2 breaks in foot and Ankle

Hi Jannie.

I get depressed and feel down. I'm post ankle op a few months. I still can't walk properly and use a crutch and still at times in a camboot . I'm Worse end of the spectrum regarding ankle breaks, really stuffed mine up. Still off work due to standing and running about all day. I have numbness in my ankle and foot. Have about 75% movement and still recovering. Some people think it's an easy fix thing but they are just ignorant. Only a true ankle breaker knows what I'm talking about so don't worry it all takes time and there is no quick fix. I've come a long way but still got a long way to go yet. I'm nearly 60 so I have to have time on my side. You will get through it as we on here are walking with you or hobbling with you. Just be patient and take it easy. You are not alone. Keep thinking good thoughts and keep smiling. Hope you recover soon.

Hi Jannie,

I was having depression at 5 weeks post op. It is very hard to to NWB and no one gets that unless you've gone through it.  You are nearing the end of the worst of it, hoping they don't add 6 more weeks. At 5 weeks I wondered if my limp purple foot would ever hold my weight again, but once your bone is healed and you can weight bear your recovery will start.  It still has ups and downs, but more ups. I'm at 14 weeks today and I'm walking without the boot.  My ankle is stiff and hurts more at night after walking on it.  I keep thinking I wish I'd never done this. You've gotten through the hardest part. It will get easier in the next few weeks. Wishing you a speedy recovery. 

Thank you Linda, you've given me hope to move forward. I'm happy at 14 weeks your walking again. My poor little right foot, my good foot was sprained when I broke the left one so its hurting too, Yes,  I say too why did this happen, but it did so trying to stay with each day and not project too much into the future. What are doing for pain?  Are you using topical creams or pain meds at night - its worst at night so far. Take good care and here's hoping for a fabulous New Year!  

Thanking you MsCamboot - you are giving me hope, I know it's early and the prospects looking into the future right now is overwhelming to say the least so trying to stay with each day. You got that right on people thinking oh get on with it, just hop and move along.....it must be hard being off work, I'm 65 so retired thank God, it could be way worse on that front or young kids, that would be near impossible so grateful for that. It means a lot to have support here and wishing you a very Hapoy New Year and a walking future........take good care 

I will check in after my post op 6 week check up in January 

Hi Jannie.

I am 3 months post op, still walking with crutches, not working and financially not in a good place.

I have been having 30 mins physio each week and at week four, with little improvement.

It is normal to feel down, especially at this time of year when people are enjoying there selves.

It is frustrating when talking to people, they dont understand the complications nor length of healing time required to recovery.

I still have swelling around my ankle, and stiffness around my calf mussels.

I have been told by several nurses and consultants that it can take up to 12 months to recover from the swelling.

On a positive note, the pain has been minimal & don't take pain relief.

Things will improve but slowly and we are all experiencing similar feelings.

I do hope that you have good news when you visit the surgeon in 2 weeks

At least you have the worst time behind you, the first month is not good, after that, I found it got easier realising that the next step will be weight bearing, after that is physio.

I wish you and all us ankle breakers a better, healthier, and prosperous New Year

Thank you Paul, your response helps me a lot and is realistic. Yes, people don't GET it, walk a mile in our shoes. It's going to be my strength to keep a can do attitude but figure a down day is to be expected. If any of you believe in visualization and spontaneous healing this could be our opportunity to give to each other with positive insights into our individual situations but similar too. Wishing you well, and for a better and prosperous New Years! 

Your on the path and may walking become better each and every day......

best 

jannie 

Hi Jannie,

I have been taking tylenol multiple times a day.  I was unable to take anything stronger the entire time. I have been massaging my calf and foot.  I was having a lot of burning on the incision and around it. I got some lidocaine patches which helped some.  I've been getting massage every week which has been helpful. At first, it felt like stepping on glass, but that went away pretty fast. I have had lots of weird pains that move around, on the top of my foot, on both sides.  Yesterday, my was walking and my foot had a hard spasm and I was afraid it would send me to the floor.  The fear of injuring myself again is still there. I have jumped out the boot probably earlier than I should have. One issue with that is when walking in public people act impatient with how slow I'm walking and I have the fear they will knock me down.  With the boot or crutch I think they realize I'm injured, but without it they think I'm a pain and want to push by me. I was also putting some arnica cream on my leg and ankle.  My foot, ankle and leg were blackish purple from the bruising all the way to my toes. At this point, that has gone away, my skin was dry and peeling, now it's fine.  So things do get better.  Some days it feel like its enough and some days it doesn't. My daughter and her boyfriend and 6 year old child are hear visiting. I've been cooking, washing. much more than I had been and my ankle is sore.  I've been ignoring my exercises because I only have so much stamina.  My daughter has not seem me since I broke my ankle and she thinks I'm normal and has all kings of things for me so do.  She doesn't seem to understand that I'm limping, hobbling and not up to par.  I am very happy she's here and love seeing them so I will accept this and deal with it. My husband has been trying to protect me from overdoing. He knows how hard this has been on me and him.  I have done visualization and I've been trying to meditate everyday.  I will include visualizing you and me bending over to tie our tennis shoes before we stand to go on a lovely walk in the forest on a soft winding path with the sun on our backs making us feel alive and full of energy with smiles on our face feeling joy from within. 

Hello Linda

ive reread  this post from you and I wanted to thank you for your words and visualizations. I'm having a rough day after being to finally at week 7 put my foot down to prepare for weight bearing I guess I over did it because today I'm in excruciating pain and near tears. My foot is locked and feels so weird. I don't know if anyone else is had this. I took a pain med, icing it and see how it goes. This is worse pain than the initial surgery. I guess time will tell, they don't give you much to go in and this forum is a life saver. Wishing a good day and many walks in the sunshine.....

Hello Jannie.

I know we have spoken before, but am sorry to hear of your latest pain.

After having my surgery end of September and having had physio since 10th December, am still not walking unaided.

I don't think 30 minutes a week is enough physio, even though I am doing all the exercises and massaging my ankle, taking walks outdoors.

My ankle still is swollen which is restricting movement, is bending, squatting etc.

I still get varying degrees of emotions from being angry to depression.

I have been advised by physio that the swelling could take from 6-12 months to settle & then only regain 90% movement.

It is a long journey but with the help and support of this forum we will all soon be looking forward to walking again and enjoying the long summer evenings.

 

Hi Paul, thanks for getting back on this. It sounds like progress is very slow. Today I'm feeling down after being told to start weight bearing and now in agony and  have no feeling in my foot and don't have a clue if this is normal??  Right now I just want to stay calm, manage my pain and do what I need to. It's been rough ride ad people  here are so kind and helpful. I truly pray for relief and healing to all posted here. Take good care.....

I would go back to hospital to get checked over & maybe re X-ray for peace of mind

I have had friends, work colleagues and even my gp saying that I should be fully recovered after 3 months... I wish!

Thank you for your kind words, and try to stay positive as hard as that maybe at times.

Everything will be ok 😊

Thanks Paul, my GP doctor says 3 mos is optimistic as each person is different.......I'm thinking 6 mos and I'll be walking with sticks. I think just do what feels right for you and keeping our Sourits up is key to get thru this part of the healing.......I just got back from seeng her and she gave me pain management to get thru my physio which she says is going to be hard. Also recommended water therapy, so working on getting that going......I wish you well Paul. Enjoy whatever you can...........

Should be keeping our Spirits up!.......

Hi Jannie,

I'm sorry to hear you are having pain.  As I remember when you first start to put any weight on the foot there are lots of weird pains.  I remember the bottom of my foot felt like walking on glass, any movement ankle circles felt like the tissue was tearing inside.  I don't remember it being totally numb, but I have heard others on hear say they had numbness.  The leg, foot and ankle have to wake up after being immobilized.  Try massaging and taping the leg, ankle and foot (this helps wake up the nerves.  

I have started going to a local pool for classes.  I've been twice.  It's taken me this long to feel confident to get into the pool without falling.  There are lots of people, kids, water on the floor (which scare me a little).  However, I do feel it's going to be a good place to get some exercise and to rehab this ankle.

I was feeling better about my ankle today.  I went to PT and he measured and said my mobility was not as good as 2 weeks ago.  Yikes!  I hated hearing that, but I'm not sure he's right.  My ankle is stiff, especially the achilles tendon. 

Try not to worry, we all have slightly different injuries and we can't compare exactly.  I would relay any fears to your doctor, even though my experience has been they tell us almost nothing.  I told that to the nurse in the office last week and she said they didn't want to overwhelm me with too much information.  haha They are only concerned with whether the bone has healed.  This injury is "self limiting" meaning when the ankle swells you have to get off of it and elevate and ice it.  The compression socks help.  I have been wrapping an ace bandage on it at night and it helps to decrease the swelling by morning. Right now it hurts more because the blood is pooling in your leg.  That will stop soon.  Best wishes to you!

Thanking you Linda for your post. It helps me to know all this. I wasn't expecting pain to be so bad today. It took me down and I want to stay strong for the road ahead. I haven't tried wrapping my foot as I'm still in air cast. Unknown how long. Some days I wonder if my foot will ever wake up. It doesn't even look like my foot more like plastic. Dr says this will get better and agrees water therapy the way to go. Wishing you well and I get what you say so thank you for the encouragement. Enjoy your weekend 🏃💃🏂