first one)

8. Hey, I see there is another Lois involved here! I’m Lois in the Lower Adirondack’s of New York State. Two years ago October 16th I simply turned my foot the wrong way while avoiding a mud puddle. I heard a POP! and when I put my foot down, there was nothing. I was in the woods with my dog, so I bopped out on my butt and called out like an opera singer until someone heard me and they came out in the rain (7:10 a.m.) and then called my husband for me. I fractured in 6 places (the day after my bone density scan, which was just about 100%!). So, I had a 9 inch plate and 18 screws. I went back to work about a week after I got out of the hospital….using a wheelchair and progressed to a walker and crutches. They never prescribed physical therapy. I had the hardware removed last November. Suddenly I’m feeling more pain than I had all the way along. It’s still swollen, but the pain feels like a tissue issue! I know the bone isn’t quite where it was, but I’m a bit confused as to why I’m suddenly feeling this more than before. Any feedback? Thanks….Lois (but, not the Lois who has other comments) p.s. I’m a 52 year old, very active female

9. Jaymie Lynn, It does get better as time goes on I felt the very same way as you only I am older than you I had to have my EMT son take me everywhere as my husband had to work to support us. I got no pay for 5 months and then had to fight to get UE. I have been looking for a job for over a year and still nothing. That really adds to the problem my family has been wonderful and understanding it’s just me I wanted to do things myself and that couldn’t happen for quite a while. I am better now but still my ankle swells and hurts but I tough it out as much as I can hang in there girl. You will be amazed of how it all goes together.
   Been there done that and still getting better every day.

10. Hey Noreen,

    Thanks for responding to me. I am gettin by OK, some days are just so frustrating. I could have never imagined how emotional losing my independence could be until this happened. I have a wheelchair and a wonderful fiancee who helps me DO EVERYTHING, I just feel like a big inconvenience and I am bored out of my mind because I can’t just get up and go anywhere.

11. Hi Jaymie,

    It will get better. It takes a comparatively long time. It is now 13 months for me but I am now doing 99% of what I used to do. Stylish shoes are still a problem though. When I came out of hospital I spent time with my partner in a one level house and had good support. I live in Australia. I am not sure where you are or what services you can link up with. Hope you are not too isolated during this time. Let us know a bit more about how you are getting on.

12. I broke my ankle 2 weeks ago, and it is extremely draining on me mentally and emotionally. Not being able to drive, or go anywhere without making plans to have someone to help me. Being stuck and not being able to go through a door, having to keep it elevated once I am home because of swelling–bored out of my mind, feeling so helpless is emotionally draining. How do you deal with your loss if independence and having to need help constantly???

    Thanks,
    Jaymie

13. My ankle was fused on August 17, 2009.

    I have four screws in my ankle.

    One of the screws has come lose and is going to be taken out next week.

    Ankle was doing better than wnet ot PT and they had me to TOE raises and this was the wrong thing.

    I am to get a Bone Stimuator after screw is taken out.

    Would like input as to use of “Electrical Bone Stimulator.”

    Thanks,
    Glenn Cooper

14. My ankle was fused on August 17, 2009.

    I have four screws in my ankle.

    One of the screws has come lose and is going to be taken out next week.

    Ankle was doing better than wnet ot PT and they had me to TOE raises and this was the wrong thing.

    I am to get a Bone Stimuator after screw is taken out.

    WOuld like input as to use of Electrical Bane Stimulator.

    Thanks,
    Glenn Cooper

15. Didn’t get to sign off! Have a good one, my friends, and it is always nice to hear how everyone is improving.
    Take care,
    trac

16. Hello! Lois, thanks for the kind words. Very meaningful to me. I can’t believe how wonderful this site has been. With that, I’d like to brag a bit – yesterday, I used my walker all day. This included steps. Now, keep in mind, it isn’t really walking, more like, well, my own style. I’m pretty sure my crooked leg is unique. Ha! One of the women in the office where I live, saw me up with the walker and she exclaimed, “wow! You have lost weight!” I laughed, because it was simply that she hadn’t seen me stand before, and I’m 5’11, so it “stretches” me out to stand. I’m so tired of sitting. I really need that fusion. I have built up my muscles, so the strength is there, just, wow, it keeps disintegrating. My dr just yesterday nodded when I said,”my ankle is still crumbling, huh?” I have to be honest, I’m teary eyed right now. I’m getting VERY tired of only going out on Friday nights and Sunday afternoons. But, with no public transportation, no car, it is hard. It has been 3 years (7/09/07) and, I’m really ready to get some of my individual life back. That being said, I can’t afford to lose my disability, give me two more years, I say, please! I’ll get it all acomplished (unless of course, the fusion doesn’t take, then we all know the last option). As far as my kidneys, I’m still at nephrotic stage (which means protein loss at a very high level), but, my creatnine is down some, which, if I understand is what measures kidney function. So, that is all good. Lois, it is funny you said what you said, because this past Feb/Mar when I spent all that time in the hospital, the Chaplains came to see me one day and spoke to me about considering a career as a chaplain, they think I have the positive energy for it. I don’t know. For right now, I’m going to keep taking my classes in Geriatrics, but who knows? I’m really posting a lot. Perhaps, I’m a tad lonely tonight. Albert, my 22 lb cat (maine coon, large breed) keeps me company, when he’s awake. 🙂

17. Today is 6 months since I fell down some steps in Orlando and broke my tib and fib. I have a plate and screws in place. I’m almost at the pooint where I can walk without a limp but still have a problem with swelling as the day goes on. After 8 weeks in a nonwearing bearing cast and 8 weeks of therapy i went from a walker to a cane to almost pain free recovery. The physical therapists were wonderful and encouraging. Before the surgery I did water aerobics 4-5 days a week and last week I was back to my normal routine. For all of you new to this there is hope and healing even for those of us who are 64 years old.

18. Hello Lee, Thanks equally to you.

19. Hi Susan and Lois, I would like to say ditto to everything you have said. From feeling so anxious then gradual progression towards healing and independence again. Chane of priorities regarding fashion and clothes, esp high heeled shoes. Living with plates and screws and attendant difficulties going downstairs. But especially the gratitude I felt upon finding this blog with so many kind and helpful people. Everytime I felt down someone always wrote back. Anklquest and Trac never failed me. I hope you are all well. It was June 2009 my trimalleolar compund fracture occurred and although I am a bit timid in certain situations and still need to elevate my leg (when I remember), every day things are getting better and better. Who said that? Maybe Dale Carnegie or Vincent Peale.Lots of love and good wishes and mobility to everyone x x x x x

20. Hey Susan R…. another memory tripper are you? lol Great to hear from you and I’m glad you are coming along. Yep, it was a very dark time wasn’t it. Who knew. Now I look back occasionally to remind myself of how good that first shower after two months felt, and how wonderful it finally was to get outside and feel the sun on my face and the breeze in my hair. I too seldom wear heels any more, mostly just because I got out of the habit I think and jeans or shorts and sandals are my preferred mode of dress these days unless I have some very special event.

    Just keep getting better Susan… Hugs, Lois

21. Hi all,
    Just checking in after finding out how everyone is getting on. I am almost 2 years post break and doing really well. I have managed hill walking on the Island of Arran (6 hour trek and a couple more) without too many probs. Still get swelling and twinges from time to time but can’t complain. Don’t like high heels any more :o( but getting used to that. I am still very protective of my ankle and still quite sensitive around the ‘business’ area! I still have the metal in place which is fine but am still quite aware of it and can sometimes feel a slight catching or snagging inside when I rub my ankle. I guess that’s something I will have to put up with now. My main difference is coming downstairs (up is fine) as I don’t have full flexion but I can put up with that. All in all I am just about back to normal. I just want to say how much this site helped my through my darkest hours. To all old ankle breakers – onwards and upwards! esp Trac, Lois, Noreen and Lee, thank you for your support. To all new breakers – don’t give up hope! It will take time but, for the majority of us, there is a shining light at the end of the very long tunnel :o)Keep your feet on the ground and take care. xxx

22. Hi, I check in every once in a while to take a quick trip down the not so pleasant ‘memory lane’,,, and this time I noticed hello’s to me from my old friends, Lee and Trac, so I just have to say hi back. LEE, Nice to hear that you are doing so well as it was a pretty rough time for you. Enjoy your cruise. British Columbia is my home so I had travelled most of it by land at one point or another, but it was nice to see the entire coastline by sea when we did the Alaskan ruise about nine years ago. Miles and miles of undisturbed uninhabited natural beauty. Also great to see Glacier Bay, the whales and the little Alaskan towns were quite delightful. There was some interesting shopping and some really great art work as well. I am so glad that you are doing so well with your ankle now. You really did have a tough time for a while, with the complications you had. TRAC, our little pie lady who had the roughest time of all. It is so great to hear that you are standing with a cane. You have just had such a long journey through this and you are the most amazing person. I cannot believe how you must have struggled to pay off your debt, and I will rejoice when you finally are able to get your fusion. I think that you really should become a motivational therapist or speaker,,,your spirit to overcome obstacles is phenomenal.

    Myself, I am incredibly fortunate and I know it. Although I often felt I was good enough before, it was at about fifteen months post break that the last of the glitches worked themselves out, and I was no longer putting up with limitations that I was accepting as just part of the price I was willing to pay. Yes, Lee I agree with you, the more active you can become in a normal manner the more those glitches work themselves out. At about twelve months post break I would tell people that I was about 95% back to normal,,, but at two years and four months I would say that I am at 99.98% back to normal- metal still in. Anyway cheers and hugs to you two,,, and to all the rest of you ankle breakers,,, take care, fight the good fight and keep your spirits up… Lois

23. HI!! Lee — fantastic!!! Yea, we’ve all come far, eh? Alaska? Is this your first time? I spent some time up there the summer of ’06 (accident ’07 — so, I’m glad I managed to get up there before this happened.) It is exciting to hear about your progress.
    I have some myself. I have managed to get myself up with the cane. I am not walking all that far, and it is quite (quite!) painful — but, I am up. Hey, they said I wouldn’t be, right? I asked if it was okay, and my doc said, sure — if you can stand it, I’m not doing damage. But, I really need the ankle fusion before any real movement is possible. I hope to have my bill to the surgeon paid off (when insurance declined to pay, they stuck me w/the bill — $3,000+ — a lot to raise on disability) so, I can have him do the surgery. he’s the best around here.
    My kidney disease (IgA Nephropathy — Nephrotic Syndrome — too much protein in your urine) is holding steady, (my protein #s are 12,208 should be under 30) and, I’m on a high dose of prednisone to treat it, so, I’ve gained weight…uggghh…that doesn’t help. I am even more busy w/the seniors. We just had a 4th of July parade & party. I got a lightweight wheelchair (17lbs), that is very helpful.
    I have set my goal of being cane dependent by next June. I will do my dardenest to reach it.
    Anklequest, how are you?
    Lois and everyone else, I hope you are all doing well.
    Take Care —
    trac

24. Hi all,

    Today is my 2 year anniversary of the trimal fracture and dislocation. Like Christi and many others, I NEVER thought it would be better. But it is. I’m here to say it. I thought I might never walk again and even up to 6 months ago, I was so limited. Today, things are great! I’m walking 4 miles a day on a track, swimming 40 min at a time a few times a week, and generally living my life. Still haven’t skied. Might this winter. Still haven’t run or done serious climbing, but we’re going to Alaska next week and I have plans to hit the glacier for a hike with glacier shoes (spikes on the soles). Somehow, I think the walking and more activity has increased the range of motion and improved the flexion in my ankle. It isn’t perfect – it isn’t the same as the other foot, but it’s good enough. Time and activity help, but activity in moderation. If I do too much, I pay the price.

    Dee – I did find I had more flexibility and less swelling after the metal came out. But, I also had the joint cleaned out during that procedure. Once all the bone fragments were removed, I could move a lot better. And my metal plate really protruded out from my fibula, so it’s much better without it. I can squat, but the bad foot is a little higher up off the floor than the good. I still can’t keep both heels on the ground when bending down. And I do walk down stairs “normally” now, but I still hang onto a railing, just in case. Barefoot is still hard too – I find I need a shoe or flip flop with a good arch support in it, or the tendon in the back of the ankle really hurts. So, you see, time improves it, but there are modifications and adjustments that must be made to manage the changes.

    All in all, I never thought I’d ever have this much function again and I’m pretty pleased with where it is. Hopefully, it’ll just keep on improving, though I suspect I’m in for some challenges when I repair the ligament in the other foot next year. I need to be sure the bad one is really in tip top shape so it can carry me for the 6 week healing time.

    Keep the faith all – and keep the feet on the ground. Stay safe. Hope to hear from Trac and Anklequest and others … miss knowing what you’re up to.

    cheers,
    Lee

25. Will be coming back here again and again, and I will tell my friends as better. This is a vast site.

26. Hello Dee, I am a 65 year old semi retired grandma. I agree with Tammy. It does get better in time. My accident happened in June last year and I have a plate and 11 screws. I don’t think they will take mine out unless I have major problems with it. I believe it is important to either have lots of physio or if you cannot then to do your own exercises. I do believe that the twice a week physio (one session free throught the hospital and one session private) for 8 weeks that I had was very beneficial. However, the dorsi flexion or the planter flexion, which I now know are the movemnents of your ankle going up and down stairs, can be practised much easier in a heated pool if that is possible. Today I did a Zumba class at the gym and although I am not as nimble as before I told the instructor and felt I was able to keep up reasonably well. Most of the people in the class were a fair bit younger than me too! I still try to elevate my foot at least every second day for 20 mins. I think that helps the puffiness that occurs sometimes. Heels aren’t much in my wardrobe anymore. I wear joggers or flatties nearly all the time. Can you have someone massage your calf and foot for you? It helps too. Mentally you eventually begin not to think about it all the time although I am still scared in slippery situations and have been told by family and friends to be confident. I think the shock of slipping so suddenly and then being hospitalised and on crutches takes a while to come to terms with. Like Tammy I feel very lucky to have got back to where I am now. I could have so easily allowed myself to settle for being an ‘old lady,’ too scared to join in things. Or been born in a bygone era when I may have limped (or worse had to have an amputation) and not healed properly as they didn’t have the good treatments and excellent surgeons we have now. Also the titanium which they use for the metal. Hopefully we will continue get better and better physically and mentally. The mental and emotional help I received from talking to people on this site was more than words can express. A heartfelt thank you to you all. All the best Dee and everyone.

27. Dee,
    I read your post and wanted to tell you that it will get better with time. I broke tib & fib 2 years ago Sep 29th, and am now almost back to where I was when I had my unfortunate injury playing football. Just like you,I had a plate and 8 screws. At the one year mark, I had all metal taken out. It has been a very long process with a lot of weight gain and feeling sorry for myself, but I am now back doing everything I did before the break, including playing football (albeit, I now do it with a brace). My advice is to just keep going. Keep stretching. I will be 35 this October and have 3 very active children and I am determined to be the athletic Mom I once was. I realize I have been very fortunate with my recovery, and I still have a good bit of swelling especially when the weather is bad. Arthritis is knocking on the door, but being active always makes it feel better in the end. I hope this helps. And best of luck with recovery and getting back to what makes you happy.

28. HI TO EVERYBODY

    dee here,24yr old female broken and dislocated right ankle,tibia &fibia,9 screws & plate.well all presently im more busy on the 1 year broken ankle blog,but my curiosity as to how much things improve and meet persons who have recovered succesfully drove me to stop by here,hey CHRISTI i rreally need to here from you as i have read that you are now able to run and clim stairs,are you able to go down using both feet does oure injuredankle bend as far as the other,as for me 7 months and going i still cant go up and down stairs properly as my injured ankle cant bend enough so wth stairs i basically have to tip toe,as for running im so scared i may not be able to ever again,i cant stoop down either ,i hope you really get a clear picture of what i am saying,when i try to stand up straight with both feet close together the hell of my injured foot is a bit off the ground,if i try to bend over it is as if automatically the back(heel) goes up futher off ground,im really worried by this ,and the entire process of discomfort when i try to walk especially barefoot,how did you go about clearing youe mind not allowing it to depress you, i really hope you or any body else get back to me and let me know some of the difficulties and restrictions you experience with youre ankle ,is getting back to normal possible,any one please i need to hear something.Hi marina i know you from the 1 year randomness of christi blog how are you now,LEEhappy to finally come across someone who have had thie hardware removed has the flexibility with youre ankle increase since removal?

29. I don’t know why alexa sent me to this site but I need to say I have been certainly fascinated by the blog content you have pulled together. How many week did it take to start getting so many internet users arriving to your site? I am pretty darn to this WWW thing.

30. Hi all,

    Just checking in to say hi. Been away for a while.

    Trac – Kayaking – excellent! I needed that mental picture for you. It’s great to hear you talk about being in the car, on the water and in the pool. You must be really feeling better. So glad to hear it.

    I’m doing well. I’m just about a 2 months out from my 2 year anniversary of breaking the ankle and I’m past a year from the second surgery. I have to say, I’m feeling pretty darn good. It still swells and gets painful if I’m not careful about wearing my good shoes and orthotics, but I’ve been walking for exercise. I’m up to about 4 miles at a time and down about 15 lbs, so that’s all good news. Still not running – never will – but planning on getting back to the pool this summer. I’m back to doing household projects and gardening when I have time, but I’m still pretty careful. We’re going to Alaska this summer in July – I want to hike. Not sure – we’ll see. My biggest current challenge is finding shoes that fit. I was always a wide, now I’m a 2E. Really really hard to find cute ladies shoe that will fit that size and with orthotics. I pretty much stay in my running shoes most days and venture into something a little cuter for short periods of time.

    All else is well. I’ll check back again soon.

    Cheers,
    Lee

31. Jessica~ If it makes you feel better I had my 1st baby several years after I broke my ankle and when I was pregnant it was huge… I know ankles swell in general when you get pregnant but I thought this was ridiculous…. mine always gets swollen in summer in general but I couldn’t believe it. I did ask my doctor about it and she said it was still pretty normal for broken ankles to get swollen and just advised me to keep it up as much as possible. The other item that helped sometimes was I bought compression socks to keep the blood flowing and that seemed to help keep the swelling down too….

32. Hi I’m new to this website. I am trying to find something about my broken ankle situation. I had a spiral fracture about 4 years ago on my right ankle while I was 9 months pregnant! I had a hard cast put on and it was unbearable pain, swelling, all the bad stuff that goes along with a broken ankle. About a week before I delivered the doc gave me a walking boot which was sooooo much better, I think the hard cast did more damage then good! Anyway, I have had minor swelling here and there. Well, I am pregnant w/my 3 child and my ankle is so swollen, it looks worse then when I originally broke it. Has anyone had swelling like this and this long after a brake? I am going to my ob in 2 weeks but don’t really want to wait that long, maybe I should see my gp but is there anything they can really do for it besides elevating my foot? I have 2 other small children and I babysit, I can’t stay off my feet for long! Thanks for any advice!
    Jessica

33. Hi Connie! Sorry to hear about your pain and situation. So many of us have gone through this, so we understand. I am a double ankle breaker — July ’07. It sounds like to me that you have been overcompensating with the stronger side of your body, possibly due to the pain, or fear, that comes with learning to put full weight on the side that was injured. Unfortunately, overcompensating like this does cause a lot of problems down the road, such as you have found out (I did too, I was so afraid to go full weight on my right ankle). I would see if you can find water physical therapy. What this will do, is allow you to strengthen your weak ankle, thus building confidence, without putting all your weight on it. It is amazing the progress I have made, in a relatively short time. And, if you can find a warm water therapy pool (which many wellness centers have) you will find it is wonderful for your joints, and they often have classes for people with painful joints. As far as shoes — there are many out there, but a brand that has been regularly recommended to me by podiatrists and my surgeons is New Balance. They have a walking shoe that offers more heel support, along with a wider toe bed, which is what a number of ankle breakers need, because for some of us, our foot widens after a break. They can be expensive, but I have found shopping for them on the internet and watching for sales, I’ve gotten them at a decent price. I realize it is painful, but, I cannot stress how important it is to keep moving. Once you allow your joints to stiffen, it is almost like starting over to loosen them back up. Also, is your PT working with you on how to walk evenly? This is what the pool did for me. My right leg does not extend fully, thus my foot only touches down on the ball of my foot. Being in the water allowed me to put my foot flat down and move because I didn’t have to fear toppling over (which I should be used to given the amount of times I have down it — HA!) and, do not be afraid / embarrassed to use a walker. If you do not have one, you should be able to get a prescription from your dr for one (unless you’ve already had a wheelchair, then many insurances will not pay for a walker). A walker will help you walk with even weight distribution, get you used to it again.
    I hope some of this helps or that you keep getting help, and that you keep signing in, because, trust me, so many of us here have experienced exactly what you have described.
    Oh, and while I will not suggest this, as I feel this is a personal choice, I did go on an anti-depressant for a while after my accident, and it really helped. I could not stop crying, crying over the pain, the loss of independence, the change, and the oh so common, why me syndrome. My dr called it situational depression. I have now been off of them for some time, but, they did really help.
    Oh, and another piece of good news — despite all my crappy news of late — I found a wheelchair kayaking group, YAYYYYYYYYYYYYYY!!! my kidneys and leg might be bumming me — but who cares when you have kayaking, right? (and fishing). (and baseball). Bring on the summer!!!

    Peace and Blessings to everyone —
    the gal who definitely is finding things happier
    now that the sun is back out for a spell.

34. Hey everyone
    New to the website, and haven’t written much. Ankle broken Dec 4th 2002. Had a 5 hr surgery plus 5 days in the hospital. Now I have 2 plates and 5 pins. Am walking with a limp and lots of pain, and going to rehab 2xweekly. I’m 61, female ,overweight. all that good stuff. One of the challenges I’m facing besides the ankle is all the other mess going on with my body. I broke the left ankle, and my right knee anf leg has gone crazy. My knee pops practically everytime I move it, and has gotten so sore. My leg feels like it’s swelling and to add to this my neck and shoulders get so painful, I can barely take the pain. I’m a wreck, not only physically, but mentally and emotionally. All I want to do is cry because of all this. I don’t know what type of shoes to buy for good feet and back and knee support. I’m trying to stay positive and know that due to the severity of my break I’m lucky to be walking at all, but it sure gets hard to cope with this other junk going on. If anybody has any suggestions for me it would ne most appreciated,
    Thanks
    Connie

35. Congrats Christi on your new baby they are so much fun my grands are just the cake I love them and they can really lift up a spirit for sure. Glad you started the site as when I had my accident almost a year ago I thought that I was so alone not the case a lady in MN told me about the site and I am so grateful for her doing so, I am from OH and just visiting there with boot and hbbling around and in a wheelchair too at times. Glad to hear your doing better Trac I realize it can be along time coming I have been unemployed for a year now just work is so slow these days Take care all Hi Lee and Anklequest too haven’t heard much as of late on anyone how are we doing keeping our feet on the ground and looking straight forward right?
    Take care every one

36. Christie, Congrads on your newest family member!! That is great to hear and just as great to hear that you are capable of running and playing. That is so important. And a wonderful part of living.
    I lost my link, so I’m glad there was a comment, and extra glad it was such a positive comment. I had a good thing happen today.I drove for the first time since my accident. It went well, except I have to sit close since my right knee doesn’t straighten fully. And, there was some pain from using my foot, in that way. Otherwise, I got my results back from the kidney biopsy. I have IgA Nephropathy which has led to Nephrotic Syndrome. I’m still losing massive amounts of protein in my urine. I am not in danger of kidney failure at this moment, But, as I have an aggressive form, I very well could in 3-5 years. I don’t have diabetes or high blood pressure, so that is a good thing. I have to admit, I’ve said, WHAT NEXT?! But, otherwise, I stay pretty busy and happy. How about everyone else?
    Hi to all! Have a good week!

37. Its been a while since I have written anything on here as I had a baby in August of 2009 and so she has been taking up alot of my time:). I thought I would give you all an update…. it has now been 4 years since I broke my ankle (I think… time has started to blur)…. and I’m back to my normal self for the most part. I decided to leave the metal in, I take long walks every night, I work out, I climb stairs etc and I don’t notice it being that much different any more. Every so often still when I climb to many stairs it will bother or if the weather changes it will sometimes bother. I still am cautious around stairs or when I stumble or things like that but for the most part it is so much better and I never thought I would get to this point. I can run and chase my little girl in the future and not have to worry! Hopefully you all can end up that way too it just takes time!

38. Hello all Anklebreakers,

    (Marina, here, 58, female, right tri-malleolar fracture with dislocation Oct 7, 2009; surgery Oct 22, 2009)

    It’s been almost 6 months for me. Went on my first major shopping trip using just a cane and that was to IKEA (which as you all know, is not just a shopping trip, but a major vacation ‘destination’!!!). Went with sisters, nieces, brother-in-law. We walked for over 2 1/2 hours, but I sat wherever there was a chair. I think my back hurt more than anything, but I made it! My ankle/foot were sure swollen and discolored by the evening though so elevation was a must.

    Also made my first trip to the city’s indoor pool. I walked in chest-high water back and forth 32 times and really felt the drag on my right ankle. I didn’t actually swim since it was my first time and the kicking part made me a bit nervous, but made swimming motions with arms for the exercise. Then did tip-toe exercises and side leg lifts. I was so sore the next day, but it was a good type of sore like a work-out (or marathon!)

    My physical therapist today said she only needs to see me one more time and will give me exercises for home and pool so I feel I’ve graduated!

    I still use a cane when I go outside the home to straighten my gait and eliminate the limp. I still struggle with balance. If I get bumped, I feel like I’m going to tip over. I cannot balance on my right leg or put all my weight on it to just stand yet. So I still need to work on that part. I can climb stairs slowly, but still go down stairs like a little kid taking one step with right then set the left leg beside it. I still need to be able to quickly (almost run) up and down stairs and inclines before I can return to work.

    My pressure ulcer is down to about 1/4″ hole in my foot so that has greatly improved.

    The more I’ve exercised, I’ve noticed a burning feeling in the top of my foot and then I have spasms. I told the therapist that it’s bad enough that I take Tylenol PM to get me relaxed enough to sleep at night. We’re hoping it’s just from the nerves that are trying to regrow. Will ask OS next month when I seem him.

    All in all…big improvement from a month ago.

    For those that have trouble with showers…The biggest blessing was the Tub Bench for the bath tub. I couldn’t step over the edge of shower, so put a TUB bench in the other bathroom. I could sit on it outside the tub and then slide over. I would adjust the shower head where I wanted it. It’s very secure with suction cups on the tub floor and has a back…padded and very comfortable.

    I can now step into my shower holding onto the grab bar we installed and have a SHOWER stool in that shower because it’s too hard to wash and balance. The TUB Bench was about $60 and the Shower stool about $30 at Walgreens. Worth every penny. The TUB bench is now in storage (it’s pretty big), but the shower stool will probably be a permanent addition to my shower.

    Also, the pros and cons of wearing a boot while sleeping…I’ve heard both. Basically listen to your doctor AND your body. I still had 2 more weeks of wearing boot while sleeping but just couldn’t sleep and hated that velcro snagging and ruining everything. Finally took it off at night and nestled my foot in an airplane neck u-shaped pillow still elevated on 3 pillows.

    I would love to hear from Christi who started these threads 4 years ago to see how she is doing now.

39. Hello Connie, This site has a lot of good and caring people who write on it, some frequently and some from time to time. I think Marina has said a lot of what I would say. I especially related to the first time on an escalator. I too could not find the right tempo for getting on to the moving steps and stood back. And then a couple realised my dilemma and took me by an arm each and down we went! One beside me and one in front.It does keep getting better. Two steps forward and one step back from time to time. Keep up the stretches and massages with a PT or a partner/friend etc. My PT told me to take a anti inlammatory whenever the ankle puffs up but I am trying to avoid that. Trac has certainly been through more than seems fair. I am waiting for the results of a routine test that showed blood in the urine. I can’t see it at all but the little dip stick showed it was there when the dr’s nurse did the test. Not sure why. I ma trying not to let my imagination go crazy and I am not googling it either until I know what’s going on. Cross fingers.

    Take care everyone.

40. Wow, Trac

    You’ve really had it all. I feel very fortunate to “just” have a tri-mal with dislocation. I’m sorry that you had such horrible fractures/breaks, etc. and even more sorry for your other health issues. I’m so grateful the only illness I’ve gotten is (and I’ll whisper….terrible, terrible hemmorhoids due to pain meds) and that’s been a royal pain in the butt 🙂 Other than a cold, I’ve been in good health.

    I know what you mean about some people healing faster. My son had either a small fracture or really bad sprain (his insurance ran out so didn’t go to the dr.) But it was horrible swollen and purple and he just hopped around on one foot (the strength of youth!) and iced it quite a bit, then bought himself a splint for inside his shoe and was better in 6 weeks. He doesn’t quite understand why it’s taken me so long, but can see the progress every time he stops by to visit.

    Are you going to have to have dialysis? I hope you have lots of family support. Wish we could post photos so we could put a face with these names!

    Good luck and keep us posted…We’ll be thinking about you with lots of positive thoughts!

41. Marina, you are so lucky to find shoes! Unfortunately, my foot is misshapen, plus, I’m like a men’s size 12 right now…I was a women’s size 12 prior to the accident so no surprise there. Connie, WELCOME!!! Very glad you found this site, it is quite a valuable support to many, as I hope you will find. I am a double ankle breaker/dislocation (compound) plus some other broken bones, I was weight bearing on my left leg, the one that only had the ankle broken/dislocation once the cast came off. It was quite painful at first, but the more I put weight on it, the more that pain became bearable and then went away, or I became accustomed to it. My right leg, which was far more severe of a break, as my whole leg, hip and knee were shattered as well, took a bit longer for me to put full weight on, and I was very scared to do so, which is why it took so long. My leg felt weak, and I was afraid of falling. Now, falling is the least of my worries. I laugh, down I go again, and I get up. Remember to keep laughing, it really does help. A trick I used to become more comfortable with putting weight on my right leg was stepping on a bathroom scale. This way, I could see how much weight I was actually putting on my ankle. It encouraged me. Also, please, do not be ashamed or embarrassed if you do not make progress as fast as your friends, family, doctors think you should. They didn’t go through this, you did. Take your time, you don’t want to reinjure. And, use a cane, a walker, if you need it. I’d suggest staying away from wheelchairs or scooters except for long distances, because you can become dependent on them. But, as you will see on this site, we all healed at different paces, as you will to. Heck, July will be 3 years since my accident and I’m still healing and working on it. On the other hand, when my brother broke his ankle playing football, he was in a cast, out of a cast, and back playing by the time the season ended. Every body is different. Again, it is good to have you! 🙂 So, a little update, I have what is called Nephrotic Syndrome (kidney disease), it is what caused the pneumonia and other infection. But, what they don’t know is what causes it in me (it is different for different people), so, the biopsy will tell them that, and we should know from the biopsy if it is chronic or acute kidney disease we are dealing with and if how to treat it. So, I’ll know in a couple of weeks. I doubt it will be too serious, I figure why fret until I know if I truly should fret, right? Heck, then I might not even fret, because I just don’t have the attention span for fretting. I’ll leave that to people who are good at it. 🙂 ha!
    Alright, have a good one. Off to spend the evening with my aunties. Hope you all enjoy the weekend.
    Later,
    trac

42. (58, female, tri-mal with dislocation Oct 7, 2009; surgery Oct 22, 2009)

    I too have been told 12-18 months to walk without limp, still have swelling and discoloration.

    Everyone is different: type of fracture; dislocation; age; health; etc.

    I have (had) a job with an airline and I boarded passengers including wheelchair passengers. I now realize why when I would whisk them down a jetway they would be nervous! I was a very nervous wheelchair ridee – so afraid someone would tip me over.

    Am walking pretty good with a cane and still limping without a cane. Before I go back to work, I’ll need to be able to walk about 2 miles without stopping because I have a 1/2 mile walk to bus stop then the long walk thru the airport plus I walk over 5 miles per day just in the course of my job. Still a ways to go yet.

    I will tell you about my first ESCALATOR experience! My husband and I were returning from visiting my son and he didn’t think I needed to get a wheelchair by now. So, of course, I’m very slow and he’s way ahead dragging both rollerbags. The escalator to ground level is 2 levels and he was already almost to the bottom before I even reached the beginning. I stood there with my cane and watched that step go by (faster each time, I swear!). I kept putting my foot out thinking, “NOW…go for it” But then would pull my foot back too scared to try it. A party of 3 walked up behind me and the guy must have thought I got on and bumped me pretty hard from behind. My husband turned around at the bottom to look up and saw the panic in my eyes. The guy kind of laughed and said sorry, then realized I had a cane (so somewhat disabled) then felt kind of bad and insisted I go on down before him. Well by then, I just couldn’t. I moved out of their way and walked around to the elevator. By the time I met up with my husband my heart was still beating wildly and I was in tears. It was the most frightening thing thinking I could have fallen 2 stories down an escalator. My husband says he still cringes when he thinks of it because he feels that would be an injury I would never recover from.

    So I think I’ll wait on those escalators for a while! A friend of mine – after having knee replacement – said that the first time she took an escalator, she was so excited, she had to call her kids and tell them!

    Hang in there everyone. United we can make it! We have all had our eyes opened to a new world and its challenges.

    Everytime I would run up and down the steep metal steps going from jetway to tarmac carrying strollers, extra bags, walkers and wheelchairs and occasionally almost slip, I would tell myself, “Don’t fall, Marina, you know ankle injuries take a long time to heal” Of course, my fractures came fromm slipping on a pile of sand/gravel taking a picture of a lake in the mountains! Who wudda thunk?

43. Hello

    I’m new to this site. I had a compound fracture of my left ankle Dec 4 2009. Yesterday I camr out of the boot and the doc said to begin weight bearing. Ouch!! Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

44. Hi Trac

    RE: shoes that work

    (58, female, tri-mal with dislocation Oct 7; surgery Oct 22, 2009)

    Terrasoles from Sam’s Club (In PHX area). They are about $20; similar in style to Sketchers (but I can’t wear my sketchers yet!) Ballerina ECHO. They are about $40 from Sears and $50 from Terrasoles website. I bought 3 pairs

    Also for a dress shoe…JCPenney’s – in the slipper department – I bought lacy black ones for dressy and black patents ones for slacks.

    Those are the ONLY shoes I’ve been able to wear. I haven’t tried with really expensive styles because I hate to invest that much money if there is ever any hope that swelling will eventually diminish.

    So for low-cost…those are my choices.

45. Oh, I LOVE Half Moon Bay, I’ve always said if I could move anywhere,it would be there,assuming I can afford it. We used to go the Maverick competitions a lot. I am needing to excersise a lot more. Unfortunately, my brother has stopped going to the gym. So no more ride. I do have workouts I can do here, but I love the pool. And, yes, I feel like throwing a tantrum. Imagine a little redhead stomping her feet :). I have,finally,found another shoe that works for me. The Vikram 5 fingers. They do not offer ankle support, but fit literally like a glove on your foot, which accomodates for swelling and in my case, curvature. A friend who is a triathelete runs his races in them. They are not cheap, but I’m willing to pay for a good shoe. I am interested in hearing more as people discover shoes that work. I am and moving speedier with the wheeled walker. I tell ya’, soon I’ll be saying I’m going with the cane. Well, it was almost 70 degrees here today and supposed to snow tomorrow, so goes life in the midwest. Biopsy on Monday, I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t nervous. Okay, everyone, please take care, and have a good weekend!

46. Hey Noreen,

    (42, female, tri-mall w/ dislocation 7/08, metal removed 3/09 w/ arthroscopy and ligament repair)

    I’m kinda with your husband on the exercise. You have to learn moderation as you recover. A little too much and you cause a problem that may sideline you for weeks. I was so excited to really get going again, that I went from almost 0 to 5 days/week on the elliptical. After about 7 days of this, I had a shooting pain in my calf that was unbelievable. Turns out the posterior tibial tendon, which runs from the bottom of your foot up the inside of your ankle and connects to the calf muscles, got all inflamed and irritated and was causing a problem. Had to go back on crutches for 3 days to get it to settle down. And lots of ibuprofin. So, moderation for me is hard, but I’ve learned that I have to take it slow and easy. Kinda a bummer, as I’m trying to take off some weight and in my previous life, it would have been easy and done in a matter of weeks. I’m going on months now – at like 2-5 lbs per month, some months none. But that’s the new reality.

    Take it easy, take care.
    Lee

47. Hi, Noreen

    (58, female, tri-mal with disloc Oct 7, 2009)

    Wow, ‘crouching’ or squatting?? I can’t do that yet. But, I can now sit down on the floor! I did it accidently getting something out from the bottom shelf of entertainment center. I sat down (actually sort of dropped hard on my butt after I reached a certain point of no-return) and then remembered, “Oh, My! I can’t sit on the floor yet. How do I get up?” I finished cleaning out the shelf, then crawled over to sofa and hoisted myself up. But at least my body momentarily forgot that I could sit on the floor again. So when searching another shelf for an album (yes, we still listen to our old LP’s!) I sat down with full realization knowing I could crawl to a piece of furniture to get up.

    No squatting yet, but I feel it’s headway to sit on the floor again!

    I have tried to push my walking. I did a stationary bike for 10 min, then treadmill for 10 min, and leg presses. Later in the afternoon walked 15 min around the block. Later that night and next day, my inside ankle hurt every time I put weight on it. My husband said I don’t know how to go easy. He said either do the exercises or do the walk, not all in one day to start out.

48. Thanks Lee. I thought it sounded nice that Trac loved the area. More poetic! Yes, well, I’ll see the PT this Friday at 12.30pm (Aussie time) and make sure there is no mechanical problem with the screws and plate. After that I guess stretches of some sort will help. It feels a lot better today but then I haven’t exercised at the gym over the last few days and I don’t want to become inactive. I have been watching the Para Olympics on the tele. They are such amazing people.

    Talk to you again soon. Keep well everyone. Love from Noreen

49. Sorry – bad typing. Trac LIVED out this way, not LOVED out this way … course, she may have done that too, but I don’t know.

    -Lee

50. Hi Noreen. Half Moon Bay is just south of San Francisco in California. Trac actually used to love out this way, so I knew she knew it well. Sorry to hear about the pain upon crouching down – I can imagine it might have been a tendon that got pulled in a way it hasn’t since the break. Mine are very tight – at least the one on the inside of my ankle is – causes lots of trouble. Stretching helps, but it’s never perfect.

    I had my hardware removed, about a year ago. it was really bothering me. It really protruded under the skin and anytime anything touched it, it really hurt. Couldn’t set my leg on anything where it would press against it – like sit cross legged or rest the outside of me leg on a sofa. It also heated up in the sun. Kinda crazy, but it would literally feel like it was burning from the inside out. Was achey in the cold too. I feel much better since it’s come out, but it’s dependent upon your healing, and I would say, if you don’t need it out, don’t have another surgery to take it out. I could not live with mine in, so out it came while I had another procedure done.

    Take care all!
    Lee

51. Hello everyone, What a great name, Half Moon Bay. Whereabouts is that Lee? Is it America or Canada. I am woefully ignorant of the American continent but I do hope to visit there within the next couple of years. I would especially like to do the Rockie Mountains train trip.

    I have been priding myself on how well my ankle is recovering. A few days ago I thought to myself, “Wow, it hardly feels as if it was ever broken.” Of course I am only wearing sandals and sports shoes but I had no pain. And then! Yesterday at work (I am now working Tuesdays and Thursdays, at 2 different locations, a group of students were doing a first aid course and I was participating as literacy support for the ESL group, I crouched down to do CPR on the dummy and when I got up there were shooting and grabbing pains on my inside ankle and I could only hobble. It wore off then did it again about 3 hours later. It wore off agin and this morning it is very tender. I have made an appointment to see the PT who I haven’t seen for several weeks. Gosh, I hope it is not a sign of further trouble. I have been doing so well. The surgeon told me he wouldn’t need to see me again as the bone had healed well. What about the plate and screws? He said to leave them in unless they cause trouble. How would I know what has caused this?

    I hope Trac you are getting better. You have had a very rough time. Let’s hope for some good news.

    Best Wishes From Noreen

52. Hi all – it’s been too long since I checked in. Life has gotten in my way.

    Anklequest – I’m so sorry to hear that you’re in so much pain now. That can’t feel good. Curious how the brace helps. Is it because you don’t use the ankle to flex? And how on earth have you managed to lose 15 lbs without much movement? I’m still working on it. Down 8 lbs since my heaviest, but struggling with the movement part. I’ve been walking every day, but I worry about causing damage. I try to listen to my body and ease up when there’s pain. But gosh – I want to drop 30 lbs. Not sure how I’m going to get there from here. Got my 25th HS reunion coming up in the Fall. Can’t go there looking like this.

    Trac – oh my goodness. I just can’t believe the state you’re in. Know that I think about you and say a little prayer for you almost daily. Your outlook on life is always the best! I learn from you everyday.

    My life is progressing – I’d say that I’m finally back to most of my usual things, except of course any high-impact activity, and I skipped all the skiing at Tahoe this year. I’m considering having a pair of custom boots made for next season – I can’t even get into one off the shelf right now. I think I need to find a way to get back up for a few easy turns down a few slopes with my kids. Would make life feel like it used to be. Just need to get over the fear of falling and hurting myself again. I even have bought a few pairs of new shoes and am working with the orthotist to adjust them all so I don’t have too much pain. I can manage a flat for abut 2-3 hours and I found a sensible heel I can wear for about an hour when I need to, otherwise it’s still running shoes with orthotics. I suspect it will always be this way. I just keep reminding myself that I’m lucky to have a foot – I should not worry about the shoes.

    Trace, you’ll appreciate this story. We were out at Half Moon Bay a few weeks ago to watch the Mavericks surf competition. A huge wave crashed over a sea wall into the stands where lots of people were watching. We were, fortunately, way back up on the beach. People went flying into the water. There were 3, count them 3! broken ankles and legs from that one wave. Just like that. Boy did I feel for those people. In an instant, life changes. The surfing and the views were spectacular, but what a price to pay.

    Take care all – just wanted you to know I’m still around and thinking of ya’ll.
    -Lee

53. Hi,everyone!!
    First off, I finally was released from the hospital after 3 wks. Anklequest, you were correct in guessing I have built up a resistance to antibiotics. Also, the strain of pneumonia was resistant. Another thing is that I have had and have, a lot of blood and protein in my urine. I’ve been tested for what they can using a blood test, everything was negative, so now on the 22, I go in for a kidney biopsy. I asked the renal dr (nephrologist?) What are the chances I have kidney disease and/or failure? He responded with 100%. He just doesn’t know what yet. So,the ankle surgery is indefinetly on hold until this is taken care of. I’m not diabetic or have high blood prressure, which are the two most common reasons for kidney problems,which is leaving them to believe an auto immmune disease is at cause. May I take this moment to say, WHAT?! Haven’t I endured enough? I won’t get the results from the biopsy until April 8, hard to wait. I figure, aw heck, I don’t know what I figure. I’m very tired of things being difficult. On the other hand, I’m surrounded by amazing people and doctors, which makes everything feel less than difficult. My dr.s all hold my hand and hug and laugh out lod with me, which helps immensely. But, I must admit I’m a bit scared about my kidneys. Other than that, things are good. I feel for you Anklequest on the pain,that cannot be easy to deal with. And Marina, I’ve had everything you are talking about happen, but I just kept treating with unna boots and using pressure stockings. My foot is crooked, so I can oly wear teva sandals. I hope everyone has a happy st pats day! I’m cooking corned beef and cabbage and making soda bread for the seniors, should be fun. Hi Lee, Lois, hope your families are well. Take Care All! I’ll write again soon! Trac

54. Marina,
    In my case traumatic arthritis began to seriously set in after about 4 years. I am now 64. My break was similar and wound was similar. The age factor likely makes a difference but still, there are great individual variations.

    You seem to be making good progress, although probably much slower than you expected. I personally think it would be very difficult for you to do that same job that you were doing.

    This week I just got a specially made AFO brace to keep pressure off my ankle since it is now always very painful to walk without pain medicines. Hopefully that will keep me going for a while before more surgery such as ankle replacement or ankle fusion. I may even try buying a pair of army boots to see if that might reduce pressure on my ankle. I am also back to some PT as I had a very bad limp and had greatly reduced range of motion. Finally I have lost 15 lbs and hope to lose 10 more in the next few months.

    TRAC where are you? How are you?

    Noreen, thanks for all your posts. I’m skeptical about the honey cure but maybe will try it since I love both honey and cinnamon.. and ginger too!

    All the best to everyone.
    Anklequest

55. Just another questions (58 yrs old, tri-mal fracture with dislocation on Oct 7, surgery on Oct 22, 2009)

    How long does it take before traumatic arthritis will set in after severe ankle fractures? Doctor said to expect it and didn’t know if age had anything to do with how long or short this may occur….hopefully, it won’t, but just curious.

    If anyone has any experience with this or has heard, please drop a post.
    Thanks

56. Marina, here….58 yr old female, Tri-malleolar fracture with dislocation on Oct 7, 2009 and surgery with plate, pins, screws on Oct 22, 2009.

    It’s been 5 months post-fractures. Just want to let anyone out there who is still having trouble finding shoes to fit…I’ve found some. I still have terrible swelling and purple color when foot is down. Have started wearing knee-high support hose on right leg which has helped.

    Sam’s Club had Terrasoles shoes. They are very similar to Sketchers, but I have several pairs of Sketchers and they still don’t fit. The Terrasoles are “Echo Ballerina” and come in tan, brown, black, red and blue. Cost was $19.99 (on-line they are up to $40). I bought one pair and my husband went back and bought me 2 more pair. Hurray!

    Also, for something dressy, I found that JC Penney’s has ballerina-style slippers that worked for me. I first bought a black-lacy pair that looked very dressy. My husband then went back and bought a patent leather one that looks nice with pants. They are not in the shoe department but in the sock/slipper department….brand is MiXit. They were $24.00

    I can get an old tennis shoe on (my new ones still won’t work), so I was wearing a pair of old dearfoam slippers that I cut slits in all around the top. You can imagine my excitement when I found some nice casual shoes and dressy ones to wear.

    Still treating pressure ulcer on top of foot. Size of wound is down from silver dollar to nickel size. My foot is still numb on top but range of motion is better so can now drive on streets where I don’t have to quickly accelerate to merge (so no busy streets or freeway). But I can maneuver side streets to doctor and therapy from my house.

    I’m able to walk/limp around the house with no assist, but use a cane when I go out to straighten out my gait. I returned the wheelchair, walker, and tub bench to my in-laws, but still use a shower bench in the master shower.

    Still not back to work (my job is running up and down jetbridges all day). Can’t run and inclines and going down steps is still done slowly and cautiously. On the treadmill I’ve progressed from .6 mph to .9 mph in just 4 weeks with no incline. PT has been decreased to once a week, since I am able to do more on my own. My focus now is to be able to balance on right foot.

    Thanks for all the input and progress notes from everyone.

57. Just to add to what you have said Lois about cinnamon and honey. I was listening to the radio in the car when the Chief of Brisbane Botanical Gardens was being interviewed. He has been in that position for 30 or so years. He is very interested in the medicinal qualities of herbs etc and is very concerned about indiscriminate forest logging that could destroy plants with the potential for curing diseases. Anyway, he swears by ginger tea. This man is about 65 years old and has been told by his doctor he has the prostate of a healthy man 15 years younger. Fifteen yeards ago is when he began making ginger tea. He said his wife drinks it too and finds it beneficial. When I went grocery shopping recently I bought a hunk of ginger, about the size of the palm of my hand but it is still sitting in the fridge. Nevertheless, I plan (hopefully), to make the tea before the ginger needs to be thrown out! Has anyone else ever tried this?

58. Just to add to what you have said Lois about cinnamon and honey. I was listening to the radio in the car when the Chief of Brisbane Botanical Gardens was being interviewed. He has been in that position for 30 or so years. He is very interested in the medicinal qualities of herbs etc and is very concerned about indiscriminate forest logging that could destroy plants with the potential for curing diseases. Anyway, he swears by ginger tea. This man is about 65 years old and has been told by his doctor he has the prostate of a healthy man 15 years younger. Fifteen yeards ago is when he began making ginger tea. He said his wife drinks it too and finds it beneficial. When I went grocery shopping recently I bought a hunk of ginger, about the size of the palm of my hand but it is still sitting in the fridge. Nevertheless, I plan (hopefully), to make the tea before the ginger needs to be thrown out! Has anyone else ever tried this? Cheers, Noreen

59. Got to keep this short otherwise I will lose it again before it posts. Trac, (like Noreen I am wondering how you are.) Also wanted to thank you all for your wishes for my son. He is coping well and staying optimistic which is helping me to do that same. Offering a tip which some of you might wish to try. Someone suggested to me that I try honey and cinnamon, so I did. On my breakfast cereal, on toast, on apple slices as a snack… Arthritic old hands have stopped aching and are much more flexible and ankle has stopped aching and waking me up in the night. Coincidence??? perhaps but it’s worth a try. The cinnamon I have been using is a good quality brand from Costco. I would be interested to hear if you as well notice any difference beginning after about three days. Hugs everyone Lois

60. Trac are you still in hospital? I hope you are recovering well.

61. Marina,
    A comment on your possibility of a pressure ulcer…

    My ankle was placed in a half splint after surgery and very “lightly” covered. Two weeks later, when the stitches and staples were removed (about 40), I was not even given a cast nor splint–again just light coverage and then ace bandage holding everything in place. When I asked why, the surgeon said any pressure on my fragile skin on the foot and the open wound was much too risky…more risky then living without a cast for a few weeks. As it turned out, i was very able to get around without the cast and staying off the foot for I was very afraid to injure it.

    Anklequest

62. Trac and Noreen, good to hear from both of you.

    Trac, it seems like you might unfortunately be an example of what happens when one develops resistant strains of bacteria from use of too many antibiotics. Of course we know, from your posts, the history of all of this, which is not a pretty picture.

    Right now in my classes I am on this topic and may use you as an example of what can happen..a progressive series of events that, in your case, you had no control over. However most of us do have some control over the antibiotics we take and can avoid overuse.

    Noreen, glad to hear of your progress. I too, now have to stop and let others go ahead of me. I’m going to a conference in Washington DC in about 3 weeks. During that time I plan on visiting some museums, etc, which I usually do for a few hours when there. This time I know I’ll not keep up with the rest. But like you, I’ll enjoy the scenery that I have.

    All the best to everyone!

63. Trac…
    About the wound and your unna boot treatment: How big was your wound? Did dr. tell you what caused it? When was it noticed? How long did it take to heal? Was it the cause of the nerve damage on top of your foot? How long before you regained feeling or recovered from nerve damage? Did it affect movement in your first two toes? Sorry to ask so many questions, but ‘have a need to know’.

    Sorry you now have pneumonia! Wow, on top of everything else! Get well soon!

64. Hello!
    Marina, I had almost the exact same wound, treated it quite the same, with unna boots. Mine was from having limited blood flow to the top of my foot. I have lots of problems with nerve damage.
    Hello to everyone! Guess where I’m responding from?? Yup, my hospital bed. I’ve been here for 9 days. I had simple pneumonia,they admitted me to give me a day of IV antibiotics. Except, not only did I not respond to all 5 antibiotics, it has spread and now I have atypical bilateral pneumonia full lungs. And I’m on 6 liters oxygen, but my oxygen percentage is only around 88%. They are testing. No real answers. I hope to know more by Monday. This sucks! I don’t smoke, I eat right, heck,I even had a pneumonia shot!
    Well, I’ll keep you informed. Have a good weekend.
    Trac

65. Hello Marina,

    I had a compound tri malleolar fracture of my left ankle in June last year. I was 64 years old. The ankle has visible surgical incisions on both sides and in the front centre where the ankle meets the foot. On the inside ankle the bone had pierced the skin and protuded. The front of the ankle was very indented and took a while to heal. The surgeon told me that they had been worried that I may not have enough skin to cover the small circular wound. They thought I would need a skin graft. However, it did begin to heal and now has completely healed, 9 months later, although you can still see where it has been. Do you have enough skin to grow over your wound? Maybe you could ask your surgeon whether you might need a skin graft.

    My injured leg was a different (reddish), colour for a long time. It is now, 9 months later, back to the same colour as my other leg. I can still only wear flat shoes and joggers. Right up until the end of December ’09 my ankle would puff up and I could only wear shoes with velcro straps. Even now,if I forget to elevate my foot at least once a day the ankle can puff up. Having someone massage the lower leg and foot every now and then is very helpful. I do massage it myself but it feels nicer when someone else does it. The nerve that runs from my big toe to my inner ankle was numb and then tingly. It felt like I was touching it with a cloth on top. It seems to be regenerating and I think it is because of the massages. Of course if the nerve has been cut that won’t help.

    I had a lot of PT and am now able to walk up and down stairs although flexing the injured foot to go down is still a bit tricky, it can feel very stiff and I have to ‘hop’ a bit sometimes. Last weekend I went to Girraween National Park and walked a long trail to ‘The Pyramids,’ a prehistoric granite boulder formation. I walked the whole path, almost an hour, and up a lot of stone stairs. When the party got to the first ridge leading to the top I sat down and waited. They were away about an hour and then they collected me on the way down. Apparently I missed a fabulous view but I was very happy with the view I had! I then walked down, although much slower than the others.

66. Hi,
    I’m a 58 yr old female, tri-malleolar fracture with dislocation on Oct 7, 2009, and ORIF with plate, screws, pin on Oct 22, 2009. Non weight bearing until Dec 4, 2009. Complication of wound (dead white tissue) on top of foot that surgeon commented on after surgery. He keeps insisting I hit it on something when I slipped. I didn’t and have photos to prove it. He referred me to plastic surgeon on Dec 8, 2009. No one seems to know what or how the wound occurred. Numbness on top of foot. Range of motion pulls on the wound. Surgeon just recently diagnosed RSD, which I don’t really agree with. Plastic surgeon tried treatment of wound by ‘neglect’ and ‘wait and see’ and then just completed two weeks of Unna boot treatment. Wound is smaller, but still has been 4 months. A family friend in the medical field just saw it and thinks it looks like a pressure ulcer that could have been caused by original splint in ER or during surgery.
    Just wondering if anyone else has gotten a pressure ulcer during surgery? If so, how big and how long did it take to heal? How did it affect your therapy and overall ankle rehab? Does it affect blood vessels and nerves?
    Also, it would seem to me that a dislocation would stretch and cause tiny tears in ligaments and tendons. Surgeon said ‘no’ …it’s an either/or situation. You either tear ligaments and tendons or you break the bones. PT said most likely tears. Wondering what others with tri-mal fracture and dislocation have been told.
    I can now walk without assistance, but use a cane outdoors. I cannot balance on right foot, and just recently began driving on side streets (where I don’t have to floor it to merge!). Range of motion is not good. Still major swelling. Just a matter of 5 minutes in the shower will have my right foot purple, ankle huge and entire right leg reddish in color.
    Would love to hear from someone with similar problems.
    Foot is still extremely sensative to cold so no longer go barefoot.

    Just would like to hear comment from anyone with similar wound and purple/red swelling after 4 months with similar fracture/dislocation.

67. Hello Lois, Anklequest, Trac and everyone. Lois, I wish that your son fully recovers and continues to live a full and happy life into old age. A friend of mine has a son who is dealing with a serious cancer too. Only 39 with 2 young children. Not sure about motorbikes Trac. The only time I ever got on one was many years ago in someone’s garden. It was a big bike and I had no experience. I lost control and it went around in circles and then tipped over. I was lucky I was not hurt. I had to wait another forty years to injure my ankle on a driveway! I have been wary of powerful bikes ever since and am glad none of my siblings or offspring have taken it up. When I was in hospital in June with the tri malleolar compund fracture to the left ankle, aged 64, I met a guy turning 30 who had a leg and ankle injury from motorcross bike riding. He said he wasn’t getting back on but he kept changing his mind! I am now back at the gym but my ankle frequently puffs up and lets me know it has been broken. Apparently this can happen for a long time after. Re dressy shoes, I tried some on but pretty flats were all I could manage. Also, has anyone got an opinion about hot air ballooning? I would like to do it, and had intended to well before my accident, but now wonder would it be a risky thing to do? At my last visit the surgeon told me the bones were healed and to go and do whatever I wanted but I didn’t ask him about the balloon ride and possible jarring. I’d appreciate hearing an opinion from someone who has done it. Especially re the actual balloon landing.

    Keep well everyone. I have been watching the Winter Olympics on the tele. I am teaching every Thursday, 11am to 3.30pm this semester. It’s at my old college. I used to live 15 minutes from it but now I’ve moved and it’s an hours drive to get there in the morning but getting back in the afternoon often takes 2 hours because of traffic. Ah, well!

    Cheers all,

    Noreen

    Noreen

68. Lois! That is a wonderful story — it really warmed me, and I read it aloud to a couple of friends, hope you do not mind. I was watching pairs ice skating and they were speaking of how the one skater had broken her ankle, had a plate and 3 pins put in, returned to the ice in 3 months instead of 6, and then had the hardware removed because it was uncomfortable and painful. She moved amazingly. I realize she trains, I also realize she may have quite a bit of arthritis later in life. I’m walking laps in the pool, and it helps, of course walking is a loose term with me. But, any and all movement feels so wonderful!!! My butt is numb from sitting in this chair…I make one of the most horrible couch potatoes. Sitting still is pure punishment. My mother teases me that the chair is karma from all my days of not sitting down / still as a child. Perhaps. 🙂
    Marlie — I really wanted to get a motorcycle, I had a small 500 as a teen, and this time I wanted a real one, a close friend of mine, one I respect said this to me, “You can do what you want, but, in one short period of working at the (bike) shop, we had 2 riders die, 3 riders lose legs, 1 rider lose an eye, and many other injuries.” He is a die hard mountain biker, and his brother is a road racer on bicycle, but he will no longer ride a motorbike of any kind.
    (I still want an orange Vespa…)

    Have a good time everyone!
    Happy, healthy, healing —
    trac

69. Hi Lois! Great Olympic moment story – nice to hear. Brought a smile to my face. Good wishes to your son and to your family.

    Cheers,
    Lee

70. Marlie,
    Stats are pretty bad for bikers, and yes, bikers break their ankles. And we all pay for this in one way other another, emotionally and financially. We’ve had one biker on this board who broke his ankle on a trail bike. And how many times have I almost hit a biker with my car when a motorcycle suddenly appeared “out of nowhere?” Well, quite often.

    Whatever you say may not matter much to a die-hard biker so you have to let them make their own choices although you can express your strong objections. If “biking” remains a choice, then they can also choose to drive as safely as possible, which can make a big difference.

    By the way, there are far worse things to live with than biking. Drugs, drinking, affairs, etc. but that doesn’t take away from the danger of biking.

    All the best to everyone and I’ll provide an update soon.

    PS: Lois…glad to hear about your son and the Olympic torch!

71. PS Marlie, injuries are more frequent, off road than on, due to less traffic and a “go for it attitude” and freedom, and range in severity from minor road rash to amoutation or brain injury and vegetative state.
    Death is less likely, but you just never know. Some accidents have no other outcome but fatality.
    Either way, if you don’t want to accept the risk, DONT RIDE THE BIKE.
    So, injuries are more likely than death, but some injury, and death, are permenant.

72. Dear Marlie,
    I just wrote a rather lengthy reply to your questions, but of course it never posted, lost in the void, so here is a much shorter more concise answer.
    DO NOT BUY THE BIKE OR ENCOURAGE HIM TO RIDE ONE!
    Having to ask the questions that you do idicates that you would rather have your whole husband, rather than one lost to a brain injury, or permanent mobility injury such as an ankle fusion, bad ankle break, or loss of a limb, all which can happen from a bad motorcycle accident, off road or on.
    So lessen the odds and dont do it. If your husband is such an athletic enthusiast that he would rather committ suicide than not be able to participate in sports, again due to a possible brain injury or loss of a limb or some permanent impairment, then DO NOT BUY THE MOTORCYCLE OR ENCOURAGE HIM TO RIDE ONE.
    Enjoy your lives togather as whole complete partners, rather than having the possibility of a mentally impaired or permanently damaged amputee or mobility limited husband.
    Hope this helps.

73. Hello, i am considering getting hold of another motorbike for my husband. He however is very concerned around what type of risks could happen from biking accidents. Look his passion is athletics so if he was hurt, he would likely kill himself, no laughs. Do you think biking injuries most likley occur, or is it usually most likely dying!

74. Hi Trac and all…. Trac,, wanted you to know the most wonderful thing happened. My son and his family headed into Vancouver for his first radiation treatment the cancer clinic yesterday. When they arrived and got parked they were not far from the torch run, so they hopped a sky train for a few blocks to see it. Well, not only did they see it,,, the torch was actually passed to my son to hold, and then the premier of our province of British Columbia stepped up for pictures of my son and his two little girls aged six and seven holding that torch. What a thrill for them. This has definately taken the edge off. He is sounding good following his first treatment, and very upbeat and excited about the Olympics. Thank you for your wishes Trac,, and enjoy the opening ceremonies tonight… I will. Hugs Lois

75. Lois, hello! I was so sorry to hear about your son, I will send thoughts of good his and your way. Too bad you have to deal with the stress of olympic traffic as well. I have a friend in Vancouver, and he says it already a mess. Blessings to you! Trac

76. Well, I just had to pop in to say hello to all of you… A special hello to little Louise who disappeared some time ago,, and now suddenly arises living the life of the rich and famous in Monti Carlo no less. You take care of that Ankle Louise. And Trac,,, who is remarkably doing ever so much better. wow,, someone is starting to dump more butter on your popcorn lady… and Don,,, how nice to hear from you… and Lee and all the rest. Of concern is Anklequest,,, I just do not like the problems you are having lady. If you feel like it’s not fair,,, it is because it is not fair and I really feel for you.
    Do keep us posted.

    I am doing pretty good, I’m happy to report two years later,, this March. Do I still know that I had a broken ankle,,, yes I do,, because it does get tired, and occasionally aches… but the biggest continuing problem is actually with my foot. I guess I must have had more nerve damage then I realized because my foot very easily goes completely numb, or gets pins and needles,,, and my foot when I am tired especially wants to flap as if I am wearing a swim flipper,,, but I can live with this. My focus has basically shifted these days to first my husbands heart problems, which are now under control, and my son, who had a brain tumor surgically removed four years ago,,, but its back. He is to start daily doses of radiation starting tomorrow and this will go on for five weeks,,, and yes TRAC,,, transportation will be back and forth in and out of the city daily to the cancer clinic right through the middle of the Olympic traffic. So, I am having horrors,,, but he (who used to be in training for Summer Olympics as a teenager) calmly went out today and bought Olympic shirts for he and his wife to wear during their commute. On lighter note, my two puppies are good, and have not been knocking me down any stairs lately. Wishing all of you courage and strength… Lois

77. Hi Don! Good to hear from you! I just wanted to chime in and say it is good to hear from you, and, that I, too am benefitting greatly from the excersise in the water. I stretch in the warm water pool and then walk laps in the lap pool. I still don’t quite remember how to walk, isn’t that odd? I have to focus intensely, but I feel amazing after and am definitely getting stronger. So, I am a huge advocate of water workouts. I keep reading and love hearing how we all do to keep healing. Take care! Trac

78. Greetings all
    Been along time since I posted and just got a chance to catch up on the list.

    Anklequest
    Hmm Sounds like you are having a time darlin ? I can tell you that for me I am now swimming and doing stretching in the pool. No pushing of the ankle for stretching outside the pool then after I am done with that and laps in the pool I hit the hottub and let the heat and Jets work on the ankle for about 15 min. Also do some stretching in the hot tub. This gives me more mobility and movement.

    I limp terribly if I stop or if i do the stretching of the ankle outside the water, I find it puts to much pressure on the ankle. And also only low impact stuff in gym. Elipticals no running or tredmills to much force on the ankle soft and easy,
    And a quick Hi to all the old friends on here sorry I have not been around
    Talk soon

    Don

79. Pt 9

    3) Brace… haven’t even begun to follow up on that yet after all this so far. But this apparently can keep people going sometime for several years if they are lucky.

    Noreen…
    Loved your post about your travels and glad to hear how things worked out. I’ve wondered about how it all turned out for you.

    It is interesting how we wonder about all our friends on this site. I think about trac a LOT and am so happy that she is one the move again and over those horrible infections!!!

    OK for tonight..can post more in a day or two and answer questions.

    All the best to all ankle breakers!!!

    Anklequest

80. Part 8.

    2. Physical therapy may work or help somewhat???. Several people have told me they are optimistic it will be helpful for a while. I only had 4 PT sessions after breaking my ankle for I didn’t really need it then, but now, slowly my range of motion has been reduced and this may now help me get some of it back so I can walk better. I must look ridiculous now when walking for everyone has been asking me what is wrong. At least PT should help get some strength in my leg I presume. My first PT session (appraisal) is scheduled next week and I am to go for at least 6 weeks several times a week. Hope this doesn’t kill me with pain for i intend to keep up with my classes.

81. Part 7 Lee,
    I think that if I wanted to I could get a fusion as soon as I felt I could not take the pain. However, I am not that far and do hope that someday there will be more confidence in the medical profession of ankle experts that replacement might be a better option.

    Until then three things: 1) Prescription pain meds for the first time 2) physical therapy to attempt to get my regular walking stride back, and 3) getting a special support brace of some sort beyond the drug store versions I now use. One at a time.

    I was prescribed ULTRAM, after some discussion. Cannot take any NSAIDs (had bleeding ulcers once 20 years ago caused by asprin..never again for I almost died) although nupren works well when I have tried it. Problem: i haven’t taken it yet. My cardiologist who I saw a few days ago says I may have problems since I have low pulse (low 50’s) and it may have an effect. So soon I will try it for three weeks and monitor my pulse and pressure daily.

82. Hi Marina, Trac, Lee and all the rest. Sorry for the Part 6 delay, but some of you can understand that I am now moving at a tenth of my normal speed.

    For the next two years. Sigh. Pain? and lots of limping.

    First, Marina.. my wound. Interesting to hear about yours. First, my surgeon expected the dead tissue because of all the swelling in that particular area (just a bit toward the inside from top center of foot) when he did the surgery and told me it might happen. Hence. NO Cast so the wound could be tended to right away daily..which I did myself for the most part.. Your description matches. Truthfully, the open hole was my main concern for the first 6 months since I feared infection. I don’t worry much about walking and all of that part went quite well. It closed in at about 1 mm per month, just as predicted.
    Due to the open hole I wore very large oversize shoes to my classes too, but told the students and everything was fine. I was not going to allow myself to feel badly about “appearances” but since I’m over-the -hill anyway, this didn’t matter. I also had great advice from a colleague who had been a physical therapist about what to do after the wound healed to prevent adhesion to underlying tissue and that worked to so today I barely have a scar and there seems to be no problem. IT TOOK A LONG TIME though!! If you want more info, just post and I’ll add more as you move along. My advice..don’t count on doing that job again that you had!! Not after your type of injury.

83. Anklequest … waiting anziously for Part 6 … what to do? what do they recommend? Clearly you should not limp around for 2 years?
    -Lee

84. Well, hello Kiddos! Glad to see the progress being made, sorry to hear about the pain and setbacks. Glad your surgeons are taking their time with you. Mine do too, and everyone is amazed surgeons would take such time. I consider myself lucky and blessed. Marina, I had a sore exactly like you describe, same spot. We were able to heal mine with wound therapy and unna boots (a type of treated bandage wrapped tight). Things are getting better with me, I stll need the fusion, but for the first time since my accident 2.5 yrs ago, I can stand with both feet flat on the floor. And can do stairs by pulling myself up them. I have graduated to a walker with wheels. I figure this time next year will be a whole new me. I feel the crackling in my ankle all the time, so I really hope I get to have the fusion. Because everyone I’ve spoken to who has had one has said the pain of the surgery is intense, but completely worth it. I am anxiously awaiting the start of the Olympic games — and spring! We’ve already had 3ft of snow above our avg. I have all terrain tires on my wheelchair, but I don’t have chains for them…ha! Alright, here’s to healthy healingn take care, trac

85. Hi, Anklequest,

    I’m a 58 yr old female…tri-mal fracture with dislocation on Oct 7,’09, and surgery with plate, screws and pin on Oct 22.

    I was reading your posts and you mentioned something about a sore on your foot that took 6 months to heal. I, too, have had a sore. Of course, my foot was covered with scabbed over blisters when 1/2cast-splint came off, but one in particular caused concern for surgeon when he performed surgery. He was convinced I had hit the top of my foot on something to cause such a wound. I hadn’t hit it on anything because all I did was slip on a pile of loose dirt/sand. (a simple thing caused such a life-changing event!) Anyway, when 1/2cast-splint came off 4 weeks after surgery, I saw the sore. Scabs all over with a huge scab about 2 inches diameter on top of foot with a quarter-size dead/white tissue in center. Boot was put on and I was sent to plastic surgeon for consult. Plastic surgeon was sure it would heal on its own. The white dead tissue sore now is scabbed over and all other scabs have come off. It’s down to about nickel size now and is actually a hole in my foot! Dr. said it’s because healing is pushing scab up around edges. But scar tissue underneath has formed around tendons and nerves.

    I have no feeling on top of foot, first two toes up my foot about half way. I can’t curl my toes even though my brain says I am! I am able to ‘gas-pedal’ about 4 inches, but not much range of motion sideways or side twist. Heel is very stiff.

    Finally got tennis shoes on but they rub on pin on inside and screws/plate on outside. I can’t tie them. BAllerina-style slipper works best but top of foot still swells.

    If I’m up too much, then tendon on outside of foot by heel hurts/aches quite a bit. I still get stabbing pain on top of foot…maybe nerves re-generating?

    I never would have dreamed that my active life-style could be so drastically altered. My job was running up and down an inclined jetway all day and running up and down steep metal steps from jetway to aircraft ground.

    I can finally walk up and down stairs…one step at a time…holding on to rail. I can walk without the cane (but prefer it so as not to jerk so much). I still limp quite a bit.

    I have doubts whether I’ll be able to go back to my job at my age because inclines still hurt and scare me. Plus I can’t run yet! Gotta turn a plane in 20 minutes!

    I still have swelling but not nearly as bad. Just an ugly ankle (actually my ankles used to be my best feature!) Now I know skinny ankles weren’t really a good thing!

    I guess I am concerned about arthritis and when I should expect to see that. My PT said arthritis is common or so she’s read. I see my surgeon again this week, but he’s so young and new. (After non-weight bearing for 10 weeks, he said, “Okay, get rid of the boot and start walking!” Even acted surprised my foot swelled so much!

    My left leg and foot are still different color from good leg, from blood flow being different. I’ve gained about 10 pounds and can’t exercise to get it off. Also haven’t been able to drive yet.

    Any advice you can offer would be great. I’m on disability starting March 1 when my sick leave is gone. Guess my concerns – summarize – were our sores the same? Am I on track as far as recovery based on your experience? Should I consider myself retired from this active, running job?

    Thanks for everyone’s input. It is a great 12-step program.

86. Part 5

    Background: I am well educated, after these 4 years, in many aspects of ankles. It does help that I have an advanced degree in biology from Columbia University and have taught Anatomy and Physiology. I live in NJ, close to the NY metro area.

    Doctors: I have seen two top ankle guys in NJ. All they do is ankles. They love talking to me and spend time with me (almost an hour each–unheard of these days) because I can talk the language. One doc is on the board of a nearby large medical center. They both trained in the Hospital for Special Surgery in NYC and know the top ankle guys there. At this upper-eastside hospital they do ankle replacements and are also developing a new replacement ankle..what kind I do not know. Both docs knew about everything going on in the rest of the US and Europe. About all the advances in ankle surgeries..etc.

    Both docs independently told me the same thing. They would currently not do an ankle replacement on me for they feel there are currently too many failures. They gave me examples of what fails for the various types. They have spent surgeries “fixing” ankle replacements but do not do them except for practice on cadaveras. BUT if I can wait for maybe two years or more, things could be quite different. Meanwhile they also say that I am not ready for ankle fusion either, which is the next major thing that could be done.

    So, what to do?

    To be continued tomarrow.

    Anklequest

87. Part 4:
    Christmas I went to CA to visit relatives. Again they noted a marked worsening limp, and walking generally was worse than ever. In fact, I tried to avoid it. I was losing weight because I cut back my eating by about half. I just did not want to blow up like a balloon due to lack of exercise. Many posters on this board actually motivated me to get serious about weight loss as weight gain does become a serious problem with bad ankles.

    So last week I went back to the ankle doc. And that is really what I tried to post about last week only I failed twice after sending lengthy posts.

    To be continued…

    Anklequest

88. Part 3: In a period between February 2009 and July things got worse. Two cortisone injections were tried, and each had an effect for only about a week. Then, in August, I had arthroscopic surgery. I have the actual photos, which clearly show removal of scare tissue and bone debrie, bone spurs, and worse, erosion of more than half of the cartilage.

    This proceedure changed things. The actual physical removal of all the material in the joint diminished the swelling. The actual size measurement of my ankle decreased, allowing me to wear a one-half size smaller shoe. The pain greatly decreased while sitting and sleeping which was a great blessing so I could sleep much better, without any tylenol. But the pain has now increased while standing and walking…”bone on bone” so I had to increase tylenol during the day.

    OK, more to come
    Anklequest

89. Part 2:

    3rd year..I wasn’t really making any more progress. Started throwing out all my shoes and boots as i couldn’t fit into any of them and didn’t think any were good for my foot anymore. I wear expensive high quality running shoes with jel inserts. Still could do yard work, build rock walls, etc, but things slowly got tougher. I thought maybe it was age. I have always been very active and very fit, and this was now on the decline with weight gain.

    Last February, about a year ago, based on remarks of people at work, I was beginning to limp constantly..sometimes not at all aware of it. But my ankle hurt more and more.

    To be continued…

    Anklequest

90. Part 1

    Background: At age 60 I broke ankle-trimalleolar fracture-about 4 years ago, complicated a bit by an open hole the size of a quarter which took 6 months to close (just as predicted by the doc.) I made normal progress for this type of break, with going back to work part time after about 8 weeks. I never had a cast due to the open wound, but did have a split for 2 weeks until staples came out. The 4 long pins and plate with 8 screws remain and were not part of any problem. After about a year the doc “dismissed” me and said I was fine, although I did have swelling and still wore oversized running shoes. I could walk quite well.

    2 years..things seemed quite well but still had swelling that really always lingered.

    To be continued..I seem to lose my posts so am trying to cut them short.

    Ankle quest

91. Hey Noreen,

    Good for you! All those classes sound great and I bet they will go a long way towards helping you feel good too. Just take it easy and listen to your body. You’ll find there are yoga positions you can’t do. Just modify, like everything else.

    About the arthritis – I’ve been told that any time you damage a joint, you are likely to experience arthritis as the cartilage breaks down over time. Not sure there’s anything that can be done, except to minimize high impact activities, which put stress on the joint and cartilage. if your break involved a dislocation, then the cartilage was involved. There are procedure that can generate new cartilage, but they are still pretty rarely used and I’m not so sure how successful they are. Someone else may be investigating that and could comment on it.

    Well, keep yourself moving and enjoying life!

    Cheers,
    Lee

92. Hello fellow ankle menders! I have now been to the gym and joined in a yoga class, a body combat class, walked on the treadmill and cross trainer and rode the stationary bike. Two hours on Saturday and 2 hours today, Monday. I told the instructors about my ankle and of course they kindly said, “Go at your own pace.” Anyway, I’m doing my best. I’m also trying to shift some extra weight, (after congratulating myself for not putting weight on while I was in plaster I proceeded to stack it on over the Christmas New Year vacation. I was on holiday for 4 weeks in Tasmania, (The island off the south coast of mainland Australia). Of course Tasmania is a part of Australia. The inhabitants weren’t very happy when they were inadvertantly left off an inportant official map during the Commonwealth Games!)

    While I was down there I just went on a see food diet! (See food and eat it!) and now I have to try and get rid of it.

    My ankle has puffed up a bit but rubbing it and elevating it is very helpful. I think I will book in for 2 or 3 more PT sessions.

    I’m very concerned about those of you suffering from arthritis and considering further surgery. Please let us know what works and what doesn’t. Is it inevetable that we will all have to deal with this down the track. One consolation is that medical science and technology is pushing the boundaries all the time.

    I’m able to wear my joggers now even though I had to buy a pair a little bigger than before butI am still only in completely flat shoes. I don’t think my ankl looks pretty anymore in fancy shoes. That is sad but I am enormously grateful at how functional it is becoming even though going downstairs still requires a lot of focus.

    Take care everyone.

93. Test.. have written 2 lengthy responses…they all seem to vanish… :(:((( I don’t have time…sigh…
    Anklequest

94. Trace! Great to hear from you. Not so great that you’re still waiting … and waiting … and waiting. But what else is there to do? Pilates – good. Aqua aerobics – good. All good things!

    -Lee

95. Urgh! I hope it’s not anything nasty! I cant go to the docs at the moment, as I dont have insurance! (Slap on the wrist for me….) I will have to wait till I go back to the uk at some point! 🙁
    Thanks Lee…Monte Carlo is fantastic! I like to pretend Im rich and famous….most people dont believe me though, and I have to admit that Im actually the nanny…normally pictured carrying luguage, various toys that the little girl brings out with her, then decides she doesnt want to carry. ha ha. The other day I had my handbag, a scooter, a helmet, a toy elephant, 2 small cars, the child’s hand, plus the dog on a lead, (a pug) who runs at the first sight of another dog, a sniff at goodness knows what, and yes, I was struggling! Not helped by a 3 year old who decides to throw a tantrum half way home, as she wants a bit of cheese??! Anyway….

    Anklequest, I really hope something gets sorted for you, and the pain gets less! 🙂

    And to everyone else….hope you are all ok (in general!) and stepping carefully at this time of year!

    Louise x

96. Hello! I really hope you find an answer, Anklequest, I, too am following. I’ve not heard back about my final appeal for surgery. I have started doing pilates along with my aqua therapy, and it really feels good. I am having more pain, arthritis, so, I’d really like the fusion sooner rather than later. I keep working on weight loss,too. I’m tired of the chair. It is an odd feeling, because, my legs feel “normal” and sometimes I forget and get up to walk and bam, down I go. Makes me giggle. How can I forget? Well, I’m rambling on, miss posting,I guess. Take care all! Trac

97. Hi Anklequest – Keep us posted. You know I follow your situation closely, as I am not far behind you.

    I forgot to add to my update that yesterday, I was officially dismissed from PT. They can’t do anything for me now that I can’t do for myself, so it’s all about finding the shoes that work, balancing activities that don’t aggravate the tendonitis, and keeping the muscles strong. So, I’m off on my own and committed to getting back into shape and back down to my usual size 6-8. It’s a long way from the 10-12 I have become, but I will get there, because less weight on the ankle means less wear and tear on the cartilage and longer ankle use.

    Take care all – keep posting!

    Cheers,
    Lee

98. Hi Susan, Louise, Lee and all the rest!

    Just a little update. My break was about 4 years ago, a trimalleolar, and at first everything went well. About a year ago I started having much more pain and swelling. Cortisone shots didn’t help so I had arthroscopic surgery in August. The doctor cleaned out the entire joint and also removed some bone spurs. That did change things..reduced swelling and generally now I have no discomfort while sitting or sleeping. The report however, indicated that I had extreme end-stage arthritis and that the next step might be something more drastic like fusion or ankle replacement since there is not much cartilage left. Walking has now become worse(more painful) and I have an extreme limp. I can make it through the day, teach my classes and not much else. I’m going to the doctor tomorrow for a 6 month update and to see if I can get something besides tylonal (can not take NSAID type painkillers..and possibly a brace or support of some sort.

    OK, that’s it..will give an update tomorrow.

    Anklequest

99. Typo – break was in July 08! 🙂

100. Hello everyone! I haven’t commented for ages but have been checking up every now and then to see how everyone is getting along. I have made lots of progress since my break in July 09. Managed pretty heels for my son’s wedding (but with flatties in my bag for dancing in the evening!); planning an Easter break on the Island of Arran with lots of walking and have bought trekking poles to help; survived a very snowy / icy three weeks here with no mishaps although very wary of falling; practicing Scottish country dancing with kids at school with a view to going to a ceilidh in March – I am forever hopeful! I still am brought up short now and again like Louise with a sharp pain inside my ankle but I think that is either tendon or nerve damage – seems to be worse when I am wearing small heels rather than my usual flatties. I have trouble walking uphill and still limp downstairs although I am able to do this more quickly than before. I have difficulty getting shoes or boots that don’t aggravate the area over and around my metalwork but there is nothing else for it than to keep trying if I want to get back to normal activities. I was told soon after my break that it might be 2 years before I felt that my foot was my own again and I can now see that that is so. To all new breakers – don’t give up hope. It may be a very long process but you will adapt and there is a light at the end of the tunnel. Thanks to all of you who were posting when I was going through my early stages of recovery. I found this site a tremendous help especially when those around me were getting tired of listening to me whingeing & moaning. It takes one to know one!! Tread carefully everyone. SRx