Diet & broken limbs/limited mobility (Terrified of weight gain)

[Borisjohnsonshairbrush]

Hello all,

I'm 3 weeks post bimalleolar Ankle fracture and 2 weeks post surgery to fix the the break and dislocation.

I'm usually very very active (i did this while indoor rock climbing fgs ) I used to be very overweight 16st now 10st and thankfully I've lost my desire for things like white pasta and chips/crisps since the break.

I just cant treat myself at the moment as I feel I don't deserve it. adjusted my diet to low (ish) carb - berries and protein yogurt, fish and salad for lunch and chicken with greens in the evening. snacking on nuts or low sugar protein bar. And of course no alcohol due to meds/thinners

Has anyone else been through similar and found diet played a massive part? did you eat your usual pre-break diet? did you lose or gain?

Thank you! V nervous!

Waiting another X-ray and cast off. Totally weird!

It must feel so light and cool, fingers crossed for the X Ray

As boris said, Henry VIII. Yes hoping it is healing ok! Husband had to take a call from the car so feeling a bit nervous

Ohhhh fingers, toes....eyes crossed...

So told it has all healed and to start walking on it. No moon boot even! Said he could give me one but would delay healing. I feel so weird! Having a cup of tea to celebrate but am scared!

Oh that’s brilliant 🥳

Yes - scared to put the weight on it. But good news indeed. V weird! Hot tub tonight and try and wiggle it around! You’re turn now boris! Good luck for tomorrow. It’s going to be a while before I can get walking I fear! Dr asked even if I needed physio and it was like - Do you even need to ask that? My friend got physio for a hairline fracture to her ankle so I found that a bit odd! I have paid my NI contributions for years! So darned right I want the physio! My leg feels so bare!

It still feels quite bruised! Well the area where ligaments Got torn is still black! Said it would swell for up to 6 weeks!

Now we need to compare weight bearing!

I have been warned to expect swelling for quite some time once I start weight bearing it seems that is totally normal with the feet. My friend who had surgery last year said her foot would swell a bit for some months and you definitely need comfy shoes. She started with Ugg boots but a bit too hot for this time of year!

I broke my tib and fib approx 15 years ago at the start of the kids school summer holidays. I had to wait a few days before the op as it was so swollen and was sent home in a backslab cast and crutches. I had never used crutches before, and as every slight bounce of my foot was painful it was really hard going. When I first came home after a&e I was being helped by my dh but I wobbled and put all my weight back onto my broken ankle. I can still remember the pain now, hurt more than when I actually broke it. I eventually got a zimmer frame which really helped with getting around, but actually found it much harder to use for long distances so when my ankle felt more stable I started using the crutches. The physios in the hospital did help me with getting up and down stairs on one foot and with crutches under an arm, but at the start I just went up and down on my bum. The hardest bit with that was getting up to standing at the top of the stairs. I felt so wobbly I worried I might fall down.
I had two plates and many pins fitted and spent many days with my leg up. I avoided any fizzy drinks and took calcium tablets to help with healing.
My cast was removed after 6 or so weeks and I was amazed at just how skinny my leg was, and how much skin had peeled. Oh, and the one hairy leg one smooth thing was interesting.
I started to have a bit of weeping on one of my scars. I went to my gp and they sent me straight to a&e as it turned out there was an infection with one of the plates. I had intravenous antibiotics and another op to remove the infected plate. This set back my walking.
I was on crutches what felt like forever, but eventually got to just using one. I only had a short amount of physio due to the second op and then a mix up so I have a bit of reduced tendon movement even now. I still have a numb patch on my leg where I had the second op and slight numbness on my big toe and the one next to it, though that one has now decided to start with a random burning type pain. I hope it doesn't develop and that it's just the nerves waking up, but as my ed has CRPS I am aware of just how it can take hold.
I don't remember putting on too much weight during my recovery. It was a stinking hot summer which is not great for toe to knee cast wearing.
My whole recovery time from break to being discharged after a weeks stay for intravenous antibiotics was 4 months so the end of it was Nov and it was getting icy.

Thanks for your story longpot. I will be taking it easy as it is still fairly sore when walking. It’s still swollen and ligaments are still bruised so probably still got a lot of tissue swelling. Leg is skinny but was glad I could at least move my ankle up and down. Side to side is sore so it’s going to take me a bit of time. I’m amazed it healed after 5 weeks enough to walk on it. To think they had wanted to give me surgery but I’m glad the hospital op lost was full as it gave me time to think. I would have been upset if they’d said I still needed surgery.

I can have a shower yippee!

Evenstar - yes my leg is swelling but good
To get the cast off.
Feels tender without the support of the cast
But I have been putting the foot on the floor with light weight bearing when go to the bathroom. Going to go in the hot tub tonight to see if I can weight bear etc. Knackered tho! I didn’t sleep too well last night! Need an early one tonight

You’ll probably sleep really well without the weight on your leg.

What was your skin like?

I'm so excited for a bath. praying its off tomorrow. I think I will cry with happiness if it is.

Hi boris it was a little flaky but not as bad as it could be. I’d seen a pic on internet of someone’s leg and it looked awful! But mine is just dry and small flakes. Going to try and get in the hot tub tonight and stand on the leg for a couple of minutes.

My leg is smaller than the other one. But could have been worse. Glad I was only in for weeks. Don’t know if I’ll manage to get in my shoes yet though!

Hello bootiful! Xx

Oh that’s great! There’ll be no stopping you now 😊

One more minor op to remove screw and I can FWB! XXX

How does it feel boris? My calf muscle is a bit sore. Not sure if it’s because I’m using the muscle for the first time but did bang it on the bed ☹️. I had my first shower! Still got lovely bruising and swelling! When do you have the next op?

How is everyone today?

I have been gingerly walking on my ankle with crutches. V paranoid! Leg still is a bit bluish when walking on it. Still got lots of dry dead skin on it but when resting looks more normal. Can even see a slight difference in muscle now that I’m using it. I am however completely whacked! Not sure if is all the pent up stress but slept till 930 am and would have happily slept on!

Going out for dinner tonight for the first time in oooooo forever! Kids at granny’s but back tomorrow!

I drove for the first time since 26 June today, and went and had a cup of tea with a friend as it was the only chance we had to meet up over the summer.

I could have driven at 2 weeks as I have an automatic and it’s my left foot, but I couldn’t have sat with my foot down for long till now. It felt good to get out and be independent, but it made me realise that I still couldn’t go shopping for example as standing up and walking for longer would have been harder.

That’s great Evenstar. Looking forward to dinner but I plan to take is slow this week! Only issue about not having a boot is what shoes do I wear to the restaurant tonight? My foot is twice the size of the other so not going to easily fit in anything!

I’ve not driven yet the dr was happy for me to.‘surprised by that tbh. Luckily I do have an automatic but not sure I could drive a manual right now! Luckily my right foot is all I need but will leave it another week or so until I drive. I haven’t braved walking upstairs yet! Had another shower today though!

Not very stylish but I am hoping my Crocs that I usually wear in the garden will accommodate any swelling.

How long do you have to use crutches for lush?

Hopefully the op is in the next 3weeks!

my leg is feeling so vulnerable without the boot!

Hi the use of crutches is up to me. When I feel confident but I’m going to take it easy for this week seeing as I am only 5.5 weeks in. Bone will still be strengthening in the coming weeks and years even!

I’m getting used to the bare leg but at night I’m putting a blanket round it as it feels so
Cold!