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External fixator removal- Is it really painful?

Posted , 3 users are following.

vikki77474
vikki77474

I broke my tibia fibula last April. It was my 14th week yesterday. I Had my xray yesterday and my doc told me to be back next week for removal of my external fixator or rods inserted on my bones.. Im worried and afraid but at the same time happy because at last I dont have to carry this thing anymore. Does anyone out there experience this? I also wanted to hear your story...

0 likes, 7 replies

7 Replies

  • maria91056
    maria91056 vikki77474

    Posted

    Hello vicky

    I too had an external fixator so i know your pain n frustration😈and the put me to sleep whilst it was removed i woke up to have a airboot fitted and i hated the boot soo much i thought it weighed about 10lbs but soon come to realise it didnt weigh that much at all was just my muscle wasted away😊

    • vikki77474
      vikki77474 maria91056

      Posted

      Hi maria! Thanks for sharing yours. I bet my doc will not put me to sleep because as he said he would just do it in his clinic. I hope he would make my leg numb so I cant feel pain. 😔

    • maria91056
      maria91056 vikki77474

      Posted

      Morning vicky

      My doctor said he will take it out in clinic but when the day came their was alot of iffing n butting ..and i was put to sleep so dont be too worried luv...

    • vikki77474
      vikki77474 katie2017

      Posted

      Hi katie!

      It was a horrible experience. The doctor said it wont hurt a lot when the pins are pulled off. He was right indeed. But while the screws were loosened, it was so painful. I could not explain it. I could have it done in the OR if I knew the magnitude. Successfully, I am on a walking cast now and wait for a month to remove this. Hopefully I could walk normally again..

    • katie2017
      katie2017 vikki77474

      Posted

      aw im sorry to hear it was a bad experience, at least you are out of the x fix - and slowly moving on keep up the good work!
  • katie2017
    katie2017 vikki77474

    Posted

    hi i was in a car accident in feb and had a external fix on for four months. i asked the drs to put me under anesthetic due to my stress/anxiety issues. it was so much easier. (not to freak you out) but i went in the room to have it removed whilst i was awake and it totally freaked me out - i didnt know what was going on i had an epidural (never had it before) i couldnt feel my legs and i felt really sick, i asked if i could sit up because i felt ill and they kept pushing me back down so they could carry on with the procedure. they were all very harsh and unempathetic towards me which made me more stressed, anyway i told them i couldnt continue because i was in a pure state of stress and panic. my advice would be to ask to be put to sleep while they do it. it makes it easier for them to remove it and easier for you because you dont have the stress of seeing it/feeling it/hearing it being removed. 

    p.s i woke up with a massive cast on my leg it was huge - they changed it to a normal cast the next day and i began physio! i was so happy to be finally moving on.

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