What is your experience of hardware?

I'm so glad it all went well for your removal. But it does make me shudder thinking about going through more work on ankle, your very brave. I'm just hoping that when I can walk with out any aids that will be the end of all this. Pain and burning today. GRRR. I have a torn ligament on the same knee where I've been on waiting list for nearly 2yrs, and this was the reason for my fall. But the way I'm feeling at the moment is as soon as my ankle has healed I don't think I could go through anything else. It's really hit me for six, my anxiety and depression has gone through the roof. Nothing but disaster since my 60 birthday in January!!! 😢 😢

Sandra, keep positive it gets better each day

Thank you. But it's been a bad. Bad day today. Feeling down and sorry for myself. Just had to shut my bedroom day and stay put. 😔. Sx

Dear sandra...i know how hard it is especially if you are used to doing things on your own.sandra is ok to be unwell....kindly relax and concentrated on getting better...each days things gets better....it is ok stop feeling sad for yourself you are not alone....getting depressed with make it worse ..think about it like a job you want to be done with.if you can move get something to do and sleep as much as you can..it helps in healing.im here.how old are you.

sandra,

i would really love to know how you are doing,,

Hi Siamini, Thanks for your replies. Im feeling much better today. Some days better than others. I was 60 in January, but most of the time I dont feel it. But deffo feeling older since all this happened and has stopped me from doing things. I love DIY and now see lots that need doing so that gets me down as my hubby cant even change a plug!! next consultand appt is on Friday sohoping he will say I can start to do little bits without the boot around the house. It will be nice to just be able to carry a cup of coffee into the room from kitchen!  simple things that get taken away when this happened.  How are you doing  sx

fingers Xsd that you stay pain free. sounds good.sx

Hi Sandrra,

Not really pain free. I got a lot of pain yesterday and have to take pain killer. The docter gave me a very strong one - Oxycodone IR which mde me ver drowcy all day yesterday. It is muc better today. Altogether I only have only taken 4 x 5mg Oxycodone IR. Today, I took one x 500mg Panamax. It is evening here now. I think I don't need any more pain killer. I have very high pain tolerance. 

I have removed the bandage. The foot looks really good - only too cutting area are swollen. I am able to stretch it too almost 180 degrees. 

It is winter here. My injured foot had been hardly been warm up for more than two months, before the surgery. Now the chilly cold feel from the metal has gone. I amso glad that I have made this decision-to have this surgery. It is so worth it, even though it put me back to crutches again.

I believe it will get much better after 6 weeks when I take off the boot.

Cheers,

?Helen

Hi Helen, Do you feel the metel work more in the cold weather? I only feel mine once the boot is on and has been pumped up tight for the support. But thinking i will most prob feel it more once my boots go on when its colder.  My foot not that good today but dont know why? just discomfort not pain. Thank God.  I hope you are getting better each day, i have my next consultant appt is Friday where im hoping he tells me i can sart to do little steps without the boot...sx

Hi Sandra,

Before the metal being taken out, my foot was cool almost all the time since winter. Now there are no more metal inside my foot. The cool has been gone.

My boot doesn't have to pumping air function. It is simpler style than yours. It is still in a very stage. I haven't being outside, since came back from the hospital. I am going to stay indoor until next visit on 4 July.

How long since your HWR?

Helen

Im not getting HWR. Just waiting to get told that i can now stat some light walking without the boot, as still LWB at the mo. Seems never ending. Have my appt on Friday this week. Hopfully get told i can now start slowly but surly  can do more without boot.  sx

That's Ok Sandra. I know most of people choose to leave the hardware in for decades without any problem. The surgeon didn't give a boot to wear after my cast off - six weeks after the ORIF. I was told to be able to have FWB then. However, it took me another 45 days to be finally able to walk without aid. You are doing much better than I did.

Keep positive!

Hi Helen- you did not have to wear a boot after the cast?  All docs are so different!  I had the cast for 7 weeks and the boot another 7 w/ wt bearing.  Anyway- just checking and seeing how you are doing since HWR surgery.  I hope well and that you are healing fast.  I noticed you have a followup appt next week- I am sure all will go well for you!

Hi Jan,

There were only 38 days (less than 6 weeks) after the initial surgery, doctor gave me all clear - FWB, cast iff, no boot. He told that I don't need to come back again, and right away, I can walk normally, maybe need crutches to support for a few days. He even suggested that I can resume my job full-time.

That was not the case at all. I was on two cruches for another 5 weeks with 6 PT sessions, then one crutch for 3-4 weeks, before I can walk unaid. 

The first hospital was a public hospital, though it is one of the best in Australia. But I had never get to see my surgeon. I don't know who he is. I was sleeping during the surgery. When I wake up next morning, that was different doctor came to see me. Twice I revisited the hopspital I got to see two different doctors.

Anyway, they don't care. That was why my GP had changed me to a private hospital. I got to see my current surgeon in March and discussed about the details of HWR. He also told me that he will look up to see if there are other problems. He did find some unsolved problems - a lot scar tissue inside the ankle and damage to the cartilage etc. The plate didn't fit properly either. I think that is why I still felt thapin after 6 months.

Anyway, my HWR surgery went well. I didn't have much pain. I only take pain killer for two days. The ROM is much better. I am still in boot and crutches, not I need them then. I can walk without aid indoor for short distance, if I push for it. But I tried not too - to let the damaged cartilage heal.

How is your recovery? Are you able to walk unaid now?

Helen

hi ladies. update from my ospital visit today. My consultant is pleased with everything. Has given me the all go for walking without boot and told me to trytry try and get rid of the crutches. Even was ready t take the boot away for the disposal if i had taken m shoes with me.  lol  sraight out after with my daughter and son to look for shoes/sandles as non of my shoes at home would go anywhere near because of the sweling. Well shoes shopping was hard, went through eveny sandel and slip on.s but nothing would fit. Came away with a pair of granny dappers...lol  had to get a size 6 one size bigger than normal and couldnt even do the laces up on bad foot. Made me feel a bit dishearted as i LOVE shoes...all the pretty ones had to get left on the racks.... so feeling a little down. but hard work ahead now as not having the support around the ankle is very scary. Swelling and pain all over again, so back on the pain killers as soon as i got home. But day by day it has to be.  sx

Glad to hear you are coming along ok.  Yes- I have been walking w/out any aids since about 2 weeks after the HWR- I developed an infection on the wound but that cleared up fast w/ meds.  The main issue I had was posterior tendonitis and nerve pain.  Both are slowly subsiding and I am actually doing better than I have since the initial injury last July! 

Hi Sandra,

Glad to hear that. Well done!

I had a a pair of Adidas Pure Boost before the injury. I was wearing them when that had happened, actually. Anyway, the pair of shoes were the only pair the injured foot can fit in after the cast was off, as they are stretching and have good support on the sole. I bought another pair of pure boost later on, They are still the only shoes I can wear maybe for the next 12 months.

Yes, recovery journes for everyone are different, as we all have different issues. Our bodies are very complicated. I thought my HWR recovery would be very quick, as my skin has very fast mending ability on any wounds. But now with the unsolved issues, particularly the damaged cartilage, I just have to be patient.

Yesterday, my employer informed me that my one year leave without paid for 2018 has been approved. I am much happier now. I am so looking forward it.

Hi helen. One thing after another. What treatment is on course for the damaged cartridge? Hope its not too much for you to go through. Good news from your employer, at least that's one thing you can now get rest from. Hope it goes well for. Sandra x

I love shoes. And wanted something pretty, but NOTHING would go on my foot. 😢. Not that I look good at the moment as still using crutches. Pain had been BAD. And I'm back on the ZAPAIN. Swelling bad too. I think I was jumping the gun as thought it would of been easier than this. But have to tell myself to slow down it will take time. I just need to be able to walk a bit. And get behind the wheel fir a visit to the sea. 💦 💦. 🌊 🌊. Sx

The surgeon didn't say. I would ask him next Tuesday when I see him.

Yes, thinking of I only need work for another 4 months, then 13 months off, is really help me to to lift my mood. I am a school teacher I add holiday in, so is 13 months.

I went back to work too early after the first surgery, as this injury happened in a school camp. I was covered by insurance, Therefore, I tried very hard too get back as earlier as I can, I feel guilty for staying home but getting full paid. I chose to do the HWR just before the 3 weeks school holiday, so that I can use the time to recover. I have already missed 3 school holidays due to this injury. I think I will listen to the doctor's advice this time - take all the time I need to recover - not to mind what others think. I need to take care of myself - still have 46 years to go, if I live 100 years old - this is the goal too. :-)

How long since the surgery. I was only able to walk unaid after 2.5 months just. Real unaid walk was after 100 days. You are doing very well. But take easy. Don't push too hard. Otherwise it may set you back. Don't worry too much about the look of the shoes for the time being. Comfortable has to come first at this stage in my opinion.

Fell on the 11 operation on the 19April. Just me being unrealistice i suppose. Im so impatiant . lol  Just feel as if everything has gone down hill since my 60th birthday in January.   had a short walk to day and it killed and swelling really bad. Hate the fact I hve to go back on the pain killers  I will now put comfort first  lol  sx

Hi Sandra,

You are doing very well. Much better than the average in our age group. But be patient. You had been push too hard. In our Chinese book, 100 days is a milestone for any broken bones. When you reached you 6 months, you will feel that you are getting normal. 12 months is all the doctors and PT gave to me the time for resuming normal life. However, the foot will never be the same ever again, no matter what you do. Just have to accept it.

To be positive- life is not great now, but it could be worse. I often tell myself I should be grateful that this didn't happen 30 - 40 years ago, so that the foot functioned normally 30-40 years more.

Hi Sandra,

I am not sure if you have been doing this. But I thought I tell you anyway. 1. 1. When your foot sored after walk, put it up and ice it.

2. Put you foot into a bucket of cold water for 15 minutes, before taking shower everyday.

As it is summer in your part of the world, you certainly will enjoy the two things mentioned above. They had been told by my PT.

 

oh yes . thanks Helen, they did tell me that, but as the weather changed here, I forgot all about the advise. But will now start. Thank you  sx