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Flying 5 months post ankle ORIF advice please

Posted , 6 users are following.

cynthia47607
cynthia47607

Hi folks,

I fractured ankle 13 weeks or so ago, and as I lay in my hospital bed in agony waiting for the ORIF to repair my tib, fib and medial malleous I kept telling my husband I wanted to go for a 2 week break to lay in the sun by a pool and just chill out.  I asked my surgeon at the 7 week appointment how soon I could plan to go and would June be too soon.  He assured me I would be pain free and fine to travel by June so I went ahead and booked.  

Now or I am freaking out:-   

I am far from pain free, especially nerve pain for which I am taking medication. The numbness, hypersensitivity, pins and needles and burning sensation extends from top of toes up my foot to mid calf which is making it impossible to wear most shoes at present. 

I am making good progress with my mobility despite the pain walking unaided at home and with one crutch or two depending on distance of walk.

We live in Tasmania Australia and we are travelling to Phuket, Thailand therefore it will be 1 hour to Melbourne, 5 hour wait for the  8 hour flight to Phuket!  I can't cancel the trip as travel insurance doesn't cover pre existing conditions. I really don't want to cancel anyway because it has been the carrot dangling in front of me since the injury. We are booked in a pool access room so I can just step down shallow steps in to the pool.  I have no plans to sightsee at all as have been there before but just rest and rejuvenate. 

Can anyone give me advice on how to cope with the 15 hours of travel to get there please?  I don't want to arrive there so wrecked that it ruins the whole purpose of the holiday. Any other advice and tips would be greatly appreciated.  

0 likes, 17 replies

17 Replies

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  • Pinoyboy
    Pinoyboy cynthia47607

    Posted

    If you are like I was, swelling will be a real problem on those long flights. I recommnd you wear a tight sock that reaches up to the knee.  Also, try to get an exit door seat so that you can elevate your foot on a bag or piece of luggage. (The attendants may nott be happy with you doing that though.)  Also see your GP and get him to prescribe a mild sedative to put you out for much (but not all) of the flight.
  • Oopsy_day
    Oopsy_day cynthia47607

    Posted

    Hi Patti,

    I got mine while in the UK from a health food place.

    ​I'm thinking larger health food stores will have it in Australia

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