HI, I am back from vacation and my ankle did ok, I used my crutches most of the time. I am still having pain in my heel cant even set it down on the ground with out the boot on, but with the boot on i can walk some with out the crutches(around the house).
My problem now is my ankle is doing the same snapping it did before the surgery, my dr. said it was the tendon snapping before the surgery, could I have reinjured it?? should I call him??
I am going to be very frustrated if this surgery didn't work, anyone else have this?
Heidi

Heidi,

If you think that there might be a problem (a recurance of symptoms that lead to your surgery in the first place) you need to call your Dr ASAP and bring it to his attention.

It may be nothing more than lax tendons that are getting back into action and it may be something that needs to be taken care of before a bigger problem arises... the only way to be sure is to get it checked out.

I always say that we know our bodies better than anyone and if we think there is something wrong 99 times out of a hundred something is.

Good luck and please let us know how things go.

Heidi

I have no experience of the exact surgery you had but I do know about the heel pain. I was out of a cast two weeks ago after 8 weeks and the heel pain was excrutiating, but I have seen a vast improvement in the last three days and now there is virtually none. I was just getting to the end of my tether with it, but I did the exercises religiously and it works!
Hope you get some relief soon
:)

well I talked to the Dr. and he said it sounded normal, that the stitches in the tendon might be making it snap. Does this make any sense? I wouldn't be so concerned if this wasn't a problem before. I still have a lot of pain,when I sleep at night I wake up in pain and try to find a comfy position.
Thanks for your help,
heidi

Go out and get yourself a beanbag chair (I kid you not)... I use a spiderman one myself :jester: !

You can shape the thing and place your foot on it in a nice comfortable 'well' that will keep it from shifting in your sleep... it is not a perfect solution, but I have found that it made a big difference in my being able to sleep.

I'm sorry your still in pain. Can you remind me what surgery you had? I just had a peroneal brevis tendon repair done about 3 weeks ago.

HI,
I had surgery to fix a torn brevis tendon(for the second time), fix ligaments and my heel shifted.
This is my second surgery in less than a year and i think thats why I am being such a baby about it this time, I am realllllllly getting tired of always being in pain! And now that the ankle is snapping again just like it did before the surgery , I am getting nervous the surgery didn't work.
I see the Dr. again in 2 weeks and am hoping for some good answers. I talked to him on the phone yesterday but it didnt feel like he was getting my concerns, he just kept telling me to keep using it, which i am doing. I have 3 kids does he really think i get to sit around all day??lol
Are you in a fiber glass cast still??
Heidi

HI,
I had surgery to fix a torn brevis tendon(for the second time), fix ligaments and my heel shifted.
This is my second surgery in less than a year and i think thats why I am being such a baby about it this time, I am realllllllly getting tired of always being in pain! And now that the ankle is snapping again just like it did before the surgery , I am getting nervous the surgery didn't work.
I see the Dr. again in 2 weeks and am hoping for some good answers. I talked to him on the phone yesterday but it didnt feel like he was getting my concerns, he just kept telling me to keep using it, which i am doing. I have 3 kids does he really think i get to sit around all day??lol
Are you in a fiber glass cast still??
Heidi

:eek: You are scaring me!!! I'm so scared of this failing and the pain that might come back once I start walking on it full time and on my feet all the time. I have 4 kids so I know exactly what your going through. Thankfully I've had help for the last 3 weeks. I'm still in my fiberglass cast. When was your surgery? Mine was on July 30th. How's your pain now?

penybobeny..where are you in VA? I"m in Richmond. I was wondering who your doc was.

a beanbag !!! what a great idea....I have a med fracture and am in an aircast all day long. I can take it off at night but thats when the pain always starts. I can never find a good place to lay the frigging thing down. I am going to go out a get a beanbag in the morning.

my ankle is snapping ( I use the word clicking) with every step I try to take when I don't have the cast on...opps I guess I am not even suspose to be weight bearing on it without the cast in the first place. Why does the ankle snap when you have a med fracture ?

penybobeny..where are you in VA? I was wondering who your doc was.

I now go to UVA for my ankle/foot needs, the first 18 surgeries were by a Dr who I will not name in South East, VA. (I will not name him because my experiences with him were absolutely horrible... a nightmare thanks to the fact that I am a Workman's Comp patient and could not change Dr's. I will not mention his name because it would not be right for me to blast him by name)

The surgeon that did my last surgery unfortunately has left UVA... to become the Executive Chairman of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons (my loss and everyone else's gain) and the Dr that has taken over his position will be the one to amputate. (there is nothing else that can be done... remember that mine is a very extreme case and in no way typical... most people having ankle and foot surgery have wonderful outcomes... a few might have to have as many as 2-4 surgeries to get things correct, but even that is rare)

my ankle is snapping ( I use the word clicking) with every step I try to take when I don't have the cast on...opps I guess I am not even suspose to be weight bearing on it without the cast in the first place. Why does the ankle snap when you have a med fracture ?

Ok, first 100 lashes with an over-cooked spaghetti strand for walking without the cast! :jester:

How long have you been in the cast? I am thinking that your tendons and ligaments might have become a little tight from inactivity and when you are out of the cast (as in no longer have to wear it) and starting to use it normally the snapping should slow down and stop.

Ask about Physical Therapy focusing on range of motion excercises to help get those tendons back in shape and for goodness sake follow the rules on using the cast! The last thing you want to do is cause something that might have been a simple fix to turn into a major issue that might take years to resolve.

Ok, nagging done (lol) and I hope that the beanbag helps you as much as it has helped me... as long as you are getting one let your inner child free and get something goofy. (Spiderman was as goofy as I could find but I have my eye on one now that looks like a giant eye ball)

The surgeon that did my last surgery unfortunately has left UVA... to become the Executive Chairman of the American Board of Orthopaedic Surgeons (my loss and everyone else's gain) and the Dr that has taken over his position will be the one to amputate. (there is nothing else that can be done... remember that mine is a very extreme case and in no way typical... most people having ankle and foot surgery have wonderful outcomes... a few might have to have as many as 2-4 surgeries to get things correct, but even that is rare)[/QUOTE]



Do you have an amputation date? Egads, I sure wish this wasn't your final result, heck I don't even know how to word that correctly. I'm really sorry the other surgies have failed you. You seem to have high spirits so I'm sure you will recouperate nicely once your amputation is done.

A ? for those that have had the peroneous brevis tendon repaired, what are the risks of it happening again? How about the risk of spraining? And since I've started bearing weight more and more on my repair, my calf muscles on that leg are aching.. more like moooing lol. Normal I assume from using it again?

Tina

Do you have an amputation date? Egads, I sure wish this wasn't your final result, heck I don't even know how to word that correctly. I'm really sorry the other surgies have failed you. You seem to have high spirits so I'm sure you will recouperate nicely once your amputation is done.

I do not have a date as of yet, I have other medical issues going on and an amputation would require general surgery, something I cannot have at this time.

There are two ways to deal with life's troubles... you can curl up and hide from it growing more distant and angry or you can decide to laugh about it and enjoy life in spite of it. I might have alot of problems, but believe me, there are people out there who have it much worse than I.

Monkynbear, I am not sure why the first surgery didnt work, but I lost confidence in the Dr. that did the first surgery when he kept putting my concerns off. I had alot of snapping and pain from the minute i got out of the walking boot and the first Dr. said he didnt know what was going on.
So i switched Drs and he knew the problem right away , the tendon was retorn and in such bad shape he had to cut it out and attach it to the other tendon, he said my problem is degenerative and thats why he moved my heel over, i guess this will release some of the tension on the tendon.
I am concerned this time because the same snapping is back as before and will even snap when i am in the boot. I call ed the Dr. and he said the same thing as peonny, that it could be the tendons relaxing from the sutures and such, but I am not sold on that yet we will see with time, the snapping is getting more instead of less, but the saying goes things usually get worse before better.
Just remember everyones surgery is different and i hope your out come is great and your kids are as understading about all this as mine have been(give or take a couple of grumbles)!!!
heidi

First of all my heart goes out to you....18 surgeries....and amputation..you have to be a very strong person.

Thank you for the advise about the clicking of my ankle.....My ankle was the first sign (before the swelling started) that something was wrong with my foot. I do not recall the moment I hurt it. Everyone in the room could hear my ankle cklicking with every step. I walked around on it for 3 weeks before I could get to my doctor. It took three more visits and three sets of exrays later before he saw the fracture...didn't pay any attention to the ankle.

I have been in an aircast for a month and will have it re-exrayed on Sept. 5th . I have a cast that comes up to my knee due to the fact that I am recovering from not so good back surgery (L-5) This time I'am going to make him take a closer look at my ankle...which is always in pain.

I don't go a day without back pain...but a last ...and from info from the "broken foot" site I was told to find a shoe to balance the difference between the height of the cast and my other foot. You would have thought my doc would have told me about such a simple way to help relieve back pain.

this sees like such a nonsense note...when you must be going through so much.

One other thing....sense you are a veteran on this message site...is it best to post a quick reply or quote on one??? I am new at this....but it is a great site.

by the way I make great pasta!!!! take care of yourself..

One other thing....sense you are a veteran on this message site...is it best to post a quick reply or quote on one??? I am new at this....but it is a great site.



You use the quote feature when you want to respond directly to a single statement or to repeat an entire post because you find it significant. A Quick reply just lets you post quickly without added features such as adding icons, smilies or changing the subject line a little.

Nothing seems like nonsense to me... what I go through is what I go through... what you go through is what you go through... neither is worse than the other or better than the other. Even a simple ankle sprain can be a traumatic injury for some people and they deserve the respect and the ear of others just as much as anyone else, and an amputation deserves no more attention than the sprain.

I hope that your ankle is seen to properly and that you get the care you need for a comfortable recovery.... that and your back, I hope that things work out there for you as well.

Recovery from injury has no timeline, some people are blessed with speedy and hassle free recoveries and others with the exact same injury might be plagued by setbacks and pitfalls.

oliver 65,
Did your Dr. tell you why your ankle is snapping(cracking)?
My ankle before my second surgery snapped all day long, I was thinking this surgery would have fixed it but now that i am in the boot it is doing it again and it is getting more frequent every day.
Thanks,
Heidi

You use the quote feature when you want to respond directly to a single statement or to repeat an entire post because you find it significant. A Quick reply just lets you post quickly without added features such as adding icons, smilies or changing the subject line a little.

Nothing seems like nonsense to me... what I go through is what I go through... what you go through is what you go through... neither is worse than the other or better than the other. Even a simple ankle sprain can be a traumatic injury for some people and they deserve the respect and the ear of others just as much as anyone else, and an amputation deserves no more attention than the sprain.

I hope that your ankle is seen to properly and that you get the care you need for a comfortable recovery.... that and your back, I hope that things work out there for you as well.

Recovery from injury has no timeline, some people are blessed with speedy and hassle free recoveries and others with the exact same injury might be plagued by setbacks and pitfalls.

:angel: Hope I am doing this the correct way...Just wanted to thank you for the kind words ...you are so right..injury or disease recovery have no timeline. I am a caregiver for my husband who has cirrhosis of the liver. He was told he only had 6 months to live....that was 5 years ago and today he is stable...in his condition...it's all about food intake. I prepare 3 homecooked meals everyday even in my cast. I know I have given him his life back. At least none of us with our injuryies are facing death. I know by your words you are a strong lady and what ever comes your way you will handle.Now how do I get that angle thing to work. Oliver65

Heidi...

My doc told me that my ankle was snapping so loud because of the amount of swelling and that I had been walking around with a fracture for over 3 weeks before I had an ex-ray!!!! I am not so sure that is true since the swelling is down and the ankle is still snapping. It is amazing how loud the sound is...I have no idea what is going on. My next visit is Sept 5th. How are you doing?

Oliver65,
My ankle will also snap so loud you can hear it acrossed the room and itreally hurts sometimes!!
before my second surgery it would snap so much my kids would count them!
I thought this surgery was suppose to fix it but now that i have been in the boot for a couple weeks it is doing the same thing,Dr said it is probablly the tendon healing but i am not so sure it is the same feeling and sounds of it snapping before.
I go see him next week so I quess we will see then, I am suppose to go back to work sept. 6, not to sure about that!!
Heidi

Heidi...did you go back to the doc last week..how are you doing? did you have to go back to work...are you wearing a boot or a aircast....or are you a lucky one and are back in a pair or shoes.

My docs appointment is Sept 4th for a new set of ex-rays.

Hope you are a nice Labor Day weekend.
Oliver65

Oliver 65,
I go to the doctor tomorrow and hopefully will get some answers!
I am in a walking boot now. I have a wedding saturday and not sure if i will have to wear the boot or not I got a nice pair of black pants (to cover boot)and a cute top to go with it.
MY ankle is still pretty sore and swollen and the snapping is a constant, so I am pretty interested in what the Dr. will say!
Heidi

heidi..no word from you as of late....how are you doing? I am still snapping away with my ankle but am out of my aircast and am having rehab 3 times a week...let me know how you are..did you go back to work? oliver65

Wellll, I was doing good and had started back to work for 2 whole days and then i slipped and fell in a store and had to take another week off . Taking the week off i didnt mind, its that the Dr. said this is going to put me back a couple few weeks in my recovery and I had just started pt so i had to post pone that for a bit too. MY ankle is snapping more than ever now too, it even snaps with the boot on. I am starting to get really frustrated!!!!!
Have they noticed your snapping in rehab?? If so what did they say about it??
Heidi

heidi...good thing we don't live next door to each other...we would have lots to talk about!!!! I too have had a set back...not with my foot by with a severe diverticulitis attack. I have been forced to be off my feet for the last week...am on large doses of cipro and flagel which knock the you know what out of ya.

Maybe this has been a good thing for my foot...at least I am off my feet. I had to stop my rehab...as I have been too weak to drive. I am doing some at home. As for the cracking sound..he said it was weak tendons crossing over the bone..who knows??? let me know how you are doing...we just have to be so very careful each day. You have to make sure you get a really good walking shoe...one that supports your ankle. Seems like ankles take forever to heal.

Have you heare from penybobeny....I wonder how she is doing...seems like everyone jumpes aroumd from board to board...I'am not sure how to find people we chat with.

Hope you are doing better..let me know.
oliver65

oliver65,
I'm sorry to hear you have had a set back too!
I am starting to get alittle frustrated I thought this surgery was going to let me walk pain free and fix my woes, but the pain is worse and the cracking is worse. I know I have to be patient but it is hard!! I am hoping now that i can get back into PT things will start getting better!!!
Did your Dr. tell you what tendons he thinks are snapping?
Feel better!!
Heidi