Ankle help....

Hi all,

6 wks ago i fell down approx 6-7 stairs with my foot twisted underneath me as I fell. I broke my ankle (Displaced Malleolus webber b type fracture) I had a back slab on for 1wk before going to fracture clinic, I then had a non weight bearing cast on for 4 wks and now i have nothing on it. My ankle and foot is purple and still very swollen and VERY VERY painful. I am having physio and ultrasound but that is just causing even more pain. Im doing the exercises told to. My physio now wants an MRI scan to see if ligaments are torn and says I may need them stitching back up if they are. My consultant told me that my ankle was still broken but if I was on a desert island I would survive!! Should I be experiencing all this pain etc and is this the kind of treatment I should be receiving? I am taking 30/500mg cocodamol and 400mg Ibuprofen. I am still using 2 crutches and cant put full weight on leg yet. Although I do try everyday!

My physio has been the only person that has listened to my pain and how i am feeling. I cant fault her at all.

Is there anything else I can be doing to help??????????? :(

Don't expect to be able to put your full weight on it and walk normally if it's only 6/7 weeks now! And for the moment don't even try. When did the consultant tell you it was still broken?. Did they take an x-ray just recently? If the fracture is not showing enough signs of union at this stage it's not ready to be stood on fully. It may be ready to partially bear some weight and to relearn how to walk, still using crutches to reduce strain on it. There may well have been ligament damage and it wouldn't be unusual but it's not always essential to run off now for an MRI. What you have to have from the consultant is information as to whether the ankle is stable enough ie enough "union" seen on x-ray, plus enough assumed ligament stability on the basis of what /how they assessed the initial injury to start gentle weightbearing and suitable mobilising exercises. It's not just the bones we are concerned about but all the muscles and soft tissues of lower leg and foot involved in getting on with rehab. having not walked for weeks and it sounds as if you had alot of swelling, these things need time. Some people need moe time than others and it can still be "normal" And one needs competent Consultants. UK is not a desert island where you could doubtless survive without a leg if it had to be!!!
If the fracture is healing gentle passive mobilising done by the physio of the can /should help, as could lymph massage and elevation of the foot to reduce swelling. Some people develop strange circulation disturbances as a complication to even "easy" fractures and immobilising. Your physio is the person to check initially for really way off circulation disturbances. If you are not able to rest your leg in elevation enough during the day and do gentle "pumping" exs with the foot it'll likely stay swollen and have strange colouration. Try googling "Danis-Weber fracture classification" to get informed on the fracture info. Or ask your physio to show you some literature/pictures etc. If non-union of bone seems likely, ie the fracture is showing a too delayed healing progress in a realistic amount of time(can be seen only by xrys etc) then you'll have to consult the doctor again or consider a second opinion. Wish you luck.

Thank you for your reply. I do feel like I am being rushed by my Consultant. I am actually seeing him again this week. I get the impression Im just another person with a broken ankle and everyone is the same!! In my opinion NO break is the same, it cant be!! My Physio has sent him emails explaining how she feels and what she thinks. I have tried to see a different consultant but the hospital wont let me. When I went to A&E the other week, the orthopaedic surgeon tried to get me to stand on one leg (my broken one) anyway I refused cos I knew I couldnt do it. I tried standing on both my legs and was in agony! dont think he was too impressed with me either! Anyway, toll on Thursday for my appt. Will let you know how it goes!

Hi Lisa,
I did the same break as you when I fell in the snow back in Jan, I had mine pinned and plated then was in cast for 6 wks. They then removed cast and told me to go home and walk on it, I did try but couldn't do this as it was still swollen and stiff and very very painfull a week later I went back to see my surgeon in tears as I was in so much pain, they have since given me an air boot to use. It is the best thing they have done I can now walk about in the air boot with both crutches, I am also having physio weekly and have been told to elevate the foot when sitting and ice packs on the ankle at least 5 times a day for an hour at a time, the swelling has gone down loads in a week and I am now able to move my foot up and down and side to side and have managed to walk in a trainer today as well. When you go back just insit on an air boot I did and it is the best thing I have done. I am also taking codine, and nurofen every 4 hrs as a pain management course to allow me to walk but have started to cut this down and still pain free :)
Diane x