32 Comments:
| Sat May 13th 2006 04:01:57 PM MST | by Kathy |
It's been awhile since I visited this site. Had a trimal fx back in January. Plate and 13 screws. Been out of my cast since 3/1. Have had 6 weeks PT and am now beginning 3 weeks of water therapy.
I still cannot walk. My foot will not flatten on the floor, so, of course I am non weight bearing. The dr. did a cat scan. It only showed extreme bone loss which is normal with non usage. We just can't get this foot to flatten. It's toes down.
Any ideas?
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| Fri May 19th 2006 06:53:30 PM MST | by Glen Adkins |
Hi there. Been reading all the comments here, and some make me feel better.. some scare me.. but I believe that I am tough, and I will get better. Here is my story.
On April 29th 2006, I was warming up my CR250R Honda dirt bike, by riding it a little. I was at my uncles house, and decided to show off a little. Well, I didnt have my MX Boots on but I did have my helmet. I laid the bike down as to not run into a fence, and thought nothing of it, and figured as always I would get up and dust off and have a laugh. I didnt unfortunatly. I ended with a dilocated right ankle, and broken tib/fib. My whole family was there. Scared my mother to death, and my oldest 2 boys were crying like babies (11 and 12 years old). I am now 15 days out of surgery. Not alot of pain, but I am pretty tough. That night of the surgery I was in a great deal of pain. I was almost whimpering. I just got my staples out 3 days ago. I dont have alot of pain mostly irritation of the incisions. A great deal of tingling, and burning. The top of my foot is very tinglely, and the skin is still pretty tight. I do not have a cast at all, I have a removeable ortho-boot. I have already regained my up and down motion with some stiffness. I cant wait to walk again. I am determined to do it. This site has given me strength as well and got me prepared somewhat for the worst. Thanks..
Bleeds
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| Fri May 19th 2006 07:00:52 PM MST | by Glen Adkins (Bleeds) |
Hey there forgot to tell you of my hardware. I have a long screw on the inside of my ankle running upward like many of the pics I have seen here, and I have a 6 or so inch plate on the tibia with 8 screws in it. Just thought you would want to know that too.
Bleeds
PS Bleeds is my nickname.
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| Fri May 19th 2006 07:00:56 PM MST | by Glen Adkins (Bleeds) |
Hey there forgot to tell you of my hardware. I have a long screw on the inside of my ankle running upward like many of the pics I have seen here, and I have a 6 or so inch plate on the tibia with 8 screws in it. Just thought you would want to know that too.
Bleeds
PS Bleeds is my nickname.
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| Mon May 29th 2006 05:16:01 PM MST | by Sarah Winsor |
Hello! I broke my ankle on 4/30/06.... so fairly recently. I feel down 2-3 stairs and broke the inside and outside of my ankle. The bone pieces that are skinny and go down to your foot is what i broke. I had surgery May 4th. I had 2 longer screws put in the inside of my ankle. I had 9 screws and a metal plate put on the outside of my ankle. I was in a splint for a week and got a cast 2 weeks and 3 days ago... i am getting my cast off on June 9th (thats a month of having it). On june 9th i will get the boot...not sure what it is and i will be able to start weight baring. I am scared to death to walk on it. By the way i am 24 years old and the dr has said i have age on my side. I have healed EXCELLENT to this point. I worry about feeling the screws by touching the outside of my ankle. I have very skinny ankles. I also worry about walking normal and everything. This site has somewhat made more more nervous as it seems most people are in pain with the hardware in their ankle. I would love to never have it removed. I fear that metal bothering me. I just started driving again today! YAY! (it was my left ankle)....but this whole thing is very scary for me.
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| Sun Jun 11th 2006 08:14:45 AM MST | by Dee (England) |
Hi everyone, broke my R ankle both sides and my fibula twice (floating piece of bone)on 14 April, high heels !!!. I was taken to Accident & Emergency (ER for you!) and given ketamine to put me under so the doctors could straighten it. I was then admitted to the ward for an operation that night. 2.5hrs of surgery under a general, the outside ankle was pinned with one pin and the inside was wired up as it had been smashed to little pieces. The surgeon had decided not to plate the fibula, just leave it to do its own thing (quite scary I thought). I had a half back slab cast and bandages on for six days in hospital with my leg constantly raised. I was then given a fibreglass half leg cast (I chose a purple one!) told to go away for six weeks NO WEIGHT BEARING. I went back and had the cast taken off and was told again to go away and GENTLY mobilise it with a little weight bear if I could stand it. I pushed it as much as I possibly could and I could feel the bones in my fibula crunching all the time. I was told that altough this was scary that it was ok as it promoted healing. I then had to go back into hospital for the day and have the pin removed under a local on 7th June. I am now walking with crutches very dodgily. I am not allowed to get my dressings wet again for 10 days and have to go back to have a checkup on 14th and have the stitches removed. After that I have been told I may have physio but should just be able to get on with it!
I have at times found it very hard to cope, my parents have been amazing. I have found each step of the way to recovery a battle to really push myself, each step has been scary, getting out of bed, leaving hospital, moving around the house, balancing on the edge of the bath, going out of the house, putting my foot on the floor, hobbling around - it is totally endless. I have found if I want to move to the next stage I have had to push and push again then recover for a day then push again. It bloomin well hurts, my ankle is constantly swelling up and aching but I just go back to the leg raise and either use an ice pack if swollen or hot pack if stiff. I am finding that I have real trouble flexing my ankle so am trying to do some daily exercises. Only trouble now is I have blisters on my hands from the crutches!
I am hoping to be back at work in 2 weeks if I can drive (manual so need both legs!) but I think it will be about 6 months before I can walk properly. I have found the whole experience a real personal trial of my resiliance.
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| Thu Jun 15th 2006 12:12:12 PM MST | by Sarah |
Dee...e-mail me sdwinsor@yahoo.com
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| Sun Jul 2nd 2006 03:22:11 PM MST | by Dee (England) |
Sarah
I have replied. Sorry for delay but I went on holdiay to Tunisia ! Great fun, hard work with the ankle n crutches, especially on a camel ! But you can't let the b****r get you down....
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| Fri Jul 7th 2006 11:44:05 PM MST | by Val |
Hi everyone,
I broke my R Fib on May 3rd. Missed the bottom step, foot went down hard, ankle went over and snap! I had to wait a couple of days for the swelling to go down (the size of a grapefruit). I had two surgeons peek at the x-ray and they both agreed I would be better off with the surgery. So May 5th I had a plate and 7 screws attached. I had a post-op plaster splint applied (non weight bearing) and then on May 16th had a fibre glass cast put on for 4 weeks, but hated it. Lasted 2 weeks and then went in and they gave me an air-brace to wear inside a running shoe. Much much better - hated duct taping a garbage bag around the cast for a sit down shower (I put a stool inside the shower). With the air-brace you can go in the shower with it on or take it off. On June 20th, doc showed me the x-ray and bone completely healed. No more brace or cane or anything. It is now July 7th and I still get the swelling and hotness around the lower incision area. I can walk with a slight limp but with physio improving. Still having problem flexing the foot. I can go upstairs normally, but going down I still have to do the one foot at a time. Any suggestions other than the therapy? Physio therapist said it would be another 2-3 months for soft tissue damage to completely heal. The break was nothing - it's the tissue damage that takes time.
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| Sat Jul 15th 2006 04:02:35 PM MST | by Regina |
Have any of the broken limbed people had to be taken out of their cast because they just could stand it? I couln't take it, I started having mild panic attacks, didn't want to be left alone. Just wondering if anyone had a similar experience. I stopped taking the percocet, and that seems to help.
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| Wed Jul 19th 2006 03:56:02 PM MST | by Dee |
Regina - After I had my accident I had a backslab only plaster and bandages for the first two weeks because they tried to put a plaster on 3 days after surgery and I could not stand it at all - I was in agony crying for hours in hospital. Eventually I had to have it cut off. This was all due to swelling. After the two weeks it was ok but I really had to keep the leg elevated so that my ankle was above my heart if I could manage it or above my bum as a best effort. With lots of pillows this was achieved. It got better and better and by the end of 5 weeks the cast was decidedly loose. Bear with it and best of luck.
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| Wed Jul 19th 2006 04:34:35 PM MST | by Dee |
By the way some of us have moved over to:
http://bohnsack.com/2003/05/15/broken-ankle-progress/
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| Sat Jul 22nd 2006 12:43:47 AM MST | by Tricia |
Appreciative of everyone's comments! Wish I would have found this site earlier. Broke my left fibula on April 28th, stepped down incorrectly while at the park with my kids....heard a loud snap. Couldn't believe that was actually a sound from my body. After 4 weeks had surgery to reconnect the broken end as it wasn't healing correctly (why didn't they decide this earlier!). Only had 2 screws put in. Was quite a drive thru surgery, 7:30am surgery and out the door about 10:30am. Iam usually not a cryer, but I did a little bit of just that the first couple of days...you know, having to be upright to get to the bathroom, etc...feeling the blood rush down to the ankle, ouch! I do not tolerate pain meds well, so I spent the second night throwing up. So I just kept with Ibruprophen. On the third day I returned to the Orthop. to get a new cast, the old one was full of dried blood which made the gauze against the incision feel like bark scraping me. July 7th was the end of my 6 weeks of non weight bearing. However I had been walking on it since about week 4.5 with an air cast (fiberglass made me closterphobic)and actually wore a sandle around 5.5 weeks. I had to keep up with my small children, so I cheated a bit on the timing obviously. The bone looked great on xray at 6 weeks, hurray. Doing a little physical therapy, which helps. Question, is anyone else experiencing internal stinging sensations around their hardware? My surgeon mentioned that if I wanted at a later date he could remove the screws, but that seems like more trouble. Would enjoy hearing about anyone with similar experiences.
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| Tue Jul 25th 2006 02:43:06 PM MST | by Dee |
Tricia, I had one long pin to hold tib and fib together which was removed after 8 weeks. some docs leave them in and just let them break but others (like mine) remove them. I had wire placed in my ankle as I smashed the bone so badly and when I started to walk again felt a sort of tingling rather than stinging sensation. My doc said it was the muscles, ligaments and tendons repairing themselves and the blood rushing around !!! No sure how correct but I have now been weight bearing for 6 weeks and I no longer have this sensation - hope this helps.
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| Sat Jul 29th 2006 11:07:48 PM MST | by Mark |
I was reading Kathy's story from May and I broke my ankle falling off of a ladder. Broke tib and fib all the way across and displaced my foot from the ankle socket. Plate and 10 screws etc. This happened in 11/05 then cast came off around Jan/Feb but I (the same as Cathy) still have trouble flattening my foot when I walk or go down steps. Some muscle on the inside top of my ankle just does not want to flex and it's always tight - it feel like leather. I go to PT once a week but after 9 months later I feel like it is never going to flatten. **Does anyone have this problem flattening their foot and how did it go away/how long did it take?
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| Sun Jul 30th 2006 05:08:18 AM MST | by Dee |
Mark - I had my accident 14/4/2006 and this is really the only part now causing me problems too. I can put my foot flat on the floor but it took a lot of hard work. I still cannot get my knee forward anywhere near over my foot i.e. the muscles on top inside are so so stiff and tight. However this has improved over the last 3 weeks very slightly, by persevering with point and flex and doing side to side moves and rotations and then pretending your big toe is a pen an writing the alphabet in the air. I do this three times a day in bed in the morning before I get up in bed before the light goes out and at lunch. I do each move and hold for count of ten then rest then go again. This is painful but seems to have helped. My PT also once a week places an electric pulse machine (like a giant angle poise lamp) on the site for 10 mins so this looks like it is also helping. Not sure if you are walking at all but I was told to go for lots of short little walks to gradually build up exercise not long ones. Since April my calf muscle is now 2.5cm smaller in diameter and ankle is 5cm larger in diameter that before. I have not had my thigh measured but I am sure it is a similar shrinking story to calf. It is going to take a while to get rid of this atrophy and build muscle again but you need to keep at the exercises. Hope this is helpful - thinking of you. Dee x
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| Sat Aug 5th 2006 02:43:33 PM MST | by Josie |
Hi I am preaty much prone to sprained ankles so i kinda know where ur coming from.
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| Sat Aug 5th 2006 02:43:55 PM MST | by Josie |
Hi I am preaty much prone to sprained ankles so i kinda know where ur coming from. Good luck
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| Mon Aug 14th 2006 07:56:56 PM MST | by Laura |
I broke the fibula 3 weeks ago, the swelling is still there. I have a brace and can take it off for showering and sleeping.
The dr explained that the removable brace is equivalent to a cast?!!
I still cannot put pressure on my foot I use crutches. I understand after 3 weeks some people are able to put pressure on their ankle??
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| Fri Aug 18th 2006 01:20:44 PM MST | by Dee |
Laura
You may want to try this site - http://bohnsack.com/2003/05/15/broken-ankle-progress/
it is still good ole bohnsack (bless him) but more people use this one so you will get more advice.
It really depends on your injury - I was nearly 9 weeks before I could weight bear. Good Luck D x
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| Sun Aug 27th 2006 12:40:23 AM MST | by Mark |
Thanks Dee, a month has passed and I am still having this same issue. I have been walking on it without a boot since April 2006, but still cant flatten my foot or like you said bend my knee very far with my foot flat. Coming down stairs is the worst. My main concern is that I heard if I dont get some of this mobility/scar tissue working within 6-9 months (happened 11/2005) then I will be stuck with whatever I have for the rest of my life and I'd rather not be limping around! If you can find out the name of that electric pulse machine, maybe I can tell my PT?? thanks
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| Mon Sep 4th 2006 03:33:10 PM MST | by Dee |
Mark
Sounds like you are really struggling. I had an electric pulse machine at the hospital - no idea what it was called but it was definitely NOT a TENS machine, they are for pain control.
I am going back next week to talk to my consultant to find out exactly how the ankle was set to ensure that the limit of movement I have now is going to be all then I will concentrate on strength. My PT thinks the bones have healed to a block which is stopping full range of movement. However I need this confirming so will let you know ! By the way there is hope for us all as there is a 74 year old man in my ankle PT class who has just had his WHOLE ankle replaced and is walking OK with a stick.
Dee x
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| Mon Sep 4th 2006 03:37:08 PM MST | by Dee |
Mark
Have a look here - some good info.
http://footandankle.mdmercy.com/conditions/trauma/fractures_talus.html
Dee x
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| Fri Sep 22nd 2006 04:37:21 PM MST | by Suzanne Close |
I just wanted to thank everyone for sharing their experiences. I broke my ankle, both sides, fibula and the inner bone that sticks out most Sept 20, 2006. I'm still swollen and not yet cast. The orthopedist recommended a plate and screws on the fibula and two screws on the other. I have to decide. I think I'm leaning toward not having the surgery because there was little or no displacement. Did anyone out there choose against surgery and heal fine? /Suzanne
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| Thu Nov 9th 2006 06:49:12 PM MST | by Lindsey Evje |
Hello everyone. On the first of September 2005 I had surgery for a broken inner malleolus, broken fibula and dislocated talus. Wiring, screws, plates--the lot. I've been to Physical Therapy twice a week since then, but have continued to walk with quite a lot of pain. I finally spoke to a sports medicine doc. who told me to have the hardware removed. Last week, I went into outpatient surgery and had everything taken out. Yesterday I had the staples removed and received an airbrace. For the first time in over a year, I'm walking virtually pain free. I can't believe it! I had given up on ever walking, dancing, hiking again! I have a bit of a way to go, but I'm now convinced I'll get there! My advice: really work with your P.T. get the metal taken out, eat properly, take supplements and DON'T GIVE UP. This is the most difficult physical ailment I've ever had to deal with, (and I used to teach ballet.) I now find myself watching dancers and runners, and saying to myself, "watch your ankles!". Get several opinions as well and educate yourself on what's out there in terms of re-building bone and cartilage. Best of luck, Lindsey
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| Fri Jan 5th 2007 01:25:17 AM MST | by Jody |
Hey... I broke my right fibula on Dec. 22nd while skateboarding. I'm in a cast for 6 weeks, and then some sort of boot after that I think. The doctor said 3 months until I walk. Of course I can't dive, and I commute from Canada to the US for work, so I can't get to work! Does anyone know anything about any sort of unemployment or injury coverage in the state of Michigan? I am just about out of sick days now, and I can't seem to find any information. Of course, being Canadian and mostly unfamiliar with the U.S. system, i did not know that I should have been paying for short-term disability that my work does not cover! Anyways, since I have worked in the U.S. for 8 years, I am not covered in Canada, so I have to figure out my options in Michigan and I found this site, just wondered if anyone of you who've been through this before might have any suggestion... Thank you!!!! Jody
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| Mon Dec 24th 2007 05:05:36 PM MST | by kayla |
hello everyone, yay im not the only one who broke a ankle really bad, mine was last may 30, 2006 it was softball game and the pitcher didnt like me so she tripped me whil ei was running to home plate. i broke my ankle off the tibua and fibula and my shin broke in 3 places. i dont know how the heck that happened. i tore, riped and borke all the lil bones in my foot, like i said i dont know how. i had surg. the next day i had 2 plates and 8 screws with a long screw put in then i had 2 months later the long screw out it took me 2 months ot move my toes. anyways right before x-mas i broke it again on a lil pebble so i had 10 more screws and a rod put in 4 months later on crutches and pain omg!!! not walking stuck in a boot. i had surg. well the 2 long screws broke so he told my mom to leave them in or i would have to start all over again. took me 6 months after that to walk again and run but now it hurts a lot and swollen i wonder if its the broke off screws. oh yeha and a metal arch.!! anyways sorry about eveyrone else DRINK MILK
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| Fri Dec 28th 2007 03:45:20 PM MST | by j |
Well, I won't get into the story of how my right ankle broke... but I have 8 screws and a metal plate. I didn't need PT... I was out of work for roughly 4 months. While I was in my house I would just rotate my ankle, move it up and down. I was sooooo bored at home!! It's been more 8 months and I'm walking, going out dancing (still got it baby! lol) and I even work out at the gym, I do squats.
I broke my tibia and fibula... It was a really bad break. I'm still a lil bit hesitant to run... a few weeks ago I jogged half a block and I was happy because I was able to do it without any pain. Pretty soon I will try jogging on a treadmill.
Don't worry just be positive, ask God to heal your ankle... and just keep on with the PT... I think i'm going to start going to the pool.. It's good for your ankle...
My ankle feels 95% normal.... I do have this little pain when I touch a certain area.. but I have to press down hard with my finger and I'll feel the pain.. or when I twist my foot a certain way.. but I can walk normal, and dance etc...
Good luck!! and God bless you and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
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| Fri Dec 28th 2007 03:51:39 PM MST | by j |
I forgot to mention... My right ankle is now a little bigger than left ankle.. the doc said it's gonna be like that forever.. and when I rotate my right ankle (the one that broke) it makes a little cracking sound each time... like when you crack your fingers... I decided to leave the 8 screws.. I don't want to go back to the hospital!!
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| Fri Oct 3rd 2008 10:31:26 AM MST | by kyle |
i was playing football and somebody came down on my left leg broke my fibula in a few spots but it displaced my ankle. and so i just had surgery they put and 18 inch plate in my leg along with some pins and operated on both sides of my ankle this happened a day ago and im in so much pain. i dont think its suposed to hurt this much. it feels like my leg is being twisted constantly and where they cut it burns at times its umbariable. the first night i did not sleep i was yelling all night. im just wondering how long this will last and if this is normal and what is in store for me to come
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| Tue Nov 18th 2008 10:12:53 AM MST | by Julie |
Hi, I broke my ankle 1.7.08 had surgery 2 weeks later, got plate and 8 screws, similar to the rest of you, I was in plaster for 9 weeks, been having physiotherapy since coming out of plaster, what I want to know is: Do any of you have similar symptoms as me? I am stiff in all of my joints, have had bursitis of the hips and knees since coming out of plaster, my physio says its because of not using my muscles etc, Do any of you have the same symptoms?
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| Tue Nov 18th 2008 10:29:32 AM MST | by Julie |
Hi Kyle, how are you feeling now? I was in pain for most of the 9 weeks that I was in plaster, had to have the plaster changed 7 times because of swelling, the burning is normal I think cos I had it tooo. Its 20 weeks today since I had the accident, it is getting better, but I am still unable to walk downstairs normally and still not allowed to drive because I do not have full movement in my ankle and across the toe joints, I start hydrotherapy tomorrow to see if that will help me regain some more movement. You have my sympathy, it is a long haul, but you will get better.
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