Broken ankle recovery
Posted , 7 users are following.
I broke my ankle in 3 places 3 months ago and have been doing full weight bearing walking for about a week and a half . I'm a tad behind because I had fracture blisters and a wound taking longer to heal. I wasn't allowed to walk on it until the wound healed, This recovery is like watching paint dry ,only worse. I am usually a fast healer but each step seems to take forever. The first 2 months was the same torture everyday with little change. I'm going to PT and I'm able to walk with out a cane kinda with a slight limp but I get a gnawing pain which is annoying and I also feel like I have a tight elastic band around my ankle. I'm getting clinically depressed at times because of the pain and lack of good sleep is wearing me out. . I am taking stuff meds to help me at nite but it's like I'm continually being tortured. Reading some of the posts seems like there's no light at the end of the tunnel. But anyway what is the best thing to do to get rid of that elastic band feeling? I was under the impression that I would be getting whirl pool baths and stuff like that to stick my foot in but the outside my house PT I just started with said that's old school and it seems like we are going to just do just exercise. I'm not sure if the other IS old school or they don't have that type of equipment. I started in house therapy exercise therapy after my surgery. Any suggestions ?
1 like, 17 replies
Airellajordan deedeemouse
Posted
i have been using a pool, exercising in the water helped with My range of motion and that elastic band feeling has been getting
better since i had my hardware removed.
deedeemouse Airellajordan
Posted
When you have the hardware removed is the long recovery the same?
sandra91776 deedeemouse
Posted
I dont think its a long recovery my son had hardware in both knees removed and he was off work for about a week
Im going to figure out if I want long screw removed going through back of my ankle
My doctor said its nothing but its nit his ankle!
deedeemouse sandra91776
Posted
re: doctor ..that's for sure. However , I think the ankle is the worst of all eveils because it bears the most weight.
diane86522 deedeemouse
Posted
Epsom salt soaks have helped me many times. I stumbled across some videos by bob and brad who are 2 well known physical therapists. I have utilized some of their suggestions and found them to be a great help! Also, "scraping" using a thingy called gua sha has been amazing! My PT told me to keep using it as she could tell a difference when she examined my ankle!
Hope this info helps. Really fine folks on this board too!
karen70040 deedeemouse
Posted
Hi,
I had a wound that took forever to heal also. I had that tightness too,that elastic band feeling are your tight muscles. That feeling will go away with excersises. Mine did. If you can get to a gym that has hot tub and a pool, go for it. Aquatic excersise are better. Eating well, and taking supplements help,B12 Vit E, D, multi. Joint supplements help too. Don't be in a rush to weight bear, can do more damage. Do only what your ankle allows, you'll know, when it's strong. I'm 4 months Post Op. Only now does my ankle feel strong enough to weight bear, and I'm limping. Take it easy. Melatonin works for sleep too. x
deedeemouse karen70040
Posted
Thankfully my wound didn't take forever to heal. I had lines of fracture blisters and in one of the lines was where he had to make the incision. When I went into surgery it wasn't healed and he had to decide to either put the hardware outside my leg or inside. He chose inside with the chance of having a wound that might take longer to heal. If he asked me I would have said to do what he did. However, I couldn't start trying to walk until the wound was healed so that's why I was behind in progress. The bones healed in the time they should of. At 3 months I can bear full weight...actually I find it easier climbing stairs than walking . It's just that I get tired and also after my ankle hurts like a gnawing aggravating pain. As far as sleep meds I tried everything including using pain meds to sleep. Melatonin does nothing for me. I have to add, my sleep issues were here even before the ankle , this just made them worse. I try not to use anything addictive and anything that is ,I don't use often only when I feel I need a good nights sleep. However, I really don't like how I feel the next day. I'm going to get the vitamins today , thanks. I feel crippled in the morning but I found that the minute I get up if I put my hands on the bed and stretch my calf muscles immediately . I'm good to go. Psychologically this is doing a number on me as much as the pain. I feel like a tiger in a cage and I do try to get out as much as possible. Being able to drive now helps to. Good luck to you too!!!
DavidRenish deedeemouse
Posted
Thank you everybody for sharing your experiences. I fractured my ankle in 3 places hiking while on.vacation 3 weeks ago, had ORIF surgery immediately after the injury, and just had the cast removed. The stories shared by those that have experienced similar situations across this site have been insightful and inspiring. I begin PT in 3 weeks, and am very anxious to see progress. Good luck to everybody visiting this site looking for info or inspiration to help deal with their own injury and recovery. Not going to make it through this life without a few bumps and scratches along the way.
sandra91776 DavidRenish
Posted
DAVID
Sorry to hear about your accident and welcome to the group here.
Its quite comforting reading others experiences and being able to relate to them.
The journey can be frustrating at times because one day ankle seems like you can do stuff and then next day you can barely walk.
Im 12 weeks post op and doing pretty good most days
Good luck!
deedeemouse sandra91776
Posted
You hit the nail on the head Sandra saying one day you can walk and the next day can't. The progress of each phase is slow and sometimes you feel like you're going backwards. This is so unlike any surgery or physical problem I've ever had. Improvement was noticed everyday and I usually had very rapid recoveries in the past leaving me so concerned about my recovery progress or lack of ,that I had to seek others and their experiences too to see if this was the norm. Unfortunately it is and now I feel a little bit better knowing that what I'm going through is normal...just a tad better lol
deedeemouse
Posted
Oh, the therapist put a couple of tens machine pads on my foot and used that. I have a tens machine too so i'm trying it at home too . I also use ice and do epsom salts.
Suzususan deedeemouse
Posted
mine wasn't as serious as yours as far as I know it was only broken in one place I have a plate and screw. the other side was moved a little bit but they were able to get that back in place without operating on that side. I totally understand what you're talkin about the slowness of the recovery I totally understand what you're talkin about the slowness of the recovery and the I totally understand what you're talkin about the slowness of the recovery and the pain. there is a depression that goes along with it. I had my surgery on July 23rd. I have been doing physical therapy for about 3 weeks now and all they do they do some I have been doing physical therapy for about 3 weeks now and all they do they do some massage but they don't always do that an exercises. There is a machine that they put on for about 15 minutes that helps take pain out temporarily. I am walking now with a pretty noticeable limp and pain on one side but I was just so excited to be walking. I know what you mean about the feeling of a band around your foot oh, I don't know how long that takes yet. I think it's different I guess for everyone. I go back to the orthopedic on the 9th and I'm going to see what they say because physical therapy is fairly expensive and I think I can do what they're doing at home..
sandra91776 Suzususan
Posted
I have the same feeling of band around foot so guess its part of the recovery.
PT is expensive It costs me $35 copay everytime I go
I was supposed to go back to my doctor tomorrow but it was rescheduled
Let us know how you make out
deedeemouse Suzususan
Posted
well I was able to go on the motorcycle today and had no prob TG.I have ice and tens machine on.No sense waiting for pain...gl to you.
sandra91776 deedeemouse
Posted
wow! on a motorcycle! good for you!
Even if I was 100% that would be too scary for me! LOL!
deedeemouse sandra91776
Posted
lol its a harley 3 wheeeler we gve up the harley deuce..bike week this week so it was fun..i just had to get on and off a creative way lol