nondisplaced distal fibula fracture

Update: I am in Beaumont TX. thanks for asking. I am doing OK. Only some very minor pain/ache infrequently (a few times a day, last ~10 seconds each time). Since my last post, I visited a urgent care to get X-rays 30 days post injury. It showed the fracture, non-displaced. The PA told me that it was non-displaced and that I need to wear my boot more and follow up with my orthopedic. Then it was the long weekend. (I have the X-ray, which showed the fracture. I didn't see any callus, which is disappointing. But my ankle/leg can bear more weight, I think)

I just called the orthopedic center and tried to make an appointment with the only ankle specialist. The scheduler told me that she would have to ask my orthopedic's nurse's permission before she can make an appointment for me. what's more disappointing is that the earliest availble would be next Monday. My next appointment with my orthopedic is also Monday. So I will just see my Orthopedic then. 

The situation just made me mad. Maybe need to move to a big city. 

See them both up on same day. ? I had a non union. No change in xrays for 4 months. Then bone graft. Yet they kept telling me to weight bare.

I think deal is, more time its down ,more blood flow, better healing.

The appointment scheduler needs to ask permissions and stuff from my doctor. I decided not to see both on the same day: 1. they will talk to each other; 2. one is not going to talk against the other; 3. my fracture is still non-displaced; it is not the worse fracture nor the most complicated one. My appointment is 06/06/2016. I will ask the Dr. to show me the X-ray and ask him about my healing... I will then make a decision from there. If I am not happy about my healing, I will go to Houston for another orthopedic (driving is kinda long).

Titiscanby1,  I am sorry to hear your situation. do you have pain during the 4-months of non-union? How was swelling? As for me, I have been in bed >90% of the time with my leg elevated. 3 weeks post injury , I only had very slight swelling around the fracture (still have it today). My foot would become quite red when I stand, but it goes back to normal when I sit in bed. The injured ankle does not hurt;however, I do experience some very infrequent, short (<10 seconds) pain (or discomfort, not sure since it is minor) every now and then. i don't know about my healing (need to see callus formation), but i am feeling better. i will keep you updated.

dan  seconds)="" pain="" (or="" discomfort,="" not="" sure="" since="" it="" is="" minor)="" every="" now="" and="" then.="" i="" don't="" know="" about="" my="" healing="" (need="" to="" see="" callus="" formation),="" but="" i="" am="" feeling="" better.="" i="" will="" keep="" you="" updated.="">

dan >

On and off pain during first 4 months. Silly me thought it was healing. Led to believe so. Always red/ purple when I was up. Membranes all ruptured. Fluid leaking. Bottom of foot rounded and tender. Felt hard to put any pressure on it. You don't have to have a displaced fracture to have non union. You need to put in down regularly to enable blood flow on area . Blood flow Paramount to healing. Then rest- elevate. Yours is probably healing fine. Its scary stuff. We have to push ourselves but not to the point of danger.

I hope you have a good luck story to tell us soon.

:+)

I think most people have these symptoms, so there was no way you would think anything different at first Tituscanby. Now you will turn the corner. It will get much better now.

HERE's to everyone's TURN THE CORNER MOMENT

HAPPY FEET to one and all

HERE's to everyone's TURN THE CORNER MOMENT

HAPPY FEET to one and all

Encouragement welcome. My husband down at the moment. His scaphoid not faring so well. Flexibility not there. Stiffening from not moving. Whole arm froze.

Physio said as long as you are in plaster or splint, you'll take at least that long to recover. Pain and swelling may go on for ever. Especially in the cold.

Good news is I could sleep on my side last night. 1st time in 3_weeks. .Bliss.

@(*!*)@

Jealous! I still sleep with my leg in the air at night on my back. Getting tired of this after 15-1/2 weeks for sure!  Hope your husband feels better. How did you both get down at the same time? What a bummer!

Broke mine in October. 3 weeks later he broke his. I feeling OK ATM. But he is certainly not.

Have you tried on your side in recovery position with pillows. Only thing that stopped me once I got the hang of it- 5-10 mins at a time, my back got stronger. Physio had me trying it while still in my cast towards end. It was very hard. Bakers cyst put paid to that. But got 2 hours last night.

Good luck. Swelling irrelevant compared to bakers cyst. I was focused on tight full feeling on plated leg. Still the same but I don't care anymore.

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I seem to wake up with overall thumping pain in the middle of the night unless I sleep on my back with my legs in the air on several pillows (at least 4), and then there is no problem. At least that works fine....just getting tired of it is all, at 15 weeks along. I can hardly wait to sleep normally again. I feel lucky though where I am, so it's just something I need to do at this point.

If it works, its worth it. :+)

Since my post last week (week 4), I definitely felt much better. Now I can walk in the house with a limp much longer. No pain at all. I did have some soreness in the ankle and knee area. I hope I have good news on Monday after my appointment. 

Good luck for Monday. I will say a prayer for you.

Great news. All the best for Monday!

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That's great

Our feet are an ever moving target. I cannot believe the hourly and painful changes that can occur

I have had stability since the steroid injections Tuesday And praying they hold.

Also very nervous about returning to the exercises as they promote so much difficulty and pain.

I really do wonder if getting on with everyday life equally builds the leg and foot strength and Mibility but not in such a violent way.

I am nearly 70 and, whilst active, really don't feel the younger professionals - doctors and physios - have a clue what it is like to be in an older body in terms of healing and recovery.

You are doing fantastic. Since my bakers cyst I really struggle to remember I have a broken ankle. I'm 15 years younger. But struggle mentally daily to come to grips with it all. Having two of us with injuries in house hard.

Hey, did you notice that back before you could start weight baring or stretching, that the brain blocked out the connection to control movements. Kinda like I've had to join the dots to connect up again.retrain the brain. Am I alone in this.

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Hi

Yes you are right about your age & young Dr's & physios they haven't got a clue what's its like for older people regarding healing, ability, fears etc. Seem totally unable to grasp the concept. I'm 58.

For me, I think it was fear that blocked the brain to reflexes. I was terrified. The disbelief that the last time I had not walked as a baby some 68 years ago. That I couldn't walk now and then, when I started, the inflexibility, the pain and the 'limp'. The doctors have no idea what goes in at home for us trying to recover - every hour, every minute, every second. Life on hold and all concentration on trying to get our heads around how disabling this fracture is - to the body - to the mind and, ultimately, we are alone with it as others, who had no experience of this, just do not understand

What about swimming at this point to ease into exercise Patient Holland?

My 8 month old granddaughter is learning to walk, while pushing a wheely toy in front of her, that she uses like a walker. Glad I beat her to walking! That would have been disappointing if not Funny, as I have watched her, she goes through much the process as we do, strengthening her feet and leg muscles every day. I guess it is the normal process.

Swimming has been mentioned by many buy That's something I wouldn't do. The steroid injection has enabled me to walk normally thankfully. Next step will be waking barefoot which I did a bit tonight but notice the pulling pain under the ankle. I just want to let the steroid settle. I do think that once we are armed with ALL the information and exercises and meds, we are quite capable of managing our own recovery. I don't need to go to weekly Physio appointments that are costly and, for me, too much an assault on my foot. Your thoughts.

That's a cute comparison

Haha. 5 months ago, my brother said' oh you'll have to learn to walk again, without the coffee tables and couch you once relied on. He has a great sense of humour. My Grandson at 8 months started the process. At his first birthday recently, he had mastered it. Doing better than me. He was couch free, and trolley toy free.

Good for him I thought. Gave me inspiration.

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Swim therapy is only good if you like the water and swim well. My Physio said it was very hard to help people in the water otherwise. I am a good swimmer, and it my first session I was chaffing at the bit. I started doing dog paddle. Hated the walking, just wanted to swim. Now I can do 300 metres. I use a mask and snorkel to make it easier.

Its not for everyone.

:+)

I think there are plenty of ankle exercises online and it is not necessary to go to PT if someone is super motivated to do them by themselves, but for a lot of people, they are more likely to do the exercises if they set up an appt and go regularly. I think the exercises are super important to get the ROM we have lost back, before it gets too difficult to get the movement back and scar tissue sets in. I have spoken to many people who said they were sorry they didn't do the stretching exercises like they should have, and thought they lost some permanent mobility because of that. I believe if you don't use it , you can lose it. There is no doubt that there is pain after doing the exercises however, and I find massage, ice, elevation and Motrins help me manage this well (2 Motrins a day) . I feel there is just no choice but to do this to move forward and that it has been working well for me so far. My mobility and ROM has dramatically increased over the last month and so has my ability to walk. My PT said in the past two weeks there has been substantial progress. It is not an easy road and I don't feel like walking the walk sometimes, but I had promised myself, as I was laying around in a cast, that the minute I was able to move forward, I would be good and dedicated, and I have been trying to keep that promise to myself. It does get easier each week....keep the faith.

Also I was told not to do breaststroke. I cannot crawl therefore paddle the way they wanted me to so, at the time, there was no point

Well said ! Even if one Physio appointment could be arranged to set goals and suitable direction, I think that would be best. Sure there are plenty of exercises on line, but each injury is unique and a tailored plan with a Physio knowing the history would be a huge advantage.

My Physio visits my house weekly. Twice weekly at the start to get my foot moving and my fears dissolved.

Hope that makes sense.

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You could use a little flutter board and do soft kicking mayhap? I do that too. Head out of the water. Sometimes I put a float belt on and just lightly tread water.@(*+*)@

Don't think I need to. My flexibility is returning naturally since the steroid injection. I just pray it maintains and allows healing permanently. There is always that trickle of anxiety that it might not last and there will be a return to hellish days

Well done you. You are inspirational at a time of fear and doubt.

I hope my recovery post steroid injection continues

It is been the 'turning point' for me.

Throughout, I have done my own physio, massage, scar massage and ice routine daily

I think scar massage is vital to break down the stuck fibers that eventually restrict movement

Carry on your good work to fill recovery

I don't have scar problem luckily. Steroid is helping my bakers cyst. Still a way to go.

;+)

I am so pleased it is going so much better for you now that you have had the steroid injection. As you know I broke my ankle on 18 Feb. Had orif surgery on 8 March. I am now walking unaided most of the time still with a limp and this is also improving. I have had physio twice but do the exercises given to me daily. I am going to physio on Wednesday again, and am excited to hear what they think of my improvement. I was last with them on 10th May. Since then I can walk up and down stairs without crutches, push myself up onto the tips of my toes and stand like that for a while. I can also stand on my bad leg with my good leg raised off the floor unaided. I have hardly any pain now, but the ankle still swells a lot. I have also seen how important it is to walk correctly, and this I learned from picking up and walking with my 18 month old grandson. He was staying with me as his mother was ill and my son works until after 8 in the evening. Because of me walking around with him my knee on the bad leg started getting sore. I went to the local pharmacy, and was told by a Dr. that works there, that my knee is sore because I am walking incorrectly when I carry my grandchild, and at this stage I should try not carry anything that has a bit too much weight. He gave me an anti inflammatory and the knee is feeling tons better again. Hopefully this will encourage you to know you will recover, but do it at your own pace. Yes age does count. I am 59 and have seen some younger patients at the clinic heal so much faster but also a lot slower than me, we all heal at our own time and being positive is a great part of this process. Will let you know what the physiotherapists say on Wednesday. Stay positive.

Thanks for your informative blog. Await to hear outcome of Wednesday

You are so smart to do all that Patientholland!

Fantastic to hear you are doing so well Daphne. I am 2 months behind you & now in a boot & feeling positive about the next few months & walking unaided again. I am 58.

Cheers x

Good to hear from you Daphne. I do notice when I carry my 2-1/2 year old granddaughter around sometimes, it causes my gait to rock a bit more, so I know exactly what you mean. It's hard not to lift them when they are so excited to give you hugs and love, but I guess we need to try to minimize this for a while. That's not fun! I would imagine that's super hard if you are taking care of him so much and at 18 months it may be hard to explain to him that you are hurt and that's why you can't do it. He probably needs extra loving with mama sick too. You are doing such a good job, while moving ahead yourself too. The good news is the babies help with recuperation in a ton of ways, and help you not even think about your foot much when you are with them. It's nice to get back to living for us now, isn't it?

I have read after an operation, scar tissue deep inside can grow and really restrict movement for us if we don't move as much as possible and massage it down. I found this for example: "Scar tissue has the potential to spread in any direction including internally throughout the body. It can also restrict movement or function anywhere in the body from a joint to an organ." There is a lot of information about this online if you want more. It can also lead to chronic pain. This is another reason why moving asap and massaging the tissues that hurt us or are by our incisions (after they are closed and healed) is so important to us.

Ali- Did you have ORIF? Are you in a boot or cast? What was the date of your injury? I am 56 and walking unassisted after ORIF on 2/17. I was worried where you were. It is quite a waiting game. You will be so happy soon. Even if you are sitting in a cast or boot, move around and work your upper boday as much as possible to get the blood flowing and eat well. Get a little sunlight and go outside. Wiggle your toes as much as you can too. 

Affirmative re scar tissue. I practice scar tissue massage everyday to break the adhesions that threaten to debilitate and compromise mobility well after the bone has healed. I was taught by my Physio and it has to be done carefully and skilfully. There are many YouTube videos on this technique and well worth a watch. I do feel it is a vital part of the recovery process

Fantastic!

It's great to get back to living. Today I was out in my garden planting seedlings into flower pots. I love my garden and it felt sooo good to be outdoors doing what I love. We are into winter, but the day's are lovely so I really enjoyed myself and it feels like my life is now returning to normal after all the pain and and emotional time we have been through.

Remain positive it really helps with the healing. When you start walking unaided some days may be better than others. On the day's that are not so good, do what you can and then rest until you feel better, and then all of a sudden everything comes into place. Hope you have a speedy recovery.

Totally agree! I know we may eventually hope to do more, but right now just to be able to walk around, and look normal again, feels so darned good at this point. Only someone who has gone through all this would understand.

Thanks Daphne for your wise words of encouragement. I intend to stay positive as I can see me walking again at some point & nothing will stop me reaching that goal. I'm determined.

Cheers xxx

I totally agree with Daphne. The next phase, after getting on your feet again is stretching those tendons back, that have shrunk substantially. They stretch and elongate a bit each week with PT exercises...it hurts a little bit...but they will stretch back out and heal. You may feel your foot feels numb on top for a while, but that will get cleared up after a while too. Somewhere I once read: first the bones heal, then the tendons, then the nerves. It takes about 12-18 months for the process to be complete.

Well said!

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