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Numbness of toes after ankle fracture surgery

Posted , 67 users are following.

olga95590
olga95590

Hi everybody, great forum! I am 51, broke my left ankle on a hiking trip on Friday, had a surgery on Sunday night.

Generally things are getting better : much less pain, can wiggle my toes, but there is a persistent numbness on top side of big toe and  second toe.

Looks like it might be some post-op nerve damage, because it is not getting worse and does not affect the mobility of toes. Decided not to go to emerg, that would mean sitting there for 6 hours before any doc will come to  see me. But if it would become worse, then I would go.

Also : feeling very unsafe with crutches, in particular when home alone. Using a portable wheelchair instead for the trips to the bathroom, getting food from the kitchen, etc.

Any thouhgts or advises on all this?

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  • Mittmel72
    Mittmel72 olga95590

    Posted

    so happy to have found this forum. 48 yo, healthy female here from the US broke my tib and tore a couple tendons 5 weeks ago surgery 2 weeks later (plate and screws). no story, slipped on wet leaves. knee scooter has been a savior as i live alone and only had someone pop by for 15 minutes each day. early days i had a cooler with water and sandwiches by my bed, now can cook a little and get around with the scooter. the pain in the surgical areas is not bad, but the numbness in my toes and heel pain from the cast is awful unless i take my pain meds (percoset) like clockwork. i also had a ramp installed and have a wheelchair just for doc visits. i fell again on the crutches trying to get up the 3 stairs to my house on crutches - no further damage. like many, the boredom is insane. i went back to work (from my couch) early just to get my mind going again. i know not everyone has that option, and its hard to work while laying down, but i had to do something! excited to check out the chair yoga tomorrow!

  • kathy21466
    kathy21466 olga95590

    Edited

    Hi Everyone. Olga, thanks for starting this forum. I hope you are doing well now.

    I am 5 months out from trimalleaolar surgery on left ankle (2 plates, many screws). There was no dislocation and all the ligaments remained in place. Been out of the boot and walking in shoes for 2 mos. Still having numbness in toes 4&5(pinky), and swelling under them. (This started after surgery over a larger area.) Range of motion is not back to normal, and I am having constant pain adjacent to medial malleolus radiating to inner arch, which increases when I do calf stretches or turn my ankle outward. Concerned because my arch is now dropping and I cannot flex my ankle/foot very far toward my leg. DR is very casual - Not sure if he gets my complaint or this really is normal. Feel like I should be getting better (not worse) and able to do PT exercises without stopping due to pain. Suggestions? Thanks

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