Ankle fusion 2012 help !

Hi Daphne! 21-1/2 weeks now. Did you try the bunny hop yet? Your appt is coming up! Wishing you good luck! I'm about to head to a 10 day trip to Europe with the family at the end of the week. I'm ready. I did it a few months ago in a boot...and so glad to be doing it again boot free and walking now. Going to Barcelona, Bordeaux and Italy. I can't wait to walk everywhere! The swelling is continuing to go way down and only really a little around the ankles still. My flexing has gotten very good now and still working on pointing to match the other foot- they are still a little off. I've been taking organic Tumeric Curcumin tablets which I think have helped. They are known to help with inflammation. I also stretch my foot in the morning and the night in bed, which I think helps a lot to loosen it. I have been walking on the treadmill regularly (30 mins at a time) and my foot still gets a bit stiff in the morning and a few hours after cardio (I only really notice the stiffness when I do downstairs). It seems to loosen up in the day. Other than that, all is good and the hardware doesn't seem to be a problem (even with 13 screws and a plate installed). Knock on wood that continues! Please give an update after your appt!

Hi Patti, my appt is tomorrow. Will let you know how it goes. Also going to the coast at the end of the week. Can't wait. I did do one small bunny hop, but I am so scared, I think it is all in the mind, as I had no pain or problem when I did it. Tumeric is good. I have been taking Turmerynne capsules since about 3 weeks post op. Turmerynne capsules are turmeric and cayenne. Works well for inflammation. I also have a slight amount of swelling around my ankle. The stiffness I have in the morning has suddenly become much better, and the last few mornings I hardly feel it. I must say I stretch my ankle all the time, when sitting watching TV or any other time I sit for a while ,I stretch, flex and rotate my ankle. I was also wondering how you feel about escalators? I went shopping this weekend and had to go up and down on the escalator, I did but was afraid of getting on and off. I don't known why. I will keep you posted on my appt tomorrow. Have a good day.

Thanks for the tip about the Turmerynne capsules. I'll try those too. I also put a lot of cinnamon on my oatmeal every morning, which helps and I just yesterday was reading about an anti-inflammatory diet. It includes pasta and bread which I refuse to eat now, since I'm trying to drop some weight I gained from sitting around immobilized for a few months, but it mentions Asian mushrooms, beans and legumes, and white, green and oolong tea (I'll see if I can find them in decaf versions) as all being very good anti-inflammatory foods. Red wine and plain dark chocolate are on the list too for special treats I am stretching all the time too when I'm not busy, and I think that may be a key. I walk tip toed whenever I can at home, if I think about it as well. I know some people at 21-22 weeks where we are, who have more inflammation than we do, so I think some of these things we are doing are really helping! Keep up the good work!!

PS- I try my first escalator on Tuesday. I'll let you know...but it does sound scary. Nothing seems to worry me more in everyday walking than a wet floor though right now. Looking forward to hearing how the appt goes. My last appt the doctor just checked my foot flex and said looks great, come back in 6 weeks. Makes me more and more realize ankles just repair on a time schedule more than anything else. 

I had a trimalleolar break. My surgery was  ORIF and included a plate and 13 screws in three places. I have only a pinpoint scars on my inner ankle and the top of my foot (where it bends) and a 3" skinny scar that is still a little pink, but fading fast, on my outer left ankle. I'm trying to post updates and timelines in case they can help others reading, so they have one person's timeline who had a similar break. Hope it helps. 

Hi Patti, I am back from my appointment. All is good. I have about 90% of my ROM back. I even showed them I can run, and did 4 bunny hop's (just because I can). I don't go back to the doctor until December, and that should be my final check up. The physiotherapists are also very happy and gave me a few more strengthening exercises to do, because I need to do something a bit more advanced. Once again I realised today the importance of pt and exercises . I was watching some of the patients going through their pt evaluation, and realised it was not so long ago I was at that exact same stage, and just by pushing through and not giving up how far we have come.I can also now go to the gym and start to exercise slowly, but at my own pace. We are going away for a while at the end of the week, so once I am back I will go back to the gym. I know you are also going away for a while. So enjoy every moment of it , I think we deserve it.

Great news Daphne! We are really at the same place here. My family and friends said the difference from last week to this week has been leaps and bounds, and I look like I am finally walking totally normally (although I still find myself doing a bit of a very slight limp sometimes when I don't walk with a longer stride or when my ankle feels tighter early in the morning). My PT said one or two more appts max and I don't need PT anymore. I now do 30 mins at a time on the treadmill (walking on a low level) and think this helps me a ton. I love doing it and find it is no problem (just a bit of tightness an hour or two later, in the ankle, when going down stairs is all). I also can do the bike, and am anxious to try the elliptical trainer. I know you can do these too now, when you get back from vacation. Have a great vacation!  Would love to catch up with you and see how we are doing in early August. Hang in there everybody out there. At 5 months out, you are almost normal with a trimalleolar fracture at least. Is that what you had Daphne?