Broken leg - ideas for recuperation?

[Graye]

Just when we are about to realise our dream and move to a new house in mid Wales I slithered down our very sloping lawn here and broke my lower leg (both bones just above the ankle) and dislocated the ankle while I was at it. I've now had the pins and plates, loose cast and fibreglass cast and am now allowed nothing more than a tubiflex leg bandage.

I thought this wasn't bad for slightly less than five weeks after the break but I seem to be going backwards and I'm really looking to see if there is anyone else who went through this and what they did to recuperate. The ankle is painful, stiff, swollen and sore and I can only manage a few steps, limping badly. I want to devise some sort of exercises and do anything else I can think of to speed up the recovery. Apparently I don't need physio. I'm just about to concoct myself some oils for a footbath but does anyone have any other ideas please? I need to get into gear - this new house has an overgrown acre to knock into shape!

[Millymollymandy]

Really sorry to hear that Graye but I'm shocked you are supposed to be walking on your leg after only 5 weeks even with pins and plates to hold it together! Do you still have crutches because I suggest you use one to help you walk. Sounds like your leg needs a LOT more time to heal! But then perhaps this is the difference between national health and private or abroad as my BIL dislocated his shoulder and was told to just go home and take painkillers - couldn't move his arm/shoulder at all - when he went to a private doctor they whisked him into hospital for an operation straight away!!!!!

When I broke a bone in my foot the swelling took about 3 months to go down but then I developed a nasty syndrome called algodystrophy but that's another story.

I have also broken bones in my ankle and had the op to put in the pins and plates and whilst I was allowed to weight bear a little bit with the broken ankle it was 2 months before I was allowed to walk with one crutch and another 4-6 weeks before I could manage with none, and then only at home, still took a crutch to help when I was out and about. Again the swelling and bruising took months to go. This one was private in Switzerland!

[Graye]

Thanks for that MMM. NHS versus private is a bit of a sore point at the moment. I DO (sorry DID, I cancelled it) have BUPA but due to much confusion on their part (it was Easter and finding someone to tell the same story twice was a nightmare) they managed to wriggle out of covering the non-emergency treatment, four nights in hospital etc. That's a whole other story but their conciliatory gesture of a written apology plus a cheque for£100 is not going to get them off the hook...

I also thought it was amazingly quick to let me loose with nothing. The break is definitely in the leg rather than the ankle but the cuts for the pins etc are lower down, the inside one right on the ankle joint and the outer one going up from the joint about 5 inches. The pain is in the ankle rather than around the break too so I'm thinkng it's just through lack of use because of the cast, nerve & tissue damage etc. Some areas are numb and still bruised so I think there is still quite a bit a trauma going on there. I do have crutches still so they will have to come back out I think. I don't want to push it too far and cause problems but on the other hand I don't want to give in and sit about all day - I'm looking for a balance which will get me back to normal as soon as possible. I walked about 100 yards yesterday in total and was definitely worse for wear. The hospital have not suggested crutches etc, in fact they have asked me to bring mine back when I call in next!

In the meantime I've mixed up lavendar, neroli and sage oils for a footbath so that has improved my state of mind no end!

[Millymollymandy]

I would suggest using one crutch for walking when you are out so you are not total weight bearing (also will come in handy when you start to feel tired!), but at home do a bit of regular walking with no crutches, just a little at a time.

Then when you are sitting down do some exercises moving your foot around in circles each way to help with ankle flexibility, also moving foot up and down too. I did all this kind of stuff with both broken foot and ankle - nobody suggested it it just seemed something obvious to do! Moving around does help to get the swelling down a bit as I think it's helping the blood circulation.

Hopefully someone with actual medical experience will come on (Maggie?) and help with some advice as to herbal remedies etc for at least the swelling and the scars.

But really I think it's just going to take time to heal.

[Thomzo]

When my mother damaged her leg she was advised to keep the foot up, higher than the hip, as much as possible. Apparently, this helps to drain fluid and reduce the swelling.

What painkillers are you taking? Ibuprofen (if you can take it) helps to reduce swelling so you might find that useful.

Otherwise, all I can offer is a big

Get well soon.

Zoe

[red]

poor you. no useful advice apart from perhaps a second opinion

[MKG]

Casts worn for too long can weaken muscles, hence putting more stress on the bone which was broken in the first place. On the other hand, you're not supposed to be training for a marathon after 5 weeks. Thomzo's advice is sound, as is MMM's. Aside from that, it's patience - and don't overdo anything. Broken bones knit remarkably quickly (unless you're an old git) and it's the associated tissue damage and swelling which causes the pain - something which can't be helped by a cast or splint.

Take it easy is the best advice I can give you.

Mike