Ankle surgery, reconstruction

[paw]

Katie, I have some experience with broken ankles and surgery. Mine was broken in three places and I had surgery to repair it (lower leg was broken in one place). There was a lot of ligament damage too. I had several pins placed to hold it as it healed, then one was removed after 2 months so I would have motion in the ankle. I was in fiberglass casts for a total of 4 months. No one knew at that time that I have EDS or hypermobility, so I was treated like any other broken lady.

AGHHHHHHH! (It hurt!) At that time my kids were ages 4 years and 1 year old. I had to manage to do their care. To change diapers and feed the kids their lunch were the biggest issues for me. My husband left their food ready on plates in the refrigerator but I had to get it to them. My doctor said I was too young to use a walker, so all I had was crutches.

I read that you are not using your crutches. Can you talk to your doctors and see if a walker or wheelchair will be better for you right now? I am concerned that you will undo the repair if you walk on it before it is ready. I KNOW that crutches are not a good option because my shoulders are messed up too. With a walker, you could at least have a basket to carry things.

I ended up being off my foot completely for 4 months and then gradually worked back into walking with a stick. I healed very well from all that and eventually stopped using the stick and walked on my own.

I wish you a quick recovery and full function in your ankle when this is over. One thing I did that helped me move things around was to make a deep pocket from a small towel I folded and sewed and a strap from a bath robe that I could put a thermous of tea into so I could get it to the living room and sit and relax once the kids went to nap. Any type of bag or purse with a long strap that you could hang over your neck might work. My doctor did not give pain medicine for at home so I needed that tea!

Get Well Soon!

[tireesix]

Thanks Paw........ I fear the worst though. I have had seveeral incidents where I have fallen over and it has left mee in alot of pain. It all dies down eventually but my ankle has started clicking again etc etc etc....... It just doesn't feel rioght ya know? But we shall wait and see, it might just be me being paranoid.

The problem with my crutches is the sheer lack of room in the flat. It is really impossible to use them. I have 2 children under 3 and my DH in a one bedroom flat and stuff gets everywhere. Whether I use my crutches or not I am constantly having accidents, tripping over stuff, slipping on tthings etc. I can't even fit in the kitchen with them so am forced to go without. This unfortunutelyy means that a walker or chair would also be pointless because I quite simple cannot fit them in the flat or use them in the flat.

I really wish I had insisted on an xray before this op. We do not even know the full extent of what happened originally because I refuseed to go to hospital. I was unable to walk for a few weeks. Feeling like a bit of a pillock right now...........

But fingers crossed eh??????

[paw]

Katie, they told me that if it feels like something is "not right" to come in to the office and get it checked. So my toes were dark purple blue and it hurt to a degree that there are no polite words to type on here.

Back in to the doctor's for a check. It is supposed to swell and be blue!! (No one told me that) Things did get better though. I taught my son to trick my baby girl to come close enough so I could snatch her for a diaper change , I really, really stayed off the foot almost all the time. I could not drive because I could not get the kids in the car seats and it was simply not worth trying to take them out. I kept the foot up on pillows, we watched WAY too much TV and kids movies. And it hurt.

The only thing is that time was on my side. I had a doctor who insisted on surgery right away, he fixed it right with pins so at least the bones are where they belong. I healed very well (incisions on each side of the ankle) and when they finally let me start to walk again, I took it slow.

Once you get out of your cast, ice is your friend. You will be swelling up a lot as you try to use this foot. Keep it elevated when you can and don't try to do too much too soon. You will need to get a support of some type to wear after the cast. I did not get one since they did not know I have EDS.

It does sound like you need another recheck since you fell. Take care of yourself! ((hugs))

[paw]

Katie, do you have help with the chidren? I sure hope you have someone to at least get them meals ready. That was the hardest thing for me. Get stacks of kids movies and story books and things you can do playing on the floor. I would put a cushion on the floor to sit on, a pillow for under the foot, and lean my back against the sofa I was supposed to be sitting on. I was actually able to get up from the floor -- I don't know if I could do that now with a cast on.

We played with the big LEGO blocks, watched TV, and I let them drag out way too many toys from their rooms. The best I could do to "clean up" was to toss things all into the same corner and their Dad had to put things away when he got home. Yes, I literally threw the toys across the room when they went down for naps! (Not good to let the kids see this!) I just needed to keep a clear path so I would not fall.

I hope you heal quickly so you have some mobility soon. It will continue to hurt for quite a while, but it does get better.

[tireesix]

OK, more news....... It now turns out that I am going to be in plaster for an extra 2 weeks beacause...... (Wait for it)............ They cannot get me in any earlier........... This whole thing has just been a complete mess from start to finish.

Thankyou Paw........... I am trying to keep positive lololol......

[paw]

Katie, I am trying to look for a positive angle to keeping the cast longer. I KNOW you just want that off so you can soak in a nice relaxing bath and see your own foot again.

I have a friend in California who broke her ankle before Christmas. She does not have EDS or HMS. She made a choice to "wait and see" if she could avoid surgery. Well those bones won't heal in the right place. Surgery is set for May 15. MORE casts for my friend. She is getting pins and starting over with the healing process. (I think she made a very bad choice not to have it fixed right away)

So, the only good thing about keeping the cast longer is your bones are getting stronger, thicker and ready for you to be back on your feet -- BOTH of them! I am sorry for the delay but I hope it has benefits of being more healed when they do cut that cast off. ((hugs))

[tireesix]

Its ok, I sorted it........ I spoke to about 3 people, all said 'it doesn't matter if you are in your cast an extra 2 weeks'.......

My reply:
I don't care about being in plaster an extra two weeks, however, I'll be damned if I am going an extra two weeks in this cast.... Its already half way to knackered and needs to be changed....... So either way, you are going to have to see me next week....

And as if by magic, I have an appointment to get my cast taken off lolol......

[paw]

I hope you get a good report at the appointment. Take it easy if they send you home with nothing on. It takes a while to get back up to normal walking. That bath will feel REALLY good though.

[tireesix]

I am out of plaster!!!!!!!!!
looking good, still soree and for some reason my incision still isn't completely healed but who cares!!!!!!!!! I can walk!!!!!![/b]

[paw]

I am so happy that the cast is off. Now listen to one who has been there and take it easy with that foot! Just ease back into walking carefully. If you need a support, ask for one. (I did need an elastic support myself) I have a friend who does not have EDS and she did too much too soon after ankle break and now she has to have surgery in a few days.

I hope they can do something to speed up healing of the incision. I seem to heal up fine so far when I have surgery. With the shoulder surgery I had a small split in the incision and then it healed up normally. Good luck!!!

[sarahh]

Hi Katie yay well done hun for getting out of plaster I bet your really glad. I think the soreness and healing will take a while yet but I hope that it heals quickly for you. Rotten to be in plaster for the extra 2 weeks though. I have never had a plaster cast but have heard they get very hot and itching though.

Take Care hun

Sarah x

[tireesix]

Just to let you know............ I am still having problems with my ankle..... Its not going over as much but there is dedfinitely something still wrong.....

I am glad I went for the op though because it has improved things even if it is only slightly.

[paw]

It took me a long time to get over the feeling that there was something wrong with my ankle. I had swelling and pain for months following the surgery and it would turn (like a sprain) at the smallest thing.

Please see your specialist and have the ankle checked out. They might do an X ray or scan and make sure things are as they should be. Expect it to take quite a while to get strong though.

Most of my improvement was gradual. Each time I could walk a litlle longer or stand more it was slowly strengthening. ((hugs)) I hope you too just need more time.

[iina]

For many years doctors and nurses have told me that operation might just get things worst, and that you should not operate naturally hypermobility joints. They've said that after op the pain can be even worster than before it. And they don't mean the recovery, they mean the time years after the op.

I really would like my ankle to be operated, and I doubt if there even can be worster situation and pain than I have now.. If the operation would even get me rid of ankle braces i would be happy! ..I could wear skirts and sandals again..

Is there anyone who has been operated for years ago, and could tell me about the "side effects" of the op and if there is still pain? And what do you think about that what doctors and nurses have told me? Im not sure if I should believe it, because my rheumatologist hasn't said anything like that, only the doctors and nurses from health center or from my school,and i don't know if they even know at all what hms is..

[Blaadyblah]

Hi Iina, you've not said what specific surgery you're thinking of so its a little difficult - lots of people here have had successful surgeries, lots have had problem surgeries. In general it's best to avoid surgery if you have EDS as we don't heal very well. These are the sort of questions you should be asking your surgeon to be honest - no-one else can say what kind of surgery you might need, how successful it may or may not be and whether or not it is going to help with your specific problems.

For me, I know I had to give up all hope of skipping about in pretty shoes and skirts long, long ago, but even if surgery were available to fix the problems I experience in my knees and ankles I'm not sure I would attempt it - I've had surgery on my legs before, healed badly and the effects were only useful for a limited period anyway, I'm worse now than I was before! If I want to wear pretty shoes and a dress these days I use my wheelchair.

You really do need to talk to your surgeon, sweetie - they are best placed to advise you, just remember that even if you did have surgery it may not give you the full mobility back in your ankle, you may still need to brace the ankle afterwards - surgery isn't always a 'good as new' option and it does carry quite serious risks for normal people (including that it might make things worse), never mind for us bendy bods.