Broken Ankle

[RowdyandMe]

Well I broke my ankle 8 days ago and I am still waiting for surgery. I meet tomorrow with the surgeon to see if the swelling is down enough to do the surgery. I know they will be putting in metal plates and screws on both sides of my ankle. And I am not ready to sit and do nothing. So what I am asking is that anybody who has had this surgery how long before I can at least walk on it or even drive.

[RowdyandMe]

@Outdoor Lover I am on flma and Short term disability right now.

[RowdyandMe]

Well I saw my doctor today and I my ankle is actually changing it alignment. However I did get some pain killers for now and anti inflammatory meds today. I also got fitted for a custom brace.
I just want to go hiking

[gummo]

@Widowmaker
Can you mountain bike? I could after my surgery. It helped a lot, but I had to do easy stuff like McDowell Mtn Regional Park and some flat areas. Try kayaking for a month or 2 until you can hike again. Trails are crowded in the winter anyway.

[RowdyandMe]

@gummo
My mountain bike got stolen my first day in Arizona.

[azbackpackr]

@gummo
My mountain bike got stolen my first day in Arizona.

[RowdyandMe]

Just a question for anyone who may have had this done. I am not sure what they call it but on the 18th I am getting s few shots in my spine and then while I am under somehow there going to put in nerve blockers so I shouldn't have any more pain at all in my ankle. I am nervous about getting this done. Just wondering if anyone has had this done before?

[Tough_Boots]

shots in the spine specifically related to the other procedure or is it a cortisone epidural? I've had the cortisone epidurals.

[RowdyandMe]

I am really not sure. When I wake up I should have no more pain. I am not sure how they block nerves from filling pain.

[Jim]

They interrupt the ability of the nerve to send the pain signals to your brain.

[RowdyandMe]

I was just getting use of the pain killers to

[big_load]

I was just getting use of the pain killers to

It looks like they kicked in mid-sentence.

[RowdyandMe]

to kill the pain But I am nervous about anything in my spine.

[Tough_Boots]

the shots are most likely a local anesthetic for the nerve blocking injection. Now that I've read a little about the nerve blocking procedure, it doesn't seem to make sense that you would get cortisone epidurals AND the nerve blockers. I wouldn't worry about it. Injections that actually go into the spine are done with a radiologist present so they can see exactly where that needle is. I was awake but significantly drugged for my epidurals. As nervous as I was going into it-- they got me too high to care when it was actually going on.

[chumley]

got me too high to care when it was actually going on.

This is how some people enjoy hiking!

[JasonCleghorn]

#cag shot #mag shot

[RowdyandMe]

@Tough_Boots
Well so far I have had three shots and it has not helped at all. I will be getting my fourth one on Tuesday and if that doesn't work maybe a third opinion.
I am no doctor but I am surprised no one has had me do a MRI. I had a CT scan and a 3phase bone scan or something like that. But I think something else is wrong. I have a bruise on top of my foot that has been there for over a year and half with blood spots at my toes. But the doctors tell me not to worry about it but I do. I am a diabetic and foot problems are something I do worry about.

[gummo]

I'm not what your deal is with your ankle, but if you have metal plates and screws still in your ankle, they might be causing the pain; thus they might need to be removed (of course ask your doctor about this).

You probably should take a month or two off hiking and see if that helps, preferably in December and January because snakes are hibernating then, making hiking in those months pointless.

[SuperstitionGuy]

You probably should take a month or two off hiking and see if that helps, preferably in December and January because snakes are hibernating then, making hiking in those months pointless.

;) :whistle:

[RowdyandMe]

@gummo
Well I do have 2 titanium plates and about 13 screws and they really do not want to take them out. So maybe just some stronger doses of pain killers.

[gummo]

Well, I'm not a doctor, but I did get a B+ in Anatomy & Physiology. My guess is that those screws and plates are causing the pain. Considering the amount of walking you do, I'll bet the next shot won't do squat for your pain. Is that what the doctor(s) said?

Metal doesn't flex and is hard than bone, thus can cause problems if they stay in the body. Ask for another doctor's opinion on why they should keep the metal in your ankle and how long they want to keep it in there. If they have a plan to remove it at a certain stage or time, then that'll make sense of upping your pain pills until they are ready to remove the metal. Then of course, you'll probably have to rest it until it fully heals if they remove the metal.