Broken ankle in 3places. Please share your stories while stuck in hospital

[Borisjohnsonshairbrush]

Fell 10ft and dislocated it too....
I need surgery and just awaiting CT results to determine the swelling. Absolutely gutted.

Dried figs will really help with the constipation from the codeine. You will need to do literally nothing apart from get up to go to the loo for at least the first 2 weeks, possible longer with 3 breaks.
Trainer liners are really good for a sock over your cast to cover your toes.

Get a waterproof medical stool to put in the shower and one of those plastic cast covers. Argos is good for the stool, Amazon for the cast cover.

Oh you poor think. I managed to get a spiral fracture of my fibula zip wiring a few years back, was very surprised to find it didn't hurt (ached in the few weeks afyer) but luckily didn't need surgery. They're pretty keen to get you weight bearing as soon as possible now a days, I was in a walking boot after a week. Fingers crossed for a speedy recovery.

I fell (due to knee on other leg giving out - knee issues) and broke the foot and ankle of other leg. No way could I use crutches to get around.broken ankle/foot could not bear any weight.

I borrowed a self propelled wheel chair from Red Cross and a toilet surround thingy so I could lower myself into the toilet and then up, plus a shower stool. I bought something from Amazon that is a plastic boot type thing up to my knee so that I could shower without getting the bandages wet.

The wheel chair enable me to cook, wash dishes, use dishwasher etc.

Home delivery for food shopping was a god send as they dropped off inside the door, I could load up the bags and wheel into the kitchen to put the things away.

Oh and bought my own cryo cuff and cooler for pain management as codeine tends to have constipation side effect. Not something I could have due to digestion issues.

A friends recovering from this. Had an operation to fix the ankle. A week in cast with foot up. New cast same for another week with foot up. Then proper cast for 4 weeks, on crutches but very light use only, and foot up as much as possible. Weight bearing restarted after this if check up OK.

All the best, you are on the way to recovery...Good luck!

Thinking of you. I am seven weeks ahead of you injury wise. Very fortunate as had one simple break. I was floored by the lack of independence and spontaneity plus someone who never sat down...Some great advice here. Do not despair. it should all be over by September as someone else posted. Shower stool is great. I used Amazon. Couldn't deal with the thing over leg when you shower. Bought two and ended up using neither. You can rent wheelchairs and those knee scooter things but I did not. Others found them invaluable. Accept any offers of help/kindness. Look after yourself. Keep coming back here for more ideas. x I wasted a lot of time beating myself up over my accident. Don't bother.

A positive -when I tore a ligament in my ankle everyone said ‘oh, bugger, recovery from a break is much easier’ This included an orthopaedic surgeon and various physios. I wish you a very speedy bone break recovery!

Agreed, my dad has ruptured a tendon and it's going to be months and months of recovery.

@Borisjohnsonshairbrush

I'm an emotional wreck today.

I'm usually very sporty and go to the gym everyday.

It's really suck in what's happened

Poor you, @Borisjohnsonshairbrush.

I am so fearful of breaking anything as being active is my life. I badly sprained my foot and ankle a few years ago and was laid up for a few weeks and it was really hard going. I really feel for you, it must be so awful, especially being alone in hospital.

Hand hold here.

Not broken it myself, but someone I knew said that the best bit of equipment they used was a little scooter for one leg as they were able to get around quite quickly without putting pressure on arms and the bad ankle.

I'd second this. The pirate peg leg has been very useful to my friends who have had ankle injuries.

I have always been very emotional after an injury. It's a combination of a chance in the adrenaline and serotonin levels as well as the isolation of being in hospital and the anxiety about what is to come. Every time you wake up it feels better though!

I know but I feel like I've going to get forgotten about now at the hospital now that I have come home between the operation xx

How’s the leg, OP?

No pain if kept very still.
Heard from the hospital. nil by mouth 6am tomorrow as they could get me in for surgery however that's on bed availability so I'm not holding hope. Xx

Are you still at home? Why is it such a long wait for surgery? Is it because the swelling has to subside?

Ye, you have to wait for it to go down. I had a 3.5 hr wait in A&E. So that didn't help xx

I hope you get in soon. Please elevate it as much as possible - people often underestimate how high their foot needs to go. You need to have it well above hip height pretty much all the time and try and minimise getting up for things.

Waiting for swelling to reduce can take up to 10 days if it sets in. Unfortunately now that you’re at home, bed pressures really come in to it and that may also delay things. Lots of hospitals are at capacity so can’t guarantee beds at all. We’re you the poster you self discharged from MAU?

*Were you the poster who self discharged from MAU? Sorry fat thumbs

I can feel the swelling has gone down more and I can move my toes more.

I know. I'm already very anxious.

I was told to be nil by mouth tomorrow from 6am so I've got everything crossed.

As in food at six? Are they planning on the afternoon then?

Yes phone call from trauma nurse rang...nil by mouth at 6am tomorrow with a view to surgery in the PM.