FAO Sqad or anyone that might have ano idea :)

[looby1914]

Well week ago yesterday I slipped badly in the ice & snow.

Ended up breaking my Fib ((lower by ankle inc taking bit of bone off)) & Tib half way up calf very badly. Had to have surgery the day after to of what I can gather as was very out of it on a lot of painkillers as you can imagine.. Had my bone reduced.. screwed..plated ((tib)) and think of what I can remember they screwed my Fib by the ankle too..
I have two cuts.. inner left on ankle bone about 2Inches from ankle upwards.. then right outer side a good 4 Inch cut from ankle bone up to calf were break was.

I was then put in plaster cast the next day up to my knee. Was allowed home on the friday.

Does anybody know of recovery times roughly ???? Also what will happen when the cast comes off in 6 weeks time.. physio?? etc etc

Im not allowed to bare any weight or use that leg for a good 6 weeks.. hopping around on my left leg at the moment with the help of Zimmer frames LoL.

Any help or advice would be great.. the pain is absolutely immense not good at all.

[Sqad]

Not the best fracture to have chosen looby and I cannot specifically answer you question as it will depend upon whether the pinned (screwed ) segments have united viewed on the check X-ray. If they have, then the plaster will be removed and you will have at least 3 months of Physiotherapy and of course, remember that the pins will have to be removed...probably 12 months later.

Now, if after 6 weeks, there is still no healing of the bone fragments, then we will meet that hurdle as and if it arises.

For the pain...take Ibuprofen 600mgms as and when necessary up to three times a day.

[~Wingnut~]

Sorry can't be of any help but blimey looby you poor thing!!! All I would say is heed their advice and try to rest it as much as possible, even hopping I would have thought would put pressure on it so use the frames rather than hop even for small journeys. If the pain is that bad maybe ring your doctor.

Hope you heal quickly, rest, rest and more rest! Might be time to take up a hobby (cross stitch rather than sky diving ;o)
All the best x

[Dris]

O looby what an awful accident to have.I cant help medically but I just wanted to wish you well in your recovery and give you this ((((x))))

[looby1914]

Thanks sqad - i can't take ibuprofens as im asthmatic.. I was sent home with paracetamol and codeine. As you can imagine they don't touch the pain at all.
Didn't know the pins screws would have to be taken out eeeek presumed they would stay there oh no! I have an appointment on tuesday next week to get cast off to check the wounds and get re-plastered. Thankyou for your advice much appreciated as always xx

Wingnut- i hop on my good leg with the frames.. only way i can get around the house and that is a struggle. Thankyou for your words x

Dris - thank you very much hun x

[chrissa1]

Oh Looby I do sympathise with you. Back in 1994 I suffered exactly the same "tib & fib" break to my left ankle. I was told I was going to have an op like you but at the last minute the surgeon decided just to plaster it instead and let it heal itself.
I was in a hip to toe plaster for 2 months then in an above the knee to toe plaster for 2 months and then a below the knee walking plaster for another 2 months.
It took a long time but I was never in any pain and had no further ops to take out pins etc which that was what the surgeon was trying to avoid for me.

Keep your spirits up and sorry I can't be more help but I'm thinking of you.

[askyourgran]

Poor looby what bad luck, I was wincing as I read your post. I hope everything goes well with you, I would have thought the elbow crutches would have been better to walk with. Take care, be patient and rest, it's going to take a while before you do any dancing.

[chrissa1]

Have they not given you any crutches?

[looby1914]

Chrissa - it is agony isn't it. I have been given 2x zimmer frames.. 1 for upstairs 1 for downstairs and a pair of crutches too.. But they are for the getting down the stairs. They tried getting me hopping around on the crutches. But for some reason they made me really dizzy and unstable.. physios had to catch me several times as I just toppled over quite literally. So resorted back to the zimmers as im alot more stable on them :) xx

Askyourgran - thank you for the thoughts hun x

[micmak]

Looby. I know exactly how you feel, back in 1983 I fractured my pelvis, hip, ankle and 3 ribs. what did I do, slipped on ice anfd fell down 2 concrete steps. The hospital told me they thought I had been in a car crash. I was only 34 at the time. Painful. I hope you feel better soon.

[marie26]

As your level of mobility is now greatly reduced, you are at risk of developing a blood clot. Has that risk been attended to in your discharge plan? If not, I would suggest that you speak to your GP, or to the team when you go back for your check up next week.
The pain will get easier, but if you are not managing with the Paracetamol/Codeine combo, your GP will help with additional analgesia.

[boxtops]

Aww looby, so sorry to hear this! Check with a pharmacist, but have you tried Propain Plus? It's strong but I find it very good for migraine, whether it would help with your pain I'm not sure. Paracetamol and Codeine, plus. You can only take it infrequently though - not sure if that would help intermittently.

[bednobs]

orthopaedic pain is notoriously very painful, so sorry you are going through this.
i don't know the answer to your q, but would say if the pain killers aren't helping, please please go to your gp and get something strongerer. perhaps a short course of short acting morphine would be helpful

[chrissa1]

I agree with bednobs looby. You need more pain relief.

[looby1914]

Thankyou for all the advice guys

marie26 ~ i was given quite a few anti-clotting injections whilst I was in hospital so fingers crossed should be ok

bedknobs - been taking co-dydramol that I had at home seems to be taking the edge off the pain... well more then the laughable paracetamol and codeine do.

Will update you all on Tuesday once I have had my appointment & check up etc :) xx