Thursday, June 5, 2014
I had an appointment for an MRI this morning at 8:40am. I went back to the same hospital where I got my ankle surgery on Friday September 28, 2012. I'll never forget that day. This time it brought back eerie memories. I was able to walk up the stairs this time to get to the entrance and not in crutches through the ramp and up the elevator. From my last posts, my visit to my surgeon Dr. Lundy wanted me to get an MRI to check out what kind of party my ankle's been having that's causing me to ache, limp, pinch, spasm, click, and get this hot/burning sensation inside my right ankle where the hardware is.
After filling out my paper work, I was called in to remove all metal and clothes, and wear a gown. When I saw the machine, it brought me back memories of when I got I concussion from snowboarding back in 2008 and had to get an MRI then. Because I had some hardware in my ankle, the test would take a bit longer to process. The entire session took about 45 minutes of non movement. Luckily I had a choice to listen to music. They only had 2 options, Classical or Pop/Rock which I chose. A few times I almost fell asleep but the noise was so loud. I also was glad to have asked for a blanket that was heated prior. It wasn't bad at all, I did well and did not move one bit!
I came home and my ankle felt achy today. It did click, feel hot, and looks a bit swollen. I actually felt the inflammation on the and around the inside of my ankle. You can actually see the little bulge on the right in the picture below. It just made me tired. Next I'll have to make an appointment to get myself back into Physical Therapy! I'll be back with more updates. Sigh, felt like I'm going backwards... So sad. =(
Hi Jen.How are you?I broke my ankle 25 days ago playing football and yesterday I went to the doctor to change my cast.Did your doctor cut the first cast off and the put you a different cast on your leg?Take care.
ReplyDeleteHi alex21, sorry to hear about your ankle. They put a splint on my ankle for a few days until surgery and then put a splint back on after surgery. About a week after, then I got a real cast. The cast was on til ready to take off months later. I hope you heal fast! Take care too! Thanks!
DeleteThank you for your well wishes.How many weeks did you have the real cast on your leg?I wanted a blue cast but they gave me a white plaster.Was your one a plaster too?
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DeleteOops, I accidentally removed your post here:
DeleteHI there, I fully dislocated (and therefore broke as well) my left foot/ankle almost 4 months ago. Since about 3 weeks I finally started with physiotherapy, so glad to be able to stand and move with two feet. But it is not easy! I am far from fully weight bearing, I guess I am about 60% now. I got the feeling you did that much faster? I live in the Netherlands and we dont get such a boot, I was just off on my training shoes. I was wondering if they saw anything on the scan. I also feel mostly in the evenings that my foot is warm, specially on the hardware side. I do also feel more bothered by that side than by the other of my foot. It feels like a constant pressure point on a specific area, I wonder if it is indeed the plate or the scar tissue. Anyway, I am so glad I found your blog. Interesting to read, specially since you also dislocated your foot and therefore it is not just a matter of healing the bone but also all those tendons and ligaments. Any tips on that? Do you take any supplements? What about cartilage, did you get to hear anything on that from your doctors? Thanks in advance. Best, Marina.
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DeleteHi Marina,
ReplyDeleteThanks for your message! I am so sorry to hear you are experiencing the same process! I actually haven't made an appointment for a followup so I don't know what the results are. They also haven't called me so it seems like I'm ok. Congrats on the progress you have made! You're are definitely getting there! I know exactly how you feel with the weight bearing and the warmth in the ankle. I asked my surgeon about that and said it was inflamed and suggested I elevate and iced it. That helped me but I think you should ask your surgeon about it and see what they suggest for you. I hope my blog will help as it shows my progression. I was very diligent with my Physical Therapy exercises as well as eating healthy. My family also made me a lot of herbal soups to drink which should help my bone healing, tendons, and blood circulation. I did not mention or ask my surgeon anything about cartilage, it was also never brought up. You can only improve from here on! Things will get better soon! I wish you all the best and to heal fast! Take care!
Hi there, thanks a lot for getting back to me. It is easy to find broken ankles but not that many broken due to dislocation ;) Was yours fully dislocated? I can't believe you even broke it twice? Both times you had to go through surgery? You are very tough girl, my respect!
ReplyDeleteI was wondering if I could ask you two more questions (for now that is :) )
How did you massage your scar? I wonder if the tightness and pulling feeling I get when moving my foot to the side opposite to where the plate is, is due to the plate (I can definitely feeling when I touch my leg, still getting use to that) or the scar tissue? Is very unpleasant and sometimes restricts my movement because of it. And secondly, what was your technique to increase weight bearing? How do you let go those crutches?!
I am also very busy following the physiotherapist's exercises, I even got a skate now so that whenever I am sitting doing stuff (working, watching tv, etc) I put my foot on it and go back and forth so my ankle keeps on moving/loosing up. You should have seen my face when I saw her entering the room with a skate :D
All best, Marina.
Hi Marina, bringing back memories haha. It was indeed hard to find information regarding a dislocation, broken ankle, and surgery. I actually didn't find much and so I started this blog in hopes to help others as I was searching and could not find much help for myself.
DeleteYes I fractured my right ankle and tore all the ligaments the first time falling from rock climbing, no surgery. Just a walking boot and crutches then. The second time on the same ankle, I tore the same top ligaments and more around the ankle from the dislocation. They had to pop it back in place and wait a few days for the swelling to go down before the surgery.
Here's a youtube video I found (process begins around 3:30 minutes in) that kind of shows how I was taught to massage my scar.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aZRb46Ezh7c
But please don't follow what I have said as I am not a doctor. I would suggest you also as your PT and surgeon regarding helping the stiffness you are feeling. I have also written my experience with the fibroblaster,
http://brokenrightankle.blogspot.com/2013/04/day-139-got-ankle-massage-using.html
as well as using cupping to loosing up the tissue on the scar.
http://brokenrightankle.blogspot.com/2013/01/day-63-went-to-physical-therapy-without.html
The tightness is something I remember because of the scarred area and the tissue underneath it being so stiff and what feels like stuck onto the bone. Once I massaged it more often (after the scar is closed to begin massaging), the mobility and movement was becoming less stiff.
Weight bearing just takes time. I was given a lot of homework to walk more even with crutches. But it all started at Physical Therapy and the pool. The swimming pool reallllly helps assist you and staying in the deep end gives you less pressure on the ankle to hold on to anything too walk on. But I was told not to push myself too hard as I can still get sore, even though I don't feel like it and feels like I'm walking on air in water. It's still working out my ankle. You can ask about pool therapy too.
Haha, I'm sure it's a set back for your PT to see a skate! They'd prefer to see you walking and trying. The sooner you start to do more walking the faster you'll get back to it. Just have to force yourself to do the exercises and block out a scheduled time during the day. It's crucial and I now see why. The more you move it in exercise the faster your ankle will adjust and get use moving once again. Or it will continue to stay stiff.
All the best to you!
Jenny
I hope you’re doing fine now. Some sports injuries can still take a toll, even if the actual injury happened years ago. That’s why it's a good idea to undergo regular medical checkups and evaluation, to make sure that you have fully recovered. Anyway, how are you feeling now?
ReplyDeleteAgnes Lawson @ Pain Relief Experts
Hi Agnes! I'm feeling much better. The clicking stopped after I took up yoga. Lots of good stretching. Thanks for asking =) You're right on it still taking a toll. I still can't stand still for too long or walk for too long in bad shoes. Still getting tired and straining when carrying heavier things. I try on heels about 3 inches high and it still bothers me a bit. So I can't wear them.Wedged heels is the way to go. Safer but can't walk or stand for long either. Getting there...
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