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My turn for the fed up/ranting post! 11wks post funsion.

Posted , 7 users are following.

Morrismanc007
Morrismanc007

So I had my left ankle fusion on the 17th May and I'm really getting fed up now! I've had 7 ankle ops in 12yrs and this was my only opinion to get rid of the pain.

I was in a cast for 6wks and now a boot for 6wks. Got my next clinic appointment to see my consultant in 2wks and I may have to wear the hated boot for another 4wks! So that could be 18wks in a cast/boot 😕

Can't really get out and about, I rebelled yesterday and drove my car for 30mins and now I'm shocking amounts of pain...it so wasn't worth it!

Painkillers do not work, been on them for yrs because of the surgeries, stronger slow release morphine ones make me feel out of it! Even the nerve pain meds aren't working. 

Since yesterday I've started getting pain on the front of my foot which was previously numb. I've had that many ankle ops so the whole front of my foot is numb. Now even if anything touches it, like socks or bed covers and it agony. 

Trying to entertain my little ones and dogs in the house is getting hard work too, they are off school so hence that want to run around! And then my poor dog looks at me as if to say when are we going out mum?! 

Sorry for the rant/moan...I really try to keep happy and smiley around my family/children/friends but I'm struggling now! Xx

1 like, 29 replies

29 Replies

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  • Rusky123
    Rusky123 Morrismanc007

    Posted

    Oh Morris so very sorry for your pain. I am really fed up myself but I have not gone through anything as bad as you. I wish you well and hope you feel more yourself soon. I have just been diagnosed with CRPS, complex regional pain syndrome, 6 months after my ankle surgery I have developed strange sensations in my leg and foot, I cannot stand anything touching my skin from the knee down, it is really painful and almost like electric shocks shooting through my foot and leg. I am fed up to the teeth with pain killers making me groggy and not myself, and I have refused the nerve blockers simply because they sound awful. I will keep going just because I can.

    Please do not apologise for your rant, you are entitled to a moan now and then. I only have grandkiddies and dogs to look after, I dont know what I would have done if I had to look after my children full time. Good luck to you and I relly hope you get well soon. x

  • sandra81957
    sandra81957 Morrismanc007

    Posted

    Hi, sorry to hear you have had to endure yet another op on your ankle. I'm 16 weeks post op and don't know how I would cope if I had to go through the same as you, so you go ahead and have a good rant and moan, coz I don't blame you. I have many a day where all I do is rant and moan about mine. I know it's not ad bad as some people. But it has made me quite selfish, where I just feel for myself and don't care about what others are going through. Thank goodness it's not all the time I feel like this. Just on my low days (which had been a few days at a time) but are getting less and less now. It must be really hard with little ones around too 😔. Our dog gives me the look too with her big brown eyes but I give her a cwtch and off she goes tail wagging. We have a long haul in front of us ad you have had so much experience with. I started driving about 4weeks ago paid for it in the beginning but it's getting easier now. No way could I do long distance though. Hope your mood changes soon and things start to get a little easier for you. Sx

  • susan_1313
    susan_1313 Morrismanc007

    Posted

    Let it out . Did this start with a broken ankle? I broke my ankle 7-17 , Surgery 7-27 . Follow up 8-7 . I just want to walk on my 2 feet again. I am so sorry you are going thru this .
    • susan_1313
      susan_1313

      Posted

      Hello - I too bought a I walk 2.0 it has worked for me too. Again my prayers go out to you
    • RichardKen
      RichardKen susan_1313

      Posted

      Dear Susan

      We'll done. How did you get on with it?

      Cheers Richard

    • susan_1313
      susan_1313 RichardKen

      Posted

      It helps me to get up , walk around and be hands free . I fell off the crutchs , so I did not want to use them any more. You have to take it off and on and can't sit down with it but an least i can walk and feel somewhat normal. I use a Walker to get back and forth to the bathroom to take the I walk off and for that would be a hassle . Blessings and speedy recovery to you.

    • RichardKen
      RichardKen susan_1313

      Posted

      Hello Susan

      Thanks for your feedback. It's interesting to find out how other people are getting on with their iwalk 2.0.I've found that I needed to add 1" thick and quite stiff upholstery foam type material on the platform to be really comfortable and a pad of the same material to pad the strap that goes behind ones knee.

      I found that to get the best results out of it I had to spend quite a bit of time getting it really well adjusted.

      I can sit down with it on but it is rather cumbersome but I find that I can get it on and off especially off very quickly so that's what I usually do

      All the best

      Richard

    • Morrismanc007
      Morrismanc007 susan_1313

      Posted

      I broke my talus when I was 13 but it was missed off the X-ray, then I just started with pain in my 20s and saw a othro consultant and he told me about the break.

      It then it turned into an osteochondral defect which is basically just a hole in the ankle which turned into x3 over 10yrs. My usual consultant referred me to Wrightington hospital in the uk, it's the hospital that came up with the first hip replacement surgery so they know their stuff!

      I was in so much pain so I was referred to another specialist consultant to see if I was a candidate for a new cell therapy but it was decided that the damage in my ankle was too bad.

      My ankle was bone on bone, had multiple stress fractures and 3 new bone growths where my ankle had tried unsuccessfully to repair itself.

      An ankle replacement couldn't be done because of my age, I'm only 38 so it was decided that the fusion was the best treatment. It hopefully, if all goes ok a bit of breathing space to have a normal life for a few yrs before I need more surgery!

      Sorry it's a bit long winded but that's the short version! Xx

    • susan_1313
      susan_1313 Morrismanc007

      Posted

      Iam sorry you have had these problems

      I am 56 ,never have broken any thing. This is my first experience being off a foot . I keep hoping that when I go to the Doctor Monday he will put me in a boot and I can begin to work on slowly putting more pressure and walking soon . This s**t is driving me crazy. I am really trying to be postive , using this support, watching TV , surfing the intenet , going to the bathroom. Sponge bathing, brushing my teeth, feeding my self, etc . Thank you for sharing your story with me . My thoughts and prayers are with you

    • susan_1313
      susan_1313 RichardKen

      Posted

      I put a folded towel in the knee holder . My friend found squares of lambs wool material that you put over your seat belt strap . I wrapped one square around the strap that goes behind the knee put one square where my knee goes . It works okay and is more comfortable. Light , love and peace. Fast healing sent to you
    • RichardKen
      RichardKen susan_1313

      Posted

      Dear Susan

      I started with similar things but it was only after I got the upholstery stuff that I felt comfortable but what works for one is the important thing of course.

      Hope your recovery gets better quickly. Ankles injuries are tough to get over.

      Cheers Richard

    • tessa98714
      tessa98714 Morrismanc007

      Posted

      Hi there, I'm now 6 months post op and still walking with one crutch and still with pain in my foot and back of ankle.  I've been measured up for insoles to help with the foot pain but they're not ready for 2 months!(wonderful NHS!) meanwhile I'm on holiday in Spain, on the beach with my crutch ( and not the only one  happy to say!). I've managed to hobble over hot sand into the sea and I have to say that swimming is great - the one place I don't have pain when moving! There are little improvements month by month- I can now hobble faster in my crutch! . When I look back 2 months I'm miles better, and slowly getting my general fitness back, but still a long way to go.  Don't worry about feeling fed up, it's normal. Things will get better for all if us I hope! 

    • Morrismanc007
      Morrismanc007 tessa98714

      Posted

      Thank you Tessa for those words, they mean a lot. Hope you are managing on holiday, we are going away with the children at the end of August so that should be interesting!

      I'm kind of lucky with the insoles, Wrightington are pretty clued up about the op as they do so many of them and I have already been referred to get some made. I have had them before but wasn't a massive fan to say the least!

      I get what you mean about the nhs as I work for them but I'll give them their due, after the amount of ops/treatments I've had I couldn't have afforded them all without it...I bet I wouldn't have even got health insurance to cover them! 

      Hope the rest of your holiday is nice and relaxed.

      Claire. Xx

    • tessa98714
      tessa98714 Morrismanc007

      Posted

      Hi Claire

      thanks, and hope you have a good holiday with your family too.   The holiday was actually really great as it got me out of my comfort zone and made me get more active and push myself a bit more. Since I came back there's definitely been an improvement in the pain I've had and muscles/tendons in the foot feel like they're loosening up a bit more.  I'm trying to wean myself off my crutch now and doing little walks out without it.  Although things are certainly not totally healed yet and I'm still working on improving fitness etc. I feel like there's a small chink of light at the end of the tunnel now! I hope you're managing to wean yourself off the crutches too!

      Tessa. 

    • Morrismanc007
      Morrismanc007 tessa98714

      Posted

      Aww I'm so glad you had a good time! I'm sort of dreading it and looking forward to my holiday in equal measures. I've been in so much pain the past few day and the swelling in my ankle is pretty bad but I have no clue why. I've only been pottering around the house and drove the car once on short journeys. Painkillers aren't quite cutting it at the minute and I can't tolerate icing my ankle...feeling pretty fed up and I think I'm in need of a damn good cry to be honest! Xx

    • tessa98714
      tessa98714 Morrismanc007

      Posted

      Oh no I'm sorry to hear that,  I can sympathise totally. I did have bad swellIng initially too and a lot of pain even walking round the house. I eventually saw an osteopath who did some lymphatic drainage on It and that seemed to help. Otherwise I think you just need to keep it elevated as much as possible.  Don't worry it will start to improve eventually and I'm sure your holiday will be great. It's really good just to get a change of scene. Stay positive, it will get better!!( albeit slowly!)  Tessa 

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