Broken ankle?

[kaytee87]

I think I've broken my ankle, at first I thought it might be sprained but the pain is getting worse and is unbearable even whilst lying still. I know I need to go to hospital but how the hell am i going to get there? I wouldn't be able to manage into a taxi, what do I do??

Managed to get into the kitchen and make myself tea and toast. All of my other muscles hurt now but at least I did it.

Rivaroxaban, Bluntness?

Well done Kaytee. Baby steps...

Might try cutting them down tomorrow depending how sore I am in the morning.

I wouldn't just yet. It's more important that you stay pain free atm, don't try to be a hero.

Having broken my leg and ankle a few years ago, my tip is, if funds allow, to get a personal trainer who does home visits. She was both good physio and entertainment for what was a frustratingly boring 2 months. Also found audio books and podcasts good for the night when pain/discomfort caused insomnia. I also had a grabby stick and insulated cup (as on crutches cannot transport mugs of tea).

@Bratsandtwats honestly not trying to be a hero. The cocodomol is making me constipated (haven't gone in a week now despite taking lactulose), worried about taking 2 lots of NSAIDs and I hate being so sleepy all day when I want to play with my ds - worried he will forget who I am. So all completely selfish reasons really! I didn't bother going onto the Tramadol as I found I didn't need it in the end.

@justicewomen I think I'm going to order a grabber stick now as lots of people have suggested it.
I won't really be bored as have a 16mo (other people will be here looking after him) and really need to try and keep up with college work even if i can't manage to go into my night class. Have had the wee one in the bed with me for most of the last 2 nights - He's being so clingy just now, I think it's because other people have been looking after him so I don't mind giving him extra cuddles for now to reassure him - so any insomnia is because of the wee wriggler

Did you order your grabber stick kaytee? How are you getting on. Hopefully things are getting easier.

Hi @bakingcupcakes I didn't order it but find I can support myself on one crutch and sort of swoop down to pick stuff up.

I had my soft cast removed on Tuesday and all 44 (!) staples taken out of 2 wounds bloody ouch then a hard cast put on. The hard cast is lighter and slightly slimmer so that's good. My foot was really swollen still, turns out I've not been keeping it elevated enough - no one told me it had to be above hip when sitting and above heart when lying.
I may be able to have my cast removed on the 9th January and go into a boot so fingers crossed!

I've got aches and pains everywhere else in my body even though my ankle only gives the occasional twinge now. Im assuming I'm sore from using crutches and my body being at a slightly different angle than normal.

My 16mo has been very upset by the whole thing; me being away for 3 nights, other people looking after him, me not being able to pick him up, and not getting out to his usual classes/clubs. He's in bed with me every night at some point as he won't settle for my dh and for the past week he's had the flu. I'm absolutely exhausted but hoping he's getting over the worst of it now.

I've only been out of the house maybe 3 or 4 times, it's been so icy I'm scared to go anywhere. My husband is planning a day out for us on Wednesday with me in my wheelchair but I'm scared of my foot swelling up as it won't be elevated enough for hours.

I'm looking forward to having a really hot, deep bath with something lovely from lush and also being able to pick my son up when he reaches for me.

I've only just seen this thread. I broke my leg the day before you but luckily I didn't need surgery

My poor dh has been brilliant & luckily my kids are older & in theory should be able to help (9 year olds been useless 🙄)

Hope your pains getting better. I stupidly thought once a cast was on, the pain stopped

I've not had to take any painkillers for a couple of days now but the insomnia & discomfort at night is by far the worst

My pain is much better @ny20005 but my shoulder is now very sore (from using the crutches I assume). It's an uphill battle!
My husband finishes up work today for 2 weeks so that will be nice but I'm conscious that he needs a break too as he works very hard and has been doing extra in the house with me laid up.
I'm back in the plaster room now about to get a new plaster as my cast was too loose after the last of my swelling went down. It had started to rub my heel.
Looking forward to the next step of hopefully being partial weight bearing in a boot from the 9th January!

@TammySwansonTwo @lurkeyishere @RB68 @TheWickerWoman @itsgoodtobehome @user1468353179 @Bluntness100
And anyone else who has broken their ankles and legs. How long afterwards was it before you could drive?

Alot depends on the injury you have and how much they did to put it right. My first one was about 6 mths!!! But it was a horror and they fixed it with twisted wire which aggravated and prevented rehab so quickly had surgery to remove wires then progressed fine. Second time similar injury but no wires around 9 weeks I reckon from going into plaster to out and physio and caution for a couple of weeks. But I was 26 so it was prob quite fast, It can also depend on the ankle you broke - so right more of an issue than left for slamming the anchors on in the car, but the main issue for me was the angle of foot to pedal

I agree that other people's experiences will not necessarily help you other than as a general guide. My physio just said "I'm happy for you to drive as soon as you are confident you can do an emergency stop" & otherwise left it up to me.
I first drove 3.5/4 weeks after cast off/boot on, so 10 weeks post op. For me, there was a delay in getting physio & I was relatively nervous, so you might be able to progress through 2 crutches -> 1 crutch -> just boot -> ok and therefore drive faster than I did.
I found getting into the boot made things a lot easier, and being able to sleep without anything on my foot was bliss! Not long to go now...

It's progressing op and 9 JAN not too long! Whoop! You're getting there.

You can legally drive when the boot is off. You will,be in it at least a couple of weeks, if not longer. But you will be so much more mobile.

My breaks were minor in comparison to yours, but I'd say after the boot came off it was about a month before I could walk normally. I could drive within a couple of days though. I was still using crutches sporadically and limping after it came off. It just takes time. The question is do you want to drive if still limping and using crutches.

People kept saying to me " that's not right, something must be wrong" and I thought the same when I wasn't walking right. Nothing was wrong and I walk fine now.

The interesting thing I learned is you hear people saying it gets achey when it's cold. Bizarrely that's true.

Oh yes bluntness my arm got achy for years after I broke it.
Ok this is all giving me a bit of an idea anyway so thanks folk x

My dh finishes for 2 weeks today & I can't wait !

I baked this afternoon - a batch of scones which normally would have taken me 30 mins, took me 1.5 hrs & the kitchens a wreck lol

I'm back to the hospital tomorrow but I've not had any change to my nerve damage so I'm not hopeful that I'll be driving any time soon 😩

I was naughty, I drove after around eight weeks, I wasn’t supposed to but I did and I was ok (luckily) They cancelled my physio - they said I’d phisioed it myself by driving.

@ny20005 well done you. I've barely done anything in the house except bits of tidying, eg moving one small thing at a time by carrying it with my teeth or tucked under my armpit.
I woke at 2am and am sooo uncomfortable so can't get back to sleep. I want to sleep on my stomach but meant to keep stupid leg raised 🤷🏼‍♀️

kaytee87- if you have a shopping bag with long handles you can sling it round your neck to carry things. I did that after my knee replacement.

I’m confused- can you just tell your insurance that you’re going to get it looked at yourselves? I know you have to tell them about the accident but can’t you just get it fixed?

And not claim I mean

@sueelleker I thought about that but my shoulders and neck are really painful and I don't want to make them any worse. I've got pockets on my dressing gown so that helps for small things.

I've been to hospital this morning - seen a different doctor who just prodded my leg & asked if it sore 🙄

He then said I can start to weight bare in the boot 😱 it's not even been 4 weeks

I think I'll wait till 6 weeks & see how I get on

Hope your discomfort settles down & you can get some sleep x

Ny I think maybe there is some fear.

Partial weight bearing is you don't have to hop, but you can walk with crutches taking the pressure off. I'd try a single step and see how you feel.

At four weeks I could walk in my boot, I did need one crutch though as it started to get sore after a few mins, sometimes I needed two. However a large part of the recovery time is strengthening the muscles again and going partial weight bearing is part of that. You yourself shall know what you're capable of. Good luck.