still limping after 16 weeks

Hi Julie.

I fell downstairs last January a year ago and I hurt my ankle/foot badly. I went straight to casualty to get treated. I wish I hadn't bothered. The doctor who saw my foot said it was a sprain, it was more than that, my husband had to carry me into the room and the swelling looked as though I had a double foot. I had to beg her to have an xray. In the end she agreed reluctantly. It turned out to be an evulsion fracture of the ankle, a bone had chipped off so it wasn't a sprain. I had no follow up appointment, no cast and no air boot to wear and she told me to walk on it, even though it was broken. My husband had to carry me out because the swelling had got worse. I went back to see my GP and he referred me to see a specialist. It took 8 months of waiting for the appointment and the specialist gave me an air boot to wear saying that I should have got that in the January, if I had my foot would have been healed by now. It isn't and I am now left disabled. I have a permanent limp, I can't bend my foot or put any weight on it. I was fit and active before this injury and I had a wonderful job that I loved, which I can't do now. I am really worried because I can't see a way out of the agony I am in.

I suffered a trimeallor fracture with dislocation and disrupted syndemosis on 4th June 22 playing a game of australian rules football at the age of 42.

1 plate and 13 screws are holding my ankle in place.

I am now at 16 weeks since the injury and 15 weeks since surgery.

I was placed in a cast for 6 weeks then a moon boot (air boot) for a further 6 weeks with crutches and 50% weight bearing.

2.5 weeks out of the boot and I too am limping still. I am seeing a physio and the pain is much worse now then i have experienced before. I have dull ache through to sharp pain and everything in between. My foot is stiff especially in the morning but as i exercise the ankle the stiffness gets better but if I go all day which I normally do the pain increases. I work out at the gym doing bike exercise, walk in the treadmill and use a calf rotar machine. after that i go to the pool and swim for 30 mins sauna for 30 and spa for 20. Its around 3 hrs a day at the gym but i think its helping. I am going to invest in a TENS machine for the pain and hope that assists in my healing.

Im getting better slowly each day and I often have to look back to where i was a week ago and 15 weeks ago. I have also requested a followup surgeon visit with 2 others as opinions as to getting the hardware removed as my self and 2 physio believe this is restricting my full movement. Skin colour is also red and swelling is increased with increased exercise. good calf measures 36 cm and bad 32.5cm so plenty if work to do there.

Also not working as I drive a front end loader as a job and cant climb into the machine let alone operate it.

Wont and Cant give up. We will make it!