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nondisplaced distal fibula fracture

Posted , 15 users are following.

geniusni
geniusni

Day 0 (04/28/2016), Fell on a very steep concrete slope when fishing. Very intense and severe pain, but managed to walk 

to my car (using my toe) and drove home in pain. Wife drove me to ER and diagnozed as nondisplaced distal fibula 

fracture (~ half an each above the ankle). Went home with a walking boot and crutches. 

(between day 0, I stayed in bed mostly)

Day 4: saw a bone doctor. He reviewed X-ray from the ER and said the fracture was stable. He also said I could put 

weight on it immediately. Went home with the same walking boot. Also told that I could take the boot off when sleep.

(between day 5 and 12, no weight bearing at all. Swelling got better, but bruises everywhere on my right foot and quite 

a lot of pain on the foot and ankle) 

Day 11: I went to the doctor's office in a wheelchair. He was surprised... X-rayed again and no displacement observed. 

Went home with the same boot and crutches. Next appointment 06/06/2016.

Day 14: started to bear weight and felt much better. 

Day 20: could walk a few steps with limp but without crutches. However, most of the time, I did walk with both crutches. 

Pain has been gone. 

Day 28: didn't show much progress compared to previous week. when I walked 2 steps without crutches in the both room, I 

felt a little bit pain around the injured ankle when limped. Immediately stopped walking. laid in bed for a few hours 

and experienced 3-4 times of short, slight pain (each time, the pain lasted ~10-20 second). This really got me concern. 

I drove to the doctor's office. He was on vacation. 

Day 29 (now): laid in bed mostly and in great fear. similar to yesterday, I experienced several times of short and 

slight pain. tried to feel the injured ankle with my hand and the bony place felt a little warm (not sure whether the warm has been there all of the time). 

My next appointment is 06/06/2016. Right now, I am really concerned. I don't know whether or not the fracture was 

displaced.... (I have been on unpaid leave and have mortgage and bills to pay. I am anxious to go back to work. I don't know whether this would put my recovery back a few weeks). 

Any comments are welcome.  

0 likes, 136 replies

136 Replies

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  • Patientholland
    Patientholland geniusni

    Posted

    Hello geniusni. So sorry to hear of your ordeal. Sounds like the injury is evoking so many concerns, both practically and medically let alone what the worry is doing to you emotionally. Rather than wait another week, is there anywhere you could seek immediate medical support and evaluation at your surgery from your GP's Locum or your local A & E. Good luck with it
  • Tituscanby1
    Tituscanby1 geniusni

    Posted

    Find a new Dr quick smart. Have you seen your xrays? Take a photo of Dr computer screen. Ask if there are signs of healing.

    If it shows its healing, find a Physio.

    I had a displaced snapped fibula. Never healed. 100% non union. 4 months later I had bone graft , plate and screws. 4 months later that leg seems to be healing. Never was I told to weight bare at start. You know your body. Knee scooter helpful. I HAD cast at the start. Back slab First. 9 casts and 4 moon boots later, its my other leg with bakers cyst crippled by 8 months of supporting broken leg.

    Write down All your concerns ready to get answers.

    Good luck.

    @(*+*)@

    • patti123
      patti123 Tituscanby1

      Posted

      You have been through so much Tituscanby1. It's incredible! Keep up the great healing!

       

  • ali73023
    ali73023 geniusni

    Posted

    Get a second opinion on all of it. I would not have any faith in someone telling me to weight bear just after accident it needs time to heal. Is he an ORTHOPEDIC MD?
  • daphne23784
    daphne23784 geniusni

    Posted

    Hi geniusni, if I were you I would not wait for my Dr to return from holiday, get a second opinion. I broke my tibia and fibula in February also had surgery, plates and screws. The heat you feel could be from swelling and inflammation, and the bruising is normal. I had bruising from my toes all the way up to my knee, and it takes a long time to fade, in fact I still have slight bruising around the surgical incisions. Try not to put weight on the bad leg at all and don't take the boot off at night when you sleep until you have seen a Dr. You can take the front piece of the boot off when you go to bed and keep the straps looser, this will help support the ankle while you sleep. Also try keep it elevated as much as possible if you still have swelling. Hopefully you are also taking some type of pain meds. I take K-Fenak it is cheap and helps with pain, swelling and inflammation. Hope you recover soon. When you see a doctor please let us know the results.
  • Roach63
    Roach63 geniusni

    Posted

    I also have fibula fracture (10 weeks). Was nwb for 6 weeks then sent for PT.  As stated in previous message the second Dr I saw at 8 weeks would have had me walking in a boot from the beginning.  He wanted me to stop PT bc I wasn't healed. My point is that different Dr have different ways to treat.  

    Dr 3 and 4 ( went to 4th on the advice of my primary dr) have me at PT even though X-ray still shows fracture.  I was told that the X-ray doesn't show the healing going on until 10 or 12 week.  I can walk w/o pain but my foot and leg are stiff from being immobile.  

    I also felt warmth near my ankle.  It is probably inflamed.  Ice and elevate.  

    Get a 2,3 or 4th opinion if you can or want.  But I have learned that the healing process can't be rushed no matter how many dr I see. Only time will tell if I heal completely but for now I am walking a little more each day.  I think you should continue to rest in between short periods of walking.  You will get better.

  • geniusni
    geniusni

    Posted

    thanks for all of the replies. they are helpful. The doctor is a fellow of the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons. I guess he is a orthopaedic doctor. when I visited him, he seemed  confidient that the fracture was stable.  I will try to see another orthopaedic to get a 2nd opinion. The problem is that I am in a small town. These orthopaedic doctord share the same, small hospital...this is the only place I could go to. 

    I have the X-ray from the ER. 3 images: one didn't show fracture ([probably overlapping), the other two showed a very blurry oblique fracture that is not all the way through the distal fibula. For the X-ray taken at Day 11, I didn't see them. After seeing them, the doctor literally told me that he was surprised to see me ina wheelchair.... and he seemed a little angry. He told me that fracture was stable, no widening around the ankle joint. When I had him fill out the Fitness-for-Duty form from my employer, he seemed confidient that I would be crutches free and be working without limination after 6 weeks. 

    Update: today is my 30th day of injury. I have been in bed 90% of the time since my injury. The ankle has been only slightly swollen since 3rd week. It does not matter much that I keep it elevated when I am in bed. It only swells slightly when I stand (with crutches) for >20 min. However, the foot did get very red when I stand. The redness would go away in seconds if I lay in bed. I only took 4 days of pain-killer when I first injured. Right now, there's obsolutely no pain at all. The ankle may feel very slightly warm. 

    • Patientholland
      Patientholland geniusni

      Posted

      Yup. As you are immobile, you have lost the normal pumping action of your foot and calf that would provide drainage. That means that when you do stand all the fluid rushes for your foot. The situation usually maintains until you become more active again. Once I did, at around 10 to 12 weeks, I wore a compression bandage tube, rolled up from my toes to my knee and back down to my toes again. This really eased the swelling and, the more mobile I became and the more my calf started to rebuild, the less I needed it. I used RICE Protocols throughout. REST. ICE. COMPRESSION AND REST. Someone else commented, there are no shortcuts and everybody's recovery is an individual and challenging journey. I knew there was something wrong with my foot at 13 weeks and despite letters to and appointments with my surgeon, he was always dismissed me by taking x-rays, saying all was ok and telling me to take extra painkillers and do more physio. At 18 weeks, I can still. It walk unaided for more than 10 minutes. I finally got wise to this arrogant individual and sought a second opinion. The doctor immediately ordered a CT scan and an ultrasound and I have been diagnosed with Synovitis and will be admitted to hospital on Tuesday for guided steroid injections under sedation. He also found damage to the base of the tibia that may require arthroscopy. So, listen to your body and instincts. Saying that, I was so worn out with worry and pain and immobility and dependency, I couldn't think straight. So, if you are not happy with your doc or your progress, fight for a second opinion. Good luck
    • Tituscanby1
      Tituscanby1 geniusni

      Posted

      Foot back is hard to get going. Swollen sole, foot going red and purple. Get 2nd opinion 4sure. But hey, I could put my foot down on ground- not standing, and flex it as per orthopedic surgeons instructions with a snapped leg 4 weeks before my op. He said it I didn't it would be stiff and hard to rehabilitate.

      It was hard. I was grumpy, I was sore.

      You need a Physio therapists input.

      As well as another Dr.

      Like me , you might need a Social Worker.

      Raises toilet seat, bed lifter - to help you out of bed. Kneescooter- get out in fresh air safely. Get body fit, lungs working.

      After the above, get a chair raised and try to find a hobby. Ps4? Ukelele? Reading? Movies?

      Was always told

      *fresh air

      *exercise- even if good leg and arms

      *water

      *sunshine

      Good luck.

      ©{•∆•}©

    • patti123
      patti123 Patientholland

      Posted

      So glad you figured that out Patientholland. I wonder how long before our foot pumping should work on it's own and all the swelling will be finally all gone...I have heard maybe as long as 12 months? (At 14-1/2 weeks now). 
    • patti123
      patti123 Tituscanby1

      Posted

      I am fair and tend ot protect a lot against the sun, but now really agree with you that some sunshine is really beneficial for bone healing and overall happiness with our injuries. I also agree that fresh air and swimming make you feel so much better too! Basically, moving around as much as possible, as early as possible, as long as you follow the WB guidelines from your doctor, seems to help a lot. What about arm workouts...those are great to pump the blood through the body. Staying in bed gets very boring! Great advice Tituscanby1!
    • Patientholland
      Patientholland patti123

      Posted

      I am at 18 weeks and dont really have too much of a swelling problem.  I do get some swelling if i have been standing for a while.  My swelling however, i think, is more in response to my synovitis and, therefore, is more localised to both ankles rather than an overall swelling due to lack of good drainage.  
    • patti123
      patti123 Patientholland

      Posted

      That's great to know! Thanks. Hope the synovitis gets rectified soon...what a pain!
    • Tituscanby1
      Tituscanby1 patti123

      Posted

      Arm workouts are great. I lost my hand weights to my husband for his broken scaphoid. We are both immobile in our areas.
    • patti123
      patti123 Patientholland

      Posted

      How is it going with your synovitis? What's the process for fixing that? 
    • Patientholland
      Patientholland patti123

      Posted

      Hello Pattie Thank you for your note. I am just going to hospital this morning for sedation or anaesthetic and having guided steroid injections into my foot. The ultrasound shows red spots where the information is and that is where they direct the steroid. Fingers and toes crossed.
    • Patientholland
      Patientholland patti123

      Posted

      Hello Patti.

      Thanks for taking the trouble to contact.

      I am too scared to write this and tempt providence BUT this is the first time in five months that my foot feels normal. I am walking normally with no pain or limp. No need for analgesic or anti-inflammatories or antacids.

      My consultant said to rest it for three days so, I have to say, I am nervous about returning to exercise

      I go for a follow-up in 2 weeks and until then, he said no Physio. I might also seek the support of his Physio rather than return to mine.

      If all is ok, I will then get the orthotic made by my podiatrist

      I still haven't walked barefoot. When I do, I know that will further stretch the calf and Achilles which, again, makes me nervous

      The relief I feel without the ankle pain is both physical and psychological removig the pain and strain on my body and mind

      Again, fingers and toes crossed it will continue if the old cycle of inflammation is, hopefully, now broken

      Thank you again for your thoughtful contact

    • Patientholland
      Patientholland daphne23784

      Posted

      Hello Daphne

      I am too scared to write this post guided steroid injectnd and tempt providence BUT this is the first time in five months that my foot feels normal. I am walking normally with no pain or limp. No need for analgesic or anti-inflammatories or antacids.

      My consultant said to rest it for three days so, I have to say, I am nervous about returning to exercise

      I go for a follow-up in 2 weeks and until then, he said no Physio. I might also seek the support of his Physio rather than return to mine.

      If all is ok, I will then get the orthotic made by my podiatrist

      I still haven't walked barefoot. When I do, I know that will further stretch the calf and Achilles which, again, makes me nervous

      The relief I feel without the ankle pain is both physical and psychological without the pain and strain on my body and mind

      Again, fingers and toes crossed it will continue if the old cycle of inflammation is, hopefully, now broken

      Thank you again for your thoughtful contact

    • Tituscanby1
      Tituscanby1 Patientholland

      Posted

      Lucky you. Great! I can't bend or straighten my knee yet, but I'm not giving up hope.

      ©[°π°]©

    • daphne23784
      daphne23784 Patientholland

      Posted

      I am so pleased for you, as I gathered from your posts you were really having a ton of discomfort. And now I trust it will go from strength to strength. I go to the physiotherapists on the 8th again and I am really excited because of my improvement since I last saw them on the 10th of May. I could hardly walk without crutches, and now I do most of the time. Still have a limp but it is getting better. I do all my exercises daily and walk around barefoot indoors. We are into winter at the moment, so I use socks with little rubber strips at the bottom. Today I balanced on my bad leg with my good leg raised off the floor and without support by holding onto something. Felt great to know the strength is coming back. You will see now that the pain is minimal how quickly you improve. You may still have swelling, but I know that takes ages to stop. Now it is a speedy recovery.
    • Tituscanby1
      Tituscanby1 daphne23784

      Posted

      Wow. Put your best foot forward but which foot?? Off a song. My poor broken leg taking all my weight.

      My day will come!

      Great hearing encouraging stories! Keep 'em coming. Winter here too. Brrrrrr

      ®{•¢•}®

    • Patientholland
      Patientholland daphne23784

      Posted

      Thank you so much for your thoughtful response. It is so encouraging to hear of your progress. I won't start any physio exercises until I see the consultant in two weeks time. I haven't walked barefoot yet so that is the next frontier. Keep in touch Best of luck with your fantastic progress
    • patti123
      patti123 Tituscanby1

      Posted

      You will get there! These darned ankles have a mind of their own and are slow to respond. I have been amazed how everything in our body is so connected....but it will loosen up and you will get better soon. 
    • patti123
      patti123 daphne23784

      Posted

      Daphe- Do you try to stand on your tip toes for 30 seconds at a time too, holding onto something as needed? Can't wait to be able to get the strength to walk across the room on my toes! That will be a great advancement!
    • daphne23784
      daphne23784 patti123

      Posted

      Hi Patti, I can stand on the tips of my toes unaided, but I don't think I will try walk on my toes yet. I limp a bit when I walk without crutches, but it is getting better. I will let you know when I try. Let me know when you do.
    • Tituscanby1
      Tituscanby1 daphne23784

      Posted

      Toe raises are good. I don't care to walk on my toes. Didn't before accident, so no Ballerina ambitions here! Lol.

      Walking with a limp is the least of my worries. Anything better than not walking to me.

      With my Bakers Cyst one side and weak ankle with plates and screws I can take a few steps, but can't bend good leg or straighten still.

      Ha- I walk like a baby who has poked his nsppy/ diaper. Past caring!

      Regression????? ®[°¥°]®

    • Tituscanby1
      Tituscanby1 patti123

      Posted

      Ankle not bothering me. Knee annoying me.

      Freezing this morning. Too cold to get up and light the fire. :+)

      @(*#*)@

    • patti123
      patti123 daphne23784

      Posted

      The reason for the toe walking is it strengthens the foot a lot...but that is for us for later...we don't have the strength to do it yet. I think that might take a while. Will stick with my toe lifts and other stretches for now. I also was walking with a little bit of a limp last week and the week before, but it is so much better this week. I did a lot of these exercises: standing in front of the bed or a desk and rocking onto the injured foot and holding for 5 long seconds, then onto the other. This one exercise helped me enormously at this stage. It gives the injured foot a ton of strength after a week or so. Also, concentrate on walking forward slowly and doing the heel toe rock as you walk. It's easy to fall back on the peg leg type of walk form and that won't loosen that toe area, that really needs loosening. I had a first today. Walked with that lace up soft shoe insert brace and tennis shoes. It was so much easier than walking barefoot. I didn't realize it would be. I took a Tylenol and have been in tennis shoes walking around the house and to lunch all day today. No pain so far. I bet tonight will be hard. I better have a glass of wine to ease the pain. Have a nice weekend everyone and keep the faith that you are getting better week by week!
    • patti123
      patti123 daphne23784

      Posted

      I agree with you Daphne. Seems to happen all the sudden with these improvements some times. Also, I can't imagine not wearing the socks with the rubber strips at night. I know several people who have slipped when half asleep getting out of bed or going down stairs. Can't go down this path again!
    • Patientholland
      Patientholland patti123

      Posted

      Yes. Very fearful of skipping and spraining my ankle. I found the toe lifts too painful and abandoned them but, interestingly, havin started walking up and downstairs a lot, it has strengthened my foot. I just tried to balance on my injured foot and the foot was strong enough.

    • cynthia47607
      cynthia47607 Patientholland

      Posted

      That is wonderful news, so happy for you, and fully understand your elation. Onward and upward! xx
    • cynthia47607
      cynthia47607 Tituscanby1

      Posted

      Dear Tituscanby,

      i think of you as the Bakers Cyst lady. I read up on those at the time you first mentioned it on here as I have a bad knee on my other leg as well.  I know you were seeing the consultant for that as well.  I don't know whether I missed your results of that visit or if it is still to come?  Love to hear what they plan to do to help that leg or is it the case that they won't do anything until your ankle is better.  It is so hard when you don't have a good leg anymore.  Thinking of you and wishing you so many good wishes and loving your undying sense oh humour xx

    • Tituscanby1
      Tituscanby1 cynthia47607

      Posted

      I got an on back on track knee brace. Fantastic. Wear it all the time. Day and night.

      Specialist gave me a cortisone injection in my badly swollen bakers cyst knee. Gee did I swear. As predicted every got worse for 4 days. Now I can move it a little more. Still getting up at night for pain killers and anti inflammatories.

      Went on exercycle for 2 minutes today. Very slow. What's up with your knee? I get everyone muddled up?

      ®{°=°}©

    • cynthia47607
      cynthia47607 Tituscanby1

      Posted

      Had lots of prior surgeries on my knee and severe osteoarthritis changes, only partially flexes and they predict will need total knee replacement in a few years.............over my dead body..............not after the pain of this surgery............will make do with what I have lol

      i get everyone mixed up too but know you as the Bakers cyst lady with the great sense of humourlol

    • cynthia47607
      cynthia47607 Tituscanby1

      Posted

      Just googled the knee brace and they are available in Australia so will get hold of one when I get home.  I also found that Sandpad have their own website and talk about international shipping and suggest international customers email them for cost and availability?  Where are you located. I am guessing the UK?
    • Tituscanby1
      Tituscanby1 cynthia47607

      Posted

      I just put on patienthollands post of my song. Did you get that?

      ACC, A&E and ST John's blues in A minor. Play it on my Ukelele. Play it to specialist.

      ©{°∆°}®

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