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u/Full_Government_6867

r/brokenbones r/brokenankles r/ORIF
▲ 2 r/ORIF

I have to reduce weight bearing!

I sent my orthopaedic surgeon the information I got from my original break and ORIF surgery in Scotland and my surgeon in England called today.

He said the information was extremely helpful, the break was really nasty and he said based on the injury sustained he wants me to reduce weight bearing until my follow on appointment. Meaning, toe touches and crutches inside and outside the house, and no weight bearing exercises.

This is information he didn’t have before so I don’t blame him or me but because there was a delay in getting the information (I had to do a data access request) I have been WBAT and walking unaided with the boot for at least a week and a half! I’ve been doing standing calf raises!

Now I am worried that I may have damaged the fixation and set my recovery back all because the two NHS systems don’t talk to each other. Has anyone else had this sort of experience?

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u/Full_Government_6867 — 2 days ago
▲ 2 r/brokenankles

I have to reduce weight bearing!

I sent my orthopaedic surgeon the information I got from my original break and ORIF surgery in Scotland and my surgeon in England called today.

He said the information was extremely helpful, the break was really nasty and he said based on the injury sustained he wants me to reduce weight bearing until my follow on appointment. Meaning, toe touches and crutches inside and outside the house, and no weight bearing exercises.

This is information he didn’t have before so I don’t blame him or me but because there was a delay in getting the information (I had to do a data access request) I have been WBAT and walking unaided without with the boot for at least a week and a half! I’ve been doing standing calf raises!

Now I am worried that I may have damaged the fixation and set my recovery back all because the two NHS systems don’t talk to each other. Has anyone else had this sort of experience?

reddit.com
u/Full_Government_6867 — 2 days ago
▲ 3 r/brokenankles+1 crossposts

Upgrade: Finally got my original images

Because my break happened in Scotland and I don’t live there, I had to do a data access request to get them. I can’t really read them as I’m not a doctor but basically:

* The outside ankle bone (fibula) broke and moved out of position.
* The inside part of the ankle (tibia) also broke.
* The back of the tibia broke as well, and this fracture went into the ankle joint itself.
* I also damaged the strong ligaments that hold the two lower-leg bones together at the ankle

During surgery they put the broken fibula back into the right position and fixed it with a metal plate and several screws. They also put a long screw between the fibula and tibia to hold the bones together while the damaged ligaments heal.

Break was 25 days ago. Surgery 24.

I’ve upgraded from a bi to a tri. No prize though!

u/Full_Government_6867 — 8 days ago
▲ 7 r/ORIF

Spitting stitch?

I’ve attached photos from today and yesterday, there is a blue black dot about 3 staples down my incision and I am concerned it is a spitting stitch. Has anyone else had this happen? I have an appointment today with the nurse so they can take a look.

u/Full_Government_6867 — 8 days ago
▲ 2 r/brokenankles

Spitting stitch?

I have an appointment with the nurse tomorrow to take a look at the blue/black dot close to my incision about 3 staples down. Has anyone else had something similar post ORIF?

u/Full_Government_6867 — 9 days ago
▲ 9 r/brokenankles

Advice on WBAT from my surgeon today

I have had a call with my surgeon today and have been given advice on what WBAT means for me:

- Put as much weight through my injured leg as I can comfortably tolerate
- Move from two crutches to one crutch to no crutches as soon as I am comfortable

I have also been told:

- Do not sleep in the boot
- Literally only use the boot for walking

This seems so sudden and weird! I am 17 days post bimalleolear fracture with displacement, 16 days post ORIF and syndesmosis repair.

Has anyone else had similar advice or timelines? Attached photos so you can see what it looks like at this stage of my recovery!

u/Full_Government_6867 — 16 days ago
▲ 3 r/brokenankles

Pain meds

When did you stop taking pain medication? I am two weeks post op and break and still taking paracetamol and codeine. I have been cleared for weight bearing now and gentle ankle exercises and last night I could barely sleep more than an hour at a time because of the burning in my foot.

Wondering when I should start to taper off?

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u/Full_Government_6867 — 18 days ago
▲ 21 r/brokenankles

Feeling disheartened

I had some rubbing of my clips/staples against my post surgical cast, which had come quite loose since my swelling went down. My pain levels were otherwise good and my mobility was decent.

Regardless I was advised to go in to urgent care again and have a new cast put on and my wound checked.

Everything went fine and it felt comfortable and supportive, until I got home and elevated my leg again. Turns out the cast has been applied with my foot angled downwards and now for some reason I have pain in my Achilles while elevating/moving the leg in positions other than straight down.

I spent 2 hours in urgent care for this today and now I have to go back again tomorrow to a different hospital over an hour away for a consultant to look at my ankle. Hopefully this time my staples will come out and I’ll be in a boot… but in the meantime I am feeling sorry for myself and regretting my life’s decisions

u/Full_Government_6867 — 21 days ago
▲ 15 r/brokenankles

Check out how metal I am

I finally managed to see an X-ray of my ankle. This is post ORIF. From what I can tell I have 8 screws and one plate?

I have a right ankle fracture of Tibia medial malleolus. Fracture of posterior malleolus extending into articular surface with some displacement.

I am back at home now and managing as best I can on crutches. Hiring a wheelchair which should arrive on Monday. First day back home, I fell over literally trying to zimmer frame it onto the front porch. Thankfully it was a backwards fall and I didn’t hurt my leg again!

u/Full_Government_6867 — 27 days ago
▲ 3 r/ORIF+1 crossposts

Advise needed please

I have a fracture of tibia medial malleolus, and a fracture of posterior malleolus extending into articular surface with some displacement. During my hospital stay, I went for an ORIF to put everything back together. I have been discharged now, break was on 18/7 and surgery on 19/7.

Please tell me all of your unconventional healing hacks - home mobility aids, and let me know what I am in for if you have had this sort of break or surgery before.

I am in generally good spirits and just want to be pragmatic.

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u/Full_Government_6867 — 29 days ago