0
guineapiggie101

Healing from tib/fib surgery

Recommended Posts

As one heals from the surgery, is it common for the leg to ache/ hurt? I keep my leg elevated in bed or when I am sitting in a chair. I also am very careful with the leg when I move around in my walker ( I don't do well with crutches).

I will be seeing the specialist on Mon to get the leg evaluated (and hopefully get the staples out and a real cast put on).

I hate depending on others. I am such an "on the go person" that this has put me in a depressive funk, even though it isn't that serious of an injury

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

As one heals from the surgery, is it common for the leg to ache/ hurt? I keep my leg elevated in bed or when I am sitting in a chair. I also am very careful with the leg when I move around in my walker ( I don't do well with crutches).

I will be seeing the specialist on Mon to get the leg evaluated (and hopefully get the staples out and a real cast put on).

I hate depending on others. I am such an "on the go person" that this has put me in a depressive funk, even though it isn't that serious of an injury



patience my friend i now what you mean about the frustration as i have had my pins in my foot now for 12 weeks and should see the Docs on Monday about getting them out and starting physio after my mororbike crash end of april there is nothing you can do as it just basically takes time :)

Billy-Sonic Haggis Flickr-Fun


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Is it hot to the touch?
Do you have even a mild fever"
Any swelling?
These are signs of infection.
Yes it hurts. It will for a year. That's your bodies way of reminding you not to do that again.
Put ice on it. Elevate it. Don't lock your knee.
U only make 2 jumps: the first one for some weird reason and the last one that you lived through. The rest are just filler.
scr 316

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

I suggest watching "Touching the Void"



:)
Edit: Seriously, for some days after ankle surgery one time, any increase in blood pressure in the area hurt a lot. The actual skydiving accident didn't hurt much. Resting with the leg elevated helped, and when I moved around I hobbled bent over, as that decreased the blood pressure down at the foot....

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

As one heals from the surgery, is it common for the leg to ache/ hurt?



Mine did a lot. It hurt for a long time after walking on it. It sometimes hurt after I sat in the wrong position until I got my hardware out.

You might have nerve damage too. I got stabbing electrical pains in my foot for a long time since according to the neurologist I stretched a nerve.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

As one heals from the surgery, is it common for the leg to ache/ hurt? I keep my leg elevated in bed or when I am sitting in a chair. I also am very careful with the leg when I move around in my walker ( I don't do well with crutches).

I will be seeing the specialist on Mon to get the leg evaluated (and hopefully get the staples out and a real cast put on).

I hate depending on others. I am such an "on the go person" that this has put me in a depressive funk, even though it isn't that serious of an injury



I blew up my ankle back in August 06. I kept a detailed timeline of my injury recovery because a) I'm that kind of guy and b) I thought it would benefit someone in the future. The timeline is here.

Re: leg aching: I was on Percocets for about six weeks. They were marvelous for reducing the post operative pain. They are very dangerous in terms of addiction. So as soon as I could, I weaned myself off of them. I wasn't a happy camper, but after the Percs, I did understand what painkiller addiction was all about. I wasn't keen to live the experience.

Keeping the leg elevated is important. The leg will have problems pumping out for a variety of reasons. Keeping it elevated is important and helps reduce the swelling. I'd sleep with it elevated.

Re: the depending on others - I think the best thing I did was to accept the situation and make the best of it. Make the best of it. I could have had a "woe is me" attitude, or lamented my misfortune, but that would have just caused me more discomfort. I actively tried to make the best of it in order to reduce my discomfort. I'm hardly a chirpily cheery fellow. But several people complimented me on being so positive about it all. Ultimately it benefited me.

Finally, do what the doc says. When he says, "Don't put weight on it", he really means it. Don't eff around with that. Think of a very slow-setting epoxy that is healing your bones. You cannot move it around. It must stay still and unstressed. Some discipline now will pay off later.

I had a spectacularly complex break, literally blew up the ankle. It's healed pretty well. Five years later, I still have all my hardware (9 screws and a plate). It doesn't bother me. It's an interesting memento of my experience.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

[ I was on Percocets for about six weeks. They were marvelous for reducing the post operative pain. They are very dangerous in terms of addiction.

I'm not a doctor, of course, but that doesn't keep me from giving advice. I've found pain killers are only addictive if you're not taking them for pain. I and others I've known have taken them for extended periods for pain. When the pain lessened, so did the dosage. When the pain was gone, we quit taking them. No problem. :)

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

I'm not a doctor, of course, but that doesn't keep me from giving advice. I've found pain killers are only addictive if you're not taking them for pain. I and others I've known have taken them for extended periods for pain. When the pain lessened, so did the dosage. When the pain was gone, we quit taking them. No problem. :)

Not always true...I know some people who've had addiction issues in the past who refuse to take heavy pain meds when prescribed even for a legit injury because of that addiction risk. And, I know I've seen a few episodes of Intervention that started out with someone who was prescribed pain killers for an injury and never managed to get off of them after.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Quote

[ I was on Percocets for about six weeks. They were marvelous for reducing the post operative pain. They are very dangerous in terms of addiction.

I'm not a doctor, of course, but that doesn't keep me from giving advice. I've found pain killers are only addictive if you're not taking them for pain. I and others I've known have taken them for extended periods for pain. When the pain lessened, so did the dosage. When the pain was gone, we quit taking them. No problem. :)


I was eating hydrocodone/APAP pills for four months. Two 10/325 mg pills every four hours when I started, half a 5/500mg pill when my leg or foot acted up at the end.

I was glad to be done and didn't miss them.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Quote

[ I was on Percocets for about six weeks. They were marvelous for reducing the post operative pain. They are very dangerous in terms of addiction.

I'm not a doctor, of course, but that doesn't keep me from giving advice. I've found pain killers are only addictive if you're not taking them for pain. I and others I've known have taken them for extended periods for pain. When the pain lessened, so did the dosage. When the pain was gone, we quit taking them. No problem. :)


They made me feel really good. They made sleeping on a somewhat uncomfortable couch seem like sleeping on a featherbed fit for a king. They completely removed any discomfort from my leg. What concerned me was how good they made me feel. Having heard of painkiller addiction, I thought I might be one of those on the fast path towards it. So, I stopped them as soon as I thought would be manageable. I was rather uncomfortable for a while, but I thought that route would be the lesser of two evils.

I am a major fan of Percocets. They are the perfect drug (for me and probably many others) in the right circumstance. But I believe for me, they also have Siren-like facets.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

As one heals from the surgery, is it common for the leg to ache/ hurt? I keep my leg elevated in bed or when I am sitting in a chair. I also am very careful with the leg when I move around in my walker ( I don't do well with crutches).

I will be seeing the specialist on Mon to get the leg evaluated (and hopefully get the staples out and a real cast put on).

I hate depending on others. I am such an "on the go person" that this has put me in a depressive funk, even though it isn't that serious of an injury



I'd be really surprised if you're doctor is good with you being on a walker for anything but going to the washroom and other necessities.
Keeping the leg elevated is pretty important in the first weeks, keeping it cold helps. I became pretty dependent on my circulating ice pump.
Like others said...when the doc says "keep weight off of it" he means it.
I wish like hell I'd listened better to my docs...I can never get my pins nor screws removed (I bent them due to getting active before I should have).

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

even though it isn't that serious of an injury



Don't say things like that, it is a very serious injury. I'm nine weeks out since my break and I'm still far from being able to completely take care of myself. Considering the pain level and the length of recovery, it's serious.

I didn't have surgery so what I've experienced is going to be different than what you will experience, but mine hurt like hell for the first two or three weeks and then the pain started to ease up. My cast was halfway up my thigh until a couple weeks ago, which limited my mobility big time. It's way better now that the cast only goes to my knee. The leg still swells up if I'm up for very long, and it hurts if I put too much weight on it for too long.

No good advice on the depression. Not being able to do what I want/need to do has been the hardest thing to deal with for me. I've found the end of the internet, read every book in the house, played video games until my hands cramp, learned to crochet... and I'm still bored out of my mind for most of the day...

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
I only say it's not that serious of an injury because from what I read on here, I see people get hurt, usually way more seriously. It also doesn't help that when I went in for sugery, they tried to intubate me and scratched up the back of my throat. Thus for the past week since the surgery, I'm also dealing with a raging sore throat.

I agree with you about not being able to do what I want when I want is depressing. I also miss my little pets (my husband is caring for them for the time being at his place). It's been an adjustment learning to live with and depend on my parents.

Reading e-books on my iPad and surfing the net, have helped ease the boredom a bit.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Quote

[ I was on Percocets for about six weeks. They were marvelous for reducing the post operative pain. They are very dangerous in terms of addiction.

I'm not a doctor, of course, but that doesn't keep me from giving advice. I've found pain killers are only addictive if you're not taking them for pain. I and others I've known have taken them for extended periods for pain. When the pain lessened, so did the dosage. When the pain was gone, we quit taking them. No problem. :)


Pay particular attention to the part in red. Since Sept 1st 2009 here. When the pain is bad, I take Lortab; when it's worse, I take Percocet. Keep in mind (and look it up if you wish) that pain is much easier to manage at onset than if you try to "just tough it out" until it becomes unbearable.

My pain is normally 2-3 on a scale of 1-10. This is every minute of every day. 2-3 I can live with without meds, but once it begins to pass that threshold I'm not shy about taking a 5-500 Lortab, or even a couple of 7.5-750 Percocet if the level is climbing fast.

Please note: With addiction (to anything, not just pain meds) pretty much everyone is different. As I said, my pain stays at a 2-3 and never drops below that. If I'm at that level for several days, then I don't take anything for pain for those days. You'll have to figure out your body if you have to stay on the meds for awhile.

I believe what you got from John is good advice. Hope you heal quickly and completely.

Best regards,
Greg

ETA: I don't believe in "Pain clinics" either. If you have a good Ortho, you should never be referred to one. You may have heard of my Doc; 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid- 5 Gold Medals, 5 Olympic records, and 1 world record. I believe his 5 gold medals are still a U.S. Olympic record for a single Winter Games. He went on to become a very skilled Orthopaedic Surgeon. :)

G. Jones

"I've never been quarantined. But the more I look around, the more I think it might not be a bad idea."

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Quote

even though it isn't that serious of an injury



Don't say things like that, it is a very serious injury. I'm nine weeks out since my break and I'm still far from being able to completely take care of myself. Considering the pain level and the length of recovery, it's serious.

I didn't have surgery so what I've experienced is going to be different than what you will experience, but mine hurt like hell for the first two or three weeks and then the pain started to ease up. My cast was halfway up my thigh until a couple weeks ago, which limited my mobility big time. It's way better now that the cast only goes to my knee. The leg still swells up if I'm up for very long, and it hurts if I put too much weight on it for too long.

No good advice on the depression. Not being able to do what I want/need to do has been the hardest thing to deal with for me. I've found the end of the internet, read every book in the house, played video games until my hands cramp, learned to crochet... and I'm still bored out of my mind for most of the day...


stop it your getting me depressed now :D:D its been 12 weeks for me. Hopeful on Monday i see the Orthopaedic surgeons, with hope they say time for the 4 stainless steel pins in my right foot come out. Then its a case of being booked in for the over night stay and op :):D you now that kind of Pain bytch :P

just for you this was to at about 6 weeks not pretty so barf before looking :D:D

skin graph top left thigh
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9483441@N07/5831482059/

foot 6 weeks ago much better now
http://www.flickr.com/photos/9483441@N07/5831484743/

you can't see the third pin which is under the big toe but same direction as the other 2 number 4 is at the right side of the foot guess they are being kept stable by this one :S its the most painfull if rattled against something:o>:(:ph34r::D you can see the big dent to be stitched once the swelling goes down enough.

now what your talking about books, films, TV, games and my kids are pissed at getting me cups of tea well its bloody impossible to carry one with crutches I now that first hand :D:D:D just keep your chin up and watch clips of people being stupid :D:D apart from me :D:D:D

Billy-Sonic Haggis Flickr-Fun


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Quote

its bloody impossible to carry one with crutches I now that first hand



I figured out how to carry a cup of coffee. Takes a while and it's kinda sketchy but I can do it, damn it! :ph34r:



you mean get someone else to do it can do iy but god what a carry on getting from the kitchen to dining room table :D:D take a lifetime :D:D:D

Billy-Sonic Haggis Flickr-Fun


Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

Quote

Quote

its bloody impossible to carry one with crutches I now that first hand



I figured out how to carry a cup of coffee. Takes a while and it's kinda sketchy but I can do it, damn it! :ph34r:



you mean get someone else to do it can do iy but god what a carry on getting from the kitchen to dining room table :D:D take a lifetime :D:D:D


Get a swivel stool with roller feet. It's your best friend while you are gimpy. You can kneel on it in the kitchen and do stuff (depending on the injury). You can sit on it and push with your good foot and get around and carry stuff at the same time (albeit backwards). :)
lisa
WSCR 594
FB 1023
CBDB 9

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Last year I has a spiral fib fx (indoor lacrosse not skydiving) and I had it casted. Pain for about 8 months and I still do this weird ankle exercise when I'm sleeping.

As for the crutch thing, I mounted plexiglas panel on mine with a flip down cup holder to hold a beer. My former DZO's wife used the crutches after an ACL and I may put the suckers up on eBay.

The previous season, I had a radius/ulna fx and it was nowhere near as painful as my fib fx. In fact we reduced it on the field and then I splinted it and removed the splint for 2 more games and then had it put in a hard cast. The reduction ended up with a 2mm off set but what the hell, it still works fine.
It's called the Hillbilly Hop N Pop dude.
If you're gonna be stupid, you better be tough.
That's fucked up. Watermelons do not grow on trees! ~Skymama

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

As one heals from the surgery, is it common for the leg to ache/ hurt? I keep my leg elevated in bed or when I am sitting in a chair. I also am very careful with the leg when I move around in my walker ( I don't do well with crutches).


I hate depending on others. I am such an "on the go person" that this has put me in a depressive funk, even though it isn't that serious of an injury



1) yeah it will hurt. Blood goes down hill. You have damaged all all our vascular plumbing in your lower leg. Thus when you stand up all that blood and fluid goes down to your feet and it will hurt. And yeah it sucks! For me the hardes part was waking up and going to bed. The change in blood pressure hurt like hell. So it was one pain killer to wake up and one to go to bed.

2) Yes it will get better! It will take a month or so. Just feed your body what ever it asks. Fluids are your best friends and so are fresh foods.

3) Yeah I hated getting hurt [:/] I was lucky I guess, my x wife in all her fuckedupness actually did a good job taking care of me....but being relaxed and being calm will greatly help your recover.
Life through good thoughts, good words, and good deeds is necessary to ensure happiness and to keep chaos at bay.

The only thing that falls from the sky is birdshit and fools!

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites
Quote

As one heals from the surgery, is it common for the leg to ache/ hurt? I keep my leg elevated in bed or when I am sitting in a chair. I also am very careful with the leg when I move around in my walker ( I don't do well with crutches).

I will be seeing the specialist on Mon to get the leg evaluated (and hopefully get the staples out and a real cast put on). Take up golf

I hate depending on others. I am such an "on the go person" that this has put me in a depressive funk, even though it isn't that serious of an injury


I hold it true, whate'er befall;
I feel it, when I sorrow most;
'Tis better to have loved and lost
Than never to have loved at all.

Share this post


Link to post
Share on other sites

Join the conversation

You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.

Guest
Reply to this topic...

×   Pasted as rich text.   Paste as plain text instead

  Only 75 emoji are allowed.

×   Your link has been automatically embedded.   Display as a link instead

×   Your previous content has been restored.   Clear editor

×   You cannot paste images directly. Upload or insert images from URL.

0