Hi there, after landing awkwardly in a sugar beet field after a charity parachute jump, I dislocated and broke my ankle in 3 places. I am now plates, screwed and wired and in a cast .... Mostly wallowing on the sofa. I realise from reading various posts, this is going to be a long recovery. However, 3 weeks on my ankle is becoming more uncomfortable, pins and needles, the odd twinge in my shin and I am starting to fret it's not healing. I am on my 4th cast, the first was a temporary one put on by one hospital to allow me to travel home, the 3nd was more a solid dressing after surgery, the 3rd I had on for 2 weeks but became loose after the swelling went down. After 2 weeks and a wound check another tighter cast was applied. This one is now a little loose, and I am resting for much of the day, but I have jarred leg which in bed, half asleep I tried to hitch myself up into a more comfortable position using the heal of my cast. I had pins and needles which fully me and then I felt sick wondering if I'd done more damage! I keep reading various forums and then scaring myself with tales of bones not healing and additional weeks been added in the cast! I keep telling myself it's because I have too much time on my hands being on my own all day and I am desperate to go back to work. I guess what I am asking, in a rambling, round about way, are the pins and needles and twinges normal and is it likely I've done more damage? I am back for an X-ray on the 27th October and then see my consultant on the 2nd November for what I am hoping will be cast removal. (7 weeks in cast by then), by now I am feeling almost claustrophobic in the cast,I am keeping leg elevated for most of day, but am struggling at night in bed as the leg really plays up then, but I can't cope with leg elevated and the duvet!! Sorry for wittering, but whilst friends and my partner are rallying round, it's been viewed as a 'typical Sally' sort of incident (I was raising money for Road Saftry charity Brake, which has caused lots of amusment due to broken bones). I am just feeling sorry for myself... I know I am!
Also, I am 47 and on HRT, and I would be interested if anyone could recommend a calcium supplement or is this not necessary? I don't smoke and have quite a healthy diet.
Well Sally three weeks is nothing you have to settle down and relax with leg up to stop swelling and allow healing ..again allow healing ....I know you are bored and want to get things moving but you have to sit back and again allow healing ..I had a triple hindfoot athrodiesis on my right ankle on the 22nd of July the cast comes of on 16 October yes 12wks ...you are normal to worry about ...is it working ...have I undone the good work by stretching in bed and felt a twinge ..you will feel thing going on in the comming weeks little pains ..its your ankle healing it's the damage nerves repairing its the bones fuesing ...So Sally stop thinking so much and allow your healing to go on and sit back with leg up to stop swelling and again allow healing that's all you have to do the surgeon has done his work you job is rest and stop worrying and again allow healing ...I can't wait to have my cast off next week I don't know how it will go ...if maybe I will have to wear one of those boots that you can take of for a few weeks to allow further healing ...what I do know is I have a good surgeon who is trying his best and in the next few weeks I will get back to normal ....so settle down Sally with a good book or film or something that helps you pass the time ...and again allow your ankle to heal ...good luck take care
Hi Sally I am one year exactly post surgery and still get tingling in my toes and numbness in the top of my foot, the dock says its nerve damage from the surgery.
The feelings you are having are all the same as I had when I was at your stage, it highly unlightly you have done any damage. Lying about is the hardest. Regarding the night time I found it the worst as I could never get confartable I was twisting and turning all night, foot outside the the bed clothes then it gets cold, back under and the pressure of the bed cloths hurts. Try and get a cage for in bed so you have room and no pressure from the weight of the bed cloths. Put some books under the bottom of the bed to raise it and that will elevate the ankle.
Jim
Crikey!! 12 weeks!! Good luck with everything, thank you for responding to my wobble. You are right with everything you said and it is good advice, I just need to try and relax and just get on with it.
That's a good idea with regards to a cage, thanks Jim, what I am learning through reading the forums is that it's good to talk to people who have gone through a similar process, especially those people like yourself who are further down the road so to speak!
Yes Sally it does good to talk but stick with the advice from you doctor, I wish you well in your recovery but as you have read the ankle is a very complicated joint and it will take probally a year to get back to full fitness
Unfortunatly I require more surgery ( ankle fusion) in the future but I am putting it off as long as I can. Please dont think this will happen you as my ankle almost exploded. I wish you well
Jim
Hi Sally I know exactly where your coming from,I had my left ankle fused way back in Junehad a plaster cast on for 6weeks no weight bearing ,had a X-Ray then an air-boot on for another 6 weeks , during that time I was worried just like you are I rang my consipultants secretary up twice asking if she would ask the consultant different things mostly about the feeling I was getting in my leg I went back twice for extras and was assured that everything is fine.ive got an inch long metal strip screwed to my shin with 6 Screw
just to assure you the feelings you are having is quite normal
Hi Sally ! I dislocated my ankle and broke 3 bones. I had surgery, plates and screws. SUGEON has told me its on the worse end of the spectrum the damage I did. I'm week 7 and have just gone in an air boot ! I like yourself are going mad due to inactivity and either sitting or laid around. I sometimes think that things are not right, what if this happens and what happens if that happens. I still have pain, swelling and lack of movement but these things take time. I'm slowly getting my foot and ankle to move. The skin feels tight but not as bad now. I get twinges, shooting pains, some parts feel a little numb. I don't think you have done any damage but you can always see your surgeon. I feel very anxious at times and end up reading info on broken ankles which frighten me. I know what you re going through . If you have an office job you will be back at work sooner than someone active on their feet. I did a parachute jump many years ago and got away with a sprained ankle. Hope you have a speedy recovery and try not to feel anxious ( says she who is just the same ) 😄
Hi Susan
Your response has made me smile! Thank you, I hope your recovery continues to go well.
I can really hear your frustration and pain. Have you considered a moon boot. I was put into one of these a few weeks after surgery. By no means walk with it. when I had mine and I was distressed I would take it off and just not move. I will say that with pins and a plate like I had, the joint is stable enough to withstand moving in bed. I can really understand your concerns. God...I thought I would be burnt alive in the house when we had the bushfire season here, because I just could not move unless I used crutches to go from one room to the next. You may want to consider a wheelchair to hire. Some have extras to support your leg. Once I got mine I was off and racing. Those initial weeks are excruciating, emotionally and physically and all I can do is send you cyber hugs and healing wishes. Please don't be afraid to get proper pain management drugs, in fact demand it from your doctor. I would say my broken ankle was the worst pain I have ever dealt with.
Hi Susan90892,
Sniff...I dislocated mine and broke it in three places and pins and a plate.....and I was doing doing something really boring...walking the dogs...Oh and I hadn't even gotten past the front gate
How is your recovery going? I be interested to know what happened once the boot was off when you could start walking again? I work as a PA and am really missing my job! I have been signed off for 7 weeks.... But from what I am reading walking is slow prgress 😒
Oh I'm sorry to hear this ! Can you tell me how long you wore the boot and how long before you were up and running again. Any info much appreciated . Thank 😄
You will surprised at how quickly the physio and specialist will have you walking again. I was using crutches a little more often after about a month from the initial surgery. But it was with no weight bearing. Then once my 6-7 weeks were up I started weight bearing with the aid of the crutches, then quickly onto a walking stick. Let's say I broke the bugger 4 October 2013. Due to swelling I had to delay surgery for 2 weeks after that. I started physio at the 6 week mark after surgery. By 26 December the boot was just off and I was walking with a stick for a week (for confidence) around Europe! Yes I was limited, but I have an auto immune disease which slowed me down, so I think it was that more than anything. I will have arthritis in it though, they say. I think the pain I have is connected with the auto disease more than the break. At the time of the initial break I was feeling so devastated and 'pushed back' by it. I was emotional. I had also broken the other ankle a year to the week before but not so badly. It has limited movement due to the scar tissue and your specialist may suggest in time if this effects you further down the track you can have it opened up again and cleaned up, but this in itself would create some scarring as well. But every now and then I can get a tiny little run out of it, but I am prone to falling over anyway, so I avoid it. You sound young so you will recover really well. It all feels so bad to begin with....but you will get there. I would love to know how you go and I am here anytime
Hi susan90892,
I posted this to Sally and I hope it helps you.
You will surprised at how quickly the physio and specialist will have you walking again. I was using crutches a little more often after about a month from the initial surgery. But it was with no weight bearing. Then once my 6-7 weeks were up I started weight bearing with the aid of the crutches, then quickly onto a walking stick. Let's say I broke the bugger 4 October 2013. Due to swelling I had to delay surgery for 2 weeks after that. I started physio at the 6 week mark after surgery. By 26 December the boot was just off and I was walking with a stick for a week (for confidence) around Europe! Yes I was limited, but I have an auto immune disease which slowed me down, so I think it was that more than anything. I will have arthritis in it though, they say. I think the pain I have is connected with the auto disease more than the break. At the time of the initial break I was feeling so devastated and 'pushed back' by it. I was emotional. I had also broken the other ankle a year to the week before but not so badly. It has limited movement due to the scar tissue and your specialist may suggest in time if this effects you further down the track you can have it opened up again and cleaned up, but this in itself would create some scarring as well. But every now and then I can get a tiny little run out of it, but I am prone to falling over anyway, so I avoid it.. It all feels so bad to begin with....but you will get there. I would love to know how you go and I am here anytime
Hi sally, I am at the same stage as yourselfand going through exactly the same emotions and worries. Every day Iseem to expierance different pains and niggles which set my mind into over load!! The one thing that really worries me is I can feel the plate on the right of my ankle more on some days than others. The plate on the inside of my foot dont seem to giveme as much conserns. I have been reading different forums for advise but no one seems to have the same question as i need answered. Does anyone else on here feel or 'think' they can feel the plate or pins. Im still in cast for another 3 weeks then hopfully into a boot? and some weight barring. At the moment though Im with you, slowly but surley crawling the walls and very very emotional. and yesfeeling very sorry for myself. ;-[[
just noticed the date!!!! silly me 2years late....hope all went well.
Hi Sandra-I'm not at the same stage as you and quite honestly I am trying to figure out how to explain what happened! I fell on the 4th of May and broke Tib and Fib. I had surgery on the 8th so I am less than a week post op. All I know at the moment is that I had a plate and screws put in. I'm wearing a plaster splint/brace. I was in such excruciating pain I honestly just depended on my husband to pay attention to my meds and learn the details. I am a lot more coherent now so I'll know everything better come Monday for my first follow up.
The most annoying problem I have is the pressure in my leg. That pressure amounts to SO much pain that no pain killer touches it. Today I took zero painkillers. I am a thousand times more coherent which will help me sleep at night ----finally -----but the mental frustration from the pressure/pain weighing on my foot/calf/ankle is extremely high. I can adjust my leg and for a brief second it feels good. After that very brief second the pressure sets in and it feels like someone has taken a bicycle tire pump to my foot. Nothing but nothing relieves it.
I know I am early on but does this sound normal? No one has explained to me yet what to expect at a first post op. This splint is really making me feel claustrophobic.
Hi Kate, you might consider starting your own discussion (using much of the above); I think that might get you more responses.
Are you keeping the leg elevated at all times? You mention experiencing the pain as "pressure". Can you describe this any better? The reason I'm asking about this is I wonder if you're getting some swelling inside the plaster, which coiuld explain the feeling of pressure.
In my own case, I don't recall much pain that I would describe as feeling like a lot of pressure. Just a lot of pain - both the unrelenting deep bone pain and all kinds of random shooting "FOOT'S ON FIRE!" stuff (I did a lot of nerve damage at the same time).