Posted , 60 users are following.
Hi: I broke my ankle on 11/10, surgery on 11/19, cast off 12/7
I got the knee high boot to wear, I'm still non-weight bearing. He wants me to sleep in it but sleep is impossible. How vitally important is the boot to the bone healing? i wear the boot all day. I go back for x-rays the 21st. thanks!
3 likes, 116 replies
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valerie0802 judi57310
Posted
This whole discussion has been so helpful. I felt so alone with post op issues. (Severe fracture, plates, screws). No sleep, aching muscles especially lower back, shooting pain, etc. Pretty much everything posted here, and I'm almost 4 weeks post surgery. WHY don't the docs or nurses tell you this might be NORMAL, so you don't feel like you're crazy. The utter dependence and lack of mobility on top of everything is so depressing, and I am generally an upbeat and happy person. I have a whole new appreciation for injured/disabled people AND the folks that help them!
catherine36027 valerie0802
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Dear Valerie. I have been laid up since June 14th. It is hard and gives you an appreciation for disabled people. I have a caregiver now for a while. I am in physical therapy but it has been lonely. I can't do much because I am on a walker now. I am from Illinois. Maybe we could talk. My name is Cathy. Not much is new this time of day. I should get better in about four more weeks if I could handle it. Not much else is new. Cathy
catherine36027 judi57310
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valerie0802 catherine36027
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people seem to think you should just bounce back from a severe injury and serious surgery, but this ankle thing is truly a challenge for me mentally and physically. Doc said I have on my (healing) side the fact that I was very fit and healthy prior to injury. Some of these posts talk about months and months of recovery, and I find it hard to stay positive. I wish I had more faith in my orthoped here. He looks like he's 18 years old and has the bedside manner of a piece of cardboard. I think I'm going to start a support group around here when I am further along in my healing process. Sure does seem to be a lack of support/empathy/understanding for this particular injury.
chris18785 valerie0802
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Hi Valerie0802. Hang in there. Me, a serious pilon fracture of my ankle, 2 surgeries, a plate and 6 screws. Only you and others that have been through this know what you are going through. 5 months later, I am out of the boot, later the splint and now walking with minimal pain. So while I spent almost 4 months off my feet, sleeping (albeit 3 hours at best a night) in a recliner due to nerve pain, I want to assure you it WILL get better. The hardest part is patience while you heal. And healing is the best medicine. I'm sorry your Ortho is "lacking," but any assistance he can provide you while you recover will help. And take help from friends and family, fight the urge to be self sufficient and use this blog to ask questions as you go along. It helped me. Good Luck!
valerie0802 chris18785
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Thanks Chris, It's pretty discouraging, and I appreciate your words of encouragement. Some friends got me out of the house for the first time today for lunch, and that sure was nice. I'm sure the lack of sleep, not working, compounded with an uncertain prognosis complicates things. (I don't call it sleeping anymore -- I call it "getting horizontal"
. haha. Thank goodness I love college football, and that will sustain me for a while! Again, thanks for your words.
tina28224 chris18785
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lynette63678 tina28224
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shelley35050 valerie0802
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Hi Valerie
I broke and displaced a bone in my left ankle on January 10 2018. I had surgery to put a metal plate on the left side of my left ankle on January 24 and am currently in a plaster cast which is wrapped in ace bandage. I get it removed on February 13 and replaced with a fiberglass cast until March 1 when I will have that replaced with a boot for at least another 4 weeks
I found your post while googling "how long before i sleep through the night after ankle surgery. It is currently February 3 10 days post op. I know I don't have to tell you this but this really sucks. And I am considering myself lucky because I broke the side and not the front of my ankle
I am wondering if you ever started that support group that you mentioned in your post. I do get support around the house by my husband. And he has had his share of surgeries himself. So it gets it in his own way. But he is a man and it is hard to communicate my feelings with him because he doesn't get it.
I was invited out today to a friend's house. I really don't feel like going but I think I should force myself to get out. Y husband said he.woildnbring me to the house and get situated.
Let me know how you are doing a year later. I hope all went well for you.
SquiddyDaddy judi57310
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Broke my ankle on 8/31 and got into a boot 9/1. It's been terrible. I feel so bad for people that are helping me since I'm so used to being completely independent. It's almost impossible to sleep since I feel a tremendous amount of pain, (whilst being under pain medication) when trying to find the best sleeping position. Even using the bathroom is a real struggle but an extender helps a ton. My school starts on 8/6 and I will most likely not be attending and just doing work from home, considering my school is constantly jam packed, and people love to hide and play with crutches which will make it intolerable. Plus, pushing is very common, meaning my ankle is more likely to be injured again. I haven't had surgery but the doctor said that if I put weight on it or injure it in some way, it will shift, which concerns me a lot. I really would hate to miss out on school, especially since it's only the beginning.
natava SquiddyDaddy
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Will your school let you leave classes early to get to the next class before everyone else? Mine used to. Have you rented a knee cart yet?
SquiddyDaddy natava
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I'm not 100% sure if they will let me leave earlier but there is a chance it's possible. I'm not too worried about this semester even if I do end up missing it since I have drama and gym which aren't very important whatsoever. I just need to worry about Business, History and Math. No I have not rented a knee cart yet, so it will be hard to get around school just on crutches.
natava SquiddyDaddy
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I think each teacher should give you a five min head start to get to your next class.
SquiddyDaddy natava
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I will definitely consider the knee cart and I think I'll take maybe one or two weeks off school until I feel good enough. It's very painful when I get up since blood rushes down and it's near unbearable for me so I don't think I would be able to handle that every 35 minutes when switching classes.
Argus2968 judi57310
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I broke my fibula with a high fracture 18 days ago. I had surgery done the next day to put in a plate, 5 screws, and two support bolts. I also tore/pulled a bench in ligaments in my ankle, I'm not sure of the exact extent of the damage but my doctor said I "really did a number on it" (thanks so much for the specifics, doc) /s
I got the cast removed 2 days ago. The doc told me the only exercise I should do is to gently flex my foot up and down, and never to force it. Honestly, I hardly wear the boot. I keep an ace bandage on it and am really good at not moving it except in the motion allowed by the doc. He said the plate, screws, and bolts will keep the bone from moving around, they're in there good.
My only question is is there a reason to wear the boot other than to keep my foot from moving. Or does the pressure/uber stability of the boot aid in the healing process in some way?
I'd really appreciate an answer since I am currently not wearing the boot but will if it actually helps. Until then, I figure the plate is it, nothing is going to move, and my foot constantly isn't getting the circulation cut off.
Thanks for the help!
tricia56 Argus2968
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