Broken ankle

Posted , 6 users are following.

I broke my ankle on a visit to England on the 15th February. I returned to Spain with an aircast boot which was removed on the 26th March. The consultant just looked at the X/ray and said it had heeled very quickly and I could remove the boot and start to walk on it gradually. He never looked at my foot. I was very surprised because I am 67 years old, a diabetic and suffer with rheumatoid arthritis. He said if I had any problems to go to my GP and get referred back to him. It is now 6 weeks since the boot was removed and I am suffering with a red swollen foot, which feels very hot and the pain is travelling up from my ankle to my knee. I have told my husband I need to go to A and E because my foot doesn't feel right. He said it is ok and my symptoms are to be expected but he is not a doctor. I am concerned ans don't want to lose my foot. Any advice?

0 likes, 9 replies

9 Replies

  • Posted

    If in doubt doctor's... Ots fluid water pain killer elavate foot above heart.

    This was my experience take care...

  • Edited

    Hi so sorry to hear your in pain. I am only 5 weeks into my recovery from a broken ankle but my advice would be if your worried and have redness and pain get it checked by the Dr. It would put your mind at ease. The worse thing is being worried and you know your body and if you don't feel right get it checked out. I hope you feel better soon. Julie

    • Edited

      Thanks to Julie and Mark. Seeing the GP isn't that easy. They are only doing telephone consultations. Everything is revolving around the Corona virus in Spain which is understandable.

  • Posted

    I'm surprised that the doctor would just tell you to take off the boot and walk on it. I'm not sure where you live but here in the US you'd go to physical therapy for at least a month or two after being in a cast. You need to build up muscle, practice balance, stretch, get massages etc. I'd go to a specialist and have him take a look. I was in a cast for 6 weeks after ankle surgery and it definitely takes a while to get used to walking again --it is very painful at the beginning and redness and swelling are to be expected--but 6 weeks seems like a long time. Of course, the less physical therapy you receive the longer the healing process. Good luck! I'm no doctor but I don't think it means that your foot needs to be amputated but you need to have a specialist take a look.

    • Posted

      Hello Sabine, I am in NW of Spain and that is exactly what the consultant said to me. Walk at first for 50 meters and increase it on a daily basis. That is the only advice given. No referral for pysiotherapy and no further appointment given. I have been walking round the apartment without any aids but as soon as I get up in the morning it starts to swell and the skin feels very tight. Will give it a further weeks and pay a visit to A and E.

    • Posted

      Hi again,

      I'm not sure about Spain but here in NYC they do both doctor's appointments and PT via video now. I had ankle surgery 8 weeks ago and have been doing all my PT via video conference. It works quite well. I don't think I'd be able to walk without PT. The foot is so incredibly stiff and painful when it was immobilized for such a long time. You might want to call some hospitals that accept your insurance and see if they can set something up with a specialist via video if you don't want to go in person. I'm sure you're icing, but that's something that helps me a lot when my ankle gets hot and swollen.

  • Posted

    Hello. Im so sorry to read about your accident with your ankle. I broke mine

    in 2014 and I still have pain. You really

    should get yours checked, your pain

    could be from a number of reasons.

    Did you have surgery on it? I thank

    you in advance. Veronica

  • Posted

    i would suggest you go to a dr to get x-rays. that way i could monitor the bones to see how they ate healing. physical therapist don't know what to do unless the dr sends paperwork showing how the level of progression from the x-rays. GO TO A SPECIALIST

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