Fracture hurting much more 3 days after accident?

Hi all,

I hope ye don't mind me asking this on your post. I fractured my 2nd 3rd and 4th metatarsal 10 days ago, I went to the fracture clinic to get my cast, it has got a bit loose but still feels secure but i am still in a lot of pain and find myself taking the same amount of painkillers as when it happened first. Is this normal to be in pain 10 days after the injury with the hard cast on.

Thanks

Siobhán.

Hi. I hope things have improved as you are now a couple of months post fracture. I'm 4 weeks post surgery having broken my tibia (plates/screws) and my fibula (no plates/screws) and after 2 weeks went straight in to a boot. I was same and couldn't get upstairs at first but managed this weekend for the first time - think I just feel a bit stronger than I did that first week when I couldn't do a thing. I too have a frame as couldn't balance on crutches at all and was useless. I've been taking my boot off daily to get some air to my foot (only for about half hour a day) as I was told I could but am

Anxious that my ankle fracture is more painful now than it was in the beginning...swelling has gone down though. Not due in fracture clinic until 7 June which seems ages away. Feel like have nerve damage to foot/ankle as a lot of numbness. Would love to know how you have progressed as you're a few weeks ahead of me!!

Hi ya.

I as it turns out i broke my ankle 9 days ago. Fracture of the fibular. I only attended hospital yesterday. As prior i thought well hopped was just a sprain.

I was able to function reduced pain meds too. But now since back slab cast is on im in agony.

Im hating crutches like u sleepin on sofa. Its soo depressing. Cructches as so unuser friendly. Im at fracture clinic in a week n im going to have to be a git n argue i think for a walking cast. As i am going stir crazy having rested it already 4 past week n now another

I feel so pathetic right now 😭😢😭😢

Hi Allison

Know how you feel with the backslab plaster cast - I had one for the first 2 weeks and it was so so heavy I could hardly move. Luckily they put me in a boot after those 2 weeks anyway - I am

Supposed to take that off on Wednesday to try full weight bearing with a trainer on - only problem is I can't get a trainer on my still massively swollen foot.

The sitting around doing nothing is a pain at first. Somewhere along the line I just caved in and stopped letting it get me down and have had to teach myself to relax. As I'm normally running around working full time and looking after 2 kids while my husband works away it's been a bit of a culture shock to not even be able to carry my own mug of coffee to the sofa. My husband is currently working from home but 9 weeks in he is really fed up with doing everything.

I hope you get a boot at your next appointment. I stopped sleeping in mine pretty quickly, which certainly helped me get a better nights sleep If nothing else x

Hi, 

i  was just wondering how you were 3 months on.  I broke my fibula last Sunday, I thought it was just a bad sprain so didn’t seek medical intervention but my employer was insistent that I get it checked out so went to the local walk in centre yesterday only to discover it was a complete  break.  So I’m now back at home with a very heavy cast on and some crutches.  I am in so much more pain now than yesterday, I felt like my leg was getting better as I have been getting better throughout the week  I have been living life normally, going to work, shopping, school runs, even taking the dog for a walk, albeit more slowly, so I was in shock when I was told I had a broken bone.  I am now in a lot of pain, I have my leg elevated most of the time but it is so sore still, is this normal?? I am not one to sit still for too long and have already done housework today, cleaned the kitchen, hoovered, mopped the floor and put a load of washing in! I felt like I’d done a couple of hours in the gym by the end, haha.  Im finding the crutches really difficult so just hop about holding on to walls and furniture, but now my arms, chest and good leg ache like crazy ?? I’m quite unfit, middle aged and a bit overweight so I’m struggling, I just hope that this gets easier over tthe next few weeks.  Sorry for the rant, just frustrated and feeling sorry for myself!

Sara xx

Hi Shelagh,

Just wondering how you are doing since your post 3 months ago. I am 4 weeks post surgery today. On crutches, totally non weight bearing. 

Hoping your recovery has gone well!

Hi

I saw your post from 9 months ago and as I’ve just had the same break and surgery as you, two weeks ago, I’m interested to know how you progressed?

I spent a little longer in hospital post surgery than I expected (9 days) due to a heart issue they detected pre surgery but I’m now and adapting to the idea of three months non weight bearing. I found crutches difficult so getting around on a walking frame. They put on a back slab and I will return in two weeks for either a full cast or a boot. My biggest issue is intense pain whenever I lower my leg vertical. Is that normal? It’s ok when elevated but it seems counter intuitive to have it elevated 24/7

How are you doing now?

Fully recovered?

Peter 

Its absolutely normal-when that blood rushes down your leg to your ankle and foot, its intense like you said. The good news is, that eases up as time goes on. You really need to have it elevated most of the day when you're in the first 4 weeks.

Thanks Tricia! As long as I know it’s normal I feel a lot easier about it. I was worried that keeping my leg elevated for so much time would slow the healing or even cause circulation issues. I guess it gets better 4 weeks in? 

How is your recovery now? 

Hi Tara,

I’ve been scouring forums and boards to try and figure out what life holds in the next few months!

I broke my Fibula and Tibia 8 days ago. Required surgery for a metal plates and a number of screws to help fix it. I’m now 7 days post surgery with a back slab on (get stitches out and proper cast on 11th october!)

Yesterday was probably the worst day for pain I had although today feels much better.  I’m the same with regards to putting my leg vertical - instant blue toes and it feels like it’s going to explode!

How did you get on at the fracture clinic? What is your outlook? After what I’ve read I reckon I’ll struggle to be walking before Christmas

Hi heather,

You poor thing - can't imagine how hard it is to break from your tibula and fibula.

Fracture clinic went well. I don't require surgery and I got the cast taken off and an air cast boot. That felt like a turning point. It's day 16 now and although I'm doing the walking motion on the boot I don't feel like I'm putting much pressure on as I'm putting a lot of weight on my crutches and the boot is very padded. Still progress though.

I'm starting working from home in 3 days - hoping that won't be too stressful and I'll be back on my feet soon. I have only left the house once to go to the hospital - getting cabin fever.

How are you getting on heather?

Hi Tara! That is great news you don’t require surgery you must feel much more mobile without the cast on, even if you are still relying on the crutches. Onwards and upwards. A little bit of normality getting to do some work too.  I’m doing ok, swelling has gone down as backslab feels looser (although that means it rubs a bit more!) not taking any pain medication and managing to get a few hours sleep at night - I wake up due to being uncomfortable rather than in pain. Building myself up to get my stitches out next week, not looking forward to that! Hopefully you continue well on your recovery and I’ll be joining you walking around in no time

Hopefully you'll get the blackslab off relatively soon because as soon as I had mine off, I immediately felt more positive!

I can't wait to just be up and out doing things again