Broken ankle 4 weeks NEB
Posted , 5 users are following.
I broke my ankle 5 weeks ago, Urgent care said it wasn’t broken but I couldn’t even touch a toe to the ground. I got into Ortho 4 days later but my ankle was so swollen you could see the veins and my toes looked like sausages. The Dr. looked at the X-rays from UC and said she couldn’t see a break either then the Dr put me in a Cam Boot and said 2 weeks NWB and call and give update. Well 2 weeks later my foot and ankle were still swollen and hurt to touch on side, shin and foot and said to get MRI and 4 days later said I had broken my fibula and had a partial torn tendons. So low it’s going on 5 weeks and my toes always fell swollen and they are and I still can’t see my veins in my foot, I can’t touch the outside of my ankle or side of shin and nor it feels like the ball if my foot ( when I am changing and put the slightest pressure) feels like there’s a big bump. When I try to wiggle my toes my big toe moves a little then the next toe doesn't move and then the last three when I try sends like a strong tingle or small shock up my foot. I am still NWB and always have it elevated, could something else be going on since it’s still swollen ( size of a baseball) .
0 likes, 9 replies
briann_13083 jamie50930
Posted
When the swelling goes down, you will be able to hopefully wiggle your toes as of right now the fluid is pressing on your nerves and making it hard to send of signals to move.
At the beginning of my injury I had the same issues with swelling and toes not wanting to move. Icing it is the best option. And a rule of thumb is to elevate higher then your heart. This will force the fluid off your foot. You could also try messaging. Starting from the toes and rubbing firm, but gently, down to the ankle. That’s what I did and it seemed to help me with my swelling issues.
jamie50930 briann_13083
Posted
Now 8 weeks from the date injury I just started PT. My ankle welling has finally gone down and back to normal.
I still have a hard time wiggling my toes, but that is coming along with PT exercises of placing my for on a towel on the tile floor and try scrunching my toes, this seams to help so far.
rose71920 jamie50930
Posted
HI Jamie,
I can tell you that its not easy recovering from these injuries unless you are one of the lucky few.
I fell and was told also that I "ONLY" sprained my ankle. It hurt so bad I just knew there was something else going on. Fast forward 7 months later and I finally left my town and saw a orthopedic specialist. Had not one surgery but two and tomorrow is my third!
Bottom line is : If you feel like something needs to be fixed, do it. Keep in mind after many , many months you will still swell. I felt like no one believed me when I told them of the pain. So I took pictures of my injury as I went on week after week.
As my doctor told me, only you know how you feel! And only you knows if something more is wrong in there. Keep pressing the doc if you think more is happening in there.
Best of luck to you,
Rose
jamie50930 rose71920
Posted
Now 8 weeks from the date injury I just started PT. My ankle welling has finally gone down and back to normal.
I still have a hard time wiggling my toes, but that is coming along with PT exercises of placing my for on a towel on the tile floor and try scrunching my toes, this seams to help so far.
kpower jamie50930
Posted
Jamie,
When I fractured my ankle I sustained a severe ankle sprain to top it off. My sprain was cartoonish in appearance with ankle swollen like a balloon with nasty discoloration (and yes the toes seemed rather immovable).
I suspect many if not most ankle fracture patients also sustain sprains of varying degrees but don't mention it here on forum-- they seem to lump all their signs and symptoms under the heading 'broken ankle'.
In my case, sprain symptoms gradually subsided and by the time I was weight bearing about 6 weeks later the ankle almost looked normal again.
So you will get there too. Be patient (but if severe swelling persists it would be best to check in with your doctor).
jamie50930 kpower
Posted
Now 8 weeks from the date injury I just started PT. My ankle welling has finally gone down and back to normal.
I still have a hard time wiggling my toes, but that is coming along with PT exercises of placing my for on a towel on the tile floor and try scrunching my toes, this seams to help so far.
tricia09818 jamie50930
Posted
You need to go to another ortho and fast. HAve you done physical therapy at all? If you get an apt for PT your therapist can help you get that swelling down and also report back to your dr about your real condition. I wouldn't mess with it any longer. Its a long hard recovery even after a perfect beginning.
Good luck-keep us posted.
jamie50930 tricia09818
Posted
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Broken ankle 4 weeks NEB[jamie50930] [tricia09818] [kpower] 5 Users
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[jamie50930] jamie50930Broken ankle 4 weeks NEB
Posted about a month ago
I broke my ankle 5 weeks ago, Urgent care said it wasn’t broken but I couldn’t even touch a toe to the ground. I got into Ortho 4 days later but my ankle was so swollen you could see the veins and my toes looked like sausages. The Dr. looked at the X-rays from UC and said she couldn’t see a break either then the Dr put me in a Cam Boot and said 2 weeks NWB and call and give update. Well 2 weeks later my foot and ankle were still swollen and hurt to touch on side, shin and foot and said to get MRI and 4 days later said I had broken my fibula and had a partial torn tendons. So low it’s going on 5 weeks and my toes always fell swollen and they are and I still can’t see my veins in my foot, I can’t touch the outside of my ankle or side of shin and nor it feels like the ball if my foot ( when I am changing and put the slightest pressure) feels like there’s a big bump. When I try to wiggle my toes my big toe moves a little then the next toe doesn't move and then the last three when I try sends like a strong tingle or small shock up my foot. I am still NWB and always have it elevated, could something else be going on since it’s still swollen ( size of a baseball) .Report this
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Most Votes[briann 13083] ?2 briann 13083 jamie50930 about a month ago
Ice your foot!!! Fifteen minutes with ice on, 20 minutes ice off. Repeat. Do NOT ice longer then fifteen minutes at a time!! Your foot sounds like it’s full of fluid. A water pill might, might, help.
When the swelling goes down, you will be able to hopefully wiggle your toes as of right now the fluid is pressing on your nerves and making it hard to send of signals to move.
At the beginning of my injury I had the same issues with swelling and toes not wanting to move. Icing it is the best option. And a rule of thumb is to elevate higher then your heart. This will force the fluid off your foot. You could also try messaging. Starting from the toes and rubbing firm, but gently, down to the ankle. That’s what I did and it seemed to help me with my swelling issues.
Report this
? 0
Reply to briann 13083[rose71920] ?3 rose71920 jamie50930 about a month ago
HI Jamie,
I can tell you that its not easy recovering from these injuries unless you are one of the lucky few.
I fell and was told also that I "ONLY" sprained my ankle. It hurt so bad I just knew there was something else going on. Fast forward 7 months later and I finally left my town and saw a orthopedic specialist. Had not one surgery but two and tomorrow is my third!
Bottom line is : If you feel like something needs to be fixed, do it. Keep in mind after many , many months you will still swell. I felt like no one believed me when I told them of the pain. So I took pictures of my injury as I went on week after week.
As my doctor told me, only you know how you feel! And only you knows if something more is wrong in there. Keep pressing the doc if you think more is happening in there.
Best of luck to you,
Rose
Report this
? 0
Reply to rose71920[kpower] ?4 kpower jamie50930 about a month ago
Jamie,
When I fractured my ankle I sustained a severe ankle sprain to top it off. My sprain was cartoonish in appearance with ankle swollen like a balloon with nasty discoloration (and yes the toes seemed rather immovable).
I suspect many if not most ankle fracture patients also sustain sprains of varying degrees but don't mention it here on forum-- they seem to lump all their signs and symptoms under the heading 'broken ankle'.
In my case, sprain symptoms gradually subsided and by the time I was weight bearing about 6 weeks later the ankle almost looked normal again.
So you will get there too. Be patient (but if severe swelling persists it would be best to check in with your doctor).
Report this
? 0
Reply to kpower[tricia09818] ?3 tricia09818 jamie50930 30 days ago
You need to go to another ortho and fast. HAve you done physical therapy at all? If you get an apt for PT your therapist can help you get that swelling down and also report back to your dr about your real condition. I wouldn't mess with it any longer. Its a long hard recovery even after a perfect beginning.
Good luck-keep us posted.
Report this
Hello All and thanks for all the suggestions
?Now 8 weeks from the date injury I just started PT. My ankle welling has finally gone down and back to normal.
?I still have a hard time wiggling my toes, but that is coming along with PT exercises of placing my for on a towel on the tile floor and try scrunching my toes, this seams to help so far.
Jamie
jamie50930
Posted
Now 8 weeks from the date injury I just started PT. My ankle welling has finally gone down and back to normal.
I still have a hard time wiggling my toes, but that is coming along with PT exercises of placing my for on a towel on the tile floor and try scrunching my toes, this seams to help so far.
Jamie