Holiday Blues Ankle Injury

I had the misfortune to break my ankle while on holiday in Oct 2006. Only four days in and my two week holiday was ruined. A slip on the pool steps resulted in three fractured bones and a dislocated ankle.

The next five days were spent in hospital in Turkey where only one person could speak English although this did not detract from the fantastic treatment I received.

An operation resulted in two plates and nine screws plus a lot of pain for the first day or two, but the pain soon dulled and pain killer drugs helped immensely.

Due to stitches in both sides of the ankle a half cast was used which was removed each day to clean the wounds, a new cast was replaced each time.

Due to the journey home it was three weeks before the stitches were removed and the wound was still weeping. 

A new x-ray revealed that a bone was displaced but it was decided that they would wait for one month to see if it would heal; it was then placed in a full cast for a further one month.

At the end of that month another x-ray was taken but the surgeon decided that further surgery at that time could weaken the ankle still further so the cast was replaced for one more month.

I was warned that I would now develop Arthritis in my leg as it has not healed correctly, but it was decided that unless I experience a lot of pain from the bone and the screw that has slipped it will remain as it is.

The cast was removed nine days ago it is now just over 12 weeks and I graduated to a cyberspace boot nine days ago. The boot is quite heavy but has air bags inside which are pumped up each time I use it. It is quite comfortable but does cause the ankle to ache after a while. I also suffer with a lot of swelling after standing for a while.

I can only put slight pressure on my foot but it is much easier to get around although it is slowly.  I am now wondering how long it will take before I can put pressure on it as it will make life so much easier.

Physiotherapy is the next step so this seems likely to be a long job at least six months I have been told.  Although the surgeon says my walking will be affected and won’t be the same again.

If any one has any more information on this I would like to hear how they have fared.