Some 2 or so months ago I posted on here as I was concerned that 11 weeks after fracturing my fibula and suffering soft tissue damage I was still in a lot of pain. I had a lot of helpful advice from other posters so thank you for that. However it is now 6 months since my accident and I still can't walk very far or do much because of the pain in my foot. When I last posted I was about to see the NHS physio which I did and was given exercies to do but I'm still in almost as much pain when on my feet as I was months ago. Can anyone explain what is causing the pain and why it is not easing off? It is under the outside ankle, on the upper outside of the foot and on the inside arch. I appreciate that as I am 66 I may not heal as quickly as a younger woman but this seems to be going on a long time and I keep wondering whether there is something else causing the pain and not just tissue damage. Has anyone else been in the same position or can give me some advice?
I am in much the same position manicat, I broke my fibula 15 months ago and still have pain, and am unable to walk ! It really is such a frustrating and exhausting experience ! Every morning I think, maybe, it will be a little better - I have been told when it does heal, it will heal quickly I.e one day you have it, the next it has gone ! Let's hope so ,
I am 5 months out and have the exact pain. It's on the inside ankle. It burns and hurts when I walk. I have zero pain sitting/laying. I have 2 screws on that side but the pain seems to come from under the ankle bone. Sometimes it feels like a sting. I have tried massaging Without much help. I am so frustrated and depressed.
I so feel everyone's pain.....I'm six and a bit months not walking. Two breaks and dislocated . I'm FWB now with forearm crutches but my leg and foot are not functioning properly. I'm in wheelchair to do chores and walker for pools. I had same pain your talking about and at two months diagnosed with CRPS/RSD pain is the main symptoms with burning, stabbing, red swollen foot that is shiny. They told me 1 to 1 1/2 years to walk. I'm determined to be sooner, I'm grateful I'm up on crutches. I am using a compounded cream of gabbapentin and ketamine, it has wiped my pain out. It goes on base of spine three x day works amazing. It is not mainstream treatment lucky my Dr knew about it. I'm 65 so know things take longer but chipping away day by day. I wish you all welol. Take good care. Best. Jannie
Hello.
I totally understand. I shattered my ankle. Plates, screw in both Fibula and tibia with 2 screw inner ankle bones. Mine was osteoporotic fractures which cause greater pain and take longer to heal, as I'm 60. I didn't find this out until after I fractured my ankle and had a Dexa Scan. I was walking at post op 5 MONTHS WITHOUT aids and my foot killed and sometimes still does today post op 10 MONTHS. The muscles etc are all conected to the foot and with invasive surgery everything gets cut and this conects to that , hence I had/ get great pain in my foot.I am still doing physio and still have pain when standing long periods or walking. I'm not there yet but come a long way. Keep patient and it will improve. 🙂
I am post op 10 MONTHS and have exactly the same pain as you where the two screws are. I can't have mine removed but if you're young, you may be able to have them removed but your surgeon is the best to ask. 🙂
Thank you joan9 and everyone else who has been kind enough to reply. I think what I find so frustrating is that it was a very simple fracture with no operation and here I am still struggling just through being knocked over by my dog. At least I know now I am not alone as I was beginning to think there was something else wrong that hadn't shown uo on the x-rays. I may ask my GP for the compound that jannie26408 is using. I am taking prescription pain killers but only once a day in the morning so I can walk the dog. I tried comfrey & arnica cream but not for long as it only supposed to be used for a max of 4 weeks a year which was a bit off putting.
I have been told the Orthoptic Clinics are very good, if you have one close by, and can get a referral.! They also take private patients, but would probably be quite expensive - anything is worth a try, if you are in pain !
Joan, I looked up ORTHOPTIC and it seems it's related the eye??? Did you possibly misspell the word?
Hi Jannnie, sorry for your circumstances. CRPS is a horrible condition. Glad to hear you found some help.
Wondered what type of doctor diagnosed you and what doctor prescribed the cream???
Thanks and best to you for continued healing.
Hi there, can't imagine this going on for 6 months. Did you get CT, MRI or bone scan? If not I would insist on something higher than plain xray.
What type of doctor are you using? Orthopedic, podiatrist, neurologist?? Maybe a visit to a Pain Management Specialist, not for meds, one who does injections for inflamation could be worth an evaluation. They evaluate the condition prior to any shots and can also order testing such at CT/MRI/BONE SCAN, etc.
Also, look up 'Anterior Ankle Impingement' and 'Ankle Arthroscopic surgery' (sometimes used to identify & correct at same time by orthopedics). See if any you can relate to any of these articles. I know we all should avoid surgery if other non-evasive methods can help. Just some considerations since you are struggling so.
My best to you that you get some improvement soon.
My Dr us a functional MD
I have the same problem. I also have pain on the front of my foot because my toes are not flexing properly. I started walking again a few weeks ago but put too much weight on my heel until it started hurting more than my foot. SO I started wearing sketchers type shoes to get the pressure off my heel but then I the front of my foot hurts. It's a vicious cycle.
I have been instructed by. My PT to sty to stand and balance on the bad foot, bearing all my weight on it. I have to do it to break up the scar tissue or something like that.
Ugh.
Hi Susan. I am still unable to move the front of my foot, or my toes, 15 months post fracture ! Actually, I am still not able to walk unaided too - .what a nightmare ankle breaks are - utterly exhausting ! Get well quickly .
Sorry angeladvocate, my mistake ! I should have put ORTHOTIC - sorry about the P !
Oh Joan, that's okay, just wanted to look up and see if we had any here. Thanks for response :-)
Susan, I have the same issue. How long have you been weight bearing??? I started 3 three weeks ago after 10 weeks NWB fibula ORIF surgery on 3/15. Can only bear weight on my heel. Not on front of foot or tip toes no matter how hard I try. Pain causes me to walk on heel, but with pretty bad limp. Can only stand on bad foot for a few seconds before pain causes my good foot to drop or grab the counter to catch my balance. Pain more on top of foot vs bottom. Keep going back to one crutch to support bad foot as I too am feeling too much pressure on heel holding all my weight. Surgery was on angkle, not foot, so I don't understand why all this pain/weakness with the front of foot and toes??? Have a follow up Friday and gonna see if doc thinks a bone scan or CT of foot is appropriate as this doesn't make sense. Keep thinking maybe they missed a stress fracture in foot. Need piece of mind.
They are brilliant, apparently ! I have managed to get a referral on the NHS, but would probably have gone private had I have not. Apparently, it is expensive, and the waiting lists are very long, but I need to get something done, or I think I will go mad from frustration !
I bought an ankle compression sock that I found at my local cvs.
I'm a size Womens US 9.5 and bought the L/XL for my foot to accommodate the swelling, and the S/M for when the swelling goes down. The foot has so many angles and pockets that it's hard to maintain good compression on it and this does a great job of doing that. It fits well under a splint or a compression stocking and made me feel very secure.
I also massage my foot and ankle with a silicon mitt that has 9 ball bearings attached to it. Each ball bearing is about the size of a marble and they feel great and help to break up the scar tissue.
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What I find very interesting is how we all seem to be being given different information as to how to assist in the healing. I was told not to use any kind of compression or supprt bandages but to do the exercises every day. I have to say that having now disciplined myself to do the exercises, my foot and ankle are definitely improving. Having asked around it appears that soft tissue damage does take a long time to fully heal and I suppose one just has to accept that. Yesterday was a milestone as I had my first day out for 7 months when a friend and I took the train down to Portsmouth Quays (an outlet mall). I took 2 painkillers before we went and didn't take my crutches. I managed to walk on it all day, apart from a few coffee stops, and only suffered a small amount of bearable pain. A month ago I was despairing that it would never get btter but now I can see some light at the end of the tunnel. So take heart people - it will get better.