broken ankle bonesbnot fusing
Posted , 5 users are following.
Hi,
I broke and dislocated my ankle back in mid April resulting in pins and a plate. I was sent home with instructions to non weight bear for six weeks. I don't know what i expected when i went back but i wasn't expecting to be told the bone hasn't healed and to go away for another six weeks!.
Fortunately i have healthcare and so got a second opinion and was told to start physio as with out putting weight on it the bone won't be stimulated and so won't grow. I have exercises and now have been told to partially weight bear and have had the swelling and funny colours as well as pain. What id like to ask is has anyone here had a similar experience? I've been informed the metal work can hole my ankle together and to leave the boot off while at home all the time but I'm so scared of putting to much stress on it. It seems so un natural to use it at all and I'm at the point where i don't care about if it hurts i just want to fix it and resume life.
Thanks sam
1 like, 22 replies
jenni_24876 samantha77575
Posted
darren79130 samantha77575
Posted
Dear Sam, I'm exactly in the same situation as you
I Shattered my ankle 17 weeks ago, twice put in a cast for four weeks at a time, then in a boot and told
To wear it when I go out. My tibia bone needs to grow, I still have breaks, the Gap needs to Close up and for this process to speed up I need plenty of physiotherapy and to weight bear more and more. My foot swells up and goes purple every time my leg is down, the pain & discomforts they tell me is normal. I have two plates and lots of screws, this I think is restricting me in movement it feels very foreign, but my doc says to press on through all that because if I don't I may well walk with a limp.
I know exactly what you going through, my life is on hold also, the doc says it could take a year to get to a place of normality. I find distracting my negative thoughts with reading books helps me, I have people visiting me on set days which at times I'd rather not bother with but I do feel some what better for it after they've left, so it's important for me to not over think about my situation otherwise it would drive me potty.
This is a long journey so do try to encourage yourself the best way possible.
samantha77575
Posted
Thanks guys, it's nice to have other people in the some situation to talk to other people just don't get it. I'm just such an active person with dogs to walk and a horse of my own not to mention a two year old to run around after. I think you just assume that the bone will mend in a few weeks so to be told it hasn't after nearly two months is really depressing.
That sounds like a nasty break Darren i hope it all heals up for you, and jenni that's great that the fracture has healed.
The boots do really rub and the main reason for mine staying off at home is to heal the wound because its still really icky andthe boot just rubs it.
It's the strange at thing when you put your foot to the floor and realise you can remember how to make it walk. I hate going to my gp for painkillers as well they seem to be really judgy and worried about addiction when i only take them once a day to get to bed at night. A full day of exercises and putting weight on it and it looks awful and its so painful more so than when i first broke it.
I think we all agree the worst part is being really bored. I do read and I've just finished this years studying and exams so far too much time on my hands.
Have you guys tried icing it? It helps loads with swelling and pain especially in this heat!
I hope you both improve soon though and i guess as long as we do our exercises we will be doing our best to help it along.
sandra81957 samantha77575
Posted
Hi Sam. I'm 11 weeks since my accident. It was 9 days b4 they could operate due to swelling. Then 2weeks in cast before stitches came out with was hell, then another 4 weeks. In cast, then another 4 weeks. In new cast,. My last visit was 2weeks ago where I now have a boot with LWB this has to be on for another 2weeks. Which is 4wks in all. Grrrrr. I had my first physio visit last Wed, didn't do anything she just gave me a print out if exercise to do every day. As my boot is only put on for getting around, I'm free of it for most of the day and all night, which is great. I'm finding 2 of the exercises hard as my brain don't link up with what needs tidiness lol. It is hard and find it painful in every part of my foot not just my ankle. I'm now at my wits end with it all now and getting really angry Nd depressed with it all, find myself biting every body's heads off. Just simple tasks take forever and shattered afterwards. It's going to be a long haul, we all have to gang on in there. Wishing you all the best. Sx
darren79130 sandra81957
Posted
Hi Sandra, what you discribed mirrors my situation, almost 5 months now and today I went for the first time since my accident to visit my local GP to get some answers, the outcome of the visit was a prescription of antidepressants and a website where I can tap into counselling. I shall certainly take advantage of the of the counselling and I'd encourage you to do the same but as for the antidepressant I'm very reluctant. Keep you posted on how things go.
margie41357 samantha77575
Posted
10-12 is normal for non wb for a fusion. I would be super careful, if it is not fully fused it could come apart and then you have to do it all over! Listen to your surgeon he is the expert on bones, physio are muscles specialists but do t have near the schooling or training of an orthopaedic surgeon. Did you doc Ok this wb?
It is hard to wait but harder if you have to do it all over. I was 13 weeks nwb, so I k ow how hard it is, I couldn't even take the cast off to sleep or bath.
Hang in there!
samantha77575
Posted
Hi guys,
Sounds like we are all having similar feelings about the whole process. I get what you mean about anti depressants Darren i too have been offered them but don't want to go down the route. Maybe try counselling first and then see how ou feel. I told my gp i would come back if my next appt with the consultant didn't go very well lol!to be honest I'm not very happy with my consultant he didn't even come see me himself he sent a junior doctor to come tell me to partially weight bare and return in six weeks. Nobody checked my wound and i had to kick up a stink to get a new boot as mine was massive and my foot didn't stay straight. Because of this my foot has been pointing down and is really stiff, I'm a size five and had a size nine boot!
I think its this that has led me to have more faith in my physio Margie, my surgeon gives me no advice.
I get how your feeling Sandra I'm an emotional wreck too. Sometimes i need or want things and just can't be bothered with the effort and I'm tired all the time. It's so difficult as well as i have a two year who has worked our my disadvantages and uses them for evil lol. I just feel like a huge problem to everyone and if i help I'm just in the way. I guess it will end eventually but i cant see a point of normality. The only thing that i keep reminding myself is how many awful things have happened recently, a bit of perspective
Sam
margie41357 samantha77575
Posted
Oh yes Sam such a long road! I can't imagine it with a two year old under foot. My youngest is 20 and he has been my angel to help me in so many ways. He cooks, cleans and gives me hugs.
I had my original surgery on Dec 16/2016 so I'm still in boot now after second surgery and will get my sutures out Thursday and hopefully get my boot off for good. It has been 61/2 months for me so I hear you on running out of patience. Mine ran out about a month ago lol. I prob have another month, u til I walk again. Yes the PT people are very good for support and advice more so than the doc. My doc is a podiatrist and ankle surgeon, not as busy or uncaring as the orthopaedic surgeon, so I did get better care than what my son went thru with his fracture of tib/ fib at the hospital. It doesn't sound that much longer for you so hang in there!
Margie
samantha77575 margie41357
Posted
Wow six and a half months 😳 😲. I commend you for that break it must have been a good one! It's just too warm for those boots at the moment i wore mine this morning whilst doing the horse but its been off all afternoon. I know I'm very lucky my best friend is a physio i get a little more help and advice she's been great the whole way through. I did accidently put my full weight on it today and it didn't hurt it just felt strange. I hope your coming towards the end too. I'll be happy to be able to carry things again its a full scale mission to get the washing on the line!i also have a twelve year old who has helped loads but has kind of abandoned me now to be off enjoying summer with his mates.
Do you get to take your boot off at all?
margie41357 samantha77575
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I'm not supposed to but I do to massage my calf and toes and if I'm not wb, but it will be off in two days so thank god as it's really hot here at the moment. I'm from Canada.
samantha77575 margie41357
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I'm on the south coast of the uk and its been the hottest day on record today so the boot has been cast out. I hope you get to lose yours forever then you can get ice on it too that helps enormously!
sandra81957 samantha77575
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Hi marie and Samantha. 6 1/2 mths OMG. Just can't see how I'll cope that long. I'm pulling my hair out getting really angry depressed and short tempered with everyone. Just the sound of the velcro on the boot sets me off! Sad I know but everything getting new dwn this past week. I'm 11 weeks yesterday since my fall, but feels a lot longer. Physio today for 10mins!! Pleased with everything. Just needing to get behind the wheel of my car... Thank god this boot can and is off most of the day. Just going back on ad I move around. Looking forward to my bowl of iced water once the ice is done. Just hope I can carry bowl in ? as son gone to a concert and hubby St work till 12..wish me luck. Lol sc
samantha77575 sandra81957
Posted
I think we done our breaks on the same day! I 100% understand what you mean I'm swerving from angry to upset every two minutes. I keep trying to get myself out with friends or up the horse yard but i always come away feeling more depressed and unable to do anything useful and probably in the way. It sounds really sad but my dogs have helped me loads just with company but I've always preferred animals to people lol.
How do you find putting weight on it without the boot? You have to slide things along the side and floor to get them about lol i struggle to put the washing out.
I am really lucky that i broke my left ankle and so i sold my manual car and brought an automatic so i can get my son to nursery and myself about.
sandra81957 samantha77575
Posted
I had my fall on 11th April, didn't fall far fell on my knee and didn't even hole my trousers or cut my knee, stepped over a barrier about 1ft high and didn't lift leg high enough so foot stayed on top of barrier. Dislocated it which I straightened myself, but made right Ness of ankle. I'm still in my boot so no walking without it at moment, hopefully put of it week Fri. Where I've got nxt appt. I can do my exercises putting foot flat on floor doing sml movements but no weight. Does feel odd just having foot on floor with no support. Mine is my right ankle so if needs to hurry for me to get out driving, gate having to wait for my daughters to take me to appts. Not in the position to be able to change car, and never driven auto. My 18yr old learning at the moment so it's holding him up to as I'm the one who sits with him. 😢 😢 must be so hard for you with a little one too run after (excuse the pun) don't know how you cope. Have to miss my granddaughters 4th birthday this weekend because they live 22miles away and can't get there 😔 but not in the mood for a load of 3/4yr old running around to be honest. Lol boiling and fed up!!! Sx
sandra81957 samantha77575
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At my physio yesterday. She told me to do ice foot bath and to leave my foot in for as long as I could bare, taking it in and out. Said it helps with swelling and helps bloods curculate and will bring colour dwn to almost normal. I just have to wait until someone here to carry bowl of water in... But cooler today here in Newport gwent, so don't know how long I could stand it. Lol. Hope the boot is off margie. Got my hospital visit nxt week, but physio has told me that I won't have boot taken away straight away it will be gradually, doing boot free around the house but to use when out. Grrrrr. How long does this take its just going on forever!! 😢 😢 😢
samantha77575 sandra81957
Posted
Hi Sandra,
That's a new idea you'll have to let me know how it goes. I still have an open wound that keeps drying out and then going icky again so i cant get it wet yet. I had a really nasty infection and so its healed really slowly.
I'm at the point were i take the boot off at home its a huge relief you'll appreciate that. And honestly walking about on it partially weight bearing doesn't hurt like i thought it would and my bone hasn't even healed yet so I'm sure you'll be fine. It almost feels as though the heel is tender and it aches a bit as the day goes on. Of course your walk is still stiff and slow 🐌 but it beats the boot. So far people have been very impressed with my 20inch scar, lucky I'm not the vain type lol.
Its also cooled a little here we had a good thunderstorm which helped. I normally don't mind the heat but on crutches its unbearable.
Did your physio give you any other new things to try?
margie41357 samantha77575
Posted
Another 3 weeks in boot and wb with crutches. This is becoming so unbearable I just came home and cried, and I don't break down and cry often.😤😩😭
This is taking forever, it will be 7 months in 3 weeks and still not walking with a shoe and I hate the dam crutches!!!!'
Margie
sandra81957 samantha77575
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Did the ice soak. And it was nice to cool dwn a bit but couldn't do it for to long. Just my luck it's cooled dwn now. Should of tried on Wednesday hottest day of the year. Let's hope this wound of yrs heals soon, must be a nightmare. If it's not one thing it's another. 20inch scar!!! OMG mine is about 3ibch on inside of ankle and about 6ibch on outside, and both have healed up fantastic, thank God. One on outside is where I have a 🌸 tattoo that about 8inch long and the consultant told me he did his very best to try not to disturb it lol he just had to nope one of the flowers right on the ankle bone, but matched it up great when he stitched it up. Lol so gave him a big thank you when I saw him last. Next visit week today. Wonder what that brings? Had a few more exercises at physio on Wed. But can't do two of them home as I need a rolling pin and a tray/board, where I don't have a rolling pin.... I had to place both feet on and roll from side to side then tilt back n forth. Keeping bad foot as flat as possible on board. Sounds easy but with ankle being tight it was quite difficult. Others where just going over the same ones which are getting easier every day. Sx
sandra81957 margie41357
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Oh marie I do feel for you. But 7nths!!!😢 😢. It's forever! Who would think it would take that long. I'm at my 3mth stage and is a killer I'm hoping to be walking and especially driving soon? All be it walking with one crutch. They are getting me dwn too especially when they stay put around your arm when you've tried to throw them down. Grrrrr I end up throwing them across the room! 😢 😢. I'm so tired and fed up of telling sin/hubby to make sure the floors in kitchen and bathroom are bone dry ad I've managed to find the tiniest drop of water and crutch has gone flying.. Wish they were like the old ones yrs ago made of wood. Coz the day I can get rid they would be set a lite and burnt!! Sx
samantha77575 sandra81957
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It's cooled down here too by about 10 degrees over night its mad the way it changes so quickly. I'll have to try the ice soak and see if i can stand it. It's really sore today i was walking with crutches bare foot and trod on something that hurt and my reaction was to jolt it up. It just feels sort of sprained now,I'm sure no permanent damage was done but a bit annoyed with even small setbacks.
I think my scar is so big because when I broke it I was in a sand riding school and because the bone ripped through the skin it made a huge opening to start with. Then in surgery they had to make it huge to clean it out properly because of the infection risk from the sand which horses are on all the time its probably really dirty.
That was lucky with your tattoo otherwise it would have been wonky lol.
I also find the exercises hard that you have to keep your foot flat. I've been doing lunges and everything and gradually it's all starting to stretch and loosen up. Do you have an exercise ball? They are really cheap and the most helpful exercise i do is sitting on it and rocking it stretches the heal and the more you do it the less painful it gets x
sandra81957 samantha77575
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samantha77575 sandra81957
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I know what you mean i think I'm a little ahead of the game out of pushing it really. I'm kind of making my own decisions as to when I'm ready rather than waiting for the consultant to decide. I never do more than i can do without causing serious discomfort, i just let my body decide how its feeling about things.
I've been practising using one crutch too more out of necessity really though as the two year old has decided the other one is his toy strimmer. I do get the extra advice and help my my bestie as well who has her own physio practice.
I'm a little excited today though as i managed to get out for a plod on my horse 😀. I know i haven't been given the go ahead yet but it definitely beat walking lol. And then saying you get back on the horse means something i needed to get over that mental element of the accident too. He was as usual an absolute gentleman and let me thinking how the hell did i manage to fall of him like that lol.
How has your day been?