re-sprained foot second time, ankle is now unstable.

Posted , 6 users are following.

one week ago i flew downstairs and took a huge sprain, no breaks on x-ray but the doctor booked a scan because suspected some other damage.

was splinted and sent home with a prescription for a f-f plaster when swelling reduces.

the splint was very unstable. 2 days ago i fell from crutches and re-sprained the same foot. was painful and the foot liked like dislocated so i went back to the doctor. the splint was changed for a better one, probably the ligament's damage is worse now.

i feel the foot very unstable, when they changed the splint was very painful so i hope they can avoid movements. can they scan the foot with the splint on and immediately apply the cast?

how long does it takes for the swelling to reduce? i'm constantly with foot in air. 

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  • Posted

    Hi Oscar, after you fell a second time, did they do more x-ray s? When do you go for your scan. I am not sure if a scan can be done with a split on but a x-ray can. The swelling will last for a long time. Keep the leg elevated all the time if possible, because while it is down it will swell. Dont wait too long to go to a doctor, get it seen to asap. Make sure nothing broke with the second fall. Good luck and keep us posted on your recovery.
    • Posted

      no new x-ray because the scan will be in 1 or 2 days.

      i keep the leg elevated but the ankle is still very swollen, hope is ok enough for cast after the scan. should see the doctor same day.

    • Posted

      Hi Oscar, don't delay with the scan. The swelling will last a long time so be patient. Also do the R I C E as explained by other on this forum. Works well. Don't be hasty as it is going to take a while to heal.
  • Posted

    Moonboot might help with compression bandage underneath. Can remove boot to get ice on it. Don't forget R.I.C.E. REST , ICE ,COMPRESSION , ELEVATION.

    Your need to encourage blood flow, so as Dr or Physio for advice on partial weight baring when it is appropriate.

    Get a Walker- I have an all terrain Walker. I kept falling off crutches. Or better still get a knee scooter to give it a rest and get some independence. Be careful. I raced my knee scooter a couple if times and it backfired.

    Soft tissue damage is hard to heal and can take ages. I got that, a dislocated ankle and a snapped fibula. 4 months later I had a bone graft and plate with 6 screws. Nearly 4 1/2 months later I use walker mostly. Crutches with special wide bottom. Look up a sand pan attachnent for stabilizing your crutches.

    Good luck. @(*+*)@

    • Posted

      thanks, but if i try to put weight the pain is very bad. so i only touch down to help balance and avoid a 3rd sprain.

      racing knee scooter sounds great, but would result in fracturing the other leg probably!

      hopefully they will give me the moonboot instead of the plaster.

    • Posted

      Knee scooter very useful. Had mine 36 weeks. Only rip it out on open hospital corridors. Not at your stage lol. Best tool I've had.

      @(*+*)©

  • Posted

    the scan showed that the ankle IS broken. i can't say i'm surprised because the pain and instability have been very bad.

    they removed the splint and the shoe had to be cut. the nurse told me it looked like a fracture so she put some pillows for more comfort.

    after the scan they explained it's too swollen to apply a closed cast.

    then they made another cast-splint wich is very unstable obviously. i asked to put back the aluminium splint with the shoe under the foot but no way because isn't the standard procedure....

    anyway i hope to have the specialist visit and plastering in 2 days finally.

    i noticed that if i rest the foot down pains decrease, maybe a sign that swelling is reducing?

     

    • Posted

      Darn. At least you know. They can put a thing called a Backslab on it. 3 strengthened sides.

      Knee scooter recommended. Crutches suck.

      Hope if you need surgery they get on to it asap.

      @(*+*)@

    • Posted

      Hi Oscar, sorry to see that your ankle is broken. Hope you don't need surgery. I wonder why they didn't put a back slab cast on. If I were you don't put any weight on the injured ankle until you have seen the doctor, also rest with the leg elevated as much as possible, to reduce the swelling. Hope all goes well. Please keep us posted.
    • Posted

      Great advice. I gave my email to you and some others as my messages kept getting wiped and I thought I'd lose support.

      @(*#*)@

    • Posted

      Hi , thanks I got your email. I was at the hospital all day yesterday. They admitted my 18 month old grandson. He keeps getting ill with upper respiratory track infection. Antibiotics don't help. The pedestrian is doing some tests on him as he is a bit worried about the one lung. We are positive that all will go better now with him.
    • Posted

      Gosh, that's sad. At least he's getting help. Are they checking for pneumonia?

      Good luck . Hopefully they will on it down. At that age they can't tell you much. Thinking of you all.@(*+*)@

    • Posted

      Thanks, yes they are checking everything. He had chest x-rays yesterday and blood test. So we hopefully get some results today. The worst was when they put the drip in, it broke my heart, I could not take it and he how does he understand why we will not help him hile others were hurting him. So heartbreaking.
  • Posted

    finally the swelling reduced and the cast is on. i was given something really strong because they had to move the foot a bit. so i don't remember the procedure very well.

    i noticed everyone was very careful because the kind of fracture and ligaments are very unstable, this is the reason why i was in such disconfort with the backslab splint.

    even with painkillers it hurt bad when the foot was placed in the correct position, also it did hurt bad when the cast was molded around the fractures. but i know it's necessary.

    the real shock to me was when they put the "cast sock" up to my groin.

    they plastered my entire leg! for a broken ankle, was told it's standard procedure with unstable fractures.

    if the break isn't stable why wasn't given choice to go for a surgical fix?

    anyway my leg was in agony after casting, but now pains reduced alot. this cast is much much more confortable than the splint, and better than i could imagine.

    but it's difficoult to crutch around

    • Posted

      Fingers crossed. I had no pain relief when they put my cast on. Agony. Broken snapped displaced fibula and dislocated ankle. Hope yours heals . mine didn't. Never had full leg cast like you. Keep those prescribed painkillers going as instructed.

      I had no choice re surgery. Had it 4 months later. Now into 38th week and still not 100%. Probably 60%

      @(*+*)@

    • Posted

      Hi Oscar, a cast up to the groin, I don't even want to imagine. I am very claustrophobic and could not even have a cast up to the knee . Only had a back slab cast, and then would wrap and unwrap the bandages to suit me. ( please don't try this at home, hahaha.) I know my surgeon was not happy about it, but I never took the cast of totally. But then I also had surgery, so that keeps it more stable. Had to be very careful when moving about. Dont know why you were not given surgery. Strange. Keep your leg elevated as much as possible to reduce swelling. Hopefully walking with crutches will be easier soon. Be positive and hope you recover soon.

    • Posted

      i was very surprised to see how much the pain reduced with this cast, hope it's good sign.

      never mentioned surgery in my case so my injury must be less severe.

      only strange thing is that it hurts to move toes, was told to move them enyway once a day.

    • Posted

      when i was in the backslab i had to remove it and replace with an aluminium splint couse it cut off circulation. i also fell from crutches and they changed the splint again. all that movements increased pains and swelling.

      this cast is huge, at beginning i was scared. but now it really feels very confortable. much better than splints. it's very tight though and i must keep the foot up even now that swelling reduced.

      i was also told to stay 100% nwb and can't even touch down.

    • Posted

      Hi Oscar, you must be very careful that you don't bump your foot or fall with the crutches. Try rest as much as possible and elevate your leg all the time , so you keep the swelling down, especially if the cast is tight. How long does the cast have to remain on. Keep us posted. Good luck and be positive.

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