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Dealing with major surgery to reconstruct fractured ankle

Posted , 10 users are following.

nick44090
nick44090

On a nice Friday evening at 8:30 pm I took the dogs out and five seconds later I got pulled by the cocker spaniel and within a fraction of a second, my butt landed on my ankle against a solid patch of ice. A week later I had a 3-hour surgery to insert a 4 inch plate and ten screws with one going through two vertical bones. I had several fractures and badly damaged ligament. I am now wearing a boot after five weeks of having a cast. I went into bouts of anxiety and depression. I am taking anxiety, depression, and pain medication. No weight bearing for two more weeks, according to my surgeon. The pain is in the form of pins and measles and aching. I am wondering, will I ever get rid of the pain? Will I ever walk normal. What are the consequences of having a bunch of hardware inside my ankle? I was also told that one of the screws (the long one) has to be removed. What will that do to the level of aches and pain? What are the ramifications of taking norco long term? Any help will be appreciated. Nick

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  • linda66990
    linda66990 nick44090

    Posted

    Have you tried Tylenol for pain.  I'm 5 months post op.  The pain has been all over the place.  I can't take narcotics, so I've only been able to take Tylenol.  It helps for the most part, but I've  been afraid of taking too much of it.  I have found icing and elevating help.  I just freeze my ankle and foot. I also put an ace bandage on at night to decrease the swelling. I find the swelling increases the pain. The swelling will be less when you can exercise your calf, like swimming or stationary bike. I was overwhelmed with cabin fever and I have a bunch of steps to get out of my house.  I would crawl out almost everyday so my husband could drive me around just to look out the window. This is a tough time, but before you know it you will be able move around and feel more independent.  I went for massages once a week and I went to the movies in a wheel chair.  You will walk normal again.  There is some pain in rehabing, but your mood will lift as each milestone is reached.  Wishing you the best!
    • nick44090
      nick44090 linda66990

      Posted

      Dear Linda: This is fascinating. I often ask my wife to drive me around so I can open the car window and breath fresh air. She opens the bedroom windows in the morning before she goes to work. In our situation, we value light, fresh air and getting out. I have discovered after my injury that most valuable things in life are free. Thank God for that. Best regards to you and my warmest wishes.
  • Pix2010
    Pix2010 nick44090

    Posted

    I read a lot on ankle fractures and it said to expect depression... I'm glad that you all have had great support and people to help you!!!

    I have at least had my knee scooter to get around my house. Crutches are much too hard for me, i can use them but I had surgery on my right thumb 2 months before so it hurts too much (also had same surgery on left thumb 2 years before so my hands cause me much pain).

    5 weeks with the cast until I see my doctor again. I guess I will get an update and x-rays then to see how my healing goes. I know PT will be gard since I had tendon surgery on this same foot 11 years ago and it took a lot of work to trust my foot again.

    • nick44090
      nick44090 Pix2010

      Posted

      I also had the cast for 5 weeks. I have the boot now with advantage of taking it off when resting. I agree that depression often accompanies severe ankle injury. Scooters are much better and safer than crutches. I use a knee scooters on the first floor and crutches on the second floor. I use plenty of care in either case. Regards! 
  • beryl49544
    beryl49544 nick44090

    Posted

    Hi Nick

    If there were less dogs I think there would be less ankle breaks!!! Mine occured when walking my dog along a muddy path.

    You will walk again because ike you for the 6 weeks in a cast I thought the day would never come but it has.  There is pain and at the moment it is my Achilles tendon that hurts so much because yesterday I had to post a card and walked with one crutch about a quarter of a mile to the post box.  I am 71 and live alone which has been no picnic since Christmas but I am making slow but steady progress. My friends have been so supportive and kept me from feeling isolated in my village. Being positive is so important and doing things to occupy the mind is a big help too. This chat room is brilliant and I realise I am very fortunate to be making good progress and able to drive again 10 weeks since my operation for dislocation, broken fibula and plates and screws put in my ankle to fix it.   if I am in pain I rest, elevate the leg, take pain relief but continue to do the exercises given me at physio.  Do try to keep cheerful because our injury will get better and there are so many people in the world who have diseases from which they will never recover. 

    • nick44090
      nick44090 beryl49544

      Posted

      Thank you beryl for your encouragement. I think you are doing the right thing by getting out as much as practical. This website discussion has been very helpful to me. And you are right, others may be suffering from worse ailments and we should always be thankful. God bless you and thanks again for the positive spirit. Nick
  • susan85284
    susan85284 nick44090

    Posted

    Hi Nick

    In April I tripped over the dog leash taking my dog down the front steps fractured my ankle in 3 places had emergency surgery I have an 8 inch plate, 2 screws and 9 pins. It's now been 4 months and after being

    Non weight bearing for 6 and a half weeks and in a boot for 2 weeks than into a sneaker it's been a very slow recovery process much slower than I thought Therapy has been helpful I am now walking without crutches but I am still limping we are working on that My biggest problem is coming down the stairs normally foot over foot instead of one step at a time I still don't have enough range in that ankle to come down foot over foot but PT is working on that I still have a lot of stiffness and swelling and achiness I have to ice a lot I have to stretch the ankle a lot just to get it going in the morning especially Don't get discouraged it will come you will notice something new every week that you couldn't do before Its just a slow process I went through the depression too and I had so much fear when it came to going down the stairs Good Luck! Hope this helped

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