Hey everyone in Keith. I just had surgery ORIF. and this FU×!\&! Sucks. Im in constant pain . the top of my foot is numb. Doc said that's normal. In going for first post op check up on Monday. Cany wait to get splint off even for a second. Im not sure i can do this. Im so depressed. I feel like a burden on everyone. And it's only been 2 weeks. Just needed to vent. If anyone can relate please respond. Thanks
Yes, it's been 8 weeks post surgery for me. It's not a fun time. I was cranky and mad that it happened. Then numb to it for awhile. You will get thru it though.
You have no choice. It will get better though. Hang in there. The numbness will fade. Your family is there to support you. Accept it. You don't want to risk delaying the healing process, that's for sure. We are all here for each other to gain support, share experiences and to vent to. Nobody else wants to hear us talk about are ankles every day, lol..
Hi keith
Hang on in there. I remember feeling like a total burden - hated not being able to do anything - even having a proper wash I had to have help with!! I broke my ankle 16 feb and had orif 25 feb. I am now bk to normal - walking, driving and full independance again! It does take time - I remember the worst part was in the cast as had to keep leg elevated and couldnt do much - crutches suck! But when I was out of cast and in boot - things got a whole lot easier! I ditched the crutches and hired a knee scooter - best thing I ever did - used it out and about and around the house and suddenly gained bk some independance - could cook meals - carry things into another room - it was a god send. Even went to NY and hired one out there! Physio was great and as soon as I could altho was painful and took things very slowly I got rid of the boot at the first opportunity and had to use cructhes again to start bk walking but perservere and u will get there I promise! Seems like a lifetime ago now! I would say I was properly back to normal at the beginning of may so does take its time! Also had vertigo from sitting and lying so much which was horrid so if you can get about a bit may be a gd idea. Just accept the help and know that there will be an end to this and u will get yr life back soon!! Good.luck with yr recovery and wishing u all the best!! Kate
Hi Keith,
Hang in there. Take it an hour at a time if you have to. I spent the first four weeks of my recuperation on my (non-fold out) couch and three of those were with an external fixation device (not sure if you are wearing one?). Sponge baths - dependent on others for food, etc.
Be easy on yourself and remember that "this too shall pass" and gratefully your convalescence will have an end. I know I felt that each day was better. Take the advice given to me here to "be patient" and let yourself heal.
Keep talking to us in this group. We are here to support you.
I just had an ankle fusion done 2 weeks ago. Im going thru the same exact thing u are. I had my post op done last Monday Dr said everything is healing well. I had a hard cast put in and that was horrible because my ankle and foot is still very swollen the cast was to tight and it was extremelly painful. I called the Dr yesterday because i could not take the pain anymore when i went into the office they opened up the cast and o got instent relieve. I only took a pain me lastnight at 7pm i have not taken one since because the pain is ok I can handle it.. hang in there I totally understand how you feel. But we have to take care of our self and rest up. I know its not easy but we dont want this recovery to go bad or get worse.. deep breath hooe you feel better soon.
Meant hope you get better soon. Lol sorry
Hey dawn thank you so much for reply. Not sure how to use this site and didn't see any replies so I posted another 1 so disregard when you see it lol. I've had 6 replies and they actually made me feel a little bit better. So thank you. I'll be posting as I progress through this journey. Thanks again
Hey kate thank you so much for your reply. I posted another cuz I wasn't sure how to use this site so disregard the other post lol. Yea I already got a knee scooter and yes it's great crutches were wearing me out. Mornings are the worst for me. I'm just trying to manage the pain at this point. I'll be posting as I go through this process. Thanks again....keith
Hey Mary thank u for ur words of encouragement this site is great. At this point I'm taking 1 minute at a time. I have never dealt with this much pain in all my 41 years. I posted another thread cuz I didn't know how to use this site so disregard the other post. Thanks again....keith
Hey dawn...thank u so much for ur reply. This site is awesome. It really has helped ease the mental anguish lol. So tired of telling people what happened....lol I never had to deal with this much pain in all my 41 years. Anyway thanks again. O I didn't know how to use this site and don't see my replies so I posted another thread so disregard my latest post. Thanks again...keith
Hey thanks for ur reply....now I'm scared to go to my post op appointment lol..I'm sure I'll be in a hard cast come Monday. I'm so looking forward to having splint off even for a minute. O I'm telling everyone this. I didn't know how to use the site so I posted another discussion kinda saying same thing so disregard lol. Hope ur day is going well....keith
Hi Keith,
Were you given pain meds?
Hey Mary they only gave me 5 mg Percocet and tramadol
Hi keith yeah we have all been there i totally aggree wen you independance is taken away from you it suckkks!! But sane as everyone else rest as much as you can.. I dudnt realise i wasnt resting enuff and iv undone all my hard work in 9 wks in a brace and pins from today i knly joined page yest too newby😜🤕😜
No problem. It will get better for sure. The worst day for me was when I didn't need anymore pain killers after two weeks. Sadly they made me too groggy to care much. But when my mind was no longer in a fog I almost wished I was still taking them because I was mad and upset about it. Lol, but I didn't want to become drug dependant. I'm at week 8 and rehabbing it. It is still not easy but I can walk and see improvements. My goal is to be jogging by January. All of this happened from my dog running full force into me. Who would have thought a dog could do this. But I will never underestimate how strong a dog is. He's a lab.
Keith- you vent all you need too. I had a bimalleolar fx almost 8 weeks ago- was in a splint for 2, cast for 5 and now a boot for 7 more. (though the outside incision is infected so am curretnly off my right foot again....for the weekend at least).
So- many of us have been there and know how hard it is- the cast was very difficult for me- and was so excited to get it off a few days ago. I can tell you that it DOES GET EASIER. It will - please just know that and hang in there. I am not gonna sugarcoat this- it is a tough injury. My foot was very numb until about week 5- it is still numb, but not like it was. I have a lot of nerve pain now and my inner ankle has a sharp burning pain that I am pretty sure is the 2 screws that are there. And now- infection... so it is not easy but again, IT DOES GET EASIER. I promise you that. I have had a lot of dark days- weekends have been incredibly hard when everyone is home and going out to exercise, or have fun, or do even chores.... hard to not be able to get up. Wow, I am making it sound so bad. But please do hang in there. It is a long road- and we all just go a day at a time. Sometimes, it is an hour at a time....
But you can do this. It is good to have things to look toward and getting the splint off is a good thing- means you are moving forward. Please keep us posted and feel free to vent anytime. It has helped me- btw, getting the boot is a huge thing too- and some docs do not use casts at all- maybe you will go straight to the boot. Hope so.
Hi dawn I just read you also had your ankle broke by a dog me too also a Labrador not mine I got a springer lab came running from behind and took my legs out three breaks discolated and torn ligaments people always seem shocked that a dog could do that much damage
Keith..Yes it totally sucks! I was 8 weeks in cast..it was the worst 8 weeks of my life. You loose all independance & reliant on people for virtually everything. All I can say is hang in there, the time will pass.
I'm now 2 weeks total weight bearing, no crutches. I'm now able to drive & can pretty much do everything..just slowly. I now appreciate the little things..like going out to the letter box & checking the mail.
All the best
I know. Mine was broke in 5 places. I am now paranoid when I go outside with him and when he runs around. But only him, not my horse who is quite stronger and outweighs him. Some sort of PTSD with the dog. I use the e collar and of he doesn't whoa on command he will feel the collar. I thought he was going to run around me, not into me.
I'm just curious how long did the whole process take for u to be 100% like u are now?