Surgery 1 year Ago on my broken Ankle

[thestrangequark]

Thankfully I'm beyond the diabetic nerve pain stage of my neuropathy. I guess I know about the meds that are advertised on TV, but many if not most are associated with a worsening of depression. Not good.

I'll talk to my new doctor when I see her.

Thanks for the suggestion.

There are a lot of neuropathy drugs, but many have strong side-effects. Nuerontin/Gabapentin is the first that springs to mind for me.

I don't have any diabetes complications, thankfully. I thought I did, because I was experiencing numbness and tingling in my left arm, but I had nerve conduction tests and it turned out to be muscle tension pinching the nerves; a combination of anxiety and sports injury. I have a lot of exercise injuries: torn rotator cuffs in both shoulders, torn labra in both hips, tennis elbow in both elbows, inflammation of most major tendons and joints. Sometimes my neck and shoulders freeze.
I do PT every day and it mostly manages things. I've had a couple pinched nerves in my neck/shoulder for a few weeks that are driving me mad, but with work I've regained most of my range of motion and just have to not push myself as hard as I want when it comes to athletics. Chronic pain is a bitch, but I know mine's not near as bad as many people's.

What frustrates me the most is the War on Drugs. I understand opioid addiction is a serious problem, but making it impossible for doctors to prescribe medicine to people who need it is not the answer. Anyone who's done even an introductory class in social health understands this. I used to get a Vicodin script from my physiatrist for really bad pain days. It did the trick, one "30 day" script usually lasted me at least 6 months, if not a full year. But I had to change doctors, and even though I have a clear history of medical necessity and responsible use, no one will prescribe it anymore. There are days where I'm too distracted by the pain to accomplish anything, where before one Vicodin was all it took.

 

[Avro Arrow]

My mom has macular degeneration in one eye. It's not nearly as bad as what you went through but every 3 months she has to have injections into her eyeball. The doctor doesn't even do anything to numb it. He says his patients are tough and can take it. I can't imagine having that done once let alone every 3 months.

:shudder: Your mother is obviously much tougher than I am.

 

[Mrs. Silvercrest]

On Memorial Day 2020 it will be 2 years since I broke both of my ankles. This year I did two walks. Well, one the other was called off because of the virus. But for my birthday we did the walk with 12 friends anyway. Then we went out to dinner. The next day everything closed down. I was very lucky. I had both walks and I did fine. My right foot still gets stiff and sore when it rains of gets really cold. And I can't just stand on it for long periods of time. But I am walking and that is the important thing. So 2 years!!

 

[Gary Mitchell]

On Memorial Day 2020 it will be 2 years since I broke both of my ankles. This year I did two walks. Well, one the other was called off because of the virus. But for my birthday we did the walk with 12 friends anyway. Then we went out to dinner. The next day everything closed down. I was very lucky. I had both walks and I did fine. My right foot still gets stiff and sore when it rains of gets really cold. And I can't just stand on it for long periods of time. But I am walking and that is the important thing. So 2 years!!

Good for you Mrs. Silvercrest.

 

[Silvercrest]

 

[auntiehill]

Wo-hoo!
Happy Ankleversary. Yeah, I just made that a thing.

So glad you are on the mend and able to be out and about, or at least, as "about" as today's circumstances will allow.

 

[Peach Wookiee]

Mrs. Silvercrest, you truly have my sympathy. Thus far, I haven't broken two limbs at once (that is a nightmare I hope I don't get to live through), but I do have a bit of history with broken bones.
My first broken bone happened in the spring of 1987. I was out in my backyard with my brother and I finally had the nerve to do something he'd done without any sort of damage. I jumped out the window of our fort/tree house and was supposed to hit a pile of sand. Let's just say I missed the pile. The result was a spiral fracture to the left leg. I was in a cast for a good six weeks! I didn't realize how dangerous it was until about a decade and a half later when I could look the break up on a search engine!
Then in the fall, I was in the backyard (again) and was passing a football with my brother when I slipped on wet grass, the same leg folded under me and broke. Fortunately, it wasn't the same break. Yet another month and a half in a cast.
Not quite seven years later, just a few weeks short of my 14th birthday, I engaged in an act of teenage stupidity. That resulted in a trimallear fracture of the right ankle that had to be repaired with screws. Pluses to this: range of motion increased, and I discovered I could pick up on certain weather disturbances in the area later. The latter ability has only strengthened with time. I can pick up on thunderstorms 60 miles away, and I can feel snowstorms coming!
Ten years and over three months later on Memorial Day, an ill-fitting pair of sneaker clogs, my not paying attention and the welcome mat led to a level 3 sprain of my right foot. That's the first time I remember the moment of impact from any injury.
Then there years later, the cumulative damage to my right leg kicked in and we also discovered I had what's best described as a design flaw not quite 2 years after that. The muscles in my right ankle essentially seized up and walking became a painful ordeal. But after consulting with a renowned orthopedic surgeon, we tried chiropractic treatment. It worked and I was able to walk properly again. I'll never be able to run again, but I can keep up with my students. I also know that I am not a klutz! Because of how my legs are built, my center of gravity is off, which is why I had such damage with the first three breaks. It's not my fault!
The most recent broken bone was my pinky toe on my right foot five years ago this coming August. My toe fought a desk and the desk won. I was actually kind of pleased it happened as it did because it was a completely normal break that anyone could do!

 

[Delta Vega]

A few years ago, my youngest, 3 of 3, broke a bone in his foot while jumping into a ball pool in a soft play area
Can you believe that ?
It was a metatarsal bone, later to be made famous by David Beckham, I think he invented it
He was put in plaster and given sticks to walk, but he was like Bambi on ice, so I had to get used to carrying him around for a while, I think it's safe to say he was milking it for a bit.

 

[Silvercrest]

Mrs. Silvercrest, you truly have my sympathy. Thus far, I haven't broken two limbs at once (that is a nightmare I hope I don't get to live through), but I do have a bit of history with broken bones.

Wow, that's quite a history. And yes, this was quite a nightmare for her. I can't speak to the amount of pain she went through, but I did get to witness it.

I have my own history of breaks and sprains. I severely sprained my right ankle when I was 15; running through the woods in (as you say) an act of teenage stupidity, and rolled it on a tree root. I severely sprained the left when I was 20. It wasn't quite an act of stupidity, as I was on a 5k solo road run while in the Army — but it was foolish of me to keep running. I did so because after staggering a ways further, the pain seemed to subside. After I got done with the run, though, that ankle ballooned. Also, I didn't let either ankle heal properly. Both of them healed up very loose and floppy, with elongated tendons that didn't have the proper tension. (I also believe I broke a toe while running in the Army, but I never had it checked out, so remains unconfirmed.)

Those loose and floppy ankles gave me problems for years; I'd twist or sprain them on a dime. The only advantage was that they didn't suffer very much real injury and would be back to normal within a day or so. However, eleven years ago I gave that left ankle three severe sprains within six months, and this time I could feel something was wrong. The surgeon said it would just keep happening. So, ten years ago I got it surgically rebuilt. (They peeled some tissue out of elsewhere in my leg to reconstruct the tendons.) Mrs. Silvercrest got to help take care of me for the next two months. But the surgeon said it's probably stronger than it had been originally. And we had plenty of time to prepare, so the layup was easier than it could've been.

Five years ago I was running again — and somehow rolled that ankle again. This time the operation got put to the test, and it held. The only result was a mild twist to the ankle tissue. Instead, it transferred all the impact to the edge of my left foot — and broke a metatarsal there instead. Arrgh. Laid up for another six weeks. No preparation this time, which made it a lot more frustrating. Mrs. Silvercrest got to help with that one too.

Theoretically the right ankle is in the same shape, at least according to the surgeon. But I barely even twist it any longer, so doesn't look like I'll need to have surgery on it. (It doesn't hurt that I've given up running.)

And then two years ago, it was Mrs. Silvercrest's turn, and it was a doozy. I was there when she broke them, and I had a hard time believing it had happened. But she could feel the breaks.

I was able to get around on crutches with my injuries. I could go a lot faster on crutches than when I walked! But she could barely use them at all. You still pretty much need one usable foot — and she didn't have one.

My joke for myself used to be that I have a bionic ankle. It allows superhuman feats of running, jumping, etc. — except I don't do any of them because with just one, I can only go in circles.

However, she is more properly bionic. I don't have metallic pins, etc. like she does. So I'm kinda giving up that joke.

 

[Mrs. Silvercrest]

I have to admit at first my body was in too much shock to be in a lot of pain. It took the car ride home and then to the hospital before the pain hit me. I am a real wimp when it comes to pain. I have a very low thresh hold for it. But I was surprised how much I could bare it. I guess a person just never knows. Still so hard to believe that happened to me. As it happened I just knew and heard the snap of the bones. A sound I hope to never hear again. Like hearing a person's neck being broke in a movie, but real and not the neck but my ankles. I feel for anyone that has ever broken a bone. Whether it be a child, older person, anyone. It is an awful experience and your body is changed forever. I always knew when it would rain because of my sinuses. But now I know when it will be cold or rain because I will wake up with a very stiff foot! I hate the one part of the screw on the right side of my ankle that sticks out and if I hit it on something, OUCH! They told me I could have it fixed in a year if I waited. But heck, I don't want anymore surgeries, I have had enough thank you very much! I have total respect for anyone who has to be in a wheel chair. I was for 3 months the whole summer. But I knew at some point I would not have to be in it. I feel for anyone who has to live with that always. Life is way different when you have to look at it from a sitting down point of view. I could write and write about that. But I think I will call this for now. Please everyone out there stay safe and no more breaks!

 

[Gary Mitchell]

^ Yes ma'am.

 

[Mrs. Silvercrest]

I found out today from my doctor that one of the medicines I was on is very likely what caused me to break both of my ankles two years ago. The medicine keeps the body from getting the calcium it needs. I have wondered about breaking them both like that. And one just cracking like that. So medicine to blame. And I have to take that same medicine again, am on it now. But I am now taking very high doses of calcium and increasing: dairy products (that I can live with). What a bummer though. I have known people who have had awful size effects from meds, including one who had both kidneys damaged so bad she had to get a transplant. And now I have my own story. But at least I know now. That is something. Anyone else have bad side effects from medicine?

 

[Gary Mitchell]

I found out today from my doctor that one of the medicines I was on is very likely what caused me to break both of my ankles two years ago. The medicine keeps the body from getting the calcium it needs. I have wondered about breaking them both like that. And one just cracking like that. So medicine to blame. And I have to take that same medicine again, am on it now. But I am now taking very high doses of calcium and increasing: dairy products (that I can live with). What a bummer though. I have known people who have had awful size effects from meds, including one who had both kidneys damaged so bad she had to get a transplant. And now I have my own story. But at least I know now. That is something. Anyone else have bad side effects from medicine?

When I was a kid and a teenager, I was sick a lot. A few times the doctor prescribed a particular antibiotic that seemed to work pretty well. The first couple of times it worked well. The next time it worked but I got what we thought was a cold sore. Didn't think much about it but the next time I took the antibiotic, my lips swelled up like you wouldn't believe. Luckily that was as bad as my reaction got.

 

[Nakita Akita]

I found out today from my doctor that one of the medicines I was on is very likely what caused me to break both of my ankles two years ago. The medicine keeps the body from getting the calcium it needs. I have wondered about breaking them both like that. And one just cracking like that. So medicine to blame. And I have to take that same medicine again, am on it now. But I am now taking very high doses of calcium and increasing: dairy products (that I can live with). What a bummer though. I have known people who have had awful size effects from meds, including one who had both kidneys damaged so bad she had to get a transplant. And now I have my own story. But at least I know now. That is something. Anyone else have bad side effects from medicine?

Like Rosanna Rosannadanna used to say "if it isn't one thing it's another."
I've spent my life (s) as a magnet for near death accidents and incidents.
I was hit by a motorcycle age 11, fractured clavicle, fractured skull, hydrocephalic, went into a coma, age 17 crashed on my bicycle, possibly knocked out, had a concussion, road rash all down the right side of my body, at the hospital they clean it out with scrub brushes
Running to answer the phone, tripped over a shoe, broke a metetarsal.
Car accidents, 1) whiplash, 2) rollover may have had a concussion, 3) car hit my motorcycle, massive road rash, again, knocked out, concussion,
Playing Hockey, I had maybe 3 concussions
I've broken my toes probably five times.
I did it so often, one time I was rolling around in the floor in pain after just having broken one and my mom said," what's with all the theatrics, it's seems like you'd be used that happening by now."
No more sympathy .
Then I was out jogging one Monday, Wednesday I was in the ER and they told me I had kidney cancer. ( really? Kidney cancer? Who even gets that? Well, black, males over 50 years old, that smoke or work with chemicals.) when they do the chart on it, I'm that outlier dot.

Then I was in a fencing competition and I fell and broke my wrist. But I finished the competition.
Then I was out walking the dogs, and slipped on a little tiny twig and broke my ankle. Fortunately I was only about 3 blocks from home so I was able to hobble home. ( the dogs were so mad that we had to turn around and go home)

So if it ain't one thing, it's another.

 

[Gary Mitchell]

Like Rosanna Rosannadanna used to say "if it isn't one thing it's another."
I've spent my life (s) as a magnet for near death accidents and incidents.
I was hit by a motorcycle age 11, fractured clavicle, fractured skull, hydrocephalic, went into a coma, age 17 crashed on my bicycle, possibly knocked out, had a concussion, road rash all down the right side of my body, at the hospital they clean it out with scrub brushes
Running to answer the phone, tripped over a shoe, broke a metetarsal.
Car accidents, 1) whiplash, 2) rollover may have had a concussion, 3) car hit my motorcycle, massive road rash, again, knocked out, concussion,
Playing Hockey, I had maybe 3 concussions
I've broken my toes probably five times.
I did it so often, one time I was rolling around in the floor in pain after just having broken one and my mom said," what's with all the theatrics, it's seems like you'd be used that happening by now."
No more sympathy .
Then I was out jogging one Monday, Wednesday I was in the ER and they told me I had kidney cancer. ( really? Kidney cancer? Who even gets that? Well, black, males over 50 years old, that smoke or work with chemicals.) when they do the chart on it, I'm that outlier dot.

Then I was in a fencing competition and I fell and broke my wrist. But I finished the competition.
Then I was out walking the dogs, and slipped on a little tiny twig and broke my ankle. Fortunately I was only about 3 blocks from home so I was able to hobble home. ( the dogs were so mad that we had to turn around and go home)

So if it ain't one thing, it's another.

Wow. You're like a Timex- takes a licking and keeps on ticking.

 

[Silvercrest]

But it might be safer if you try to never stand up or walk.

 

[Mrs. Silvercrest]

One good thing I have to increase my calcium so I get to eat more cheese and ice cream. I am also taking more calcium vitamins, so I should be okay! I hope...

 

[Nakita Akita]

This is so ridiculous.
I took my dogs out for a walk today.
And, wait for it........
Fell and broke my ankle.
Same bone as last time, the fracture looks slightly different.
I'm so mad. I don't want to have this stupid plastic thing in my foot during the hot smart! Grrrrr

 

[Silvercrest]

Oh, crap.

 

[rhubarbodendron]

oh dear! I hope you'll heal really fast. And if you don't, I hope it'll at least be a cool summer in your region.