4 weeks since ankle op.

Glad to hear you ladies are all making good progress.

Just try to remain as positive as possible, I know it's hard sometimes.

We will all achieve our goals

Thank you syneig for your kind comment

That is such good news, I wanted to ask you the other day but didn't want to upset you.  They are little tinkers aren't they with all the worry they cause!  I doubt he will be leaving your side at all  now!  You will come on leaps and bounds now with your recovery now the worry has gone!  How are  you doing?  I took a pair of shoes to work with me the other day with a very small heel, and managed to cross the office before kicking them off and putting my faithful brogues back on!  However as one of the young girls in the office said after watching me,  grimancing, I've come a long way from staggering around on crutches in my cam boot!

Hi syneig

So glad youf  found your cat. I have a little dog and he is such good company. He only has 2 walks a week with a friend  but seems to have adapted to staying in the house like me.

Hopefully my cast will be removed at the hospital this afternoon and will let you know what happens.  I am a week ahead of you and I found this last week much more comfortable in the cast but occasionally I have had nerve pains which made my leg jump.  All part of the healing I suppose.

At least we haven't missed anything outside with the dull days of wind and rain and have Spring to look forward to when hopefully we can hobble into the garden!!!

Syneig, I'm so happy you found your cat

Hi leelee

I know just what you are going through but it does get less painful.

After having this cast put on a month ago it was more painful than with the previous cast put on after my operation which was a similar proceedure as yours.  I took painkillers again for a few nights to get to sleep. After about a week the ankle began to settle down but if I had it down in the day for any length of time I suffered more at night. I kept it raised on the arm of my wheelchair while sitting in another chair but got up every hour so the knee didn't get fused!   After about 3 weeks I could move my ankle in the cast a bit which I think meant the swelling had gone down but couldn't do that at night.

For the last month I have stayed in the house using my wheelchair to move around downstairs and have been upstairs about 8 times on my backside going up and hopping holding onto the hand rails going down.

Yesterday was the last time I had to inject myself in my tummy flab to prevent blood clots and my tum is covered in pin pricks having injected every day for 6 weeks.

This afternoon I go to the hospital with my leg still raised in an ambulance and hopefully the Xrays will show the ankle healed enough to have the cast removed and start weight bearing. I will let you know what happens on my return

It is worth keeping your leg raised all day becasue it does prevent too much pain at night and gradually as the weeks pass you will notice improvement. Keep bending your knee and I do body exercises in bed each morning before getting up e.g.trunk curls, cycling in the air. I m 71 next month but was quite fit before this thing happened and am not overweight either.

Try to find something different to do each day and I have found the support of my friend so helpful for moral.

Thank you bery49544, I appreciate your help. I was beginning to think something was wrong because it kept swelling. I try really hard to stay busy, the first couple of weeks I thought I was going to lose my mind. I have never been laid up like this.

Leelee1022. It's normal for your ankle to swell. I was told at physio and orthopaedic clinic that non surgery the swelling lasts up to 3 months, surgery  with "hardware" can take up to 12 months. It's good that you are staying positive by keeping busy as its really easy to fall into the trap of doing nothing. It is hard when normally are active as I was to zero. It will get better, I'm 18 weeks since surgery and back to normal art from my limp and swelling, but I'm still having physio so I accept that it will take time.

Good luck and stay positive

Cast free at last!  I had it removed yesterday and the Xrays show the bones have healed well and also show the numerous screws and plate. The wounds on either side of the ankle look scabby and I have been told to bathe them in just water and a drssing isn't needed. The scaly wizened leg is being moisturised with baby oil.  Taking the first step weight bearing is an experience because it is hard to believe after 8 weeks being imobilised that it won't collapse but it didn't and felt good.  I have some pain but it is bearable without pain relief but the ankle is oh so stiff and a bit swollen too. 

I have been using a wheelchair but now manage crutches although it is hard on the hands with the pressure needed to support the weak leg and ankle.  My consultant has ordered physio and marked it urgent so expect to go in a few days.  That will be the painful bit when the ankle is forced into movement but I will let you all know.

As others say it is slow progress but now the cast is removed I expect and hope that each day brings improvement.

You are very brave syneig travelling a few  hours in a car to see your horse but I bet it was worth the pain afterwards.

The sun is out today which is a tonic so keep postive everyone.

That is the best story that your cat was found after 12 days and how much harder for you that you couldn't go look everywhere for him.  Having the broken ankle is enough on our plates without losing our lovey pets.  I have a very sweet mini aussie that we got from the rescue.  He is so grateful to be here and I would be so sad if he were to get lost. Your's is a heartwarming story.  

Well done Beryl.. I'm really pleased to hear you good news.

The first steps do feel strange and you will have strange sensations, don't worry, it's normal and will become less as time goes on. I used to feel pins and needles when doing my exercises, but that disappeared. My achievement was being able to climb the stairs, not on my bum 😊 The crutches did start to pain my shoulders, but again that disappeared, so again, try not to worry, it's normal. The physio will be ok, it may feel strange as they got me walking with my canvas shoes rather than the boot, again I felt pins and needle sensation. I became more positive once the boot was removed and walking & driving, as I had convinced myself that I would never walk again. I'm still having physio which has gone from weekly to fortnightly and now every three weeks. I am certain that you will see progress on a daily basis. Good luck

How long til you could walk without pain and swelling?

It was 2 months post op before I was walking without pain, initially it felt like broken glass, the pins and needles sensation, but this is your foot waking up after resting and not doing much. This doesn't last long, I massaged e45 into my foot and ankle, which gets the circulation moving and helps with loose skin. The swelling is still present, some 18 weeks later, but reduces when I'm home from working 10 hours and after bathing in warm water, then massage, and an elasticated bandage as support, not forgetting keeping your foot elevated whilst in bed. Hope this helps Leelee

It does help, thank you. I am so afraid I won't be able to go back to work. I work on my feet for 8 hours a day and walk probably about 5 miles. I love my job and the thought of not being able to do it really scares me.

So happy for you, I can't wait to be cast free. Were you able to stand on it right away? I had a friend tell me that she fell at first.

I work for a major car hire company which is very demanding on your feet, I will be honest and say I thought my working days were over.

I became negative, staying in bed till 10am then just coming downstairs, having breakfast and watching tv.

I couldn't afford not to work so made the decision that I would work,and walk, drive and do all the normal stuff I had previously done prior to falling getting out of the shower!

Hi leelee,

You will most likely be put in an airboot after the cast still using crutches or a walker.  Then, you will gradually wean out of the boot.  It's gradual.  You're leg will need to be awakened. I am at 18 weeks post op. I can walk in a regular shoe, but I still have some pain and stiffness. It gets a little better everyday. Best of luck for a speedy recovery. Linda

Thank you Linda. Good luck to you also.