I had fractured my ankle in July this year. Had it in plaster for six weeks, had a review with consultant yesterday. Had another x ray and consultant confirmed the bone had healed,but I explained to him that I my ankle keeps swelling and is painful. Can't walk very far and he said it could be the soft tissue area may have fragments of cartilage init, but because I have a pacemaker can't have a MRI scan. He has told me to come back in 3 months time.I have to have psyiotherapy . what do i do if it keeps on swelling.I don't have much faith in the consultantbreally
Hi Susan ,
also i had a surgery 3 month ago , and now also i have painfull and my ankle keeps swelling.
I'm fighting this with only painkillers, because i yet have an pressure ulcer on my foot caused for 3 weeks of plaster.
In my precedents surgery I fighted the swelling with phisio and baths cold and hot of foot and also with baths with salt.
the last proposals seem stupids but are very good.
Hi Susan
I fractured my right ankle on both sides in September, fortunately I did not need surgery as both bones were not displaced. After 6 weeks the cast was removed, but I was not able to weight bear for another 16 days. It's been a slow process, but with exercise and physio I am now walking/wadling without a stick. I too have constant swelling, it appears within an hour of waking each morning. I use a compression bandage for support but have found nothing to alleviate the swelling. I will try the hot and cold foor baths and also the salt suggestion. My physio said that some people just swell more than others and that it could take 12 to 18 months for me to be back to my fitness level prior to the facture. Good luck with your recovery.
I too fractured my ankle, 6 weeks plaster now compression bandage. Can just about manage on one crutch and can take a few steps without, but swelling is a problem around the top part of the ankle, one day it's not too bad then we go into major swelling again, so fed up with it now. It's been 13 weeks now, seizing physio pm today but NHS so busy have only had 3 sessions so far, is it worth going private does physio help?
Hi Christine
I feel for you. I'm in the same boat, ankle swells each day if I do any walking or standing. Bed rest and ice packs are the only way to keep it from swelling - not practical after 15 weeks! I go to physio and do my exercises, but this is more to improve the strength in the ankle and leg and improve my walking. A friend suggested I ask my Dr for anti inflammatory tablets, so will investigate this avenue.
Will let you know how I go Best wishes, Gail
I'm only 5 1/2 weeks post fracture and still in a a cast so unable to help. But I have read a lot about these air cast boots which are supposed to help with pain and tenderness. I'm hoping to get one on my next visit but told they don't always give them out.
Would one of those help?
Hello Denise
I am almost pain free now. Mt continuing problem is the swelling and tightness in the foot and ankle. slight swelling when I get out of bed in the morning, but within two hours it's swollen and only rest, elevation and ice seems to releive it. Think it's something i'm going to have to cope with for a few more months. Hopefully by then I will be walking as I did prior to the fracture, now I have a slight sway and uneven gait. Best wishes for a speedy recovery Gail
I am in the same boat the ankle is not so painful, but swelling continues as yourself. My problem is its affected my knee which is now very painful, and a sore back. Uneven gait I feel sure, seeing physio again on Thursday she thought I might need to see consultant again, I hope not.
Hi Gail
I'm told that post fracture swelling can take up to a year, depending on the fracture and the person. Not looking forward to it.
Did they give you an aircast boot when they took your cast off? My appointment is tomorrow, fingers crossed that they will give me one...:-)
Denise
Hi Denise
No, once the cast was off I was on my own! Couldn't walk for 2 weeks, would have loved somthing to ease the pain and help with mobility, so hope they give you a boot. I'm beleive I'm looking at months more of swelling, as you said it depends on the person and my physio said the same - think I'm just that type of person! it's summer here so wearing the same sandals or trying to go bear foot not sure what will happen when it gets cooler - socks!.
Hope your appointment goes well... Gail
Hi Gail
They didn't give me an aircast boot, gutted...LOL
I'm still on crutches though, they sent me straight round to physio and get seen again in two weeks.
Denise
Hi Denise
You must keep up exercises and try to put weight on the ankle. Know it is very hard as you have no confidence that the ankle will hold, but small goals every day helps. You must get flexibility back, except for the swelling all day, everyday I can see I'm improving and if I take care to walk using heel, ball, toe my gait improves too! You'll get there, I've been where you are now and I thought I'd never walk as I did before the fracture. Since posting on this site I have improved, it just takes time. Take care and stay positive... Gail
Thanks Gail, I will definitely try, it is a bit sore and stiff at the moment, but doing my exercises as advised, and got my ankle elevated with an ice pack on as we speak, she said twice a day 20 minutes each. Then I have to take my daughter to the doctors later, it's normally about 10 minutes walk, not sure how long it will take me today....haha
Denise
Hi Denise I've had computer issues so only now been able to log on. I saw my physio yesterday and he's very pleased with progress. Walking is OK if I concentrate, otherwise I start the rolling gait and this then puts pressure on hip and knee. It's a slow process and could be 12 months before I'm back to pre fracture level! My balance is off, so I must stand on my right foot, lift the good leg whilst holding a weight with both hands and slowly rotating body from side to side, to be done on both hard surface and a pillow. Not to mention the other equally hard tasks. The swelling's still there, but I see a small improvement. I've been icing it, but the physio said at now 4 months it's not going to do much. Think I should have put more effort into this at the beginning! I do try to elevate it a few time during the day, not always possible. Hope this helps you, I feel I'm on the mend although very precious about the foot when I'm out, terrified that someone will tread on it or I'll slip. I can walk up stairs one at a time, but decending is hard, exercise is the only thing that will fix this. This past 4 months have been very difficult, but I can see a light at the end of the tunnel,stay positive, Denise....Gail
So glad you've got some good news, and the exercises will help I'm sure, I am doing mine religiously everyday in a hope that it will speed up the healing process. The past two days have been a bit painful though, I think I may have twisted it day before yesterday. I'll keep on at it though.
I hope you are on the mend now, when do you see your physio again? I see mine every two weeks at the moment.
Denise
I thought about your this morning Christine, because I remember you saying you had knee pain, my knee began to hurt this morning.
That's not good about having to see the consultant again, keep us informed on how it goes.
Denise
Seeing doctor on Friday as physio wants an X-ray done on my knee, will let you know. The ankle is getting better though, but the knee impedes the progress.
Hello Denise, i don't see my Physio for another 6 weeks as he is pleased with the progress, but was going fortnightly. We will get through this, it's just a matter of time to heal and exercise. Don't push yourself if you are in pain, only go to the point where you start to feel some discomfort then stop, otherwise you could do more damage. Be kind to yourself, rest when you can. I am going to ride a bike at the weekend, should be interesting! Gail
Denise, just read your comment to Christine about your knee. I still have pain in my knee, mainly when I am not walking correctly or been walking for too long. Try to walk using your entire foot - lift off high with your heel.
good luck, Gail
Oh wow, cycling, how fun, hopefully I'll be doing that again soon...:-)