Advice and suggestions on recuperating after ankle surgery

[thumpersfriend]

Hi All, I fell Easter Sunday and broke my ankle and it needed to have a plate and 12 screws. Had a soft cast, then a week later got a boot to wear. I am no weightbearing until I see Dr. at the end of the month,

I am feeling so useless and kind of depressed that my poor husband is my sole go to person. He is wonderful but I still feel so bad. I am usually everyone elses caregiver when needed.

How did you handle this situation? I am supposed to keep my leg up as much as possible and Dr. said to to practically nothing. Just going to the bathroom and back to the couch tires me out. I am 65 and about 180 lbs and not in great shape.

Do you think I should be doing more, ? Any advice would be so helpful. I hate feeling like I should be doing more . Thank you so much!

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I broke my ankle in March. I was on the edge of surgery and only required it if the bone shifted even a smidge. I homeschool and have 4 children at home and was told to treat my foot as though it were amputated. No weight at all on it! 2 days into my cast wearing extravaganza, I rented a wheelchair for a month. We had just gotten wood floors and with a few positioning changes of furniture, I was able to get around my house and feel more useful. If you don't have room, a friend of mine who had an ankle injury at the same time highly recommended the knee scooter. My ankle was pain free in certain positions but throbbing in others, so that wasn't an option.


I did get the leg rests, but it did make the wheelchair bigger for turns.

I stayed on my first level all day and only retreated upstairs for bed by crawling up the stairs.

I also had a support team of drivers, but only for the kids activities. I also got a handicap placard because I need lots of room to exit a vehicle (no weight means wide space needed for getting in and out of a vehicle and shorter distances for cruthcing.)

I did some arm exercises to make the crutches easier on my arms, but that wheelchair was the best idea.


But honestly--if you have the opportunity to convalesce, please do so. I changed to a walking boot last week. Things are better. The 7 weeks seemed like eternity, but they did kind of fly by. I start PT tomorrow. I couldn't drive until the cast was off. Now, I limit my driving. My husband took me our for a test drive to make sure I could manage. For now it is short distance, no highways. My boot comes off for that.

Best of luck with recovery!

 

[wishesuponastar]

I could have wrote your post too. I broke my right ankle and have a plate and screws too. That was in Sept.2013. My husband did everything plus full time job. I felt bad for him but would do it all for him too if he fell. My DD16 did a little cooking dinner with me supervising. I was also couch bound and not allowed to walk on foot for 3 months. I also needed a second surgery two months after I fell to remove a screw. It took all my energy to go to the bathroom or the table. It will get better. I am now going to the gym walking on treadmill and doing leg exercises on machines. Oh and I started therapy 3 months after first surgery. I had my DH take me before work for two weeks then I was able to drive myself.

 

[JillyBean1899]

But honestly--if you have the opportunity to convalesce, please do so. I changed to a walking boot last week. Things are better. The 7 weeks seemed like eternity, but they did kind of fly by. I start PT tomorrow.

Just wait, in a week you'll be wishing you were back on bed rest. PT is *MURDER*

OP, just relax. I know it's hard to do, because you're used to doing everything for everyone, but you will do nobody any good if you re-injure yourself.

Is there a sedentary hobby you've been wanting to try? Like knitting, cross stitch, jewelry making, etc? Now would be the perfect time to do so.

 

[wishesuponastar]

I didn't have any pain at PT.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I expect pain. Tomorrow they will work on range of motion. Once that is restored, I don't expect pain won't strength building. (It is like I have no calf right now.)

 

[thumpersfriend]

Thank you so much, now I don't feel like I am taking advantage of a situation and advantage of my husband. I would much rather be taking care of him,lol. I have a wheelchair and rolling walker with a seat but our house is small so the wheelchair is hard to manage. But my stamina is just not getting much better which I guess is okay for now. I try to tell myself that there are people much worse than myself but sometimes it doesn't help. I really appreciate all your responses, keep them coming. I am crocheting a baby afghan, and people gave me lots of books, and the computer is helpful.

 

[wishesuponastar]

I had a wheelchair but not in the house just when out somewhere. I was deathly afraid of going out my front door with crutches. I have only two steps but that is what I fell on. My DH was very patient to help me down the stairs, coaching me how to do it. Then coming back home was harder to go up the stairs. I just didn't have coordination to use the crutches so most times I would sit down and scootch my way up those two steps.

 

[njmom47]

Hi All, I fell Easter Sunday and broke my ankle and it needed to have a plate and 12 screws. Had a soft cast, then a week later got a boot to wear. I am no weightbearing until I see Dr. at the end of the month,

I am feeling so useless and kind of depressed that my poor husband is my sole go to person. He is wonderful but I still feel so bad. I am usually everyone elses caregiver when needed.

How did you handle this situation? I am supposed to keep my leg up as much as possible and Dr. said to to practically nothing. Just going to the bathroom and back to the couch tires me out. I am 65 and about 180 lbs and not in great shape.

Do you think I should be doing more, ? Any advice would be so helpful. I hate feeling like I should be doing more . Thank you so much!

I broke my ankle in Dec of 98. I have a plate a screws in there too. I used a wheelchair for most of the getting around. I did have help though; luckily my MIL came and stayed for 2 weeks. I slept on the couch with my foot propped on a pillow on top of a milk crate. My kids were 6 5 and 3 so couldn't really help much. When I was able to manuever myself around, I would sit to go up and down the stairs (we have 3 levels). When I would do laundry, I would have dh bring the laundry down, we had a LaZBoy rocker-recliner down there, and I would read or watch tv or play video games while I did laundry. I don't even know how I got in and out of the tub...I know I didn't shower for a very long time!
I don't think you should overdo things...take it easy for 2 reasons:
1. You need to heal properly
2. You might never get the chance to "do nothing" again for a long while!

I had a "Frankie boot" (short for Frankenstein which is what we called it) for awhile too. I went back to work (at a desk position) after about 4 months.

I hate to tell you this, but even after all this time, I still have pain in my ankle when the weather is bad.

Good luck. Take care of yourself!

 

[wishesuponastar]

I meant to say that I also kept my foot propped up on blankets and pillows for a long while. Because I didn't have much strength to go upstairs I slept on the couch for at least two months.

Nj mom, sorry you still have pain in bad weather. I do not have any.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I had a wheelchair but not in the house just when out somewhere. I was deathly afraid of going out my front door with crutches. I have only two steps but that is what I fell on. My DH was very patient to help me down the stairs, coaching me how to do it. Then coming back home was harder to go up the stairs. I just didn't have coordination to use the crutches so most times I would sit down and scootch my way up those two steps.

I had a similar fear. For about 2 weeks, I always had a guard to catch me if I fell. I slipped and fell on carpet, so it wasn't even steps. But the prospect of any fall was daunting.

Op--I found this blog helpful in regards of what to expect. She also had some wise ideas so as not to waste the time and become too much of a television junky. http://kathleenpalmiotti.com/2012/02/19/broken-ankle-experience-part-1-of-4/

There apparently are other blogs out there--just google broken ankle blog and you can read all sorts of experiences. It may be helpful for figuring out how to cope with the down time.

And did anyone else's boot have an air pump? mine looks ridiculous with this added gadget appendage. But it is like the air jordan of immobilization boots.

 

[wishesuponastar]

My boot did not have a pump.

Good luck at PT Lisa. I loved the small water pool and the massaging.

 

[shortbun]

Get some arm weights, 1 or 2 pounds or cans and workout your arms. you can also get one of those sitting cycle things and see if you can do that. I'm 60 and 3 years ago, I had major surgery. It takes time to clear all the chemicals out of your body, a month or more. Drink water, get some good books and see if you can rent or borrow a small fridge until you are allowed to get up and move. That way, you can keep drinks, veggies, cheese, etc. at your side. Good luck!!! Keep healing!

 

[thumpersfriend]

Continued thanks for suggestions, Now I also would like to know how you dealt with the big boot on your foot. My feet almost feel like they are burning and I feel almost claustrophobic, mostly in the evening. I soak my feet but can't get the wound wet. How do you do this,how careful do you have to be, afraid if I bend my foot I will break it or something. So far I have my husband dry my feet and get me back in the boot. I tried a sock but it seems to make it more itchy. Should I post this on another question?

 

[wishesuponastar]

I think you can keep the questions to this thread. I didn't soak my foot. The boot made my foot itchy at times and my foot was dry and peeling. What saved it was Gold Bond
Foot Cream found at Walgreens too. http://www.walmart.com/ip/10307703?...2315&veh=sem&ci_src=328768002&ci_sku=10307703

Do you have to stay off your foot for 3 months like I did?

 

[njmom47]

I meant to say that I also kept my foot propped up on blankets and pillows for a long while. Because I didn't have much strength to go upstairs I slept on the couch for at least two months.

Nj mom, sorry you still have pain in bad weather. I do not have any.

Me too...glad to know you don't though!
I also chipped my heel bone, tore ligaments, and dislocated my ankle as well as breaking it. Maybe the combination of all that contributes to my ankle pain.
I didn't realize there were blogs...I might have to go check them out!!

 

[wishesuponastar]

Oh that could be why you still have pain.

Did everyone get a medical card that states you have hardware in your foot just in case you need to go through metal detector? I got mine from my doctor, called the nurse and she mailed it to me.

 

[The Mystery Machine]

Hi All, I fell Easter Sunday and broke my ankle and it needed to have a plate and 12 screws. Had a soft cast, then a week later got a boot to wear. I am no weightbearing until I see Dr. at the end of the month,

I am feeling so useless and kind of depressed that my poor husband is my sole go to person. He is wonderful but I still feel so bad. I am usually everyone elses caregiver when needed.

How did you handle this situation? I am supposed to keep my leg up as much as possible and Dr. said to to practically nothing. Just going to the bathroom and back to the couch tires me out. I am 65 and about 180 lbs and not in great shape.

Do you think I should be doing more, ? Any advice would be so helpful. I hate feeling like I should be doing more . Thank you so much!

Oh boy that stinks!

Just hang in there and heal properly. That is so key for the rest of you life.

My sister had ankle reconstruction so her healing process took almost a full 1 yr.

 

[lovemygoofy]

I have ankle reconstruction surgery 2 years ago. It was miserable miserable time. I remember the first probably 3 days my husband had to help me up and down onto the potty because I was so drugged and in pain.

My ankle plate across was completely broken apart and I needed a bone graft, 4 screws and had my leg broken and screwed to my ankle. Retied several ligaments.

I was nonweight baring for just shy 20 weeks and then into the boot for another 12 weeks. It was almost 6 months before I put on a shoe. I did PT for another 3 months and I feel great now. I wear high heels, back to running and really no problems.

I did ALOT of stretching. One my biggest problems was the Achilles tendon being so tight from my knee down to my ankle and I would try to stretch without flexing my toes and ankle. Also probably week 6 maybe 8 I started to soak my ankle everyday for 30 mins and just kind of swirl my leg around at the knee not the ankle. I used vitamin E oil and lotion on my scar to help smooth it out. I also propped up with throw pillows behind my knee because trying to prop at the ankle can cause over extension of your knee.

 

[thumpersfriend]

Wow, sounds like some of you had it a lot worse than me. Hope you all do well. Last 2 days my foot and ankle area have like pins and needle feelings, hope this is a sign it is healing. I have it elevated but I worry that I haven't done everything right and I will hear I have to start all over, I am a true worry wart, lol. I liked the link to that website. After my Dr. said I had to wear a boot, this person came in a fitted me for this boot with only 2 warnings, not to bear weight and not to get the area wet where the stitches came out. I would have liked a big print out to follow. Lucky, you all are so much more knowledgeable because you have been through this. But I must say I love my husband but I found he really loves me too. Please keep any hints coming, I appreciate it.