Sick of being in pain....

[Greedyfly]

I broke my ankle in four places in december and had to have ORIF surgery - so now I have a plate in the back of my ankle, six screws and a long pin holding my ankle together. Obviously the breaks have healed but the pain is generaly unbearable still after 5 months. I have been going to physio for about 3 months and have since learned to walk again on the bad ankle and my range of movement has improved a great deal since the removal of my cast. But the joint pain has if anything got worse since having my cast off. I never expected this to be easy, has been a slow recovery (to me anyways, I am very impatient) but I would have hoped/thought the pain would have reduced if not gone by now. I have an app next week with my surgeon to discuss the long pin as it is causing me pain when I wear shoes etc... So obviously I will be mentioning the joint pain too when I go. I have been on painkillers, but they make me sick so I rarely take them. My job involves me being stood/walking around all day , so thats rough on my ankle, but I have to work. I do rest it as much as possible and have it elevated to reduce the swelling. I have only in the last couple of weeks started leaving the house to socialise - which is limited due to the swelling and pain. I guess I was wondering if you have been through anything similar and whether you experienced the same continual pain? How long did it take to 'heal'? Its really getting me down being in pain all the time, Im irritable and grumpy and fed up - Guess I need some reassurance that there will be an end to it soon. Thanks

[sqad617]

That is a nasty fracture of the ankle........you could n't have picked a worse part of the body.

No. I haven't had one.

Look out for pain for at least 8-9 months and if you are standing on it , then it could last longer. but physiotherapy and NSAID'S should relieve the pain.

Swelling of the ankle has been known to last for years, but be patient, a little longer as it should settle.

There will be an end to it.

[ConfusedCH]

I fractured my foot in 3 places about 2 years ago in a car accident. Thankfully I never had too much pain out of it, but it did take a long time to go back to normal.
I'm not entirely sure what you've had done, but it sounds pretty bad, but bare with it, in time these things do get better. I didn't think I'd ever be able to walk properly again, but I'm absolutely fine now. Stick with the physio, they work wonders. Good luck!!!

[Naomicorlett]

May I suggest you talk to the Physio about using a tens machine. I had one for my badly fracured wrist and the pain relief was good with it. Even 10 mins was worth having. The other thing I had to do was ice it in a bucket of very lumpy icy water for 5-10 mins used to make me cry but apparently it reduces inflammation and increases blood supply.

[pink-kittens]

Your physio/GP should be able to point you in the direction of your local pain management clinic where you will learn how to 'deal' with pain effectively with or without pain killers

hth

[sqad617]

greedfly.....all good advice, but I don't like the ice bucket treatment. Ice reduces the blood supply NOT increases it.

[Connemmara]

hi greedyfly - I broke my ankle and my left upper arm and a tooth last year in Fuerteventura and my ankle still swells up - I just endure the pain in my arm. I am believing it takes a very long time in fact being jobs comforter my doctor told me once you break a bone it never really heals up the same. Sorry but maybe if you know - you can begin to accept it.

[Naomicorlett]

Yes sqad the ice reduces the blood supply but , I was told, when the vessels expand again the fresh blood is good for the injured site.

[sqad617]

naomi.....right.

[Greedyfly]

Thanks guys for the messages - I know I have to try and be more patient and just ride it out lol, just hard sometimes when the pain is constant. Hopefully the surgeon can help me when I go see him.

[campbellking]

You could ask the surgeon for another X-ray just to check plate hasn't slipped, but ankles do generally take a very long time to improve.

[maggs1703]

hi can you tell me what pain symptoms are and what it actually feels like as my husband had a really bad break and had pins etc the same as you but he has a condition known as RSD (reflex sympathetic dystrophy) also known as CRPS type 2 this is is associated with certain things going on with pain but he feels different kinds of pain adn this also continued after the healing process

[kakaduka]

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