Hi Dee
i wanted to ask you a question, I'm going Wed for 2.week post op X-ray and hopefully cast. Did you at this point when your foot was down, that the foot starts to throb & notice it getting better when you are allowed to have the foot down again. My foot feels like it's got a 100 pound weight on it. I've stayed in bed with only bathroom breaks. So far I think so good. I've got my pain mess down a lot too. I'm looking forward to being able to at least have my foot down. I Am non bearing for 6 weeks. How long were you non weight bearing Dee? How is your progress now. Any tips for when the staples and Sprint comes off. Thanking you and enjoy your day!
best
jannie
Hi there. I reviewed our emails. Your injury is much more extensive than mine. I had a ruptured tendon and you had breaks. I had a splint for 2 weeks then cast for 4 weeks. That was my 6 wks non- weight bearing. When I put my foot down during that time it would get some swelling. I don' t think my surgery is comparable to yours. I had no xrays which one would expect with your breaks. I walked on my ankle a few days ago during therapy. I was so happy. My therapy homework is to walk 3 times per day with regular shoes. I actually limp more with the boot on than with my shoes on. I know it's difficult being layed up but when you get to where I am... Time seems to have gone fast. Just keep your foot up. That is key...for as long as you can feel it ...it needs to be up. Good luck. Dee
Thanks Dee, it's day by day so far I'm beng diligent with foot up. I can get form chair/ bed / commode easily now. It's funny how one adapts. I am happy your walking more now. I'm sure you've paid your dues too. It's so helpful having this post to see the progress of others. I wish you well and walking smoothly before too long. Take good care
Jannie
Good to hear you're getting physio and noticing some improvement. It's amazing how things come back. The purple color was really bothering me, but it seemed like it went away very fast when I started physio. I find that my mood is better, but still have highs and lows. I'll be excited to progress, but then feel some exaggerated pain after exercising it. One of my bigger pains is the skin over my ankle at the incision site, it is burning after standing in the boot for any length of time. I have gotten rid of the wheelchair and use the crutches for icey patches. I got to the doctor Dec. 10th. I didn't wear the boot at all yesteday or today because of the skin burning. I can't even put a sock on it. I was walking with a walker in the house and now today I went out and walked in a store without anything. I am limping and having to take small steps. Now, at home my ankle hurts. The physio had me doing things last week without the boot, pedaling a stationary bike, side stepping holding on to the wall, walking heel to toe holding on to the wall. It is truly amazing the progress from one day to the next, but my ankle is stiff, slightly swollen, pinches like the hardware is pinching when I rotate it and hurts enough to take a tylenol. Anyway, I happy to see you and others progressing from this tough injury. I've never had to be so patient. It kills me.
Skin over my insicion still bothers me some. To be more comfortable in my boot I ordered on line 2 socks that are specifically for wearing under the boot. They helped immensely. Much thicker and fluffy than what came with the boot. Gave me some padding over my scar.
Thanks for the tip Dee. I will look into those fluffy socks. Was there a particular brand. I have a Breg boot or just look for air boot sock?
I searched the Internet for socks for air boot and they came up. I ordered 2 so I could trade off. Good luck.
I found it under sock liner for aircast walker. Read the questions and you' ll see why I ordered them. Very comfortable.
Nice to hear from you again Linda.Im pleased that you are making good progress and to be able to walk unaided. I have physio again on 9th Dec & orthopaedics the day after, hopefully will be discharged from them. I'm still concerned that my ankle is still swollen though, I expect this to be normal during exercercises but it only seems to relax when I'm in bed. It is normal to feel stiffness and pinching within your ankle as physio told me that this is everything being woken up. It is still very frustrating that I have limited movement and still not driving or working.I agree that it is tough and a long journey, I have never had to be this patient, it kills me but one day we will all recover from our injuries. In the meantime good luck and keep smiling
Thanks Dee, on line to pick some up. Great tip........
Hello
ive been away from here awhile now and at 5 weeks post op. I see the surgeon in 2 more weeks because of the Holiday vacations. I get re xrayed and see what is my prognosis. So far my spirits have been good but the past 2 days can't kick this blue mood. I'm still non weight bearing and possibly for 6 more weeks. My foot is still numb, can wiggle my toes a bit but the rest of my food feels paralyzed. I think it's all hit me after Christmas and the reality of the injury. Any kind words of encouragement would be greatly appreciated! Wishing you all Happy Bew Years coming up fast,
thanking you.....
Hi Jannie.
I get depressed and feel down. I'm post ankle op a few months. I still can't walk properly and use a crutch and still at times in a camboot . I'm Worse end of the spectrum regarding ankle breaks, really stuffed mine up. Still off work due to standing and running about all day. I have numbness in my ankle and foot. Have about 75% movement and still recovering. Some people think it's an easy fix thing but they are just ignorant. Only a true ankle breaker knows what I'm talking about so don't worry it all takes time and there is no quick fix. I've come a long way but still got a long way to go yet. I'm nearly 60 so I have to have time on my side. You will get through it as we on here are walking with you or hobbling with you. Just be patient and take it easy. You are not alone. Keep thinking good thoughts and keep smiling. Hope you recover soon.
Hi Jannie,
I was having depression at 5 weeks post op. It is very hard to to NWB and no one gets that unless you've gone through it. You are nearing the end of the worst of it, hoping they don't add 6 more weeks. At 5 weeks I wondered if my limp purple foot would ever hold my weight again, but once your bone is healed and you can weight bear your recovery will start. It still has ups and downs, but more ups. I'm at 14 weeks today and I'm walking without the boot. My ankle is stiff and hurts more at night after walking on it. I keep thinking I wish I'd never done this. You've gotten through the hardest part. It will get easier in the next few weeks. Wishing you a speedy recovery.
Thank you Linda, you've given me hope to move forward. I'm happy at 14 weeks your walking again. My poor little right foot, my good foot was sprained when I broke the left one so its hurting too, Yes, I say too why did this happen, but it did so trying to stay with each day and not project too much into the future. What are doing for pain? Are you using topical creams or pain meds at night - its worst at night so far. Take good care and here's hoping for a fabulous New Year!
Thanking you MsCamboot - you are giving me hope, I know it's early and the prospects looking into the future right now is overwhelming to say the least so trying to stay with each day. You got that right on people thinking oh get on with it, just hop and move along.....it must be hard being off work, I'm 65 so retired thank God, it could be way worse on that front or young kids, that would be near impossible so grateful for that. It means a lot to have support here and wishing you a very Hapoy New Year and a walking future........take good care
I will check in after my post op 6 week check up in January
Hi Jannie.
I am 3 months post op, still walking with crutches, not working and financially not in a good place.
I have been having 30 mins physio each week and at week four, with little improvement.
It is normal to feel down, especially at this time of year when people are enjoying there selves.
It is frustrating when talking to people, they dont understand the complications nor length of healing time required to recovery.
I still have swelling around my ankle, and stiffness around my calf mussels.
I have been told by several nurses and consultants that it can take up to 12 months to recover from the swelling.
On a positive note, the pain has been minimal & don't take pain relief.
Things will improve but slowly and we are all experiencing similar feelings.
I do hope that you have good news when you visit the surgeon in 2 weeks
At least you have the worst time behind you, the first month is not good, after that, I found it got easier realising that the next step will be weight bearing, after that is physio.
I wish you and all us ankle breakers a better, healthier, and prosperous New Year
Thank you Paul, your response helps me a lot and is realistic. Yes, people don't GET it, walk a mile in our shoes. It's going to be my strength to keep a can do attitude but figure a down day is to be expected. If any of you believe in visualization and spontaneous healing this could be our opportunity to give to each other with positive insights into our individual situations but similar too. Wishing you well, and for a better and prosperous New Years!
Your on the path and may walking become better each and every day......
best
jannie
Hi Jannie,
I have been taking tylenol multiple times a day. I was unable to take anything stronger the entire time. I have been massaging my calf and foot. I was having a lot of burning on the incision and around it. I got some lidocaine patches which helped some. I've been getting massage every week which has been helpful. At first, it felt like stepping on glass, but that went away pretty fast. I have had lots of weird pains that move around, on the top of my foot, on both sides. Yesterday, my was walking and my foot had a hard spasm and I was afraid it would send me to the floor. The fear of injuring myself again is still there. I have jumped out the boot probably earlier than I should have. One issue with that is when walking in public people act impatient with how slow I'm walking and I have the fear they will knock me down. With the boot or crutch I think they realize I'm injured, but without it they think I'm a pain and want to push by me. I was also putting some arnica cream on my leg and ankle. My foot, ankle and leg were blackish purple from the bruising all the way to my toes. At this point, that has gone away, my skin was dry and peeling, now it's fine. So things do get better. Some days it feel like its enough and some days it doesn't. My daughter and her boyfriend and 6 year old child are hear visiting. I've been cooking, washing. much more than I had been and my ankle is sore. I've been ignoring my exercises because I only have so much stamina. My daughter has not seem me since I broke my ankle and she thinks I'm normal and has all kings of things for me so do. She doesn't seem to understand that I'm limping, hobbling and not up to par. I am very happy she's here and love seeing them so I will accept this and deal with it. My husband has been trying to protect me from overdoing. He knows how hard this has been on me and him. I have done visualization and I've been trying to meditate everyday. I will include visualizing you and me bending over to tie our tennis shoes before we stand to go on a lovely walk in the forest on a soft winding path with the sun on our backs making us feel alive and full of energy with smiles on our face feeling joy from within.
Hello Linda
ive reread this post from you and I wanted to thank you for your words and visualizations. I'm having a rough day after being to finally at week 7 put my foot down to prepare for weight bearing I guess I over did it because today I'm in excruciating pain and near tears. My foot is locked and feels so weird. I don't know if anyone else is had this. I took a pain med, icing it and see how it goes. This is worse pain than the initial surgery. I guess time will tell, they don't give you much to go in and this forum is a life saver. Wishing a good day and many walks in the sunshine.....
Hello Jannie.
I know we have spoken before, but am sorry to hear of your latest pain.
After having my surgery end of September and having had physio since 10th December, am still not walking unaided.
I don't think 30 minutes a week is enough physio, even though I am doing all the exercises and massaging my ankle, taking walks outdoors.
My ankle still is swollen which is restricting movement, is bending, squatting etc.
I still get varying degrees of emotions from being angry to depression.
I have been advised by physio that the swelling could take from 6-12 months to settle & then only regain 90% movement.
It is a long journey but with the help and support of this forum we will all soon be looking forward to walking again and enjoying the long summer evenings.