This post is to make commenting about broken bone recovery easier, as the old posts, especially Broken Ankle Progress, have so many comments, that navigation has become difficult.
So... new comments can be attached to this post, while you can continue to view old comments here and here.
Update: In the interest of improved usability, commenting on this post has been disabled and comments have been enabled in a new empty post.
new post.
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on Friday, September 15th, 02006 at 6:13 am and is filed under Broken Ankle.
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September 15th, 02006 at 6:32 am
test to see if the comments shows up in the list of most recent ankle comments list.
September 15th, 02006 at 8:11 am
Hi Matt, thanks for leaving the site open. It has helped a lot of us get thru our breaks by being able to communicate with others in the same boat. It lets us vent, get information, and share.
Thanks again.
September 15th, 02006 at 10:11 am
Thanks for leaving it up, Matt, it's an invaluable resource!!
Heather
September 15th, 02006 at 10:58 am
Hello all. I went to the doctor on Tuesday and hoped that I would be told that everything had magically healed. Not the case. They didn't even take the stitckes out. My questions today are related to PT. I should start PT in three weeks.
I have a broken fibula with a plate with seven screws and one long one. I also broke off part of the bottom of the tibia and butterflied some ankle bone.
I'm not sure what to expect from physical therapy. Any advice would be great.
1) How long are the PT sessions? All day? One hour?
2) How many times a week?
3) Does it involve swimming pools? If so, I like that idea.
4) Do they give you exercises to do at home?
5) Unknown stuff about PT?
DOI: 8/20/06
DOS: 8/23/06
...Robert
September 15th, 02006 at 1:04 pm
Matt - Thanks for keeing this up. It's a life line for lots of folks.
Robert - Every doc and PT will work differently and insurance coverage may heavily dictate what you eventually receive. I get 24 sessions per year from my insurance company. For the first month, I went 3 times per week. It was recommended that the second month I go 3 times per week, however I'm just going twice per week so that I can go for 6 weeks instead of 4 weeks. I generally have a 1 hour session - the first 1/2 hour is with the PT who generally does stretching of my ankle and sets up the treatment plan and the second half hour is with the assistant who shows me how to do the treatment activities. I get a list of things that I'm supposed to do everyday. When I first started going, I was religious about my "homework". Now I'm less so, though I do try to do some stretching every day.
I don't have a pool at my PT, though they suggested that I do some strengthing exercises in one. I've never been a great swimmer, so I haven't rush there. Though I must admit, if I had a had an admirerer like Beth has at the pool, I might just splash around a bit!
Kathy, I think it was Kathy who asked the question . . . yes, I'm in the LA area.
DOI/DOS 6/27/06
September 15th, 02006 at 2:01 pm
Thank for having this site. It is strange how important and unique this is when you have a broken ankle. The rest of the world thinks nothing of seeing someone hobble on crutches - I never did. Now that I am trying to condition myself to hobble with a heavy boot, and dealing with all the emotions that accompany this broken ankle and the operation, the loss of mobility and independece, I realize that it is traumatic and brings up lots of other stuff related to dependence, to work, to self image. yesterday I felt a lot of self blame, that this happened because do too many things in too little time, get too stressed and become accident prone. i should have known enough to slow down. I then got depressed. Today I feel better, I am practicing crutching, hobblign (what is the verb for "hobbling with crutches"?)with the boot 5 minutes every half hour, hoping that helps.
September 15th, 02006 at 3:43 pm
O, my husband found this : Twelve songs for a broken ankle on http://eclectica.org/v4n3/palmer.html
so you all might want to see this. Best wishes,
Yolanda
September 15th, 02006 at 4:12 pm
Aloha: Matt thank you, thank you, thank you for keeping the website open. It has helped a lot of us broken ankle bloggers to keep pur sanity day to day. I am almost 12 weeks post 2nd surgery and today, got the go ahead to 100% weight bearing, bone is still not quite healed so it will be another couple of weeks in the boot but getting stronger every day. Xrays confirmed healing, but on a slower pace than I had hoped. I have my 5th PT session on Monday, can see blinking lights a bit faster but not as fast as I would like, so I need to slow down a bit and take it a little easy until then. More posting later.
Thanks, Gayle Nakama 5-6-2006 and 6-26-2005 Moonboot: 8-14-2006 light weight 9-1-2006 and 100% weight 9-15-2006
September 15th, 02006 at 4:30 pm
Hello all,
Quick question - What are trainers? At the risk of sounding silly, are they those Nike shoes? I hear alot of you mention them.
Also, sorry to ask again, but can anyone relay their experience with the time frame of pain after your surgery? I've heard anywhere from 3-4 days (the doctor) to more than a week. Any ideas?
Heather
Ps -- Gayle, congratulations!!!! That is awesome... I'm very, very happy for you. You don't need to hear this again, I'm sure, but after 12 weeks, you deserve it! Best
September 15th, 02006 at 5:43 pm
Yes, another thank you to Mr Bohnsack.
Robert, To answer what is PT, Ill explain with my expeience. I had two PT's. The first I paid for myself while on crutches and now I am using the Insurance Company's super PT(sports PT). the latter is good for 60 consecutive days so I decided I want'd the insurance company to pay for the good stuff and all the equipment the sprots PT has. The first PT just ( don't mean to understate the importance) helped stretch the ankle up and down (rocking) to get some Range of Motion. Then we started twisting and turning the ankle. We did the alphabet and rocking on the floor. When I became wieght bearing we started more motion on the ankle with my weight acting as pressure on the ankle instead of the PT trying to bend my ankle. When I started walking I went to the Sports PT and we moved up to thrusts and heel lifts and more agrressive stuff. Today I walk backwards on the treadmill, balance on my bad leg on an inflatable ball and do semi squats on a teeter toter.
Most of the sessions were one hour even though they were scheduled for 1/2 hour. These PT folks respond to effort. If they see you try really hard and ask for more, they will respond.
Now for the results. I still have issues. I cannot walk too far without one pinpoint pain. I need my cane on long strolls through the airports. It's too early to tell if the pain is the hardware or muscle. Once the PT is over I have to do it on my own and then decide if its time to take the hardware out. PT is not necessarily a nirvana solution.
The pool was independent of my PT. It helped a lot to get the muscles going while I was still weight bearing restricted. I could walk without stressing the ankle by means of the bouyancy. I cannot stress how much it helped me get the swelling down and the muscles begin to tone up.
September 15th, 02006 at 5:44 pm
Yolanda thank you for sharing the poem site. And thank your husband for finding it, please. Some powerful stuff there. But I agree with the writer, I wouldn't trade flying either. And is the darkness a bad thing, or is it wisdom rearing it's practical head along with the laws of physics? The heart? Such a fickle organ.
Peace,
Beth
DOI 7/1, DOS 7/2, WB 7/26, CO 8/8, G2G 9/12!!
September 15th, 02006 at 11:30 pm
Aloha: Another hot and humid night. I go back to the doctor for another reevaluation on September 29......so need to take it easy until then, posting and gathering strength across the miles. Being a 100% weight bearing is indeed a milestone, however, I don't want to take another journey to reach there. It's like the top of the mountain, step at a time.
Art: how are you doing these days? I looked over a Harley at the parking lot of the shopping center, with all of the pain and frustration, I am chucking the other getting riding lessons. I don't want to risk another injury and aside from having some guts, I think my gut intake is minimal now having survived this ankle injury.
Heather: I think each person individually experiences a different level of pain. My ankle still hurts from day to day, pain level about a 1 depending on the amount of walking that I do. I wonder if the pain will ever completely disappear. Take it day by day. Some days you will feel great, some days it will be sore.
Yolanda: can I help? e mail me if you would like gcnakama@aol.com
Robert: you are only 4 weeks post injury. You don't want to become a statistic like me, after 7 weeks having to redo the entire surgery and another 12 weeks off......Please handle with care and go easy on yourself. Give yourself sympathy if you need it and post post post.
Have a great weekend all.
Thanks, Gayle Nakama 5-6-2006 and 6-26-2005 Moonboot: 8-14-2006 light weight 9-1-2006 and 100% weight 9-15-2006
September 16th, 02006 at 12:34 am
Matthew, thank you for the new site. Its so much easier than scrolling for 15 minutes, like my computer made me do. Thank you!
I have a question. I've read discription of other's big boots and I'm assuming I have the "Frankenstein" style since mine isn't like Matthew's, but squared off at the toe without extra room at the end. Plus, mine has adjustment thingys on each side that are big disk-like circles. Ok, finally to my question. Do the boots hurt anyone else's incisions? My ankle doesn't really hurt without the boot on (not full weight bearing yet) but is quite painful when the boot is on, even when I'm not putting pressure on it. I'm wondering if the doctor says I can fully weight bear with the boot on, I don't know how I can do it. The adjustment things line up right with the incisions I have on both sides of my ankle. I'm using the extra padding that comes with the boot.
Any suggestions, anyone else with this problem?
Thanks,
DOI 7/2/06 DOS 7/6/06 50% weight 6 weeks later, next dr. appt. 9/18
September 16th, 02006 at 2:09 am
Hey guys.
I'm 19 years old and I broke (spiral fracture) my fibula (close to the ankle) approximately three weeks ago when playing soccer. I had a plate inserted in it and about 6 or 7 screws. On Wednesday this week I had the cast removed, but I didn't get any of this moonboot, air cast sort of stuff. The doctor just said "don't put any weight on it." Is my doctor just being unattenative or is this normal? I haven't been told to see a physio or anything and I haven't been given any excercises. I go back in 4 weeks to see the doctor to have the screws removed. My sporting career is important to me so some advice would be awesome.
Thanks
September 16th, 02006 at 9:16 am
Good morning all,
Michael, your best bet is to call your doctor and ask him about support for your ankle. Because every break is different in severity, you might not need anything else but to stay off of it. But talk to your doctor, that's the only way to find out for sure. Keep posting and let us know how you make out.
Gayle, Aloha, I'm so happy to hear that you are seeing the light at the end of the tunnel, even though it's blinking. At least you can see it now. Everytime I see a motorcycle now, my ankle responds with a twinge and reminds me of the pain and torment of the past 4 and a half months. It's telling me not to even think about getting back on one.
I wake every morning with my ankle being stiff and uncomfortable. It takes about an hour before it totally loosens up, but it is a constant reminder of what I put it through. I have noticed that when a weather low pressure area comes through, I feel the ankle more. Maybe I should start predicting the weather.
Kathy, I too had the boot that was adjustable. One thing that I had to do with mine was to remove the soft part and reset it between the upright metal bars. It seems like the more you have it on, the more it gets out of place, even though it has velcro to keep it there. After I would reset it, it was more comfortable. I also had to add additional padding to the areas, both inside and outside where the adjustments are, as they were bothering me. I just stuffed a thick sock between the metal and the soft part of the boot to protect those areas. It seems these boots were not designed by someone that ever had a broken ankle, or they might have done a better job.
Beth, glad to hear you are doing so good. You sound like a very busy woman with all the running around you do. My daughter still has her stone, but it's not bothering her right now.
George, how much was your PT when you were paying for it out of your own pocket? I too was limited by the 60 days and really never considered paying outright.
Heather, Yolanda, Eric, Robert, and everyone else too numerous to mention, happy healing and stay positive.
September 16th, 02006 at 9:52 am
Morning fellow human barometers! As Art said low pressure systems really affect the ankle, and knees, and hips....I'm falling apart, when will the sun shine again? My joints have been very stiff first thing in the morning, due in part to lack of exercise. This cold (that seems to be on its way out today) knocked me flat from doing anything but MomCab duties for the past few days. No swimming, no walking, not much of anything but coughing and blowing my nose.
Hi Michael and welcome aboard. Did you have a dislocation as well as the fracture? If so then your injury is identical to mine. I'm a "bit" older than you okay, a LOT older than you, I'm 50 so maybe age is a factor in your doctor's method. I didn't get a cast till 11 days post-op then I had two casts for two weeks each. I began partial weight-bearing about 3.5 weeks post-op with the second cast. By the time it came off he put me in a boot because I felt vulnerable. I used that for a couple of weeks then it was just crutches for a while. I probably didn't need them as long as I used them, he called them my security blanket. I'm a little perplexed by the going back to get the screws removed, is your doc referring to a big fixator screw between the fib & tib, or all the hardware? Others on this site have been told not to weight bear until that one big screw is removed. I'm not getting mine out for another 3 weeks and have been walking for 1.5 months on it. Perhaps at that time your doctor will prescribe PT as your ROM will automatically be increased, or so I'm told. My doctor said that the plate and additional screws will need to remain for at least year, at that time if they bother me then I can have them removed, otherwise they're there forever.
I'm not a doctor, but I do know that young bones heal much faster than old ones. I also know that your doctor is your partner, he's not a God, just another person who happens to have a medical degree, so if you have questions don't be afraid to call and ask. In the meanwhile, do just what your doctor has told you to do until you get some clarification. Because they do, after all, have that medical degree and we don't!
Thanks to Matt Bohnsack for keeping this site up, running, and manageable. There's a special place in heaven for you -- in a corner with all the rest of us broken ankle alums -- dancing divinely.
Hope it's a restful happy, healing weekend. I'm not doing anything but taking it easy and drinking hot toddies!
-Beth
DOI 7/1, DOS 7/2, WB 7/26, CO 8/8, G2G 9/12!!
September 16th, 02006 at 10:07 am
Good Morning fellow breakees
Hope this Saturday finds you all relaxed and as pain free as possible. I woke up this morning and, for the first time since the surgery, did not feel the need to take the pain pills. My parents brought the new extra strength percocet over last night and I wasn't going to take it until someone was at home with me today. I finally had half when my roommate got here and I'm happy to note that it did not make me sleepy. In fact, I have been almost bored today at home! So I got up, grabbed a magazine and sat on my balcony (wearing a tshirt and undies, of course, thank heavens for high balcony walls, LOL!!!) and relaxed. I talked on the phone, have been on the internet, and even just got a flower delivery from one of my very thoughtful co-workers who calls me "footy". Really, really nice. I'm off to go take a shower and, if the recovery continues as well as it has been going today, I'm going back to work on Monday (no pay for days off and rent is next check so...)
Yolanda, I hope you're feeling a little better today. I definitely fought with the self blame for the first few days (why'd you do it, how could you be so inconsiderate since everyone around has to pick up your slack, etc) but the more I read, the more I realized that this could have happened *anywhere* in a car accident, a bad fall while walking the dog, etc... And the blaming will just make you feel bad about yourself. Take that energy and put it into anything positive. Just know that later on you will be able to help someone else who is going through this.
Everyone else, I wish you a wonderful, upbeat day. Michael, please do make sure to get in touch with your doctor so that he can explain his reasons for not putting you in a support. Just to make sure.
Best of everything,
Heather
Ps -- Almost forgot, are the trainers a type of shoe??
Thanks!
September 16th, 02006 at 10:25 am
Heather -- I had filed this in my mental notes to answer and uh, well....I'm old so...I kinda forgot. Trainers are sneakers. Sometimes called cross-trainers so you can run, jump, walk, play tennis, a multitude of disciplines with only one shoe. Sorry I forgot to answer this earlier! They usually call them trainers in the UK.
-Beth
September 16th, 02006 at 11:50 am
Thanks Beth!! That helps me a lot. I have seen Nike trainers here in sports stores and I'm excited to get to the day when I can buy myself a pair!
Heather
September 16th, 02006 at 11:58 am
Hi everyone. Anotherer new day to heal. I hope everyone is doing well today. Beth, I hope you are feeling better and can continue your busy activities soon. Are you in the U.K.? Its gong to be pretty hot here in Southern California today and supposed to be windy.
Art, Thank you for the boot information and the good laugh! You're right about the designer of the Boot! What were they thinking???
Heather, it sounds like you are much better than last week and off to a great start in your new "broken ankle" life. Keep up the great attitude and time will go faster.
Michael, Welcome to the group. I have a 19 year old daughter so I can semi relate to that age at the moment. I think. Anyway, Beth is right. Do what your doctor says but be sure to question anything that doesn't make sense to you. You should heal just fine because you are young and be back to playing sports in no time. What sports do you play?
Gayle, Why did you have to have surgery twice?
Keep positive everyone and know we are going through this trial for a reason.
Kathy
September 16th, 02006 at 6:32 pm
Art, My copay is $30 per visit and private pay is $60 for the whole thing. It's Aetna HMO. The visits are well worth it for me.
Hope it helps.
Incidently to all walkers, I found different shoes cause different soreness. Today my outside of my left ankle hurts. Yesterday it was the inside.
September 16th, 02006 at 7:02 pm
I am thrilled to find this site. It helps so much to read about other people's experiences. I've never had an injury like this before.
I broke my ankle a week and a half ago. I had just finished my four mile run on my treadmill in my home. Somehow I lost my balance and fell on my ankle in the process. I wonder if I'll ever run again! I am finding this whole experience very frustrating and depressing, especially because I live alone and have few people to help. In addition, I can't work until I can drive, which will be at least four more weeks.
I would like to know if anyone has any ideas for maintaining upper body and core fitness.
September 16th, 02006 at 8:43 pm
Hey everyone! I'm still alive and plodding along. I just wanted to share something I discovered today that I know would have been fun to play with during the time I was trapped in my house. It's google earth. You can download it for free, and it's satellite photos of the earth. You can plug in any place or address and get a satellite photo and zoom in or out as far as you want. You can check and see which of your neighbors have pools in their back yards. Or you can get directions from one place to another and it will plot it out on the satellite map, and you can zoom in and follows the road to see where it goes and how it looks. Today, for example, I "flew" from San Francisco to Las Vegas.
Anyway, if you are laid up at home it's one way to pass the time and feel like you are doing some traveling while you are at it!
September 16th, 02006 at 8:46 pm
Aloha all: Welcome Mimi. Yes you will run again, it will just take time. If you have ace bandages you can do light upper body exercises. If you are on crutches though, I would take it easy and work out lightly because you can develop other injuries if on a walker or crutches.
George: Aetna copayments are a bit high. Is this a free choice network? I think a $30.00 co-pay would drive me to the brink of financial disaster. What is your out of pocket yearly cap. Mine here is $2500.00 which I maxed out in May when the first surgery took place. Right now, everything I do, all medical services are done at 100% eligible charge which literally means that for the rest of the year, any amounts forked out by me are repaid back to me......Nice, but I don't want to incur these yearly charges again.
Kathy: my first surgery collapsed. That's why the doctor redid the entire thing post 7 weeks first surgery. I am on my 19th week of healing now with the first 7 and 12 (2nd) weeks (Monday, 9/18/2006). I had a significant amount of depression which we all face but got through majority of it with the help of this website and all of the posters here. That is why I try to be deligient about posting on a most daily basis. If not for this site and the help of everyone, I believe that I would have cracked up...but I feel stronger emotionally after having gone through this broken ankle.
Anyone tried the Phiten ankle brace? I am getting one sometime soon. I think that this ankle brace will be a lifesaver as I have heard nothing but positive feedback from folks who have used it. Website: PhitenUSA.com. It's about $30.00.
Keep on hopping folks, will check back later on tonight. Take care.
Thanks, Gayle Nakama 5-6-2006 and 6-26-2005 Moonboot: 8-14-2006 light weight 9-1-2006 and 100% weight 9-15-2006
September 16th, 02006 at 9:38 pm
Oh my goodness, Gayle, that's terrible. Did your physician give you any indication of why the first surgery just collapsed??? Was it an injury? A re-fall? That's an awful thought; I'm very sorry to hear that.
Mimi, welcome! Sorry you have to join us! But you're in good hands. This site has given me a lot of comfort. I'm sure you will run again though it will take time. Now's the perfect time to lean on your friends some. I've been doing that and it's well worth the occasional dinner / movie that I treat them to for all their care and attention. You find out in times like these who you can count on and who runs away.
Kathy, still trying to keep the positive attitude. I've reduced the pain pills a lot and it helps some to stay awake. Today I called people to come 'rescue' me from the house because I was chained up since I got home on Thursday night and started feeling the darkness creeping in. I'm much better now - went with a friend to Starbucks and then Barnes and Noble where I 'walked' (crutched) around the store before sitting down in the cafe. Then joined a second friend and went to go have sushi. The whole thing tired me out quite nicely so I'm home now and just took 1/2 of a percocet and will head off to ZZZ land once it kicks in. I like the idea of keeping busy during the day and sleeping very peacefully at night. Always loved sleeping and we all now how nice it is once you get into that comfortable position... Yummmy... Thank goodness for the little things, huh?
Hope everyone is well and recovering nicely.
Best of everything,
Heather
September 16th, 02006 at 10:20 pm
Hi everyone!! I stumbled across this website searching for information regarding the walking boot or shoe. My nightmare began 7 weeks ago. I fell in my backyard chasing after my new puppy and broke my ankle. I had surgery a week later after the swelling went down. I know have 8 screws and a plate. Reading everyone’s postings has been very helpful. I go to the Dr. Monday, 9/18, and everything goes as planned I am suppose to move into this walking boot. I don’t know what to expect in this part of recovery. I am a little worried though after reading Gayle’s posting. I did not follow everything exactly the way my Dr. wanted. About 3 weeks in to the cast after the surgery I asked him to make the fiberglass cast a split cast. He didn’t really want to, but he did it. The main thing he stressed to me was not to remove the back, which I have never done. I was able to take the top off a few times a day and put lotion on my leg and let the fan blow on it (California was having a heat wave), which made this experience more tolerable. So, I guess my question to Gayle is why did the surgery collapse? Did you know that that occurred? I am nervous to get my X-Rays done, but excited to be rid of the cast, hopefully. Like most people I have been extremely depressed and bored to death. I seem to get different sensations in my foot, such as tingling, a sharp pain that goes from one of my toes up the top of my foot, swelling when my foot has been down to long and every once in a while a feeling of throbbing in both my ankles, kind of like arthritis. Do others have these same types of symptoms?
This site has been extremely helpful to me and I appreciate everyone’s input.
Maria H.
September 17th, 02006 at 2:39 am
Aloha: back again..Tonight comfortable night here in Honolulu. Heather and Maria: I sustained a slip and fall on May 6, surgery was 2 days later and was healing okay when on June 23rd, I noticed a clanging sound when I moved my ankle, so next day went to the doctor and sent me to get an xray done, which revealed a collapse. Second surgery was on June 26. Can't say for sure why it collapsed, it just did. My medical conditions (lupus) may have had a factor in that as well as being on predinsone for a number of years beforehand and on medications to prevent further complications have made my bones brittle.
Heather: glad to hear that you got out. Try to do so every day, it really helps with morale and keeps you from going bonkers. I was confined to the sofa 23/24 hours a day and nearly went crazy. However, this blog got me through it more than anyone knows. Keep posting and don't be afraid to reach out.
Maria: if I didn't post my second surgery, lots of folks here would not have been so careful. Treat that ankle like an egg attached to your foot that can't be cracked. You need to be aware that if you rush it, you could end up like me. Even after 7-8 weeks post surgery you need to take care as the bones are still fragile. Many people make the mistake of trying to get back to where they were before surgery and wind up taking a couple of steps backwards. I had wanted to learn how to ride a motorcycle, it has long been a dream of mine, but after hearing about Art's accident, at 55 I decided that life merited learning about life without unneccessary dangers. I also want to see my grandkids graduate from high school and particularly my grandson Tyler......plus, my dogs need me. Seriously, they do. And, Maria I am having same post op issues as you are.
University of Hawaii v. University of Nevada Las Vegas: 42-13. UH. Enjoy your weekend whereever you all are.
Gayle Nakama 5-6-2006 and 6-26-2005 Moonboot: 8-14-2006 light weight 9-1-2006 and 100% weight 9-15-2006
September 17th, 02006 at 6:45 am
Thanks for the awesome response guys! I so didn't expect some advice so quickly
Beth: I didn't dislocate, just fractured the fibula. I'm not getting all the scews removed, just the big one inbetween the fib and tib. That comes out in about 3.5 weeks now. Is it painful to remove the fixator screw at all? How long did it take for you to start walking again, because I have my end of season trip for soccer 9 days after it's removed. So I have that many days to be able to walk again. Oh and what's ROM?
Kathy: Thanks for the reassurance. I play Soccer for a club and I need to keep scoring goals to maintain my position in the team. That's one of the pressures of being a forward; You stop scoring, you quickly fall out of favour. I also play Basketball and Golf.
September 17th, 02006 at 7:03 am
Hi everyone!
First i want to say i wish i had found this blog 7 weeks ago! Oh well, thems the breaks (no pun intended!)
Im el and im 18. 7 weeks ago i fractured my tibula. I didn't need any sort of surgery, it was what they call a webber b fracture if that means anything to anybody. Stupid story behind it tho, i was at a 21st party and this guy twice the size of me fell over and took me down with him, which caused the fracture (we're not friends any more)
I went to the doc and he said the physio or the hospital can cast it. we chose the hospital. I had a soft cast put on to allow for swelling (it hadnt swelled much at ALL). that was on for two weeks. I went back for a check up adn found out the cast had been set wrong and the fracture became worse (brilliant!) Thank god, still no surgery!. They removed the soft cast which was way too big and had my toes pointed like a ballerina (no chance of dancing) i was told i couldn't put any wait on, so a non wait bearing fiberglass cast was put on. That stayed on for 5 weeks, and two days ago that was removed!!! So excited. The doc asked me if i could walk and if it hurt. I could sort of walk and there was no pain so he sent me on my merry way. Two days have passed and i am still walking bad so my parents are conviced i need physio, which i think will help. ANy advice on that? I can put full weight on my leg with minimal pain, its purely muscular.
I also have some basic tips for anyone interested, which i found to be a lifesave!:
1. We have a 3 story house, and i never learnt stairs on crutches, too scared. So i went up and down on my bum (became less humilating the less my dad laughed at me) we set up a rope which we hung from the upstairs banister, so i could tie my crutches on and haul them up once i got to the top, and then lower them to the ground when descending.
2. We have floor boards on the 2nd main level so i used the office chair the whole time! Biggest life saver! I could make a coffee and roll back to the lounge room. Make sure it has enough wheels tho so it wont fall over!
3. Dad made a dome sort of thing to put in the bottom of my bed and put pillows under my foot. the dome stopped my blankets from being on my foot, so i didnt have to deal with them pressing down on it.
4. When you start walking again, wear flat shoes with some kind of arch support (i wear orthotics anyway). I find it so much easier and comier.
Hope this helps, sorry didnt realise how long it is! Good luck everyone with you breakages!
September 17th, 02006 at 9:53 am
Good morning everyone! Wow! Lots of new folks joining the club. Welcome to all of you. Whether you've just sustained your injury or you've had it for a while you'll find something for you here. Namely unconditional understanding!!! Sorry that you've hurt yourselves but glad to meet you.
Hi Kathy, I'm in Western PA. I spent many years traveling for work and my vocabulary is kind of weird as a result. Still feeling under the weather. Jukka and I decided to stay home from church today, didn't think our fellow choir members would appreciate the exposure. It's funny, we're Lutheran but we sing in a Methodist choir -- long story there!
Michael, I'm getting my long screw out on the 11th of October, what date is yours scheduled for removal? My understanding is that the procedure is done under "twilight" anesthesia -- a little in your IV and lots of Novacaine at the site -- and takes less than 10 minutes. We'll have a couple of stitches (which will cut into my swimming...grumble) but I think it's pretty straight forward and feels good afterward. ROM is range of motion and that's supposed to increase once that big screw comes out.
Mimi, you're still in a cast aren't you? If not, or if you're in a removeable boot and like to swim, get to a pool.
Sharon M glad to hear things are going well. Thanks for the tip, it's fun!
Gayle's experience made a lot of us slow down and take it easy. There were a couple of times when I almost did something that would have been unwise and thinking of Gayle, I backed off. I'm pretty sure I'm not the only one who owes a debt of gratitude for her sharing her words of wisdom. Thanks Gayle, we love you!
Heather you're right about getting out and about! It does a world of good for body and soul. Besides it's always fun to go to a bookstore even though I'm no longer allowed unsupervised visits. One of my brothers used to manage a B&N and my eldest son works at a Half-Price Books so I can get in trouble there pretty easily.
Maria about the tingles and sudden pains, they're very normal. We've ripped up our ligaments and other soft tissues pretty good and they will take longer to heal than anything else. Every day they're reaching out to either grow back together or shrink to their normal size and once you start walking you may find that you get new and interesting prickles and pains! But as I said, it's normal and that's a comfort even if the sensations aren't!
El, I too live in a 3 story home and traversed the stairs on my bum, till suddenly one day I decided to walk up them. The next day I walked down them and that was that! I wasn't good with two crutches, I used one crutch and the handrail. The rule is, "up with the good, down with the bad" for your leading foot, if you want to try it. Have spotters about though, it's kind of scary the first couple of times. It did wonders for my dignity too since my husband was always laughing or making me laugh. I forgot who it was that told the story of the splinter in the butt (many posts ago) but it was hilarious. Since my house is all hardwood floors, no carpeting, I fully expected that to happen but miraculously it didn't. Can't say I blame you for ending your friendship with that guy - sheesh!
Hope you're all having a lovely day. We are recuperating and taking it easy...ahhhhhhh!
Beth
DOI 7/1, DOS 7/2, WB 7/26, CO 8/8, G2G 9/12!!
September 17th, 02006 at 9:55 am
Sorry El, I see you're going up and down stairs just fine now so, -- never mind!
xxoo-Beth
September 17th, 02006 at 11:47 am
Thanks everyone for your comments. Being able to read about your experiences helps me put my own misery into perspective. I am understanding better what to expect and am learning how you are dealing with the daily tasks that are now so hard!
I am having a hard time with so much inactivity, but I certainly don't want to jeopardize my recovery. All along I've been having a lot of trouble with the big, black, heavy boot. The stiff bar presses hard on the injury (right side of ankle) even when I add the pads that came witht he boot. Also, my foot won't stay in the bottom of the boot. Whenever I get on my crutches, I can tell that the boot lifts the heel out of the bottom. Do any of you have any suggestions?
After 10 days, I haven't even taken off the ace wrap that was put on when I got the boot because it's too painful.
September 17th, 02006 at 12:05 pm
Hi everyone.
Maria: I broke my ankle in three places; both sides and the back. The doctor told me that breaking the back made it a much more serious injury than breaking just the sides and that the back takes the longest to heal, so be very careful not to disturb that part of the cast. Being patient ISN'T easy as we all know, but you need to give everything time to heal correctly to avoid other problems. I for one, am so anxious to start walking some way or other without crutches, but I have to make myself wait no matter what, so please be careful.
Beth: I haven't been to church since my injury because its a large church, very crowded and tons of cars and other activities going on. I know that should've stopped me but I felt like I would be a hinderance to everyone and plus I'm sort of embarrased to be hobbling around with the boot and crutches. Anyway, I'm so looking forward to going back as soon as I can walk crutch-free even with the boot. I'll be starting in a large women's Bible study soon which I'm really looking forward to also. Anxious to see what God has planned for me after all this since I had my own Cleaning Business going (wanted to try it at least), but He seems to have something else for me to do.
El: Take it easy and don't be too mad at your dad for laughing. He probably doesn't mean any harm, but trying to lighten your load a little with laughter. You will be good to go soon!
Gayle: Aren't you glad I asked why the 2nd surgery??? Seriously, you have helped and will continue to help everyone on this site with your experience and you willingness to share.
Hope everyone has a great day.
Kathy
September 17th, 02006 at 3:29 pm
Thank you all for your comments and advise. I wish I would have found this site 7 weeks ago. I am keeping my fingers crossed and praying for a good appointment tomorrow. Can someone explain what the walking boot or show is? Will I still need my crutches?
Maria
September 17th, 02006 at 3:37 pm
Gayle,
Thank you for sharing your story, it has provided so much insight. I am trying to keep patient and you are an inspiration.
Maria
September 17th, 02006 at 5:28 pm
Goodday,
Beth, I agre that the darkness the poet refers to can contain the seed of wisdom at times, especially the type of darkness that the poet about the broken ankle is referring to. Wisdom to take care of self, take time, realize that ankle is more important than work. I thanked my husband for you.
Heather: thanks, you're right that self blame doesn't help. I will not ask if I pushed myself too hard, but instead conclude that I now have license to take a load off. ]
Gayle, thank you soo much, I put it in my addressbook. You have been through so much, that there is probably little related to the emotional, financial, social and medical aspects that you have not already encountered.
Thank you to everyone who helped talked to me to abouw how to do the stairs!!!! With my husband hovering around, of course: Yesterday I went down 10 steps outside. This is how: clutching both crutches firmly under one arm, gripping the banister with the other, and first putting the crutches one step down, then while leaning on the banister I 'hop' down .. like a lead weight!! it was really hard. then I hobbled to the car. Put the crutches solidly under one arm, I got out keys from my pocket, opened the car door and put keys back in my pocket. Then used both crutches to hobble close to carseat, and turn my derriere into the carseat. Then I pulled in the crutches, closed the car door, took out the keys from pocket, and started the car. yes that was good!! Ride!!! then get out and go up the stairs. That required clutching the crutches under one arm, gripping the banister with the other, put crutches on the next step and "hop" like a lead weight to the nex step.
I was totally exhausted and maybe did too much. I really paid attention to day to the take it easy messages. When they say "no weight" that doesn't mean you can't do stairs and drive, but exhausting yourself is not good, correct?
I htought the story of the person who got the splinter in their bum was really funny!
September 17th, 02006 at 5:58 pm
Hello everyone,
I never thought I'd say this but I am *so* glad this weekend is over; I've really been in a funk all day today even though I got out of the house this morning. Crying, bawling, the whole works. Oh and at one point, crying while laughing because my roommate's beautiful puppy kept jumping up on me trying to lick the tears from my eyes - she's such a doll. I'm not crazy about my job but I'm grateful to have one and glad to be going back tomorrow so that I don't have to be inside the house during the day. Of course, I'm sure by next Friday I will climbing walls to get back home and rest so we'll see how it goes.
My ankle is throbbing a little more today than yesterday and I think it is the lack of painpills. Everyone says to drop them slowly and I should have done that but instead I just dropped to 1/2 percocet at night for work purposes. I'm sure that has something to do with this bad mood and the feeling of being slightly nautious, pain level a little heightened, etc... But I intend to stay with things the way they are. You know. I actually came across an article today which said that prostaglandins are what cause the pain after a break, pain pills are what block the prostaglandins. However, you actually need those prostaglandins for your bones to get better! Go figure!! So the sooner you can lose the pills, the better, according to what I read. All I want to do tonight is just eat dinner and head off to bed. I semi-exhausted myself today by walking through Target on the crutches, and then around my apartment building trying to find missing laundry.
And in the back of my head, Gayle, your story frightens me a lot because each pain makes me wonder if I'm loosening something up in there!!
Hope everyone is doing well and recovering nicely tonight. Hope you weekends were excellent and the week to come, even better.
Best of everything,
Heather
Ps -- does anyone have imput as to whether you can drive again before you can walk? I've heard opposing viewpoints on this one!
September 17th, 02006 at 6:38 pm
Gayle N I have no max or mi out of pocket. It's just the copays on office visits and the like and RX. I think it comes outthe same in the end.
Mimi if it hurts dont mess with it yet.
Heather try Naproxin Sodium It worked for me after I dropped the Oxycodone and ICE Ice Ice. As far as driving , if your right foot is not the one broken, it depends on your pain threshold and swelling. I was able to drive alone at 50% weight bearing. Key was using crutches and balancing on the bad foot to get into and out of the car.. The second factor was how long I coudl stand keeping the bad foot in the driving position ( sitting). And why were you crutching through Target? They have those shopping scooters. I did just fine with those, thank you. Plus they were fun. Remember Congress mandated them for us. Yes we are handicapped, but just temporarily.
September 17th, 02006 at 6:40 pm
One more thing! Don't know why I had the sudden urge to post this but I wanted to make a point about bathing. If you do it like I do (about 20 towels and slide the butt into the tub with bad leg hanging out!!!), try to make sure you get in when the tub is empty and get out when the tub is empty. So put the water in after you're in and let it out before you get out. I have this really bad image of losing balance and cracking my head on the tub; If you have to get knocked out, do it when there's no water in the tub at least!!
Okay, whew, had to share that
Heather
September 17th, 02006 at 7:29 pm
Yolanda you go girl! That's really awesome that you made it up and down the stairs and had a lovely ride. Exhausting oneself probably isn't overly good for us, but sometimes it's kind of nice because you sleep so well that night! There's a bright side to everything, sometimes we just have to look a little harder for it.
Good tips on the tub Heather. Your post caused me to think of how long it was before I took a bath (couldn't manage it with my cast) and it was 5 weeks! Ick!!! Once I got my cast off I got a bathmat for the bottom and ironically once it was was wet it was even more slippery than the regular bottom of the bathtub. So I compensated by putting a dry towel under my good foot when I got in the tub (empty) and as you say, letting the water drain out then putting another dry towel under my good foot to get out. It worked really well. Believe me, I understand your fears, I was totally freaked out by the thought of taking a shower at the place I swim because the changing room was all tile floors. I got a pair of pool shoes that solved that problem for me. I went cold turkey on the pain pills just a couple of days post-op, the first day wasn't so great but after that it was okay. Things settled into a dull ache that I could live with.
Mimi are you putting your foot all the way down into the boot when you put it on? I mean making sure your heal is all the way in the back? Then strapping from the bottom up? I noticed that if I was in a hurry and didn't get myself in just the right position to get my heal tight back in there I had the slipping sensation you speak of and everything was really uncomfortable. You're probably doing all these things, but just in case, thought I'd mention it.
Maria, let us know how it goes at the doctor's tomorrow, I'll be thinking of you.
Kathy this experience like no other has taught me that God always has a plan for us and it most certainly ISN'T the one we had for ourselves! Had I not had a broken ankle we wouldn't have been at the pub (the irony is almost too much) where our organist/choir director friend was having his birthday celebration with the choir from church -- yes you read that right -- at a pub! He invited us to come and sing with his choir because he needed some ringers for a big Christmas do complete with a symphony. Funnily, our youngest played in a several church productions with him at yet another Methodist church where he was in the orchestra, so we're Lutheran churchgoers and Methodist musicians! I figure it's all good if we're making a joyful noise and we're definitely making noise of some sort!
Hope all's well with everyone.
-Beth
DOI 7/1, DOS 7/2, WB 7/26, CO 8/8, G2G 9/12!!
September 17th, 02006 at 8:49 pm
Hey thanks for the info Beth! My screw is coming out on the 11th of October also! We both have something to look forward too. However, I'm from Australia, so I might get there before you. Then again it is the Australian healthcare system...
I have a fairly good ROM right now. I can move my ankle about 3/4 as much as the other one with no pain. I can't wait for the screw to come out. "Twilight anesthesia" sounds great. Are you able to comprehend what's going on whilst on it?
I'm so looking forward to throwing away the crutches! I've actually enjoyed having them a little bit. I goto University in the centre of Melbourne and I've been getting around the city entirely on them. That means racing to trainstops, getting on trams, lots crutch racing and moving very long distances on them. It's built up my upper body strength substatially. I hope I can maintain this muscle after I get off crutches.
Hmph, it's a beautiful day outside and once again I'm stuck inside with a broken ankle and homework, bah.
www.myspace.com/clarky_scored
September 17th, 02006 at 10:30 pm
Question regarding crutches. My hands hurt after having used crutches for several weeks now. I use the standard hospital issued aluminum crutches. The handles seem very small and squishy to me. I'm 6'2" and 190 lbs. Has anyone found a more ergonimic hand grip that can replace the standard issue hand grip?
I'm looking forward to getting my stitches out on Tuesday.
My only worthwhile advice: Get a small fanny pack. They're great for carrying drinks (careful about spilling) and other items.
DOI: 8/20/06
DOS: 8/23/06
Thanks,
...Robert
September 17th, 02006 at 10:53 pm
I bought some carwash sponges and taped them around the handles. Makes things a little bit easier...
September 17th, 02006 at 11:44 pm
Robert - In terms of the hard handles on the crutches, I used a selt belt protector pad and cut it the length of the handle. The nice thing about those is that they fasten on with velcro, so you can take it off easily if you want to. After a while, my hands became callosed and I took them off.
Heather in terms of bathing, I did it initially with the broken leg hanging out. Then someone recommended that I get a flat board to go over the tub. That really helped because you don't have to dangle it over the side. As soon as I would get out, I would immediately, cover up the top of the cast, so no water would drip inside. Occassionally, I would get a bit of condensation that would wet the cotton inside of the cast from the steam coming up from the tub. If I didn't dry it quickly it would begin to itch. When that would happen, I would just get the blow dryer out and try to dry the cotton part as well as I could.
Heather, I was driving before I could walk. I learned to drive with my left foot, which wasn't the easist thing, but it helped me get around. I would tuck my right foot, under my left leg and then reach over with my left to the gas pedal and break. Fortunately I am left handed and footed (if that's a real word), so I had more coordination that I might otherwise have had. Before I did this, I had a friend take me out to an empty parking lot to practice for a good while, so I could get the hand of it. Even still, I would never go more than a mile or two until I got my cast off. As soon as I got the cast off, I began driving. Putting on the brake was hard at first, because I just didn't have much power in my foot. Whenever I got to a red light, I would just put the car in park or neutral, to give my foot a rest. Eventually, the power in my left came back and at about 4 weeks after having the cast off, I was back to driving as long as I wanted to without problems.
And oh, everyone, the splinter in the butt story was mine. Nice to see everyone still gets a chuckle out of it, but it was no laughing matter when it happened. And while it was bad getting the splinter, it was much worse having to ask someone to pull it out!. It cured me of going up and down the stairs on my butt, for good!
So many new people on here. I guess as long as people have ankles, people will have broken ankles.
Take care everyone.
DOI/DOS 6/27/61; Cast off 8/7/06
September 18th, 02006 at 4:12 am
Aloha all: Thanks for all the words of wisdom and appreciation. Just returned from Wal Mart, they have new electric scooters, makes for a much easier and pleasant shopping experience.
Robert: I suggest that you look into some ace bandages to wrap around the handle. Measure your crutch handle and make sure you have enough length to go around the crutch. You can easily sew them on with a needle and thread or have someone help you with that. The tighter weave ones makes for longer lasting comfort.
BTW: I am still showering with my $6.00 plastic stool that I got from a building supply store about a year ago. You can easily get on and off and I would recommend the drycast showering device. (drycast.com). Folks there are a lot of "incidentials" that make your life easier when you get a broken ankle but remember that these come sometimes with a price.......like everything else in life. We all make progress at different speeds, "different strokes for different folks" that is what makes us so unique and set apart. Life as a handicapped person really sucks, it really does. Life is full of inconsiderate people however, positive things come from seeing life in a different light like how we are all doing at one point or another, and I promised myself, I would never ever get irritated at someone who is handicapped, but allow them the patience and understanding for that one moment that our paths do cross. If we remember that, life for all, and this world, might just be a better for all.
Mimi: pad it with socks, an old soft towel, even a cellulose sponge would help just to keep the cushioning in. I am now using a neophrene brace during the night when I use my darth vader boot but I am getting the Phiten ankle brace tomorrow if I can make it to the store on time. I have heard that that is about the best ankle brace on the market after you are really POST injury to help with the pain and you can always use it afterwards. Something about the Titanium and method that is used to make it, only time will tell. Rather price at about $30.00.
Hey folks: don't throw away the crutches and walkers that we get with our injuries. Clean them up and donate them to the Shriners or a nursing home. You would be surprised at how much appreciated it is. Even those aircast boots can be reused in other countries, look for medical missions that would accept them, I wash my aircast about every 3 days and use the darth vader boot (got on ebay for $6.00) to sleep at night.
Thank you all for your help and comfort through the miles. Malama pono!
Gayle Nakama 5-6-2006 and 6-26-2005 Moonboot: 8-14-2006 light weight 9-1-2006 and 100% weight 9-15-2006 5th PT tomorrow 9/18/2006
September 18th, 02006 at 9:13 am
Hey everybody!
I haven't checked in for about a week and so many new people! Best of luck to all the newbies..I know those first few weeks seem like eternities, but today is my 7 week anniversary of my break/casting/ordeal and i'm doing great. I'm actually back at my internship in new york where I haven't been in 7 weeks...so it is nice to see some familiar faces and people who actually are happy to see me (can't lie...my mom is getting a bit tired of fetching water and meals and fixing up my showers for me). I'm still looking for an apartment in the city b/c i moved out of mine when i broke my ankle, knowing the city is not the right place to heal up. too many stairs and too much walking. too bad now that the market is so tight that my roommate and i can't find a thing! so i've been driving to school monday=wednesday and going to work on thursdays. hopefully after my doctors appoint next monday (9/25) i will be able to lose the crutches.
I know everyone's healing time is different..but for the fell brokens with a walking bootie. How long were you each on the crutches with the bootie? I feel like I'm not depending on them as much as I was a week ago, so I'm hoping that in a week my doc will just tell me that I can go crutch-less. it's been 7 loooong weeks on these poles..and i'm so tired of them! my shoulders and arms are, however, looking great!
Gayle-I saw that your doc allowed you to be 100% weight baring 2 weeks after you were doing partial weight. How was that transition? I'm keeping my fingers crossed for a good report and the go ahead to lose the crutches. I don't think its walking with them that is such an issue..its more that they keep falling and scaring the crap out of people in my classes and at work! i got a bungie cord to keep them together now!
the reason i am in the city right now is because i'm dog sitting. dog sitting with crutches and a healed ankle = not so easy. the dog (10 lb poodle) is terrified of my crutches so whenever i walk towards her she runs away
i try to cuddle with her while im laying down without the bootie on so she knows that i'm not a hobbling enemy!!!
As for shower/sleeping/stairs tips..El had some pretty good ones! I never thought about a rope to get the crutches up the stairs! I usually just screamed "MOOOOOM" or "DAAAAD" when i got to the top. I did use my butt alot..as for showering..i think i'veshared this before..but the best way I have found to shower was similar to gayle's method. My mom ran out to Bed bath and beyond and got me a $20 little bench for the shower that I'm assuming is for an elderly person...but I really may never get rid of it..i love it! when i had my fiberglass cast on, i just hung that foot out the side of the tub and wrapped the shower liner around it..no water ever got in! my mom also ran out and grabbed one of those shower heads taht is removable..so taht i was able to get the shampoo out of my hair and rinse off my body while having full control.
ahh..can you tel i'm bored at my internship? gotta getback to work! happy healing and i promise all the newbies..i was a mess and i'm much less of a mess 7 weeks later. keep your heads up and laugh a lot. that's what i did.
oh yea..and get netflix..that saved my life.
xoxo
jeanette
September 18th, 02006 at 9:17 am
Hi everyone! I am getting ready to head out to the doctor. I am a bit anxious not knowing what to expect. I wish it was just throw down these crutches and walk again, but I don't think it is going to happen that fast.
I used Heather's technique for taking a bath. It was my husbands idea and he had to help me at first. It is not a pretty sight watching a naked person getting around on crutches, it was a humiliating and humbling experience at the same time, but now I can do it all by myself. I regained some of my indepenence. My tub does not have the shower enclosure on it, so it makes it easy to sit on the side and swing myself over. I can even wash my hair by laying in the tub. I remember what a great day that was, before it was my husband washing my hair in the kitchen sink.
Heather: Don't feel bad about crying out of frustration and anger, it helps to release the emotions. I probably cried at least once a week since the accident. I even cried at the kindness of some people, because the ones that I thought didn't care actually were the ones who came forward and took care of me, while others that I expected more of didn't step up. Just as Gayle was saying this experience makes you more aware of what disabled people have to got through for the rest of their lives. Also, I believe that any of the heavire medications can leave you feeling depressed. I am at the point now where I take 2 tylenol every 4 hours, one anti-inflammatory every 8 hrs and a benadryl at night.
I'll check in later.
Maria H.
September 18th, 02006 at 9:21 am
Hello All,
I had my 3 week check up today with the ortho. X-ray of my fibula looked good so they removed the hard cast and gave me a walking boot with a 50% bodyweight restriction. What a fantastic feeling it is knowing I can put some weight on it and I can remove the boot to sleep at night. I still need the crutches for another 3 weeks but it's a definite improvement. The ortho said to work on getting my range of motion back on my own. Curiously, he did not want to prescibe PT sessions as he feels they tend to push to hard ? He wants me to work on it on my own and use my pain as my guide. I didn't raise any objections since my health plan is an HSA with a $5000 deductable and any cost reduction is a relief. (Sad but true statement as to the condition of health care in the USA) He mentioned doing the alphabet with my toe which I have read about on this site. Thank you all for your inspiration and listening. I wish everyone strength and healing on your journey to recovery.
September 18th, 02006 at 12:06 pm
Hi all. My doctor's appointment is today at 2:00 and I'm very anxious to see if he will let me 100% weight bear even with the heavy boot. I don't want to get my hopes up but it sure would be nice. I'll report back in sometime this afternoon.
Gayle, your story was so funny. I had to keep reading it to make sure of what I was actually reading. I'm saving that one for sure!
Regarding driving. I was cleared to drive at 50% weight, but since it is my left ankle I found out I could've been driving sooner. I don't think its a good idea to drive too soon though because your reaction time is slowed trying to protect your leg and you don't realize how much work it really takes to drive so you may be really tired or have pain afterwards. Also, remember if something happens to your car and you have to end up walking, it won't be pleasant.
I haven't had the courage to tackle Target yet. My daughter says that's the first place I have to go when I'm able because our is totally remodeled! I can't wait!!!
I'll have to go back and find the splinter in the B story.
Kathy
DOI 7/2 DOS 7/6 50% 6 weeks later and dr. appt today!
September 18th, 02006 at 3:00 pm
To All-
Wow. I have been away for a few days and a whole new page has started! Thanks Mr. Bohnsack! And so many new people. Newbies, be sure to read back on some of the comments in the old section: there is a ton of useful info there.
Doug Schmid, there are some descriptions of various therapy exercises in August / early Sept. 2006 posts. Also, consider finding a pool to use as Beth has done at her local Holiday Inn. My county park system has a facility open to the public with a pool and various exercise devices like treadmills, stationery bikes and so on; the public schools in my town has Recreation and Education classes to the public including swimming time in school pools. Or try a membership at a sport/health club.
Eric, the swimming is not necessary for benefits with your ankle. The bouancy lets you walk around without stress. Also do toe lifts and knee bends and other exercises.
Heather and Eric, on the issue of driving, be sure to check with your auto insurance policy to see if you would be covered. I drove once a mile or so to mail an urgent letter, with my cast on and saw an accident right in front of me. I went home and took taxies until I could properly drive. Consider that your response time my be slow, even if auto insurance covers and it is not illegal in your state. We don't need you to initiate others into this broken ankle club!
Jeanetet and Maria H. and mimi, I had the horrible boot for about a month. I really hated it. It never did fit very well even when it was padded. Never learned how to walk in it with one foot so much higher than the other. Even with crutches (my doctor said only light weight with the boot). I did use a Roll-A-bout to get around when I had the cast and the BOOT. It's a cart you kneel on and scoot around pretty easily. After the boot, I had an AirCast stirrup brace and moved to using one crutch (I have the kind people in Europe use called forearm or Canadian crutches) because I did not want to buy a cane for only a few weeks. In my opinion, the stirrup brace seems to provide better support than the BOOT ever did. As far as I know, only 1 other person on this site, a long time ago, had this sort of brace. I started physical therapy while using the stirrup. Then I had some serious knee problems and did PT to strengthen my muscles. Now I am back on track with the ankle--walking around almost normally until I get tired and start limping. I think I have been hanging around this site longer than anyone because of those knee troubles setting my ankle progress back for a month or so. Sounds like you are making very good progress. The poodle Jeanetet is sitting for sounds a lot smarter than my cats: they did not ever learn to get out of the way of even the wheelchair I used while I was in the cast, and the crutches are just an excuse for them to stretch out on the floor in front of me. Another trip waiting to happen?
Gayle Nakama, That is definitely a good idea for people to donate the gently used equipment once we are back on 2 feet. Even donating to thrift shops-- some people don't have really good insurance. Or, like you, it is nice to have 2 BOOTs, or like me 2 wheelchairs for different levels in my house.
Robert Vaughn--for carrying drinks, get a sport water bottle and a small thermos. Also get some of those tupperware like things to carry food. Cordless phone was also useful for me (I don't have a cellphone!).
Michael and Beth, I had my screw out last Tuesday. I don't know how long the surgery actually took, but I was in the hospital for about 3 1/2 hours for prep and recovery. I had "Twilight anesthesia" via a drip line. The anethesiologis said that it would cause anmesia. They also administered a general anesthetic, so I was really "out." Unlike some people here, my doctor waited until I had been walking before taking the screw out. I don't really know why some docs take it out before weight and others wait for patient to walk. I am back to wearing the stirrup brace (doctor wanted me to go back to the BOOT, but I just could not stand that so she said the stirrup would be ok). Weight bearing status is "as tolerated" so for a few days it felt like I was back at the beginning. ;-( The first morning after the surgery, I was awakened by a bad dream that my leg was being chewed on by a herd of starving kittens. Sharp firey burning pains all over the ankle. Funny how your unconcious mind works. Thank you Vicodin! No weight Wednesday and Thursday. A little weight with 2 crutches Friday. The surgery site is itchy. Saturday 1 crutch. Yesterday and today, no crutches and limp (from fear of re-injury) is clearing up. Surgery site is tender, but not painful. I will have the dressing (gauze and ace wrap)/stirrup for 2 weeks, so I am back to showering the old way. Chair and removable shower nozzle. It is still swelling, and with the bandages I can't really tell if ROM is better yet or not. By the way, there was one nurse in the operating room called the "non-sterile nurse" whose job is to take away used instruments and other contaminated stuff out of the operating theater. She is the one to ask if you want to save that screw as a souvenir! I had been wondering, but never remembered to ask the doctor, but the screw had a "hex" drive. Not straight or philips or even square. I definitely wanted that screw. This is certainly the most expensive jewelry I have ever had!!!
Kathy, I think it was you who asked where I am? Ann Arbor, Michigan USA. It is just interesting to hear from people all over the world. Broken ankles can happen anywhere. What a thought.
DOI 4 April 06 / DOS 17 April 06
September 18th, 02006 at 4:09 pm
Tess - Thanks for the reminder. Though I was driving with my left foot, I wouldn't recommend it. If you can wait to drive until the cast comes off, do. I only drove about 4 times and never more than a mile or so. For me, it was more important emotionally to know that I COULD drive if I had to. Once I figured that out, I no longer had the desire to drive and hung up my keys until the cast came off.
If you're right foot is the good foot (and you don't have a stick), I would imagine that you wouldn't have problems, though that wasn't my situation, so I don't know). - Eric
September 18th, 02006 at 4:53 pm
Beth and Gayle,
Thanks for the suggestions with the boot--wash cloths, sponges, anything soft. For some reason today, my foot is able to get to the bottom but still slides off a bit when on the crutches. I have a narrow foot, so maybe the boot is a bit big.
Tess- you're right about the fanny pack. It really helps. I also use plastic grocery bags because they have openings for the hand.
I feel a little relief from the pain today, day 12. I have a shower stall where I have to step down to get into it. I can't imagine doing that yet. I guess I'll be washing myself outside of the shower for a while yet. My friend from Alabama says Southerners gently refer to that as a "horse bath." I found it funny at the time, but I look forward to the day when I can shower. I don't want to try things because I'm by myself.
How did everyone who had to stay home and couldn't work keep from going stir crazy??? I'm so used to being active that I don't know what to do with myself besides reading, listening to music and podcasts, and watching tv.
Mimi
September 18th, 02006 at 6:00 pm
Hi Everyone!(Old and New hoppies) I have been away for a while, I hope some of you remember me as I was a steady poster a while back. Just wanted to wish everyone a good healing, and give you what I think is my success story!
Tomorrow is my 5 month aniversary since the day of my accident. (Broken Tibia+ 4 broken Metatarsals) pins for metatarsals and 4 screws for the broken tibia. I can now happily announce that probably since month 4 I've been in amazing spirits and finally my ankle/foot does not rule my life! YAY. I cannot say I am 100% because for that I would say my strength would have to be back to what it was before the accident but the mobility is 100% in most directions, pointing down is not 100% but I was very very flexible before so Phisio says it's good. (Bad thing about being double/jointed is things can happen like knee dislocation-Michigan girls-) but the good thing is that mobility recovery is easier.
So just got back from an amazing 1 week relaxing trip to Los Cabos, Mexico with my husband! If anyone wants to reward yourself after a rough few months I highly recommend the spa we stayed in! Beautiful, Zen LIke! http://www.pueblobonitopacifica.com/
We really needed the relaxation after this whole adventure with being an exclusive member of this Elite Hoppie club! I walked up and down the beach a lot! (Still quite rough on the knee specially, but I'm sure with strengthening it it will become easier) swam laps every day, relaxed and went to the gym everyday and if it wasn't for the particular phisio exercises I incorporated into my workout, I wouldn't even think about my ankle!!!
So all you who are just starting the process, there is so much hope! Just be patient, follow the directions of your Doc and fellow hoppies good advice and one day soon before you know it, you'll be as good as new.
Much love and healing to you all, I'll be checking the site from time to time and writing in case I feel my advice would be useful to you.
It was a great thing for me to have found this website & have your encouragement and advice in rough times!
Take care! -Jenai
DOI 3/19/06
DOS 3/24/06
September 18th, 02006 at 6:01 pm
By the way Mathew,
Thank you so much for continuing this BLOG! It has been amazing in the healing process of all of us.
I am so greatful I found it.
September 18th, 02006 at 6:53 pm
Hi everyone. Well, I had my doctor's appointment and I'm 100%!!!!! I'm soooo happy and relieved that the bones healed wonderfully. He said he can't see any of the breaks anymore and to go start walking. I asked about P.T. but he said I didn't need it as I'm 3/4 now. He gave me a couple of exercises and wants me back in 6 weeks.
I didn't know this, but the bone is soft from not being walked on and he said it would take a while for it to harden but it WOULD harden and also to expect some pain in bone and soft tissue when I begin walking.
After I got home, I kept my huge boot on and vacuumed the corner of my bedroom that I've been looking at for 10 weeks, and dusted. Hooray!! I even walked down a few steps to my back yard. Right now I have a tennis shoe and sock on my foot, but I can tell its really going to hurt, so tomorrow when I go out, I'll wear the boot, but no crutches!!!!! Oh, the dr. said I didn't have to wear the boot unless it helped.
I'm so grateful for all of you and your wisdom, experiences, joyful stories, painful stories and for just being there. I wish I would have found this site 10 weeks ago so I could've gone through more with you as support and so I could support you. I know it will be quite a while before things are back to normal, but I'm thankful to be where I am right now (even with pain) and wish everyone a speedy and continued recovery.
Ok, I'm going back on the couch now. Don't want to walk so much that I set myself back. Its just so exciting.
Kathy
DOI 7/2 DOS 7/6 100% 9/18 and hope to stay that way.
September 19th, 02006 at 1:01 am
Hey people.
I have a question.
I get my fixator screw out on the 11th of October and I'm not currently wearing a cast or boot. Do you expect they would give me some sort of boot? I'm not supposed to put weight on my right leg, but if I have to, it doesn't hurt at all. I also have a pretty good ROM of my ankle with the screw in. I'm only 19, so do they expect me to heal quicker? I'd like to be walking pretty well nine days after the screw comes out as my soccer team is going on it's end of season trip. Any chance, or am I dreaming?
Thanks
www.myspace.com/clarky_scored
September 19th, 02006 at 7:59 am
Hi Michael-At my last doctor appt. he said that when I get my fixator screw out on the 11th (albeit a few hours after you!) I'll be able to walk by that evening, that it'll be more a pain issue than a healing one. I'm not in a boot or even using crutches at this point so I'll be really surprised if your doctor is restraining any of your activity at that point since you're not in a boot either.
I know there's plenty of others out there who've already been through this, guys? Help us out here if you can. Thanks
-Beth
September 19th, 02006 at 9:01 am
Hello to Everyone,
Just wanted to add something as it has been a day or two since I posted. Hope everyone is doing well and progressing this morning - someone told me that each day, you're closer to walking than you were the day before! (Well, except the first day you injured your foot because that's the one time you're a little further behind... Did that even make sense??)
George S, thanks for the idea of the naproxin sodium. I had to go back to the Motrin for now, at least temporarily, if there's any hope in getting through each day at work. But I have managed to stay off of the percocet so that's a good thing. Unfortunately, it's my right foot so driving is out of the question - I won't even begin to try it again until I have regained the strength back in that ankle! Too afraid of hurting someone else. And it will be a long while until I take any passengers in my car.
Beth, don't know how you did it - I don't think I would be able to take a shower there!! Not with tile floors. My luck has been pretty good so far with the rain staying away when I need to walk but I can't risk it. At my house, sometimes there is a bit of water on the floor and one crutch will slip but luckily it has always hit the wall and I've been able to steady myself so far. The only reprocussion (spelled wrong I assume) is a complete tensing up of the bad leg at that point; If I do have to fall, I'm aiming for the hands and butt!!!
Eric, thanks for the driving advice. I think I am seriously just going to keep my keys hung up as well and worry about the driving later when I am good to go.
Gayle, good idea about donating the used equipment to those who may not be able to afford it otherwise. When I went to the ER, they offered me aluminum crutches as opposed to a pair that I had bought at CVS the first night so I took them and gave the old ones back to the hospital with the request that they give them to someone who needs them.
Maria, thanks for the pep - it was definitely a depressing weekend and I'm glad it's over. I so much prefer being up than down, emotionally! Who doesn't right? the comedy is still helping; I'm excited to pick up that new Ellen show outtakes DVD because I like her show and it looks like it will definitely be funny!
Tess, certainly is funny how the dreaming mind works and translates feelings into images, etc, like your cat dream. I hope that things start to speed up for you now; I bet they will.
Jenai, great to know that there is a light at the far end of the tunnel! Thanks for being inspirational!
Kathy, SO AWESOME!! That is wonderful; I'm very happy for you and I imagine a huge weight has been taken off your chest now. Please take care of yourself and keep us updated on your progress!!
Michael I would say at 19 you've got an excellent chance of a fast recovery, especially because you are always so active. Sounds like you're where you should be.
Beth, best of everything!! Good luck
Heather
September 19th, 02006 at 10:02 am
Hello to everyone!! Well, my doctor’s appointment was good and bad. The good part is my x-rays showed that everything is healing well. I also removed my cast and went into the walking boot or “moonboot”. I was also able to go home and wash my leg and shave (I looked like I had my dad’s leg, not pretty). The bad news is I still have to use my crutches and OOOHHH the pain. In my mind I thought I would put the boot on and start walking. I thought I would make dinner for my family, get my own water, and walk up the stairs. Instead I move at a snail’s pace using the crutches as support. What I can see is that I am not bending my ankle to make the 90 degree angle that is needed to balance and walk. My foot seems to be stuck in the position it was in the cast. If I try to move it forward it is feels awkward and painful. My ankle is also swollen from side to side and on the top of my foot and I think that is hindering my movement. Is this normal? I start physical therapy on Friday. I had to take my own advice I gave Heather because yesterday I cried off and on feeling I am never going to walk again. Can some others share their experiences of moving into the moonboot, it would be very helpful to me.
Thank you for any advice and good healing to all.
Maria H.
September 19th, 02006 at 10:38 am
OUCH, OUCH, OUCH, its quite painful trying to walk especially without using crutches. But, I'm still thrilled. I was able to put the dog's water outside by myself today. They need a lot of water because they spend all their time barking at nothing and their throats get dry....
Beth, how long was it before the "walking" pain got a little better? I'm keeping the crutches near. It mostly hurts on the inside part of the ankle bone even though I have a plate and screws on the outside of my ankle. I'm keeping my boot on for support for at least a while.
Maria, Congratulations on getting the cast off. Now you need to start moving your foot up and down and in circles. Don't be discouraged if it doesn't move too much right away because its stiff from the cast. Wiggle and bend your toes a lot and that will help loosen your foot. Sometimes the blood gets "stuck" between the toe bones and needs to be displaced. Start slowly and pretty soon you will see more movement and less pain. Circles and up and down. I'm at 3/4 but I need more so I'm continuing the procedure too.
Tess, it was good to hear from you. I thought you disappeared back into the land of the living
Michael, be careful not to walk on your leg if you're not supposed to. You don't want and damage to get in the way of your chances of walking for the soccer trip. Even if it doesn't hurt to walk, the doctor knows by looking at the xray that its not time yet. I know its very tempting, but please let it heal the best it can so your dream of walking can become a reality.
To all, I thought of this last night. Because we are all afraid of slipping in the shower and shower mats seem to make things more slippery. What about getting a good sticky pair of water shoes to wear? Wear it on one foot if you take a one-footed shower like me or both if you are at that stage. Just a thought.
September 19th, 02006 at 11:53 am
It's like you read my mind, Kathy. I was going to ask earlier if anyone had pain on the inside of their ankle when relearning to walk because that is one of my biggest fears. I had among other injuries, an avulsion type fracture on the inner maleolus and I still feel sharp pains. Even though it's only a week past surgery tomorrow and I have a good 5 minimum to look forward to before walking, I've been wondering if this will hurt alot. Did you have a similar fracture? Do you have sharp pains? Would love to hear from others on this. Thanks!
Heather
September 19th, 02006 at 3:18 pm
Hello everyone,
Heather, I am only 11 days past surgery (sept 8th) and have only had sharp pains and burning when I seem to move around much during the day, like last saturday I went driving after going downstairs. I needed to take tylenol every four hours and could barely sleep from the burning/stinging pains. I overdid it. I have now decided I am staying out of work for 4 weeks.
Kathy, how many weeks past surgery are you? I don't like the reports of pain you have walking when they say you are 100%!!
this question for everyone: I am seriously worried I'm doing the wrong thing, but would be very happy to know I am not, now that I am reading about the "no weight". I got the Darth Veder boot that has a stiff black steel outer frame, with velcro straps on the outside and then an inner boot of soft material that also has velcro closings. I am of course instructed to put no weight on the ankle and come back 4 weeks after the operation. I have been taking the heavy outer boot off, and keep the lightweight boot snugly velroed up, and I put my leg up whenever I'm not crutching around. I put the outer frame boot on when I must go out. I don't put any weight on the left ankle/foot. Is that following doctor's orders or am I fudging it.? I am willing to be off work, so I'm certainly willing to wear the heavy boot, but what confuses me is that is weighs, and I am supposed to be "non weight" bearing so that inner boot only seems better.
September 19th, 02006 at 5:39 pm
Hello all!
Update: Stitches came out today. Itchies went away. Still no weight bearing. Had hoped to start walking a little today or to start driving. Doc says that I can't do anything until PT starts in two weeks. Almost no pain other than my knee and the swelling is decreasing. I get the boot in two weeks.
DOI: 8/20/06
DOS: 8/23/06
Cause: Dirt biking in the New Mexico desert.
...Robert
September 19th, 02006 at 5:45 pm
Hi,
Heather: I'm not sure what my injury was actually called, but I broke the ankle bone in three places - on both sides and the back, with the back being the worse. Had surgery 7/6/06 and a plate attached to the tibia with 5 screws and also 3 longer screws holding everything else together. I was in a cast the first 6 weeks and then given the booth and the ok for 50 weight for the next 4 weeks. I kept on the cautious side of 50% for fear of putting too much weight on it and causing more injury. Yesterday was 10 weeks, 3 days and 4 hours (not that I was anxious) after surgery and I got the ok for 100% with or without the boot, BUT the doctor said I WOULD have pain because the bones are soft from not walking on them and the muscles/tendons need to strengthen. I'm not sure why most of the pain is on the inside, when the plate is on the outside, but it is and its a dull ache until I stand and try walk. Then is stabbing pain and my leg aches also. Since the doctor warned me of the pain, I'm not really concerned. Just being careful and keeping the ice pack handy. It will just take time to heal and then I'm planning on no pain and no limp
Yolanda: Pain is to be expected even after 11 days past surgery and so are other strange feelings because everything is starting to heal. I felt squirmming on the inside of my ankle, dull aches and heat. Its normal so don't worry. I'm 10 weeks past surgery and the dr. said it would be another 3 MONTHS before I could expect complete healing.
Also, Yolanda, you should call your doctor and ask about the weight of the boot and whether you should wear it most of the time. What they told me was wear it when you weight bear. I took it off most of the time and moved my foot all around to exercise it. But, if your doctor said NO weight then the best thing is to call and ask. Better safe than sorry you know.
Keep up the good work and be sure and rest. You heal faster when you sleep so get plenty of it
Kathy
September 19th, 02006 at 6:10 pm
Hi everbody! It's been a busy day -- what's new? -- but I've got a couple of "me minutes" before I must succumb to my housewifely duties. Yeah, I know, poor pitiful me! Diary of a mad housewife! Naw, I love my bunch but lately I feel like I'm chasing my tail. Maybe I should just join the beagles in the yard?
Anyhow, I noticed a couple of questions that I think I can help with real quick.
Kathy and Yolanda you mentioned the pain on the inside of the ankle. If you dislocated your tibia (and even if you didn't, to some extent) then you stretched out a ton of nerve endings, ligaments and tendons. The first time I saw my doctor post surgery he told me that this would be the most sensitive spot and boy was he right! Those babies all have to shrink back up and/or regrow so that's why you guys are experiencing pain there. That is also going to be the slowest healing part of the injury. It takes those tissues much longer to heal than for new bone to form.
Yolanda, as long as you're not putting your foot down and putting your weight on it, you're not weight bearing, the weight of the boot has nothing to do with it. It's best if you remove the boot when you're sitting/lying down because the boot keeps your foot bent into a position that constricts circulation. But absolutely when you're up and around -- EVEN AROUND THE HOUSE-- put your boot back on for protection. As always though, if you have any doubts whatsoever, give your doctor's office a ring.
Okay, back to Momly duties. Love you guys!
-Beth
DOI 7/1, DOS 7/2, WB 7/26, CO 8/8, G2G 9/12!!
September 20th, 02006 at 7:44 am
Robert, glad to hear the itching went away, I know that must be a relief. I had the stitches put in almost 7 days ago and they just started itching yesterday... very uncomfortable since there's no way to reach them!!!
Kathy, it sounds pretty painful but you have a good attitude about it; I guess if the doc says its okay, there isnt as much to worry about.
Yolanda, I feel your pain; I had my surgery 7 days ago as of this afternoon and it has been itching, burning, and somewhat sore but feeling better each day for the most part, except when I overexcerpt myself. I'm definitely looking forward to being moved to a hard cast or something besides the bandages I am in now.
Hope you're all doing nicely this morning and fighting the demons
Heather
September 20th, 02006 at 8:16 am
Hi all I have been reading and reading on here very helpful! I broke my ankle ice skaiting on 8/13 I don't really know what I did I seen my x-ray and I guess it is the fibula that I broke and then on the inside part of my ankle. The ER Dr. said it was a good break and sent me to Ortho two days later to get a regular cast on. When I went to the Ortho Dr. he told me that I needed surgery plates and pins...I told him no because he told me that the major reason he wanted to do it was so I didn't get arthuritis when I was older (its broke I really think I will regardless) and the other reason he said was the possibility of it shifting. I have no idea if I made a big mistake telling him no but I have the regular cast on now and have 8 days to go till it comes off I think! He doesn't seem to tell me much from one appointment to the next. Has anyone else went the non-surgical route? Will I get a boot next? Will I be able to walk? THANKS
September 20th, 02006 at 9:11 am
Kathy,
Well, yes I am finally getting back into real life after 5 months. Congratulations on walking progress; it sounds like you are making very good progress!
But you know, even if the doctor says you are 100% does not mean you are back to normal. As Beth said, there is a lot of healing still going on in that ankle. Physical therapy helped a lot, and even if your doctor says you don't need it, you could do some simple things at home. The range of motion exercises (circles, back & forth, up & down with the foot) and especially the strengthening exercises (work with thereaband--like those they use for Pilates, toe lifts, achilles stretches) were useful for me.
I would say I had bad pain while walking for a week before the exercises kicked in and I used 1 crutch like a cane for a long time-- therapist would snatch it away as soon as I walked in... (I also had the bad knee stuff so it has taken me longer than most people, but those were other exercises and a brace) Now, after I do the exercises in the morning to get over the daily stiffness, I can do a pretty good imitation of a normal person walking. But as a matter of fact, when I am tired or the swelling across the top of the foot is bad, I still have pain. I can't tell yet, but since having that syndesmotic screw removed it seems the swelling is less. I'll be able to see it next Monday when the staples come out!
Maria H. and Yolanda, I never did "get" what the BOOT was for, but I think it is meant to encourage your foot to bend 90° and encourage you to do the HEEL to TOE movement rather than the dragging or hopping movement you get used to with crutches. When they set my ankle into casts (I had several over 7 weeks), they were always pulling the foot into as much of a 90° angle as possible. That hurt a bit at the time, but when I went into the BOOT, I was already able to keep it at the right angle. But because the sole of the BOOT was so thick, the HEEL/TOE motion even with no weight just made me tilt my hips and gave me a backache. The swelling over the top of the foot is normal and is likely hindering your movement. The only good thing about the BOOT is that you can take it off when you are sitting or lying down. Or showering.
Beth and Michael- good luck with the fixator screw removal. The first day or 2 after getting the syndesmotic screw removed on 11 Sept. 06 were very much like the original confinment: flat on back with foot elevated above heart for 24 hours, pain (nightmare of kittens biting and scratching my ankle), then crutches again. I can walk around now -- weight as tolerated, but I still have a wrapping over the new surgery and showers are done on a stool with leg hanging out of the curtain. Just like the old days of last spring.
I don't know why my surgery seems to be a bigger deal than other people have described, but looking at the screw I can see that there are a couple of places where the threads are bent and the head looks almost stripped. She, the doctor, said that it had begun to back out and that some bone had grown over the head. At any rate, after a few days, it seems to be better: less swelling and more ROM.
By the way, you can ask the radiologist for a copy of your x-ray (mine cost about $5 or $6) and it is really interesting to see what is going on in there.
mimi- have you tried books on CD? Or if you like puzzles, Sudoku is something to keep your mind working. Also, I did some knitting to keep my sanity.
September 20th, 02006 at 9:20 am
Jeanie, I had quite the opposite experience as you. My first ortho doctor said that I did not need surgery and that I would have bad arthritis when I get older. I'm 40. He said there was nothing that they could do. They set my foot with a splint and sent me home. Well my foot was rotated out by almost 45 degrees even after they set it. My wife and I got worried about the arthritis statement and the fact that my foot was crooked. The next day I made an appointment with another ortho. A well recommended one. He scheduled my surgery for the next day.
My advice. You are still early into your recovery so I would recommend getting a second opinion. Some folks on this list have not had surgery for up to three weeks.
DOI: 8/20/06
DOS: 8/23/06
Cause: Dirt biking in the New Mexico desert.
...Robert
September 20th, 02006 at 10:06 am
Hi All!
Jeanie - I'm really worried about your decision not to have surgery. Especially since your ortho doctor recommended it, more because of the possibility of shifting than the arthritis. I think we'll all end up with a little osteoarthritis out of this adventure. If the bone shifts once you begin to put your weight on your foot then you WILL have surgery and you will start this whole process all over again. You might also find that they don't let you put any weight on your foot for a quite a while as a consequence of not having the fixator surgery. And if they tell you not to put weight on it -- DO NOT PUT ANY WEIGHT ON IT. That's one of the primary things you absolutely must do to heal properly. I think Robert's given you some very good advice to go and get a second opinion from another ortho. And as he mentioned some folks have had a nearly four week span between injury and surgery so that shouldn't be a big deal if you choose to go that route. Whatever you decide I wish you all the best.
Gosh Tess, I'm really glad you posted about your experience with the screw removal. I've kind of been led to believe it's no big deal and that I'll be back in the swing really quickly. Obviously feeling lousy the day of surgery but surely up and about the next day. Could you see bone growth over the screw in your x-ray? Mine showed the screw head very clearly resting on top of the plate just like it always has (it isn't flush like the "keepers") so I'm hoping that's a good sign?
The boot was really helpful for me. Yes, a pain in the wazoo to put on and off at first, but after a couple of days not so bad. I really concentrated on using the rocking motion of the boot to get the heel/toe action back in my body's vocabulary as well as helping to stretch my pitiful calf muscle. I found that once it came off I walked with no limp at all (using crutches, and I was very speedy on crutches) and once I ditched the crutches I found if I concentrated on the heel/toe motion I had no limp. And even though it feels weird at first, it's much more comfortable to walk with the heel/toe motion, you don't get the lower back/knee/hip pain that you do when you don't walk as you should. While I wasn't a big fan of the boot when wearing it, I'm a big fan now because I see what the benefits were for me.
Good luck everybody. Hope you're having a great day,
-Beth
DOI 7/1, DOS 7/2, WB 7/26, CO 8/8, G2G 9/12!!
September 20th, 02006 at 10:40 am
Robert - Thanks for the advice my foot was downward in the first splint they put on me at the ER then they moved it to a 90 degree angle before putting on my cast (very painful I might add)! I am about to my 7 week mark I did the second day try to get a second opinion and the orthopedic office I called couldn't take my insurance because the first place I had been had already billed it. It just has all been a big mess I am a single mother of two and work full time and just really can't have an operation unless life or death. I broke my ankle Sunday afternoon and was at work at 6am Monday morning I am hoping and praying that I have made the right decision.
DOI: 8/13/06
September 20th, 02006 at 11:34 am
Beth my thinking was he meant the shifting would happen in the first two weeks I could be wrong it wouldn't be the first time. He had me back and took x-rays to make sure it didn't shift after that first two weeks and said it was doing good at that point. I can't wait to get back in there next week. I have tried to be as careful as possible not to be bumping it or anything and taking care of myself...taking LOTS of viatimins too. He has not told me anything from one time to the next what would be going on. The only thing he told me was that he has seen breaks alot worse than mine healing good on their own, and that with or without the surgery I couldn't have any weight on it for at least 6 weeks. I have never broken anything before and can say this is the worse thing ever....weight gain...can't carry anything just the whole things is depressing. THANKS Beth
September 20th, 02006 at 12:06 pm
Hi Jeanie. Yeah, it's no fun, that's for sure. I hadn't realized you were so far along in the recovery process. It sounds like things are looking good and since you're being so careful a positive outcome is probably a done deal. Smart to take those vitamins too! My doctor sort of casually mentioned calcium supplements and I took it as an edict. My doctor started out being kind of noncommunicative but thanks to this site I knew some good questions to ask and kind of "forced" him into being more forthcoming. Now when I go in he tells me all kinds of stuff. Go get 'em girl, and if you're like me -- sometimes I don't remember everything when I'm on the spot -- make a note of the questions you want to ask so you don't forget anything. These guys get paid plenty the least they can do is tell us what's going on!!
Don't worry about the weight gain, it comes right off once you start moving around more. And if you're still on crutches you have the advantage of building some upper body strength which we females have trouble with! Jeanie this is the best site in the world for venting when you're feeling down, we've either been through it, are going through it, or will be going through it in the near future so we understand. Write, write, and write some more when things are tough and when they're good too! We can all use the lift!
xxoo-Beth
September 20th, 02006 at 12:21 pm
Beth, As I said, I don't know why the screw removal seemed to be a bigger deal for me than others have described. I guess I was just venting since it felt like I was back at the beginning again. I am walking ok now and it was only a few days of down time. But my confidence after this is easy to break.
I only saw the last x-ray for a few minutes, but I maybe could see a bit of cloudy stuff around the screw head. I could not really see if it was coming out or not. Perhaps that is why I had the general anethesia in addition to the amnesia IV thing? The screw that was removed from me was not associated with the plate on the fibia. That is halfway up to my knee. Looking at the copy of my end-of-June x-ray, the screw heads are all sort of rounded but flat on the bottom, 3 above the break, 2 empty spots in the plate over the break and 3 below it. They look like little round bumps against the plate. They are short, but go all the way through the bone. Two big screws going up into the tibia have more sloped heads and seem to be set more into the bone like woodworking screws.
Jeanie, Best wishes to you. My break happened while I was on vacation in Madrid and the doctor tried to set my bone without anesthetic so I can feel for you on your first splint. He had a nurses' assistant holding my foot while he tried. Twice. Then he did the 90° thing for the cast. Ninty degrees is good--it will help when you are ready to start walking if your foot is already in a good position. The Spanish doctor said I would need surgery for 1 pin in the tibia. As it turned out, I returned to the US. The ortho here said that the doctor in Spain had done a pretty good job of setting the fibula, but I would still need surgery for the break at the bottom of the tibia. Instead of 1 pin there, I have 2 screws. She indicated that the fibula fracture would probably be ok without the plate, but she reccomended it because of my age and possibility of osteo-arthritis. Which we will all likely get anyway but... Though I ended up having the surgery, it sounds like you can hope for the best with your break since you said it was "good" break. Be very careful though about not putting weight on it until the bone has healed. At 7 or 8 weeks, your doctor will certainly be able to see if the bone is knitted back together.
DOI: 4 April 06; DOS 17 April
September 20th, 02006 at 12:38 pm
Hi Jeanie. I'm also a single mother so I know what you are going through. How old are your children? This gives them a chance to be able to help their Mom and also to see just how much their Mom does for them. My daughter is 19 and has learned a lot over the past 10 weeks. I have been unemployed during this 10+ week ordeal because I had my own business. I say "had" because I will not be continuing my old business which was quite physical in nature. So, thank the Lord I'm a saver or I wouldn't have made it through with the financial burden. I'm sort of excited to see what's next for me. I was going to say get a second opinion too but since you are doing so well, then great. Keep up the good work, try to be patient and vent, vent, vent on this site. We're all in the same boat, but the help of others on this site make it (almost) a cruise ship!
Beth. Thank you. Yes, I dislocated my foot so the tendon/muscle on the inside will need to heal. I plan on finding a pool today to exercise in because of your suggestions. I won't be able to do as much as you do, but I'll do my best.
Tess. Thank you too. I appreciate you guys (ladies) so much. Glad to hear your pain was better after the first week of walking. I'm going barefoot in the house and I don't know whether that's good or bad, but its working. I wore the boot out yesterday just in case, but I want to get some good tennis shoes. The dr. said I didn't need p.t., but I know he didn't mean to just sit there. He gave me some exercises and I'm a determined person, so I will certainly do more than he told me to do so th