my life with an ankle fracture

I'm so sorry to hear this. I know the pain I had with my surgery but most of it was gone within the first 10 days.

I can't even imagine what you've been going through.

I know that I had a great deal of depression the first three weeks. But you just have to take one day at a time. Keep your foot elevated and ice it (as long as that's what the doctor is telling you). Do not do more than you are allowed and try to be as positive as you can.

If you're in such awful pain have you discussed this with your doctor? If not call them and have a discussion.

I hope that you start healing faster please keep me updated.

It is sad to hear about your accident and the way you had it, but it's equally sad when one knows he has caused his own injury, because s/he wore her favorite high heel shoes an icy night out.

I have family and can feel you, it's extremely difficult to have to care for 3 little kids. Maybe you should try and find some woman to help you with everyday routines that have to do with cleaning etc.

I'm also recovering quite slow and I've seen that most people have different recoveries from almost the same injuries. I also see that the vast majority of people eventually heal and come back to their feet, some sooner and some later... but they come back!

So, try not to get so discouraged, although it's very normal to feel down when in such a pain.

For the pain, why don't you take some kind of more 'drastic' medicine (f.ex. lonarid) or even make injections?

I'm not an expert but maybe you have such a pain because of the broken tissue etc around the wounds (f.ex. if you've torn a ligament, like me, you'd expect to have more swelling).

Be patient and if it's comforting, think that many other people, with jobs, families and worries, suffer just like you, you're not alone.

Well you are are not alone, but that is severe. Sorry to hear.

My husband always said you don't need to die to find hell, it's here on earth.

I'm 12 months post snapped fibula with my own ongoing ghastly story, but here's the thing.....

You will have PTSD - POST TRAUMATIC STRESS DISORDER. You not only broke bones, you were in an horrific accident, coupled with severe ongoing pain, and have kids to look After. I recommend from experience that you ask/demand pain management, and a PTSD psychologist to help you deal with this curse.

It will get better, but it will take time. Have you got a knee scooter? Great for mobility if only to the toilet! Deep breathing, distraction. Adult colouring book. Great therapy. Something to take u away from leg.

Keep in touch, people on here are fantastic!

@(*-*)@

So sorry to read about how long pain management was postponed. I broke my ankle on Friday. I was started on pain injections in the ambulance. Got another pain med in ER and then sent home with something like candy compared to what I had been given at hospital. Pain was not controlled over the weekend. Doc in ER gave me a sheet of paper and told me to find someone to do surgery. Monday was interesting to say the least. But was scheduled Tuesday for surgery. Met surgeon that morning and told him about pain over weekend. He said he wasn't certain he could repair that day. What he found when he removed cast would determine.

I too woke with an external fixator. I cried. I was so disappointed. Seems I had some nasty fracture blisters where doc wanted to make incisions, as well as severe swelling. Three weeks later, ORIF surgery. The recommendation to do nerve block after surgery was a bad choice. Seems surgery went long and I was waking up before or during the block. Did not work. I was given so much pain medication I had no emotional control for the following week while it cleared my system.

I stayed in touch with my doc about how I used the pain meds he prescribed. At one point, he said they wanted the pain controlled. Do talk to ur doc about meds. This is hard enough without uncontrolled pain. As Tituscanby1 pointed out, this is not just a physical injury, but emotional as well. My husband and sister were both incredibly supportive and when I cried, which sometimes, was beyond my control, they were compassionate. I have had to deal with panic attacks that seemed to hit at night. For the longest time, I had an unrealistic fear of falling. Not totally gone yet. And by the way, when u advance to weight bearing, you'll need to overcome the thinking you'll break the ankle again just by putting weight on it. This is a long process. I have told people when they ask how I am, I'm not as bad as I was, but not as good as I hope to be.

Best wishes!

OMG!  Reading your story made me feel so bad for you!  The more I read, and seeing what all you were, and are going through, the worse I felt for you.  I am just so sorry this happened to you.  And to think a drunk driver was to blame!  I honestly can't even begin to imagine what you're going through - and not only physically, but emotionally.  

I wish I could answer your question, but I just do not know the answer.  I am certain others will comment and try to give you some of their suggestions or advice. 

I hope that you are able to get some relieft from pain soon.  I am thinking about you!  Please keep us posted.

Beth 

Hey there just checking in with you to see how you at every feeling and how your pain management is going. I hope it's much better than you have been.

I'm sending you positive thoughts.

Hi this sounds like what happened to me head on collision shattered ankle leg broke in 3 places my foot was hanging on only by skin. I woke up with external fixator up to below my knee. My accident was in February 2011. I have endured 4 surgeries over the past almost 6 years. My experience has been very painful. I have got worse every year I limp in pain I can barely walk it's swollen everyday. I just went to another surgeon and the only thing now is to have a total ankle replacement I'm hoping this will happen in the next few weeks. They say it will take my constant pain and swelling away. I have never even got to wear my shoes again I wear open back clogs it's to swollenThe best advice I can give you is get another opinion don't wait as long as I have it's been a very painful few years good luck