Thanks to everyone who has posted, I really needed to hear the views of those who have gone through this. I am so sorry for those who are still struggling but happy that some have found a better quality of life.
I fell and dislocated and fractured my ankle a year ago. Had my ankle put back in place in the er and surgery the next day to repair my shattered fibula. Dr. said he also would need to plate and put screws in the tibia and syndismotic pin but after surgery he only repaired the fibula and said all was well. I went on towards recovery, was told all would be fine after about a year. Started therapy and was able to regain my range of motion but every time they added strength the whole process stalled. Walking was terrible but I am a nurse and had to get back to work. At the end of the day my entire leg would be so swollen that it didn't even look like a leg and I couldn't hardly walk. I kept telling the surgeon something was not right and he finally sent me for an MRI and CT which said I had avascular necrosis of the tibia, my tibial fractures were unhealed, found previously undiagnosed fractures of the tibia which were not healed, joint widening, and ligament rupture. He said he didn't really believe the 2 radiology reports and wouldn't have done anything different and he would not change my current course of treatment but he could tell I wasn't happy so he sent me to see a dr who specializes in ankles.
This dr in May said I just had a simple stress fracture and go back in the walking cast and on crutches, come back in 6 weeks. Then he said after further review of my scans I had actually broken the tibia completely through but because it wasn't displaced the diagnosis was missed and it just needed to heal. Said I would make a full recovery. Put me in a hard cast and remained on crutches the entire summer with a bone growth stimulator. Repeat scan after cast removal revealed more dead bone, fractures through the entire lower portion of the tibia, joint widening, and arthritic changes. Again, remain on crutches and come back in 2 months. He discussed 3 different surgery option at that time but said he hadnt given up that I was going to heal.
Went back a few weeks ago. He said it was possible I could still heal and at best would get 80% function, said to try walking on it with the boot and see what happens. Said more than likely my joint will just collapse and he will have no choice but to do an ankle fusion. I said I wanted to try something else before we got to that point, that I didn't want a fusion, he said he had no other options at this point.
I am 38, have 4 kiddos, am a nurse, was a runner before all this and had a real love for life. The emotional and physical trauma from this has made this my darkest year ever. I have gained 50 lbs and we have depleted our savings. I have been walking without the crutches for the past 2 weeks and it is terrible but life is easier so I am trying to tough it out because I know another surgery is coming sooner than later. Being on crutches for 6 months made nothing better. I feel like people think that I am just being a baby and wanting attention. They are always like, are you STILL on crutches? You JUST broke your ankle, right? UGH! It makes me want to scream!
I am trying to accept I will never run again but it is very hard. I want a better normal but I am so scared of it being worse. Again, thanks to all of you who have shared your stories.
~Kris
"Get over your hill and see what you find there with grace in your heart and flowers in your hair." --Mumford & Sons (After the Storm)
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Thanks to everyone who has posted, I really needed to hear the views of those who have gone through this. I am so sorry for those who are still struggling but happy that some have found a better quality of life.
I fell and dislocated and fractured my ankle a year ago. Had my ankle put back in place in the er and surgery the next day to repair my shattered fibula. Dr. said he also would need to plate and put screws in the tibia and syndismotic pin but after surgery he only repaired the fibula and said all was well. I went on towards recovery, was told all would be fine after about a year. Started therapy and was able to regain my range of motion but every time they added strength the whole process stalled. Walking was terrible but I am a nurse and had to get back to work. At the end of the day my entire leg would be so swollen that it didn't even look like a leg and I couldn't hardly walk. I kept telling the surgeon something was not right and he finally sent me for an MRI and CT which said I had avascular necrosis of the tibia, my tibial fractures were unhealed, found previously undiagnosed fractures of the tibia which were not healed, joint widening, and ligament rupture. He said he didn't really believe the 2 radiology reports and wouldn't have done anything different and he would not change my current course of treatment but he could tell I wasn't happy so he sent me to see a dr who specializes in ankles.
This dr in May said I just had a simple stress fracture and go back in the walking cast and on crutches, come back in 6 weeks. Then he said after further review of my scans I had actually broken the tibia completely through but because it wasn't displaced the diagnosis was missed and it just needed to heal. Said I would make a full recovery. Put me in a hard cast and remained on crutches the entire summer with a bone growth stimulator. Repeat scan after cast removal revealed more dead bone, fractures through the entire lower portion of the tibia, joint widening, and arthritic changes. Again, remain on crutches and come back in 2 months. He discussed 3 different surgery option at that time but said he hadnt given up that I was going to heal.
Went back a few weeks ago. He said it was possible I could still heal and at best would get 80% function, said to try walking on it with the boot and see what happens. Said more than likely my joint will just collapse and he will have no choice but to do an ankle fusion. I said I wanted to try something else before we got to that point, that I didn't want a fusion, he said he had no other options at this point.
I am 38, have 4 kiddos, am a nurse, was a runner before all this and had a real love for life. The emotional and physical trauma from this has made this my darkest year ever. I have gained 50 lbs and we have depleted our savings. I have been walking without the crutches for the past 2 weeks and it is terrible but life is easier so I am trying to tough it out because I know another surgery is coming sooner than later. Being on crutches for 6 months made nothing better. I feel like people think that I am just being a baby and wanting attention. They are always like, are you STILL on crutches? You JUST broke your ankle, right? UGH! It makes me want to scream!
I am trying to accept I will never run again but it is very hard. I want a better normal but I am so scared of it being worse. Again, thanks to all of you who have shared your stories.
~Kris
"Get over your hill and see what you find there with grace in your heart and flowers in your hair." --Mumford & Sons (After the Storm)
October 15, 2011 - 5:42amThis Comment
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