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

Hi.

I'm post Op 8 MONTHS and walk slowly with a limp and pain most of the time. Have good and bad days. I was walking at 5 MONTHS POST OP without aids. Every break is different and so are our bones. There are many factors to consider. I was at the worse end of the spectrum of ankle breaks according to my surgeon. Take no notice of the ignorant people out there as they haven't a clue. You will get there with time and patience. Just remember we all have our own walk with an ankle break and each one of us is different. Keep your spirits up and it's a slow journey, not a sprint race 😊

Thank you for your encouragement  MsCamboot.  I was following your posts - I can't imagine your injury and the logistics of getting home.  

I saw the surgeon yesterday - he insists all the bones are healed, but I do have quite a bit of bone density loss.  That will come back as I do more weight bearing activities.  So for right now I need to power on through the swelling and pain while continuing therapy. 

He siad that as long as I am making progress I should feel encouraged. I hope that encourages you as well.  

Hi, don't think any of us thought how an ankle break would have effected our lives. I had it fixed in my head once plaster came off things would go pretty much back to normal. Took me ages even to master crutches, even to make that first step. Had forgotten how to actually move my feet. Now five months later, I can walk around the home unaided, but still need support outdoors. Take everything at your own speed, recovery cannot be rushed. There is an awful lot to contend with after a broken ankle. Each day will bring some acheivement, small as though it may seem, you can congratulate yourself.

That's great news Eunique. I'm glad you're making progress as we all are one step at a time. Feel comfort knowing you are not alone and we are all in this together. 🙂

I can totally relate to you Eunique, I'm 5 mos just getting up in walker now and use chair to do my chores. It's long but I'm making friends with my injury I think it helps me cope better.  I celebrate my small victories like wearing my runners full time with comfort now.  I dream about walking all the time. I know it's going happen but when I don't know. Like Gill, I forgot how to walk. Give yourself your down days but try and get through them as quick as you can, it will help your healing to beat this!  Keep on, your doing great, even though you don't think so.  👣 and, don't worry about what people say, unless they've been here they don't have a clue, all here will concur I'm sure......

It's been a long process that's for sure. I don't have a lot of time to slow down because I have a full time job and 2 young kids. My husband works out of town as well so it's hard for me to rest it like I should. I have another surgery scheduled in a couple weeks. One of the screws is getting stuck in my joint and I have a lot of bone fragments he needs to get out. You can feel them through the skin. It's so weird. I hope your injury gets better soon.

I hope you get relief soon, that's too bad about the screw.....my heart goes out to you and all parents raising families with his injury. It's a very misunderstood injury. Take good care as best you can. Wishing you well with your surgery....✨

You are a trooper Tara! I agree with Jannie. I can't imagine taking care of two young kids with this, especially without much help. Good luck with your next surgery! Hope your husband or someone will be there to help you after that. Does it take much recuperation time for this procedure? Are they taking the screw out? Have you thought about maybe taking more screws out when he's in there any way, if you have others? Or are they in a different area? Please let us know how it all goes. We will all be rooting for you!

You have my full admiration looking after two children and having to cope with an ankle injury. 

Good luck with your next surgery.

Thank you so much! He mentioned that he could take some of the other screws out but he didn't recommend it if they were not bothering me as much. He said it's still not healed like he would like to see and it would be a much bigger surgery. Recovery will only be a couple weeks non weight bearing on crutches. No where near what the first surgery was like. I currently have a plate and 12 screws. It's not very pretty! I'm just ready to be back to normal. Unfortunately my husband won't be able to be here the day that I have surgery but I have some wonderful friends helping me with my kids for a couple of days and a friend to take me and bring me back home that day.

Thank you so much!! It will get better with time. I'm just happy to be able to do what I can right now. Most people don't understand the severity of an injury like this. It changes your life.

Thank you! Best wishes to you as well.

Good you have the help you need! Everything's easy after what you've been through, huh? I have a plate and 13 screws. Crazy they put that much stuff in us! Some people have two plates, screws, rods and pins and two breaks. We could open a hardware store between all of us!

Please please help me with pain in my heal when weight bearing, I can manage right ankle but not left, I

am worn down and finding it difficult to get positive

Never have surgery unless absolutely necessary, please.

Trust me, this is absolutely a necessity.

Lol yes we could! My husband has a rod in his left leg from a 4 wheeler accident when he was younger. We are the bionic couple!! It's getting easier just wish the pain would go away and I could walk normal and maybe even run. My youngest is 3. He is a handful and my daughter is 8 and plays softball so we are at the ball park usually 3 or 4 nights a week. Chasing my little one is a task!!

Hi Therese- Please remind me about your accident (what fracture/problems you have exactly) and how far along you are now and I will help any way I can. I found my heel hurt like crazy when I started WB two weeks ago and hardly hurts at all now. I think maybe the heel gets so tender from lack of use (I was in a cast for 7 weeks). It gets a little better every day you use it and then it seems to go all away.  You may want to talk to your doctor if it is really hurting you at a point where you can't do any WB though, and make sure it is not something more serious. 

I can't even imagine chasing a 3 year old around with all this happening! The good thing is they will keep you so busy, and being busy is good at this point!  Those kids must be a handful having your and your husband's gung-ho genes!

Oh yes he definitely keeps me busy!! My oldest plays softball so we are at the ball park most nights. All I can say is, I'm happy that I'm young enough to handle this. I feel like a wimp because I have to sit down so much but I have learned to take it slow and know my body. I'm nervous about surgery next week, but hopefully I'll be back on my feet in a couple days.

It's normal to be nervous. We are all so worried to take too many chances because we have worked so hard to get where we are and don't want to take any steps backwards at this point...but I am sure you will be much better after the surgery. Sounds like you have no choice but to get back up on your feet quickly. Sometimes that's the best way! Good luck and please let us know how it goes!

Thank you so much!! I definitely will. I think I'm more nervous about the recovery time. I fly to Boston the very next week for work. That's what I'm nervous about. Hoping this will help out. Almost 5 months post op. You would think it would be over and back to normal. Sorry for the pity party. its crazy how a broken ankle and leg with completely change your life.

No need to ever apologize. We are all traveling on this road together. There are some scary days, some brave days, some sad days, and some happy days. We will get there...step by step, and we are all here to help each other through and to help carry the load when it feels like it is getting a bit too heavy. Let us know how it all goes!

My surgery was a success yesterday. I'm in a lot of pain today. I had a ton of scar tissue that he had to clean out and the scar tissue had grown around the screw. That's why I have been having so many problems. He cleaned out the bone fragments and the scar tissue and removed that one screw. He also found some kind of congenital abnormalitie in my ankle that apparently made my injury so much worse. I'm hoping that this helps!!

I hope this helps to clear up the problems you've been having. I'm wishing you the best and hope that pain doesn't last too long.

Hello, everyone!  I wanted to thank everyone for their posts and thought I would give an update.   On May 6th I hit the 4 month mark from surgery.  It was like someone hit a switch.  Ok, ok, I am NOT back to normal.  However, I have graduated from a walker to a cane.  I am able to hobble a bit without any aid while in the house.  I do feel that I am getting stronger and the more  I walk, the less pain there is.  So, maybe a light at the end of the tunnel.   

There is a LOT of swelling around my ankle - I joke that it looks like my foot has a goiter.  Ha!  And there is pain.  Simple things are still quite difficult - like walking on grass.  Who knew?

I think that doctors should tell us that this is a very long process.  I am beginning to think that 6-12 months is a more realistic goal when trying to get back to normal.   Victories are measured in baby steps - literally.  My big win last week was I bought a pair of shoes (a whole size larger) but they are shoes.   

Hang in there my friends.   Your support is what has been keeping me going. 

Thank you Eunique!  I keep reading different posts where people say that at the 4 month mark, they felt a huge difference. I am so excited (I am at 12 weeks now and feeling tons better, but still limping around, and am looking anxiously at what things will be like in 4 weeks from now). It's so nice to see forward, by reading posts like this Thanks!

PS- I do think doctors should tell patients that realistically this is a 12 month process, to get to the point where a day goes by and we don't think about our injury. That is what I am finding out from all the posts I read. Hang in there people in the 8th month, I know it can be frustrating, but I think a lot of you will feel really good at your 12 month mark! And keep trying to find a way to go swimming....it is the best!

I had surgery 12-4, home 1-25 from Rehab,therapy home, Hospital, til middle of April when had back problems, that started 2-9-2012.  When back eased up couldn't face starting therapy again, have 6 treatments left. Did exercises at home, went to store, errands, out to lunch, doing pretty good til BIg. HEAT end of May, ankle starting to hurt ( which never really did) and swelling. Up when home and ice can't imagine that this has changed so much.  Doing things but with much more effort. Just very tired, guess will have to call therapy. Haven't been on trying to get handi man work projects done here. Guess ignoring seeing others reactions. Any help please reply, thanks stay cool. Ilinois across from St. Louis, Mo, going to be in 100 next week?????