Avulsion fracture + other problems

I am writing for some advice but I need to fill you in on my medical history first so you can give me the correct advice. Warning, this may look like an essay as a result... Sorry!

In '91 I developed asthma but thankfully, it's mild and is now, well controlled with ventolin & a steroid inhaler. In '96 whilst shopping for my daughters 1st birthday I felt a trapped nerve sensation in my right upper arm. Long story short, 6-8hrs later I had lost the use of everything from the jaw down due to lesions on my spinal chord the length of my neck, which I was told was Transverse Myelitis. I was very fortunate and was what they called a'speedy healer', I spent two weeks in Intensive care on a ventilator and two months in hospital. I have been left with various problems, including major problems with my mobility. I have no pain or temperature sensation in my torso or down my left hand side (which includes the left side of my face, I also only sweat on the left side of my face. When my hair is washed it feels too hot on one side of my scalp and too cold on the other) my right side has muscle weakness so my right leg is about a third weaker than my left. My right hand isn't much use, the index and little finger are permanently bent and the middle and ring finger are permanently straight. All four of the ligaments controlling the fingers were stitched together so when I try to move them, they all move together, as I do have a little movement in two of them. This was when I had hand surgery in '97. They also fused the thumb joint and moved the tendon that runs down the arm to the top of the thumb around to the palm side of my thumb and re-attached it, as I couldn't move it at all. This was so I could move my thumb up and down. My shoulder also doesn't sit in the joint correctly either. The touch sensation in my left leg is hyper-sensitive so if the cat scratches me I don't feel it but if it's tail brushes past my leg it really hurts. Since then I've got Lymphoedema in my lower legs, Osteo-arthritis in my right knee and left hip (after a bad fall where I landed diagonally across some metal disability ramps, hitting the R.knee & L.hip) Sleep apnoea and Collagenous Colitis. (T'would appear the only thing I haven't had over the years is good luck?!!) As a result of the Myelitis I have been left with chronic pain and take a number of various meds. I can list them all here if it would help but won't unless asked to. One of my meds is Buprenorphine which I have in two forms, as a 35mcg/hr transdermal patch and as a 200mcg sublingual tablet which, when things are particularly bad, I can take one every two hours.

Since having particularly bad hip pain recently I had my patches changed to a 70mcg/hr patch. I started having narcoleptic episodes and sleep walking. I saw my Dr on Friday and he put me back on the 35's. Unfortunately, there was enough in my system to give me one more episode. That night, it would appear, I stood up, fell asleep & dropped like a ton of bricks. I woke on the floor with no idea why and my fabulous hubby running round the bed to help me. He doesn't know what happened either, he just woke to the noise of me hitting the floor. He tried to pull me up by my hands (like he usually does) but I couldn't get any power in my legs, which I assumed was because I was groggy. I managed to roll onto my tummy and get up from my knees. I thought no more of it, climbed into bed and went back to sleep. The next day I couldn't weight bear on my left leg (my strongest) and my ankle was bruised and swollen. Even though I did it Friday night and found it Saturday morning, I (foolishly) waited until Monday morning before I went to hospital to get it checked, hoping it would just be a sprain and would improve over the weekend! If I'm honest, I knew it wasn't good because it happened in the leg I don't normally feel pain in but it hurt like a bugger!

I went to my local hospital where I had it x-ray'd and was told by the nurse practitioner that she thought it was an avulsion fracture but wasn't sure if it was arthritis. I did explain I don't have arthritis in that joint but was told if I had it in one I could have it in all of them. I said surely if it was arthritis to the degree where it showed as a possible avulsion fracture I would have symptoms of it? Anyway, I was given a tubular bandage and told to return to see the Dr on Thursday, so that's what I did. I returned to see the Dr on Thursday, still unable to weight bear and thankfully it was the GP I always see, so he knew me already and all my medical history and problems. He confirmed it was an 'avulsion fracture to the left lateral malleolus'. He said I was to be given a light walking cast and I was referred to the Orthopaedics department simply because of all my other problems. Luckily, I already have an appointment to see my Orthopaedic surgeon this Friday 24th Sept to see how my first hip injection has worked out. I have a feeling he may remember my appointment! I was told it would be fine for me to see him regarding this too.

The question I have is regarding recovery time. I appreciate the fact that my recovery will be considerably longer than usual due to all my other problems but since I don't know what the usual recovery time is, that info isn't a great deal of help! I have been attending the gym under a GP referral and a block has now been put in my programme. I understand that my recovery will depend on the severity of the break and damage (especially since I left it 48hrs before I sought out medical help) but I was hoping someone would be able to tell me just what I should expect as far as treatment, recovery and building my strength up again (even though it was crap to begin with!) I appreciate your advice would just be a ball park figure due to the fact you've never met me or seen my x-rays but any info would be great!

Thanks,

Sharon.
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