u/Aromatic-Bench-9212

I’m 2 weeks post op, lt ankle ORIF. I was told syndesmotic repair was required but surgeon opted out. Since day 3 post op(as soon as the nerve block wore off) my entire foot started vibrating/pins and needles sensation that wouldn’t let up. Intense stabbing pain that moves around the foot randomly, unable to sleep more than an hour a two at a time. Contacted the surgeon, was made to feel foolish and told the post op wrap was probably too tight. After many attempts to explain I knew something was wrong I was asked to come in. Removed the splint, NP stated I must feel so much better, nope. Worsening pain and tingling for days. Returned to orthopedic surgeon today and after beating around the bush she finally states they suspect CRPS. Changed medication and told me to start PT immediately. Does this sound right? I feel like I should be seeing a neurologist like yesterday. Can anyone advise? TIA

9 days post ORIF on my left ankle. Literally living a nightmare. (Long read, sorry)

For context, I am no stranger to immense pain. I’ve made it through a complete knee blow out, first surgery was ACL cadaver graft and meniscus repair, second was meniscus removal with approx 40 % remaining, third I went in for a scope for bone chip removal and woke up to a second ACL cadaver graft.Lastly I had a total knee replacement. All of this transpired from a slip in my stupid ex’s vomit. Yeah I know, cool story. Needless to say, I’ve had some major exposure to intense pain. I digress 😩

On 4/19, I tripped and fell somehow resulting in a distal fibula fracture and syndesmotic tear on both sides of my ankle (my GOOD leg unfortunately).
04/20 I was in the orthopedic surgeon’s office at 8:30a, incredibly thankful he had standing appts for those who went to a specific ER. Here’s where shit goes downhill. Initially he told me it would heal without surgery. Then he looked at my images again and expressed concern about the alignment of leg bones and top of the foot. He told me to go home, keep it elevated,NWB, and we would reassess in a week when swelling went down. Before walking out he basically said to prepare to have surgery the following week, awesome news right? 👎🏼
04/29 Follow up, NWB X-rays, definitely required surgical intervention. Scheduled surgery for the next day. Unfortunately, the surgery center over booked and I got bumped off the schedule.
3/7 Surgery day-nerve blocks, general anesthesia, ORIF and according to surgical notes, syndesmotic repair was deemed unnecessary.

If you’re still with me, I’m getting to the point, I promise.
So the nerve block lasted way longer than expected. That was awesome..
Around day 3, I was hurting but nothing some pain meds wouldn’t knock down.
Day 4 my foot started tingling, annoying but again I’m wearing the giant post op splint/dressing so I figured it was just swollen and maybe the wrap was a little too tight. I woke up probably 2 hours after going to bed in excruciating pain, but it was no where near the incision.
My foot had the feeling of pins and needles and it felt like something was stabbing the outside of my foot closer to the heal, RELENTLESS pain that I can’t describe with words. A lot of tears and no sleep, I was on the phone with the surgeons office as soon as they would answer the phone. Asked for help, asked if I could take ibuprofen, that was a no, they prescribed another NSAID, kinda brushed me off honestly.
By day 7, I hadn’t slept more than 2 hours at a time, the pain was progressively getting worse. I was desperate for relief. Called again, instructed to come in and have it checked out.
At my appt, with tears pouring down my face, they said my wrap was probably just too tight. They cut it off and lifted my leg out and asked if I had relief. I did not have any relief. My heel was sensitive to touch, checks for skin breakdown, all good, incision healing well, STABBING PAIN continues. Re-wraps my leg and says hmmmm, can’t give you more pain meds, let’s try Lyrica. Nerve pain meds…when I asked the possibility for nerve damage, I was brushed off again.
Here I am on day 9/10 up at 3:16 am, writhing in pain, the stabbing pain has moved to the inside of my foot closer to the ankle and I am taking the meds every 6 hours because as soon as it wears off I am dying. It helps a little, but the pain comes back ten fold when the meds wear off. My entire foot is still buzzing, vibrating, ALL the time and the stabbing sensation is almost unbearable.

Has anyone experienced this? Please HELP! I am hurting so badly and I cannot sleep. Next follow up is Monday, tomorrow now technically, to remove sutures and put on cast. I am terrified there is something really bad going on

9 days post ORIF on my left ankle. Literally living a nightmare. (Long read, sorry)

For context, I am no stranger to immense pain. I’ve made it through a complete knee blow out, first surgery was ACL cadaver graft and meniscus repair, second was meniscus removal with approx 40 % remaining, third I went in for a scope for bone chip removal and woke up to a second ACL cadaver graft.Lastly I had a total knee replacement. All of this transpired from a slip in my stupid ex’s vomit. Yeah I know, cool story. Needless to say, I’ve had some major exposure to intense pain. I digress 😩

On 4/19, I tripped and fell somehow resulting in a distal fibula fracture and syndesmotic tear on both sides of my ankle (my GOOD leg unfortunately).
04/20 I was in the orthopedic surgeon’s office at 8:30a, incredibly thankful he had standing appts for those who went to a specific ER. Here’s where shit goes downhill. Initially he told me it would heal without surgery. Then he looked at my images again and expressed concern about the alignment of leg bones and top of the foot. He told me to go home, keep it elevated,NWB, and we would reassess in a week when swelling went down. Before walking out he basically said to prepare to have surgery the following week, awesome news right? 👎🏼
04/29 Follow up, NWB X-rays, definitely required surgical intervention. Scheduled surgery for the next day. Unfortunately, the surgery center over booked and I got bumped off the schedule.
3/7 Surgery day-nerve blocks, general anesthesia, ORIF and according to surgical notes, syndesmotic repair was deemed unnecessary.

If you’re still with me, I’m getting to the point, I promise.
So the nerve block lasted way longer than expected. That was awesome..
Around day 3, I was hurting but nothing some pain meds wouldn’t knock down.
Day 4 my foot started tingling, annoying but again I’m wearing the giant post op splint/dressing so I figured it was just swollen and maybe the wrap was a little too tight. I woke up probably 2 hours after going to bed in excruciating pain, but it was no where near the incision.
My foot had the feeling of pins and needles and it felt like something was stabbing the outside of my foot closer to the heal, RELENTLESS pain that I can’t describe with words. A lot of tears and no sleep, I was on the phone with the surgeons office as soon as they would answer the phone. Asked for help, asked if I could take ibuprofen, that was a no, they prescribed another NSAID, kinda brushed me off honestly.
By day 7, I hadn’t slept more than 2 hours at a time, the pain was progressively getting worse. I was desperate for relief. Called again, instructed to come in and have it checked out.
At my appt, with tears pouring down my face, they said my wrap was probably just too tight. They cut it off and lifted my leg out and asked if I had relief. I did not have any relief. My heel was sensitive to touch, checks for skin breakdown, all good, incision healing well, STABBING PAIN continues. Re-wraps my leg and says hmmmm, can’t give you more pain meds, let’s try Lyrica. Nerve pain meds…when I asked the possibility for nerve damage, I was brushed off again.
Here I am on day 9/10 up at 3:16 am, writhing in pain, the stabbing pain has moved to the inside of my foot closer to the ankle and I am taking the meds every 6 hours because as soon as it wears off I am dying. It helps a little, but the pain comes back ten fold when the meds wear off. My entire foot is still buzzing, vibrating, ALL the time and the stabbing sensation is almost unbearable.

Has anyone experienced this? Please HELP! I am hurting so badly and I cannot sleep. Next follow up is Monday, tomorrow now technically, to remove sutures and put on cast. I am terrified there is something really bad going on

9 days post ORIF on my left ankle. Literally living a nightmare. (Long read, sorry)

For context, I am no stranger to immense pain. I’ve made it through a complete knee blow out, first surgery was ACL cadaver graft and meniscus repair, second was meniscus removal with approx 40 % remaining, third I went in for a scope for bone chip removal and woke up to a second ACL cadaver graft.Lastly I had a total knee replacement. All of this transpired from a slip in my stupid ex’s vomit. Yeah I know, cool story. Needless to say, I’ve had some major exposure to intense pain. I digress 😩

On 4/19, I tripped and fell somehow resulting in a distal fibula fracture and syndesmotic tear on both sides of my ankle (my GOOD leg unfortunately).
04/20 I was in the orthopedic surgeon’s office at 8:30a, incredibly thankful he had standing appts for those who went to a specific ER. Here’s where shit goes downhill. Initially he told me it would heal without surgery. Then he looked at my images again and expressed concern about the alignment of leg bones and top of the foot. He told me to go home, keep it elevated,NWB, and we would reassess in a week when swelling went down. Before walking out he basically said to prepare to have surgery the following week, awesome news right? 👎🏼
04/29 Follow up, NWB X-rays, definitely required surgical intervention. Scheduled surgery for the next day. Unfortunately, the surgery center over booked and I got bumped off the schedule.
3/7 Surgery day-nerve blocks, general anesthesia, ORIF and according to surgical notes, syndesmotic repair was deemed unnecessary.

If you’re still with me, I’m getting to the point, I promise.
So the nerve block lasted way longer than expected. That was awesome..
Around day 3, I was hurting but nothing some pain meds wouldn’t knock down.
Day 4 my foot started tingling, annoying but again I’m wearing the giant post op splint/dressing so I figured it was just swollen and maybe the wrap was a little too tight. I woke up probably 2 hours after going to bed in excruciating pain, but it was no where near the incision.
My foot had the feeling of pins and needles and it felt like something was stabbing the outside of my foot closer to the heal, RELENTLESS pain that I can’t describe with words. A lot of tears and no sleep, I was on the phone with the surgeons office as soon as they would answer the phone. Asked for help, asked if I could take ibuprofen, that was a no, they prescribed another NSAID, kinda brushed me off honestly.
By day 7, I hadn’t slept more than 2 hours at a time, the pain was progressively getting worse. I was desperate for relief. Called again, instructed to come in and have it checked out.
At my appt, with tears pouring down my face, they said my wrap was probably just too tight. They cut it off and lifted my leg out and asked if I had relief. I did not have any relief. My heel was sensitive to touch, checks for skin breakdown, all good, incision healing well, STABBING PAIN continues. Re-wraps my leg and says hmmmm, can’t give you more pain meds, let’s try Lyrica. Nerve pain meds…when I asked the possibility for nerve damage, I was brushed off again.
Here I am on day 9/10 up at 3:16 am, writhing in pain, the stabbing pain has moved to the inside of my foot closer to the ankle and I am taking the meds every 6 hours because as soon as it wears off I am dying. It helps a little, but the pain comes back ten fold when the meds wear off. My entire foot is still buzzing, vibrating, ALL the time and the stabbing sensation is almost unbearable.

Has anyone experienced this? Please HELP! I am hurting so badly and I cannot sleep. Next follow up is Monday, tomorrow now technically, to remove sutures and put on cast. I am terrified there is something really bad going on