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Fractured my ankle 3 months ago but ankle keeps swelling and is painful.

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susan60212
susan60212

I had fractured my ankle in July this year. Had it in plaster for six weeks, had a review with consultant yesterday. Had another x ray and consultant confirmed the bone had healed,but I explained to him that I my ankle keeps swelling and is painful. Can't walk very far and he said it could be the soft tissue area may have fragments of cartilage init, but because I have a pacemaker can't have a MRI scan. He has told me to come back in 3 months time.I have to have psyiotherapy . what do i do if it keeps on swelling.I don't have much faith in the consultantbreally

2 likes, 383 replies

383 Replies

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  • steph67
    steph67 susan60212

    Posted

    Hi

    I broke my ankle nearly 16 years ago and have had further surgery. Im sad to say that heat and flying will bother you all the time. I have had further surgery 13/04/2015 and still have a massive problem with swelling to the point that I can not wear shoes or even normal socks as everything digs in. Sorry to put a downer on things but ankles are a long time healing and you are not very far in. Go of the RICE and buckets of hot and cold water (slightly painful). Keep leg elevated as much as possible and rely more on your physios and maybe give hydrotherapy a go? works wonders.

    • MsCamboot
      MsCamboot steph67

      Posted

      Hi Steph.

      Can you please tell me why you had further surgery please after all those years?

  • julia1973
    julia1973 susan60212

    Posted

    Hi, I broke my ankle really badly in April 2014 when I fell down the stairs at work. I fractured the fibula and tibia and dislocated it too. Surgery with pins, plates and screws. In December 2014 with ongoing pain I had a second surgery and had a detached syndesmosis ligament fixed with more screws and a bone graft.

    I'm on my feet a lot - I'm a Midwife. Tomorrow I'm going to see a specialist to see whether I'm eligible to get a payout from WorkCover, which is the insurance that workers have in Australia.

    I'm still in pain a lot. It swells significantly. It aches. It burns. I can't weight bear for long periods of time, which makes working really problematic at times. It impacts where I go, how far I park, what I do with the kids. I ice, elevate, have used various tablets.

    It's been so long! I'm so afraid this will be me forever.

    • Pinoyboy
      Pinoyboy julia1973

      Posted

      Julia,

      If you haven't had an MRI done on your ankle, you should push to get one.  I believe it would help in identifying the problems that still exist in your ankle/foot.

      Jim

  • max601
    max601 susan60212

    Posted

    I had also fractured my ankle on Jan.18, 2016 and gone through operation. The Dr. has operated both sides of my ankle. After two weeks stitches were removed but there was still swelling on the foot. Can you tell me when this swelling will subside.

    Thanks

    • Gill1111
      Gill1111 max601

      Posted

      Looking on posts on here most people have problems with swelling for quite some time. My nephew broke his ankle over year ago and still gets swelling especially after he been on his feet all day. He a football coach and this hasn't hindered him. 

      My only advice is to elevate foot as much as possible. Also ice packs.

    • max601
      max601 Gill1111

      Posted

      Thank you very much Gill, I will follow your advice.
    • Pippie
      Pippie max601

      Posted

      Hi max it's still very early days for you I'm afraid. There's people on here who complain about swelling still after six months and a year. Comes with the injury I think. I did my ankle in December ending up with a plate and screws either side. I'm exactly 8 weeks post op and my ankle is so so swollen at the end of the day after doing exercises on it. It's annoying  and frustrating it really is. As the last post said ice and elevate! Good luck 👍
    • max601
      max601 Pippie

      Posted

      Thank you Pippie, its really painful to know that so many people are suffering from broken ankle for such a long period. I am confined to my home, using wheel chair to move around. My ankle is stiff, I wrap around a flexible bandidge on the foot and tied to my chair handle in order to do exercise as much as possible.  Hope it will bring some relief. 
    • sharon180264
      sharon180264 max601

      Posted

      Hi takes quite a while for swelling to subside I'm week 14 post op and it's not too bad now but at the end of the day it swells a little hope that helps
  • nan0201
    nan0201 susan60212

    Posted

    Just want to join the conversation as I too just injured my left ankle 1 week ago, 3 bones fractured and dislocated. ER did reduction and put me in splints but I'm still waitin to see an ortho doc for surgery. The worst part is the swelling in cast I'm only fine when the leg is elevated high. If I put it down to try walking in crutches the blood rushing down to the injured swelling site causes excruciating pain. My family doesn't want me to take pain meds, so I'm bearing it all. I'm so afraid to get off the bed because of the pain. And this is just the beginning. .. I try to keep positive but it's getting frustrating when 7 days into the injury I'm still not able to be seen by an orthopedic doctor because of the insurance.
    • MsCamboot
      MsCamboot nan0201

      Posted

      Hi Nan!

      You have no idea how I feel for you. I had the worse end of the spectrum regarding ankle breaks and I'm now five and a half MONTHS POST surgery and still recovering. I know all about breaking bones with a dislocation and I was given medication which put me on another planet and to be honest I often reflect back to what it would have been like many years ago without pain killers. I for one would end it all. If you are in pain then take pain killers .. Please it's your pain and you can feel this pain. Take them. Your family know nothing about pain. Where are you living ? You should be seen to and operated on. I would demand to see a surgeon. Again I feel for you and I feel your pain. Keep me posted.

    • abigail56273
      abigail56273 nan0201

      Posted

      Hi Nan,

      So sorry to hear of your fracture, I too have a similar situation with 3 broken bones, was able to have surgery after 7days due to swelling and also availability of theatre and doctors, so I can relate with what you are going through, but what I don't get however is why your family don't want you to have pain relief, is there any good explanation to that? Because I just can't imagine going through that pain without it because believe you me, the pain will still get worst after surgery before recovery ( not mean to scare you though) . you need to weigh the risk involved in taking it and not taking it, then make your choice.

    • therese29317
      therese29317 MsCamboot

      Posted

      Hi all and let me say I feel for everyone on this site. I had a nasty fall and broke both my ankles.

      Fib and tib on right ancle with surgery, 23 stitches on inner and outer side of ankle, plate and 11 screws and pins

      Right ankle in boot. Left ankle fib and tib broken in almost the same place as right but drs managed to click back into place

      So left ankle was put in plaster. Seven weeks of absolute hell.

      Both legs now in boots and I actually managed to stand up for a second or two. I know that doesn't sound like much but it was

      A very frightening experience. I didn't feel that ice was for me, I will

      Use compression under boot for extra support.

    • jannie26408
      jannie26408 therese29317

      Posted

      Hi Teresa

      let me say how sorry I am for your injury, one ankle is enough you are having double of most of us here. Your standing is a victory, it will be those small victories that will push you forward. I'm not walking yet but taking a few steps in walker each day and standing at kitchen counter for minutes....it seems hopeful to me now even though I've got a long way to go. Massaging feet and calves each day along with water therapy have helped me. My leg is thin and weak. My foot is at 25% - 44% to go for foot to bend properly for walking. I'm out of pain but have swelling with foot being down more. This forum has been a life saver. I wish you well, people here are kind and understanding. It helps to have this support. Take good care and happy healing 👣

    • Guest
      Guest therese29317

      Posted

      Hi Therese, I only have one broken ankle and that is enough to deal with... poor you. Last year I covered at school for someone who also broke both legs. Nightmare for her, as for u. but she made a good recovery -- took a bit longer with 2 pins to heal but she got there and you will too.

      I am finding chair yoga helpful. Can't do all the moves but it keeps shoulders from seizing up with crutches and helps relaxation, breathing, positivity... lots of vids online. Def perks me up when I'm feeling Fed up.

      good luck with recovery!

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