Hi all! I just wanted to introduce myself and my story.
I’m Des. In 1985, I was the front passenger in a vehicle that hit a tree larger than the car going 85 mph. When I went to see the car weeks after at a local garage, it was amazing that I was not killed instantly. The impact shattered my right ankle. The surgeon reconstructed everything using hardware and a bone graft from my hip. I was in a cast and on crutches for 4 months.
Fast forward 32 years and several bone spurs later, I am currently recovering from an 8/17/18 TAR surgery. I have high hopes of living the rest of my life with an ankle that doesn’t swell and ache all the time.
Very angrily! I was 16 at the time and, to have my mobility completely stripped of me in an instant, I was not a very pleasant person to be around at times. I remember my leg under the cast being so itchy all the time. There was no such thing as a knee scooter back then so, after four months on the crutches, I had really dark marks around my armpits for a really long time. When I took a bath, I hung my covered cast in a makeshift sling. We made it out of a wire hanger and hung it from one of the faucets.
Gosh Des, you are very fortunate to be sharing your experiences, me at a similar age I was in a high speed crash into a tree but walked away with minor injuries.
However last Feb 17 I was hit by a 24 ft railway sleeper this resulted in compond Fracture shattering my ankle and breaking my leg. Two plates and many screws, I was in and out and back in a cast for approximately 4 months, wheel chair for a period of time.. they say it’s a non union fracture, I’ve been on Exogen therapy for the last 212 days and I continue until they say otherwise. I continue to suffer with the swelling and throbbing pains I find my only relief when I elevate, I try not to depend too much on the pain killers. I have a severe limp which effects my knee and hip, when I go out I need a stick it’s not a confidence thing it’s because I don’t have the mobility in my ankle. They say in time I may get some of the movement back but they say I’ll never be able to run again. In the event that my ankle doesn’t unite then I’m wondering what would be the next step to consider, bone graft or ankle replacement. It’s early stages so I’m hopeful that the Exogen will work. Anyway thanks for sharing your story. If you can give me any pointers I would appreciate it.