I am having Ankle Ligament Reconstruction in 3 weeks. Luckily the injury happened at work. It has been 5 months since the injury and still pain and total instability when trying to walk. Has anyone had this surgery? How bad is the healing time? Doc said 6 weeks in a cast, 6 weeks in a walking boot. Any advise? I'm really concerned. :(

Hi, copchick, welcome to the gang... Of people who don't walk so good.

So, I take it you are having the surgery known as a Brostrom repair. That procedure is done a lot, and it should treat the instability pretty well. Yes, the recovery time is long. It might be a whole year before your ankle is as good as it was before the injury, but you should be able to walk comfortably well before a year is up.

You should have physical therapy. A lot of therapy, and you will get home exercises, and it is absolutely vital that you do them--but that's a worry for after the cast comes off.

For the first week or so after surgery, you want to keep your foot elevated above the rest of your body pretty much all the time, except when you are taking a trip to the bathroom or something. You will be given narcotic painkillers. Take them, do not wait until you are in agony, do not attempt to tough it out. You will rest better and heal better if you are comfortable, and have less pain in the later, more active stages of recovery.

Do you know what a Rolleraid or Turning Leg Caddy is? It's a device you may want to look into, if you're going to be non weight-bearing for a long time. (Just don't get the Invacare brand).

Especially for the first few days, it would be good if there were someone around to take care of you, cooking, etc. Do as many chores as possible in advance, pick up rugs and push aside furniture to make it easier for crutches to get by.

Have a lot of ice packs. You can't have too many, they're the best thing ever.

And good luck! If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask.

Hi. Thank you for responding so quickly. I'm not sure what procedure he is doing. He said something about moving things to replace other things. I started to feel really queasy when he said about the time in the cast. He was explaining so much, and all I kept hearing is 6 weeks in a cast..LOL! Thank you for telling me about the Leg Caddy. I checked out a couple of websites. I'll have the doctor order it for me. How long does the serious pain last after the surgery? I'm going to stay overnight (by choice). How long after the cast comes off are you able to drive? I'm not really worried about the down time. I've been off the ankle just about the last 5 months since the injury. I would have one or two good days and then it put me down for three or four days. It was hard at first, but my hubby and the kiddies are happy to have me around the house.
I'll tell you about the injury. It's kind of a funny story. I'm a police officer. We went on a domestic disturbance call. Another officer was walking in front of me as we were going up the driveway to the house. A HUGE dog ran at us growling. The other officer ran into me trying to get away. I fell. By the time it was over we had ambulances and 6 other police officers on the scene. BTW the husband and wife stopped fighting with each other. I get better results than Dr. Phil...LOL!

Thank you again for the advise!

Hmm, I'd probably stop fighting, too, if it resulted in a police officer getting hurt. Moving things? As in moving a tendon to replace a ligament? That would be a Christman-Snook.

That wasn't the surgery I had, mine was less. I had pain to the point that I was taking narcotics from 12hrs after (when the drugs they gave me at the hospital wore off fully) to about 48 hours after. The medicine kept me reasonably comfortable. From then on, the pain was tolerable, though I took it at night for a few more days. People who've had something more like yours say 2 days to a week of needing painkillers, depending. The ice is critical, swelling inside a cast is not fun. I think I spent that entire first day with one ice pack over my ankle over the splint and one behind my knee. (cold doesn't penetrate the cast well, so you cool the blood where it's accessible.)

Oh, yes, you don't leave the hospital in a regular fiberglass cast, you get something called a surgical splint, which is hard plaster on the bottom, wrapped in padding and elastic bandage. It lets the incision get enough air to heal properly, and allows for a little swelling. Then, a week or two later, is a regular cast.

I was wondering what the difference was between the procedures. Thanks for the help understanding the splint and the cast. I was wondering how well the stitches would heal if there was no air to them. I'll definitly get the ice packs ready again. I'm still using them now for swelling. I go for pre op on the the 20th. Are there any questions that I should ask? I do remember him saying Christman-Snook now that you mentioned it. I really should have paid better attention, but I went to the appt on 3 hours of sleep.

I had a Brostrom done last June which is another form of ligament reconstruction.

I was in a cast for 6 weeks post-op, but walking FWB at 3 weks. Started wearing a lace up brace and started PT at 6 weeks too. Wore the brace until about October or November.

Definitely ask your surgeon if you can have these two things:

1) PainBuster. It's this little pump that pumps like Novocaine or something through a little catheter right into the surgical site for 3-5 days post-op. Helps immensely.

2) An ice water thing. Can't remember the exact name of it, but it's this thing that gets put under the bandages and is connected to a cooler that you put ice water in, and it circulates the ice water around your ankle. It's amazing.

I had both of these, and they significantly reduced the amount of pain meds that I took.

Thank you! I like the Pain Buster idea! I hate the idea of taking so many pain meds. That seems like a great idea if it will cut down on it. I'll ask him about the ice water thing too. Anything that will make this easier. It just sounds so painful. I think that is what I'm stressing the most about. I should be such a weenie but I am. I'll call the doc tomorrow and let you know what he says.

Oh!!! Happy Mother's Day to all the Moms!

Ok um this might be a little long winded and i apologize but i am little confused to my own situation maybe ppl could shed some light cos i am feeling no one else has the same symptoms for the same injury?
First let me start off with i injured my ankle at work carrying a compressor on sandy ground when i stepped on a 2x4 hidden in the sand and my foot slipped sideways and twisted crackling then a slight pause then Popped and popped again and i was looking down at the bottom of my foot thinking it was a bad twist i gave it a few days then realizing pain was not retreating i went to doctor he called it a sprain WCB (workman's compensation) through me to physio 2 x per weak it was all considered a sprain and was taking long time at physio after 2 1/2 months i finally had my MRI which showed even with all the physio 2x (per week) that the front two ligaments/ on the outside of my left ankle were non showing Suspected tear and that the big ligament (shaped like a triangle and flat as opposed to a cord shape) i hope some one can tell me the names lol i forget, but that one is i believe not completely torn but has a bad tear or could be completely torn can't remember
So thats my position its now month 4 and i have seen one general orthopedic who said there were those two tears on outside and then a tear on the inside and lots of inflammation on the tendons at the back of my ankle ,and is sending me to a ankle foot specialist this 21st for weather or not i can go for re-constructive surgery
now to me i can walk thanks to the physio strengthening all my muscles and i have NO pain on outside of my foot but when i am standing the inside of the ankle is very painful if my knee goes past my toes it is painful across the front of my ankle and cannot bear extra weight also my back is messed up because of weight compensating and to relieve back pain i need to walk evenly well then after about 10 mins of regular walking which feel fine it all of a sudden feels like i can't hold my own weight,
The physio therapist says that my ankle is REALLY REALLY loose but then i had over flexible ankles beforehand but when twisting ankle inwards i feel no pain and can rotate inwards a full 90 degrees and the only strain is in the back of my outside ankle join i fell no strain or poain or restriction at the fron of the ankle joint i asssume this is because it is so loose but evey one says that thiers roills all time mine used too but scince just before my MRI it does not

Could this be from the muscle strengthening at physio??
Could the easy rotating without restricting be from looseness of having no front lateral ligaments (or what ever the front two are called)???
Could the absense of pain to the front outside of ankle area ( where ligaments are torn) be from no nerves connected to send a pain signal as described by my physio
HAS ANYONE ELSE HAD THESE SAME PAIN SYMPTOMS and pain to the interior ankle from ligament tear from an inward twist( i stepping on outside of ankle and it rotated to the point of inside of foot touching the inside of leg???


i ASK ALL THIS COS I FIND NO OTHER DESCRIPTIONS DESCRIBING THE SAME ABSENCE OF PAIN OR PAIN TO DIFFERENT AREA AND AM ALWAYS HARD ON MYSELF THINKING THAT I AM IMAGINING HOW BAD IT IS AND MAYBE ITS NOT REALLY AS BAD EVEN WITH THE MRI SHOWING THESE TEARS I ALWAYS THINK WHAT IF THEY HAVE MAGICALLY JUST ALL OF A SUDDEN HEALED EVEN THOUGH THEY WERE COMPLETE TEARS APARENTLY.Really i am just looking for support in a time where i understand nothing of whats happening and am sick of waiting for 4 months and still not able top do what i want and having days i feel like its fine and great then days i feel i can barely support my body i am confused and am finding no relief in searching the webs please i apologize for the long post but i am lost

The pain buster I had was called an ON Q balll and the ice thing is called the Donjoy cold therapy. They are both a godsend!
good luck!!

Thank you for telling me the names of both. To BBOYGOHARD: You are having very similar symptoms that I have. It has been 5 months since the injury. Thanks to workman's comp, I didn't have the MRI until 2 months after the injury. I too, have no pain in the area where they said the posterior and anterior ligaments were completely torn. It is the area around it. I too can't been my knees past my toes. After PT, I got mobility back, but could not put weight on it without it giving way and pain. When I am relaxed my foot turns completely inward. I too, thought maybe I'm thinking this is worse than what it is. After going to the specialist, I realized that I wasn't crazy. It is that bad. I'm not sure why there is no pain around the torn ligaments. I am getting a lot of information from everyone on this board. Check out some of the past ones also. There is sooo much info here. Oh, I have the popping everytime I walk. When it pops it hurts. From everything everyone on this board is telling me, they are so happy they had the surgery. For me it isn't a choice. I either have the surgery or give up my career.

thanks for replying so fast that helps a lot i been going crazy trying to prepare for what the foot and ankle specialist may say, i am a 25 yr old construction worker so sitting at home drives me crazy also i miss breakdancing though thanks for the support i will post ltr his decision on the 21st

Good luck at the appt. I have a pre op appt on the 20th . I'll give you details of what they tell me. I find it very comforting to read all the posts of people that have gone through it. All the advise is wonderful.

BBOYGOHARD:

Sorry to hear you're struggling with this injury. It sounds like you're on the right track consulting a surgeon, and it's likely he'll recommend some form of ligament reconstruction. Since you have a physically demanding job, you'd likely be off work entirely for a few months afterward.

If he wants to do surgery, ask him what the recovery time will be like and what the expected final outcome is.

Copchick:

At your pre-op, you'll probably get a prescription for whatever medications you're supposed to take afterward. You'll also probably make appointments for follow-up visits.

Hi everyone! I guess I just need to vent. My husband and I work at the same place. Today he was told by our "leader" that he can use his vacation to take care of me after the surgery for two weeks, BUT...workman's comp isn't going to let me have the surgery. They want a second opinion. Of course my hubby blew up. He told them that anything else can be told to our attorney. The crazy part is...NO ONE TOLD ME!!!! After my husband made several calls to the lunatic workman's comp idiots, now they are saying that they just needed a paper from my doctor. Wow, how stories change huh? So as far as I know, the surgery is still on. I guess if they cancel it, they will call the "leader" instead of calling me. Oh, my doctor had no idea what was going on. No one told him the surgery was off. All this stress over nothing. The worst part is, as my hubby is fighting the battle against morons, all I could do is cry, thinking that I will be off of work longer if they drag this out. I really want to go back. Why? I don't know. I'm not someone prone to tears, but I have had it. The fight is all out of me right now. I hurt all the time, I can't sleep much, and I can't do the things I love to do. I'm sorry if I sound like I am whining. Even I have a breaking point. I feel like Scarlett when I say "tomorrow is another day". :(

Yeah, that's how it works. 12 business days before my surgery, my surgeon's office called me up and said they hadn't been able to get the pre-authorization processed through insurance because I hadn't gotten the referral yet. "That's funny," says me, "The referral, printed off their computers, is sitting on my kitchen table." I spent an entire day (allegedly a work day) on the phone chasing around trying to make them admit they had a record of this document that they had mailed to me. This was a Friday, but Tuesday morning it was all settled out.

I think this is just a test to make sure you really want it. It will work out, it will happen, just keep at them.

Thank you. I was really stressing. So far I haven't heard anything else. So I will just go on as planned. I bet you were stressed waiting for them to approve it. Funny how they say they haven't received info when it is time for surgery. I expect the same game.

WOW <removed> by way my physio says they should gimme surgery cos althought it inverted inwards i still somehow tore the deltoid ligament. as to how badly they cant tell cos the mri did not show it very clear but after 4 months it is still the most painful spot on my ankle all the time .OHHH and becaus if i bend my foot inwards there is like a little crevice you can see around my outside ankle joint where if the skin wasnt in the way i can push my finger tip a little bit into the ankle joint its kinda coo she said thats where the front ligament should be but is gone completly lol it doesnt hurt but thats cos there is no connection to say OUCH lol .lukily i been doing PT scince first week of injury 2x pr week and they have made the muscles strong so its walkable without colapsing so long as i am not on it a lot. cant wait till wednesday gl copchick on tues

Those strong muscles will serve you well when it comes time for post-surgery rehab. Good luck.

Hey guys. The surgery was called off by Workman's Comp. Less than 24 hours till pre-op and they cancelled. That is another story. But thanks for all the well wishes.

Fight it. You were hurt on the job, this is the same injury, not some weird and maybe unrelated sequel. They can't go "yes, yes, NO!" like that.

Do they want you back on the job, or not? That's just messed up.

copchick, I would check with your insurance company for the rules in your state, but in New York state if worker's compensation denies a surgery your regular insurance will cover it with proof of the denial. I would call your insurance company and check on this before cancelling it. I am currently almost 6 weeks post op from a brostrom repair of both posterior ligaments and start physical therapy this week. I was told to switch directly from the boot to a brace and driving. Does this make sense to other people that have had this done? Also, how long does it take to get the strength back in the ankle? This is my third ankle surgery in 3 years since my injury so I've done more than my share of ankle exercises other than the past 6 weeks. Thanks.

I will have to check with my ins company. They are sending me to a workman's comp doc for a second opinion. Of course they didn't want one until the day before pre-op. I've learned that these kinds of games from WC are typical. They will try anything not to pay for surgery. That's ok. My friends and family have vowed that if they deny me they will stand in front of the stores with signs that say,"POLICE OFFICER INJURED IN THE LINE OF DUTY. CITY REFUSES TO PAY FOR SURGERY SO SHE CAN WALK NORMAL AGAIN". As scared as I am about the surgery, it was a light at the end of a tunnel. I was looking forward to going back to work. They can drag this for years.

You might want to consult your ombudsman or union rep.

Dragging it for years is not ok, the longer you wait for surgery, the harder your rehab will be, and the more complication might crop up in the meantime.

The signs aren't a bad idea, either.

I have had my second brostrom gould repair. This one is not going as well as the first one. I am 4 weeks post op and still hurtin ( not as bad as after surgry) does anyone know if this is normal. also I feel like there is a knot on the side of my ankle and the terry strips are pulling. It doesn't feel like it is swollen. What do I need to do?

Were these two repairs to the same foot, or one foot then the other?

I would ask your surgeon. When are you going to see him again?

Still, might be ok. My dad had 2 equally successful hip replacements, and for some still-unknown reason, the second one hurt more and longer.

I'm not sure why this is happening, but the pain now starts in my ankle and goes all the way to my calf. This has been happening for about 6 days now. With all the craziness with W/C, I've been trying to ignore it. Now it hurts really bad. Do you have any ideas why it is doing this. Just as a refresh, My anterior and posterior ligaments were completely torn. It swells every day and has the injury happened in Dec.

Yes The Surgeries Were Done On The Same Ankle......i Go Back To The Surgeon Friday To Hopefully Get My Cast Off.....so Maybe Since This Is The Second Surgery On It In A Year It Might Take Longer To Heal (you Think)

Copchick....that Is The Way Mine Did Before They Did Surgery On It The Second Time.....mine Was Due To The Fact That The Nerve In My Nkle Got Caught Between The Scar Tissue And The Bone In My Ankle

The peroneal tendons are right behind the ankle bone, and they connect to the muscles on the outside of the calf.

It could be the muscles are just annoyed about everything that's been happening to them (I had that) in which case massaging them might help a bit.

Or, it could be the tendons have been working too hard to compensate for the torn ligaments and are developing problems also.

Or, it could be nerve-related, as another poster suggested.

However, I'm pretty confident in my diagnosis of "complications due to idiots putting off obviously necessary surgery too long."

Please do mention this to your surgeon, so you have another stick to beat WC with.

Jane, seems like you know how WC works. It is hard. I want to go back to work so bad. I'll call my surgeon tomorrow. I have an appointment with the WC doctor next week. I'm told to expect that doc to say there is nothing wrong with me because he is being paid by WC. I'm praying that he will do what is right, but planning for the worst. I tried massaging the area but it still hurts. The only time it feels somewhat better is soaking in the tub.

Some of the folks on the "disabilities" board have also had WC fights, you might get some good ideas reading their stories.

The IME said that there is no way I will ever heal without the surgery. He is rushing the report to Workman's Comp. He said that there is no reason for me to stay in pain. So it looks like the surgery is on. I found out a little more info. It is the deltoid ligaments that had complete tears. The anterior and posterior talotibular. He was surprised that there were no fractures. I will be back asking lots more questions as the surgery is scheduled. Thanks for all the info so far.

Another hurdle out of the way! Glad to hear it.

And, yes, if you tore the deltoid, the anterior and posterior talofibular (meaning connects the fibula and talus) it is pretty unusual you didn't break any bones as well.

Leave it to me to have something unusual. I guess I'll start preparing the house again. I still have the list of things to ask for: turning leg caddy, the cold water thing and the novicane pump. I go see my doc on Tues. Hopefully we will have the go ahead for the surgery by then. I'll let you know any other info he gives me about this surgery.

Hope it all works out. So has WC approved the surgery? I know I am in major overdrive to get stuff done around here before wednesday. Take care and let us know.

Huffle :jester:

I will keep you in my prayers. I know you are going crazy trying to get the house in order. I've had so many great ideas on here. Has anyone told you about the ice water thing. I was told that it circulates ice water around the area and is a great help. They said you put ice water in a cooler and it has tubes that go around the area. I can't remember the name of it though. I'm still waiting on WC to call my doc and give him the go ahead. They have had two attorneys and my chief's office calling, so I think we should hear something before monday. Good luck with your surgery and let us know how you are doing as soon as you can.

Hi, I just recently had ankle arthroscopic and lateral reconstruction surgery (brostrom procedure) a few days ago. The pain has been tolerable, but at times I have extreme pain at the outside edge of my foot, below and to the side of my pinky toe. It almost feels like the inside of my foot is burning. It only lasts 5-10 seconds, but is excruciating and occurs every hour or so, or every time I get up and the blood flows down to my foot. Has anyone else had this type of feeling? I asked my Dr. and he said it was normal. Also, I was wondering what I should expect out of my ankle when I am fully healed. I used to be a very good basketball player (which is how I started screwing my ankle up, sprain after sprain) and quickness and explosiveness were my strengths but should I expect to get these qualities back? Any other athletes here have this kind of surgery, and what kind of recovery time did you have? Thanks.

Yep, the burning pain is quite normal. Your overall pain should be a lot less by the end of the first week.

Did he tell you how long he wants you in a cast? Full recovery, including getting your strength back, will be several months to a year. Final outcome? Impossible to say for sure. Most people who've had a Brostrom do quite well, although you might always have to wear a support for sports activities.

It has been splinted in a particular way, no cast. He said I should expect to have it splinted like this for 6 weeks, with no weight bearing (possibly less b/c of my youth and health) and then about 5-6 months until full athletic activity. He said he found cartilage damage as well, and fixed that, so depending on how that heals it could take longer. Another thing I am concerned about is the incision. I had the surgery on Wed. (6/4) and I don't see him again until the 18th, but he said to keep the splint and rapping on until I see him. Shouldn't the incision be cleaned regularly? Aren't I risking infection? Another thing, I tend to move around a lot when I sleep, and I woke up today and the pain was way worse than ever. Any tips on how to try and keep my leg still while asleep? The pain meds help, but make me really drowsy during the day. Boredom, however, is my biggest obstacle. Ha, I'm not even a week in and the boredom of laying on the couch is killing me. One more thing, how quickly did you start physical therapy after surgery? Thanks for getting back to me.

I had the arthroscopy only, without work on ligament or cartilage, so my recovery was quicker. I started therapy as soon as I got the splint off.

Nope, no need to clean the wound every day. The surgery was conducted under sterile conditions, the leg was completely washed in iodine or something (right?) so that there are no bacteria under the bandage, and the wrapping itself will keep out any new bacteria, unless it gets wet. If it does, you need to have it removed, and the leg cleaned and re-casted immediately.

Splint the whole 6 weeks? That's different, most people who have Brostroms seem to have a splint for a week or two, and then a regular hard cast. In any case, you will probably be in a special boot called a CAM walker after that.

After the first week, once the swelling goes down, you won't have to spend the whole day on the couch any more, you'll be able to get around more with crutches. Still elevate as much as possible of course, but you'll be a bit more mobile. Icing behind the knee is another good way to keep swelling down.

You might try sleeping with your leg up on a beanbag chair.

Maybe I misunderstood him about the splint, so I think it will be casted or booted when I see him on the 18th. I'm going in tomorrow to have the dressing cleaned and changed since my foot and leg have been sweating a lot. Icing under the knee has helped, so thanks for that advice. I will try the beanbag thing tonight when I sleep, it seems the pain meds are giving me some vivid dreams and I move around a lot. Its strange. The pain has been slowly decreasing so hopefully I will be able to get around more in a few days. How long did it take you to get back to full activity? Thanks a lot for the help.

Turns out they splinted it too tightly and it was putting too much pressure on things, that's why I have been having so much pain. They got rid of the splint today, cleaned everything, and casted it. It feels much better now that I am out of the splint. They told me I probably wont start therapy for another 3 weeks. How long do you think I will need to be in therapy, since they are putting it off a month after surgery? Seems like the recovery is going to be a lot longer than I initially thought...

Glad you are more comfortable now!

Good news! Surgery is scheduled for the 24th. Dr ordered the On Q pain buster, but he said no to the Donjoy cold therapy. He said he didn't think I would need it. Are there any other things I should ask him to order? I'll be in a splint for 10 days, cast for 6 weeks, walking boot for another 6 weeks. I'm a little nervous but I will be happy to get this over with.

I will add your surgery date to my prayer calendar. And congratulations on your victory over the forces of bureaucracy!

I found my shower chair and grabber very helpful (I did shower in the splint, just wrapped it up and propped it on the sink) and if you are going to be NWB that long, definitely some wheels. And videos. Lots of videos.

One more thing: Clean your house first, at least, as well as you can in your present condition. There's nothing I find more depressing than being stuck in a dirty house I can't do anything to clean--and I'm no Betty Crocker when it comes to chores.

Thank you Jane! I love the prayers. It definitly was a fight. It took two lawyers and the Fraternal Order of Police to get them off their butts. But it worked. I can't believe I fought for surgery. I just know one day I will be normal again. I forgot about a shower seat! I will put that on my list for sure! I did buy a cast cover for showering. I was a little nervous when he said it will be a major reconstruction. I'm not sure what the difference between major and minor would be. I couldn't sleep last night thinking of everything I have to do. I need a maid. Hubby and the kids are going to destroy the house while I'm down. I called in reenforcements though. My mom will be here to crack the whip and make them pick up their own messes. Hubby has a habit of leaving shoes and socks on the floor...LOL! I bought a roller night stand and filled it with books, jewelry making stuff, and other things I might need. I'll write more after I go to pre op on Friday. I know it is hard to find information of what it is really like to have Ankle Reconstruction on the web. This site has been a wealth of info. Take care Jane!

You know, I have a funny story about shower chairs.

My dad had one from when he had his hips replaced. So, before my ankle surgery, he gave it to me. Then, after I was better, I gave it back, because we have a 2-room apartment completely filled with stuff and my parents have a full basement for storage.

Somewhat later, I learned my friend had fractured her first metatarsal. (Didn't know how, either.) Given that I will offer unlimited advice to random people over the Internet, when it's someone I actually know? So, we had a half-hour talk about dealing with foot problems. Then, I went to my parents house to borrow the chair again and lend it to her. My parents were not home that evening, but I had a key, and knew how to disable their shiny new alarm system.

Well, sort of. Apparently, the key I hit first was the wrong key, and once you do that, you can't fix it. However, as long as you enter the correct password at least once every 60 seconds, it won't start screaming. So, while keeping a hand on the alarm keypad, I got out my cellphone, tried to call them, failed, tried to call the alarm company, couldn't find the number. And I really had to use the bathroom.

Finally I gave up, went to the bathroom. Of course, the alarm went off. Good Lord, it was loud! Then the alarm company called the house, I gave them my name and the safe word, then disabled it from the keypad again, correctly this time. Then, I went to the basement and dug up the stupid chair.

So when you sit down on that shower chair in your nice surgical splint, you can think of me, standing at the front door of my parent's house, doing the "potty dance" while keying the stupid password over and over again, trying to keep the alarm from going off.

LOL! What a great story Jane! I told my hubby we laughed (Sorry). I found another person that loves to laugh at themselves. Hope you have a great day!

Went to pre op today. I got all the paper work out of the way for the big day. They gave me this stuff to bathe with the night before and the morning of surgery. They told me to have clothes on hand that are easy to get on and off. Ok, I know this is a weird question, but how in the world do you manage to get underware off and on over the cast? Yeah, I worry about weird things.

Underwear fits, the same way you could put it on while wearing shoes. The cast isn't that thick.

I've never had an above-the-knee cast, though. I imagine putting on clothes over that requires either assistance or agility.

For the first day(s) when you just plain feel lousy, tired from drugs, etc, it can be easiest to just go with a loose short dress with no fastenings. One piece, easy to use bathroom in.

Antibiotic soap is good stuff to wash with before surgery, just don't put it anyplace really delicate.

Unfortunately I have been having a lot of problems the last 2 days. Initially the casting of my leg did ease some of the discomfort I was having with the splint, but now I am having very painful spasms in my ankle and all the way up my leg and I have been having a tingling and pins and needles type sensation followed by extreme pain. I'm guessing this is temporary, but the only thing I could think of as to why this is happening is nerve damage, which kinda scares me. Do you think this is the case? If so should I contact my doctor asap? The pain is pretty bad and I have been given a prescription for hydrocodone/apap 7.5/325 and it helps with the pain, but only for about 1 maybe 2 hours. I need to take at least 3 of them (says to only take 1-2 every 6 hrs.) Should I ask him for something different? I'm scheduled to see him on Thursday the 19th. I guess I am worrying more than I should, but when they put the cast on initially it was way too tight. So the nurses had to cut part of the cast to loosen it. When she was doing this (she didn't seem too experienced in it) she cut too close and it felt like she cut my leg. It wasn't too painful, it hurt but mostly just caught me off guard, and she told me it the saw wouldn't break the skin b/c it vibrates (which didn't really make sense to me since it can cut through a hard cast). Anyway, the spot where she got me has been itching like crazy and kinda stinging and im worried about infection. Ha, I feel like a hypochondriac worrying about everything (guess i'm not as tough as i thought, haha) but I hope you can help me out with some answers. Thanks.

Chi, please let me know what the doc tells you. I'm having surgery on the 24th. And I like know what to expect of whats normal or abnormal. Thanks.

Choosier, call you doctor and tell him the pain meds aren't working. Taking more of those that prescribed can actually put you in danger of a tylenol overdose (4,000 mg or 12 per day is the maximum safe number). Also, the fact that you are having more pain than anticipated is a matter of concern. You are keeping that foot propped above your head, right? In that case, do call the dr and let him know you're still having a lot of pain.

Nerve "weirdness" following surgery or serious injury is very common, and it almost always decreases or disappears as the body recovers. Contrary to popular belief, damaged nerves can heal. Mention it to the doctor, but don't panic. When my splint came off, half my foot was numb, and when the scar was touched, I felt an electric shock, at least 20 volts, arc down my foot to my toes. At this point, I have a tiny area that feels a little funny when I touch it, and that's all.

Thanks for getting back to me. I called today, but the office was closed. I'll be careful not to take too much of the pain meds, and hopefully he gives me something different when I get a hold of him tomorrow (besides not being very effective, the meds make my nose itch like crazy for some reason). I have been keeping my foot propped up the whole time and try to limit the amount of times I get up, b/c every time I do that is when the blood flows down and the pain is at its worst for a good 30 mins after. There are other times when i'm just sitting there and all of sudden i have shooting pains up my leg for no apparant reason, and I haven't had a good night sleep in days b/c of this. It was feeling somewhat better today, but not much and I've been having my ups and downs throughout the day. Glad to hear that the nerve damage or whatever it is sounds pretty common, that is what I was worried about the most. Jane, you've been more than helpful and I thank you for that. Copchick, I am seeing the doc on Thursday and I'll let you know what he says. Good luck on your surgery, I hope things go well.

6 days and counting! I never thought I would get this nervous after waiting so long to get this surgery. I've been drinking lots of tension tamer tea. It's not working!

Best of luck to you Copchick - I look forward to hearing how it goes. Couple of questions...are they doing this out-patient? Any tendon repair, or just ligaments? I am scheduled for ligament reconstruction and also going to repair a torn peroneal tendon on July 23rd and trying to learn as much as possible now. Thanks and good luck!

Copchick, I hope your surgery goes well. It is going to be pretty painful for about a week or so following the surgery. I went to my doc yesterday, and a lot of the pain that was excessive for me and lasting longer than expected had a lot to do with the splinting and casting. They have been trying to immobilize my ankle in a particular way and it was putting too much pressure on the surgical area and the first cast was too tight. Those were the reasons I was experiencing so much pain. If your pain persists for more than a week or so it may be the way they splint or cast it. The whole area is going to be very sensative and you may have some painful spasms like I have, because a lot of the nerves will be irriatated but I have been told this is normal. Also, they switched me to vicodin which is working out a lot better than the norco, so if you feel the pain meds they initially give you aren't doing the job, call them right away and get it switch (everyone is different as to how they react to pain meds). They recasted me yesterday and it is much better. Keep your foot elevated (above the heart) as much as you can and drink plenty of water and eat lots of fiber (the pain meds can back you up). I hope this helps, and good luck!

Ok, I know this is a weird question, but how in the world do you manage to get underware off and on over the cast? Yeah, I worry about weird things.

One word......... "COMMANDO". :cool:
It is much easier to get just shorts off while perched waiting to sit down. :D
Also when you get the shower chair tell them you want a transfer chair. it sticks out of the tub then you slide into the tub much safer to be sitting down already when you put your good foot into the tub. Also a toilet seat lift is a huge help.
Pick up some prune juice before also. With the pain meds constipation is going to happen. So a 6-8 oz glass of warmed prune juice will do the job in about an hour. Kinda tastes like warm brown sugar ish. Is realy not bad and sure helps.
Good luck.

Huffle :jester:

LOL! That was funny huffle! I'm taking Alli to help keep the weight off since I got hurt. It makes me go to the bathroom all the time. I'm going to keep taking it, so I may not need the prune juice. That was my mom's remedy too. I bought this game called "Endless Ocean" for my son's Wii. It is amazing! It is so relaxing. All you do is float around the ocean and look at the different fish. I never play the kids games, but this is a must for anyone that is stuck in a chair for a while. My hubby rearranged the furniture in the bedroom to make it easier for me to get in and out of the bed. I think I got everything taken care of. My mom said that she is worried about me because I'm obsessed with planning for it. I just hate to be a burden on everyone once I get home. I've even cooked about two weeks worth of meals for hubby and the kids. I made a list of all the things to ask the doc for. I put the transfer chair on it. I can't wait to just get this over with. The wait is driving me nuts. 3 more days.

Based on what I've read here, planning and preparing obsessively is a pretty normal response to upcoming scheduled surgery, especially for women.

You've been trying to fix things for months, but now, there's not much left to do but wait, so you do the one thing you can, which is make sure your home is going to be as comfortable and convenient as possible afterward.

It's gonna be fine.

Thanks Jane. It is good to know this is normal. I'll write back as soon as I can after the surgery. They said that I might be able to go home that evening, depending on the pain.

Hang in there and good luck! I have 2 weeks and counting and it's driving me crazy. It's way too much time to make lists and get ready. Pre-cooking meals is a great idea. That would definitely keep me occupied for a while.

I got a lot of sundress-type things that I'll be able to just pull over my head...but I don't think commando will work with that. I also got new underwear so I had regular boring type when I'm bed.

I got a lot of sundress-type things that I'll be able to just pull over my head...but I don't think commando will work with that. I also got new underwear so I had regular boring type when I'm bed.

Yeah your a little more girly than I am. I am doing shorts or jama bottoms and t-shirts. Just depends on your personality.

Huffle :jester:

That'f funny. I'm actually not that girly. Just seemed easier that way. I have a ton of pajama bottoms and bought some new sweathshirt-type shorts to wear. I'm sure I'll be in plenty of t-shirts and shorts. :)

Good luck tomorrow, Copchick! Let us know how it goes.

ChiHoosier --

I was reading through the earlier posts, and your tingling leg seems similar to what i was experiencing in the week after my surgery. When i was elevating my leg i was putting all the pressure on my heel, which must have squished my tendons. When i switched to putting the pillows under my knee/upper calf more, so there was no weight on my heel, it was soooo much better. hope that helps!

Also, Copchick -- my biggest advice post-op is to keep your ankle elevated as much as possible in the first two or so weeks, and ice ice ice!!!! i hope it went well!!!

Hey everyone! I am one week post op. I don't really remember the first couple of days. I think I slept non stop for the first 3 days. I'm still sleeping a lot. I think the pain meds are doing that. The doc didn't put the OnQ pain buster in. I'm not sure why. The only break through pain I've had is when I get up to go to the bathroom. At night it seems to swell up and hurts. The ice and elevation does help. I felt pretty horrible until I was able to get up and take a shower. The shower transfer chair is wonderful. You never know how much a shower can lift your spirits until you can't take one. Taking a shower saps all the energy out of me. So that has become the highlight of my day. The dry cast cover has been wonderful. Everyone should have one handy. A must to keep around the house, like a first aid box. Well, I gotta go. Sleep is creeping up on me again.

Glad to hear you got through it! Did the doctor say anything about how it went?

Sounds like you're doing pretty typical. The first week is the worst, pain-wise, so at this point, you're going to start feeling better. Then you get out of the cast or start weight-bearing, then it hurts again.

At night, it helps to have the leg propped very high up. I utterly failed to sleep that way, hence I had a couple of those "special" nights which involved me waking up husband at 3am to get me more ice, because there was no way I was getting to sleep without it, and becoming vertical to get it myself ... was not on the menu.

Glad to hear you're ok. When you feel even, better I'd like to hear more about how everything went, since I'm getting almost the same thing next Tuesday. I'm getting extremely anxious.

I know the doctor came in to talk to me after the surgery. I just can't remember. My hubby said that he said he had to file down a part of my bone that was causing pain (?) and that everything else went great. I go back on the 9th. I'm in the splint and can definitly feel the swelling. I'm slacking off on the pain meds, but when it swells it hurts bad. I also feel pinches on the outside of my ankle. I'm guessing that is where the incision is. I can move my toes around without pain which surprises me. The only bad thing is a couple of times I almost fell going to the bathroom. The pain meds make me dizzy. I used my injured leg as balance, wow! did that hurt! Won't do that again.

I hope it continues to get better. Any advice would greatly help. It's so tough to wait....I don't plan on doing much moving around. I've very accident prone, so I'll have to be really careful.

He found a bone spur? Or a chipped or jagged area of the bone? Removing bone spurs usually goes well.

Don't fall down! It's not just the drugs making you dizzy, it's the physical shock and strain of surgery, combined with suddenly getting up after spending hours horizontal with your foot propped above your head (which is necessary). Maybe taking a minute to just breathe after standing up will help some.

The fatigue is going to hang on for a while, even after you get moving again. I only spent 6 days resting at home after my (lesser) surgery, then I returned to work part-time. Crutching through a large building that first day, I had to stop and rest repeatedly. It was about a month after that I really had my energy back.

Yeah, the general anasthesia drugs really mess with your head. Several weeks after my surgery, the following conversation took place:

Jane's Mom: Did you get discharge paperwork from the hospital?

Jane: No, nothing like that.

Jane's Husband: Yes, you did.

Jane: Oh, they gave it to you?

Husband: No, you and the nurse filled it out together, and you put it in your bag.

Jane: What are you talking about?

He pulls out a yellow sheet of paper, that somehow contains my signature. It was entirely strange to me. I started reading it, and, finally, 2/3 of the way down the page, I remember reading it before. I thought I remembered everything, too!

It has been two weeks since the surgery. The pain has diminished quite a bit. When I take a shower my foot still swells. I can only see the toes and they turn a pretty shade of purple. I go to the doc on Wed and I'll give more of an update. The shower chair is wonderful. I have the turning leg caddy. It is a little difficult to get around in it, but it sure beats the crutches. I take about two pain pills a day for the pain, that kind of surprised me. I was so worried about the pain. I have to say that it hasn't been nearly as bad as I expected. I guess the fact that I slept the first week helped alot. I know I'm not ready for weight bearing yet. I've put my foot down a few times accidently and boy did I feel it. The boredom has set in. I have a lot to do, I'm just going a little stir crazy. I want to get out and go to the store or something. I can't wait to go to the doctor on wed. I know that soon I will wish for the down time again. I wish I could enjoy it. I'm so jealous of hubby when he leaves for work. I just want to throw something at him..LOL! On the bright side, I've found this site which has helped my sanity..LOL! Thanks Jane.

how are you feeling now?! im reading posts trying to prepare for a pending surgery, or three. ahh!

melissa

Hi. Thanks for asking. I'm still in a cast. I'm pretty much pain free most of the day. At night it seems to act up. I'm still NWB. I'm tired of being stuck at home. It is such a hassle to go anywhere so I limit leaving the house to about twice a week. I'm using the turning leg caddy. This is a must if you are having any type of surgery on your lower legs. It took a little while to get use to it. It is a must if you are a clutz like I am on the crutches. I still need the crutches to get down the steps in front of my house. Getting up the steps has proven tricky. I accidentally put my foot down the other day when I stood up. OMG! That was the worst pain I have had yet. I see why they wait so long to let you put your foot on the ground. If I had to give you any advise, I would tell you to stay on the pain meds the first 4 or 5 days EXACTLY as stated. If you don't, you will regret it. The turning leg caddy is wonderful. Boredom is hard to deal with. I find that I sleep alot. I use to think it was because I needed it to heal. Now I think it is because I am bored. Good Luck with your surgery(s). I will keep you in my prayers.