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??

[itsgoodtobehome]

I was fine with the spinal block. I did have morphine though so I was pretty away with the fairies for most of it. I could feel that they were doing stuff to my ankle, but no pain whatsoever. I hate the idea of someone putting me to sleep, so this was a good result for me. Also I didn’t have the horrible groggy and sick feeling that I have had when having a GA.

Anyway, whatever you decide op - best of luck. Oh, and I cried loads during the few days after. Hated being stuck in hospital away from my family, and nobody spoke English either. It was so lonely and I even got fed up of sleeping which I never thought I would say with a young child!!

[fitflopqueen]

Sounds painful and a rotten time for this to happen. My mum broke her ankle 4 weeks ago, I signed up for Amazon prime free trial and got her a wheelchair. It has been really useful, just kept in car from this week to make shopping a bit easier, just a thought.
Hope surgery goes well today

[Toddlerteaplease]

I'm a peadiatric orthopaedic nurse. Had no idea that they do these things under spinal. I presumed it was GA for everyone!

[UrsulaPandress]

I was able to watch my heel op on a screen.

[bumbleymummy]

Oh you poor thing. I had to have surgery a couple of years ago and I was more freaked out about the GA than anything else! The anaesthetist came to chat to me about it all and was really lovely. I think it’s quite usual to feel anxious about these things! I hope you have your mind put at ease and it all goes well today.

[liz70]

"I presumed it was GA for everyone!"

Nope! It was one of the first things the anaes asked me the night before. I opted for spinal immediately - never had a GA and intend to avoid one if possible! No morphine either as I dislike the feeling of being mentally out of control in a strange situation.

"I was able to watch my heel op on a screen."

I declined that offer. But good for you - I was too scaredy squeamish!

[Malbecfan]

Good luck OP, I've been there, done that and got the scars 11 years on. My kids were a little older, 3 and 4.5 but they were really good about it. The Red Cross hire out wheelchairs and other aids if you need them, so for a few weeks, it might help you. To be honest, it was boring and I watched loads of TV with my ankle up.

In the morning, before he goes out, ask DH to make you a flask that you keep by your chair so you can have warm drinks all day. I persuaded the Tesco delivery chaps to put all the shopping up on the worktops and was then able to put items away myself (they did offer to help with that). When friends came, they brewed up for me. I found out who my really good friends were; those who lived miles away but happened to be in my city for another reason, who made the effort to come and see me, far more than the people I saw most days.

Hopefully you are now on the road to recovery

[TammySwansonTwo]

I'm stunned anyone would have a spinal over a GA by choice - had to have one last year for my emergency section and never again (to the point I can't have any more kids now in case I need another!). Have had 7 GAs and don't worry about them so much anymore - although understandable if someone is as scared of GAs as I am of needles and spinals I suppose!

All the best OP whatever you decide - hope you've got lots of support nearby. Take care of yourself x

[UrsulaPandress]

GAs in the past used to leave me feeling like shit. I accept that things have improved and the last couple of ops have been GA as opposed to spinal, but no issue with either really.

Obviously I prefer not to have any operations.

[Bratsandtwats]

I hope your surgery went well today OP and that you are not too uncomfortable atm.

[kaytee87]

Sorry folks been in a lot of pain and on morphine all day, worn off now. Surgery took a bit longer than they thought and my oxygen dipped a bit so I was in recovery for hours afterwards, they also couldn’t get my pain under control so had to cut my cast open as my leg had swollen so much and they needed to relieve the pressure. I’m not sure what will happen now as presumably they can’t send me home with an open cast. Feeling pretty sorry for myself and really need to wash my hair! I just went with a GA as I don't have any earphones or anything with me and I was worried about what I would hear during the surgery.

[notangelinajolie]

Hope the pain isn't too bad and that the swelling starts to go down soon so that they can get that cast back on. Once they get your pain managed and you can hobble on crutches they will send you home.

Re spinal - my mum is having a hip replacement next week with spinal and staying awake. Apparently that's how they do it now. Yikes - I'd be terrified.

[StaggeringOn]

Sympathies, OP. Had trimalleor ankle break 3 years ago. Hope the pain is under control and that you get some sleep.

[Protectingmydaughterfromfilth]

Get a claim for PIP fast tracked! You are entitled to the Enhanced Mobility & Care rate whilst in that state! No assessment needed and doesn't matter if you're working or what income you have. (My friend had a snapped fib & tip and a rod down her bone. Had PIP for several months. Really helped!)

£200-400 pm is not to be sniffed at!

Glad you're ok anyway x

[GColdtimer]

Poor you. Am amazed they cast it so early after an op though. I had at least 24 hours without one.

Ask if they do removable casts (essentially they cast it as normal, then cut it up the length of both sides and Velcro it.) I took mine off every night for a couple of hours, it was bliss and helped with recovery as I could start physio earlier.

Keep taking the painkillers regularly. The pain gets better.

[UrsulaPandress]

Gosh I didn't know you could claim money when you have injured yourself. I must have missed out on thousands.

[kaytee87]

I'm pretty sure you can't claim pip for a broken ankle and leg. My bil receives pip, I fill in his forms and it's pretty hard to get, you really do have to be disabled.

A nurse woke me at 5.30 this morning, took away my water and said I should be fasting. I said no I shouldn't I've already had surgery. She didn't apologise just walked out leaving the light on. I've asked for a cup of tea and something to eat and been told I need to wait until 8. I'm absolutely starving after being woken so early
Yesterday the surgeons said they were happy for me to have oramorph hourly but when I asked a nurse for it I was told no as 'I would just become dependent on it??!!' I mentioned the surgeons said they were happy for me to have it and that I was in pain but she just said I would be fine without it. Totally bizarre but I don't have the energy to complain as I'm too sore, tired and hungry. I don't know if it's because I'm on the wrong ward, they don't have beds in orthopaedics so I'm on an acute receiving ward.

[YouThought]

Oh you poor bean. Hope you feel a bit more comfortable today. That nurse sounds a meany. 💐💐

[kaytee87]

It's just so strange to not give someone their prescribed painkillers after they've had metal plates inserted into their leg! I honestly think she was mixing me up with someone else perhaps? I felt like saying to her I don't have why drug issues so I doubt I will become addicted whilst having it in hospital straight after surgery!

[UrsulaPandress]

I've had both ends of the spectrum in terms of nursing care. When you are in such a dependent state it can be awful. I hated having to ask to be taken to the toilet (or worse, a bed pan). I too was refused pain relief because I hadn't used my self injecting morphine. Morphine makes me violently sick but they claimed I had 'wasted' it by not using it so I couldn't have anything else.

Ring your bell and ask for water. The day staff will be on soon and may be nicer.

[kaytee87]

Yes I'm having to use bed pan as not allowed up, have waited ages a few times really thought I was going to wet the bed at one point. They don't usually have post op patients on this ward so I'll give them the benefit of the doubt.

[UrsulaPandress]

I once almost filled a bed pan with wee! The nurse commented that if I didn't drink so much water I wouldn't wee so much. The cheek!

[ThatIsNachoCheese]

I had similar after an ok, they took out my drip (and with it, my self administered pain relief).
I was on the wrong ward too and the Dr was furious when he did his rounds and realised.
Please say something or ask your DH too when he visits. The pain needs to be kept on top of.

[kaytee87]

I won't have any visitors today nacho dh is working and I've just been told the physios are coming round so I assume I'm going home today.

[RB68]

definitely get squeaky about the pain relief. Because you are on the wrong ward they won't be aware of the correct protocols etc so you need to advocate for yourself - which when you are knocked about and in pain is not easy. Start being a pain in their butt.