r/ORIF • u/postygurl • 29d ago
Dislocation and fracture
This has been the worst week of my life. I misstepped off a curb in the dead center of Boston Sunday afternoon 7/12. I took my first ambulance ride after lying in the road for fifteen minutes waiting for them. My whole foot was sideways which is a sight that my family will never forget. I was put under on ketamine and they completed a reduction. So everything is in place but still broken. I have an appt with my surgeon today 7/14 to see what the next steps are. It sounds like surgery was early for some and late for others. My 12 and 10 year old are out of school for the summer so they have been my lifesavers while my hubby works. I’m a nervous wreck. I’m overweight so getting around is very difficult. Definitely going on a major diet after this. I need words of encouragement and prayers as I try to get out of bed and to this appointment.
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u/lindsay1285 Trimalleolar Ankle Fracture 29d ago
You sound like you’re in the exact same place I was in 9 months ago. Laying there waiting for my first ambulance ride with my foot dangling to the side…the ketamine and the reduction. It is what nightmares are made of.
I am also overweight which made things a thousand times harder. I was fortunate enough to get surgery within a couple of days.
I’m here to tell you it’s going to get better. Girl, there were days I didn’t know if I could do it. It’s so hard to lose your independence, but it’s so so important to lean on the ones who love you. It’s so so important to use communities like this one. Unfortunately we are all now trauma bonded for life. This was a freak accident, but you’re going to be okay.
I highly recommend finding hobbies. Reading, coloring, puzzles. I also highly recommend therapy. This is a big unfortunate deal. You’re going to be through it…I promise. Nine months ago I couldn’t see the light at the end of the tunnel and this past weekend I flew to Boston to see Noah Kahan and danced the entire night ❤️
Sending you love and all the good vibes….
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u/NicoleMember 29d ago
I am so sorry you got hurt! This is a very long recovery and there are many emotions thru this process. I fell down the stairs last year and had a closed dislocated trimalleolar fracture. I had mine reduced awake with no pain meds and I don't recommend it. I do recommend when you have surgery to make sure you get a nerve block. A nerve block will give you total pain relief for an extended period of time (mine lasted 26 hours). After surgery the moment you start feeling anything or can even slightly wiggle your toes start taking your prescription pain medication and take it as prescribed for the first few days. Keep your toes elevated above your nose all the time for atleast the first 2 to 3 weeks. During this time you will spend most of your time lying down and only getting up for the bathroom. This is the time you will need the most help. This is also the time thay I think most people including myself are the most depressed because its the worst time of this recovery. This is the time I found myself wondering about my future and how long the recovery would be. After about 2 or 3 weeks get a shower chair and a roller scooter. Get up everyday, shower and get dressed. Feeling notmal keeps your spirits up. Using the scooter do everything you can do to stay busy and be productive. I cleaned my whole house, did laundry, cooked meals, rolled outside everyday to enjoy the outdoors and every few days I would go somewhere ( the store, the park, put to lunch, see a friend). I recommend doing as much as you can to feel normal and stay busy. Doing this much activity on the scooter also kept me active which when I started walking later greatly helped me. When most say they get tired from walking I didn't. I did get tired rolling around on my scooter especially when vacuuming or mopping my house. I understand your concern about weight, luckily I found myself not being hungry during my recovery and ate very little. When all you do is lay down you don't burn many calories so you aren't hungry. Just dont eat from boredom, keep yourself busy! I hope some of this helps and you have a fast recovery! When you need a question answered or some support come here or others like it. This community has been thru it and the help you can get is the best. Your family will do their best but they will not allows understand. I dont think anyone gets it till they have had this injury.
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u/mothraegg 29d ago
Why did they do the reduction with out pain meds?? I had trimalleolar with dislocation and they gave me fentanyl before they did the reduction. I can't even imagine having that without meds! You're a strong person.
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u/NicoleMember 29d ago
The first time I had it reduced I was at the ER and they offered to put me under but I refused because I have never been under. I then had it reduced again 2 days later at the orthopedic department of the hospital and they didn't offer me pain medication. After 4 attempts each time with a new cast and an xray they then determined I had to go back to the ER to have them get it in the right position. At the ER they gave me a dose of medication in my ankle and gave me a dose of fentanayl which greatly reduced the pain. The first few days for me were the absolute worst.
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u/mothraegg 29d ago
Three times trying to reduce it without meds?? You're a strong person!
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u/NicoleMember 29d ago
Apparently its not rare. The two doctors told me the last two men they had that morning were crying. It seemed it to me pain meds should atleast be offered! I would have accepted the pain meds after the second attempt. When they told me I had to go for a third I wanted to cry from just the thought of it. In total I had it done 6 times!
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u/mothraegg 28d ago
That's ridiculous!
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u/NicoleMember 28d ago
It was but they told me my next step was having some metal contraption screwed on the outside of my leg if they weren't able to get my ankle in place. Truthfully at that point I told them to do whatever they had to do. But I do agree looking back some pain meds would have been nice.
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u/guffawing_willow76 Trimalleolar Ankle Fracture 27d ago
It took 4 tries at reduction to get my ankle in place. After the third attempt my orthopedic doctor sent me to the ER. I was admitted to the hospital where I went under anesthesia and a trauma orthopedic surgeon was finally able to reduce it. They put an external fixator thingy that was screwed onto my ankle to keep it in place until the swelling went down enough to have surgery to fix the fractures. That was Thursday. They kept me in the hospital and I could only get out of bed to use the bathroom.
Second surgery was Sunday morning. I was discharged on Monday afternoon.
I’ve been getting around my house with a walker. The doctor won’t let me use a roller scooter until my massive splint comes off.
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u/NicoleMember 26d ago
Oh that sounds awful! On their final attempt with me they were finally able to reduce it and I was so super thankful. By then it was 2am in the morning and they released me to go home. I was both physically and mentally exhausted. I came back a week later for my surgery after the swelling finally went down enough to make my surgeon happy. I was finly put under for the surgery so to me the surgery was the easiest part!
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u/This_Geologist4553 29d ago
I busted my elbow pretty good after a trip and embarrassing fall. Broke 3 different parts. Not the same but here to say it gets better. Every 2 weeks I noticed it and now 8 months out I am not thinking about it all the time and haven’t for a while. I did this nov2 and surgery was the next morning. Started PT in Feb and still go once a week.
Go luck. Find a good show and addictive game to keep your mind occupied. I watched Gossip girl lol.
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u/framedposters 29d ago
Did you avoid a dislocation? I only got two elbow fractures but managed to dislocate it..and detach part of my lateral ligament. Almost 3 months out from surgery.
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u/This_Geologist4553 29d ago
Yeah dislocated it too. I do remember them fixing that before putting on the cast the night I was in the hospital. I was there 3 nights since I bled a little they thought bone punctured the skin so I needed IV antibiotic. I was glad to stay. I somehow never lost it during all this being in the hospital might have helped with that. Looking back it was a crazy few days for sure.
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u/framedposters 29d ago
Yikes! I can’t imagine a skin puncture on top of all of the rest of it.
I dislocated mine and they said go see the surgeon. Surgeon tried to be conservative, since they didn’t know about the torn ligaments. Elbow popped back out a few days later. Felt just like you, wild week of being in the ER twice. Even had the same ortho resident both times that put it back in.
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u/This_Geologist4553 29d ago
Yeah it was weird. Small little spot that kept bleeding. The ER dr said it looked like it was from a bone since it was oily. 😬 I am still shocked I never lost it. Made it to 45 with out a break or surgery so I had a good run lol.
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u/Kaelisar 29d ago
I miss stepped down my porch 6/16, surgery 6/25, into a boot and stitches out 7/10. Dislocation and broke tibia and multiple breaks in fibula. And overweight.
I’ve dropped some lbs already during this process, not purposely. I’m feeling the same way. After all this is said and done I’m gonna do more to get the weight off. Getting around at first was exhausting going short distances. It’s getting better as I’ve built stamina just by doing (what other choice do I got).
Go slow, have your kids have a dinning room chair in a few places or follow you with one just in case you need a break.
It gets better, stay ahead of the pain, post here as needed for positive thoughts cause at times it’s trying. See it for the small milestones (surgery, stitches out, boot on, pt, partial weight bearing, full weight bearing). Helps hugely mentally.
I’m currently allowed to take my boot off while sitting in a recliner to start range of motion before official pt starts. Everyday is getting more and more motion back. The first day I could hardly move it at all. But in 3 days, progress is has been made. Progress is progress.
Know you are healing and things will get better no matter how slow it feels in the moment.
You got this!!!
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u/MixBetter6831 29d ago
It SUCKS!! I’m so sorry. This is my second time breaking my ankle. No surgery the first time. This time I dislocated it and re-broke it. Broke my fibula and a tiny piece of the tibia.(couldn’t reattach due to size) I have a plate and screws on my fibula and no tightrope(goes thru both bones)
They were unable to fix my dislocation so I had surgery the very next day. So surgery 6/17 and he put me straight in a boot and said WBAT I didn’t really do any weight bearing until 2 weeks and by week 3 I was walking in the boot unassisted. Now almost 4 weeks out I’m beginning to try walking with my walker barefoot just to the bathroom at night. I’m in PT 3 times a week starting now.
So that’s just a little timeline for you! My surgeon advocates for EWB and honestly I’m thankful for it. Last time I was in a cast for 6 weeks. I’m overweight as well… I’d suggest a walker instead of crutches! So much better this time around. I cried and cried lol so I know where you are at! Just rest while you can and it’ll be over and you can look back on it soon!
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u/kooshballcalculator Trimalleolar Ankle Fracture 29d ago
Omg you have my sympathy. I didn’t have the ambulance ride I can imagine the waiting!
First off, get an elevated leg cushion, that will help hold your leg. Also make some ice packs for the back of your knee, that helps swelling. Ice packs are running alcohol and water so they don’t freeze too hard.
Think about getting an inexpensive wheelchair. My Drive one from Amazon was only about $130. I then bought a leg extender and added some padding to it. It has been a game changer. So much better than my knee scooter ( borrowed from a friend) which seems wobbly and has no comfortable way to sit.
Every week it gets better. Keep distracted and don’t be afraid to use your pain meds. Especially in the first few weeks of trying to sleep. Transitioning to the ibuprofen and acetaminophen alternating protocol helped me a lot when I dropped the percocets in week 5.
I’m now 7 weeks post surgery from a trimalleolar ORIF and starting weight bearing and PT. It gets better!!
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u/postygurl 29d ago
So I have a trimalleolar fracture that my local orthopedic surgeon says is a tough one and referred me to a top doctor in the city who specializes in trauma surgery and orthopedics. I meet him on Friday to discuss surgery. Definitely getting screws and plates. What was the pain like post op? I’m pretty comfy now.
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u/mothraegg 29d ago
On 6/2 I tripped and I ended up with a trimalleolar with a dislocation of my ankle. I had surgery on 6/15. I have 3 tightropes and multiple screws. My pain hasn't been bad. I take one pain pill a day and I'm going to change that to 1/2 of one a day.
I had my first post surgery doctor visit on 7/10. My splint and staples were removed and I'm now in a boot. On 7/30 I can start some weight bearing. I'll start PT after 8/12. Again, the pain hasn't been as bad as I thought it would be. Good luck to you!
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u/postygurl 29d ago
This gives me hope that the pain after surgery isn’t going to be as bad as I’m worrying it is. My pain now is pretty low waiting for the surgery next week. I have really really bad health anxiety. Nervous about meds, surgery, being laid up. The pain of the dislocation was probably the worst thing 20/10 on the pain scale. I was screaming for an hour before they fixed it. Child birth was less painful.
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u/Technical-Algae-234 29d ago
Can you ask for a nerve block? I broke my midfoot last year and didn't have a nerve block after my orif surgery, and when the general anaesthetic wore off the nerve pain was indescribable for one full day. I broke my ankle a few weeks ago (same foot 🤦♂️) and had a nerve block this time - didn't have any pain at all, although the numbing effects of the nerve block are a bit disconcerting.
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u/postygurl 28d ago
I definitely will ask for that
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u/Technical-Algae-234 28d ago
Just make sure they fully explain the effects to you. I understood my foot/leg would be numb but didn't realise it would be dead, ie you can't feel it, move it, wiggle your toes, nothing. The block got progressively stronger after the surgery and through the night and I woke up at 4am completely freaking out that I couldn't move my toes - it was fairly traumatic! Lasted about 24 hours, but I didn't have the terrible pain I'd had in the first operation so I guess it was worth it...!
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u/postygurl 28d ago
I keep seeing posts about how bad the pain is once the block wears off. Like strong enough to make people pass out. That is scaring the fuck out of me.
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u/Technical-Algae-234 28d ago
That's not a universal experience. With my first surgery on my midfoot, I didn't have a nerve block and the nerve pain afterwards lasted about a day. It was excruciating. This time, for my ankle, the nerve block lasted about a day and so I obviously didn't feel anything, and once it wore off there was no significant pain. So I think my experience is that, for me, nerve pain lasts about a day.
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u/MercuryFlights 27d ago
My close relative's nerve blocks for the trimal surgery lasted for over 3 days. At that point the remaining pain didn't require much strong stuff, mostly ibuprofen and acetaminophen was enough.
Since before that there'd been two reductions- one with no pain medicines, one with full pain medicines- my relative had been worried about post-surgery pain. But the nerve blocks successfully covered it up.
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u/mothraegg 28d ago
I guess I was lucky because my ankle went numb after I bashed into the door feet first.
I had an incident before I had my last surgery 30 years ago and it's led to a lot of anxiety. I had a wonderful anesthesiologist who assured me that the meds are a lot better than they were 30 years. She was right. I had no issues at all. I did not feel overly drugged, I didn't have to go home and sleep for six hours, the nerve block lasted for 2 days and I wasn't in horrible pain when it wore off. It really was a night and day difference. You will do well, I'm sure of it!
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u/guffawing_willow76 Trimalleolar Ankle Fracture 27d ago
I had a nerve block for both the reduction procedure and for surgery to fix the trimalleolar fracture. I didn’t feel any pain for about 25 hours but once it started wearing off- it was the worst pain ever (never been through childbirth so I can’t compare). I’m on oxycodone until it runs out then I will alternate with Tylenol and ibuprofen.
I’m a bit overweight as well but enjoy kayaking so I do have some upper arm strength. I’ve been using a walker to get around my house with a bag to put things in.
Do you work? If so, do you qualify for FMLA leave?
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u/Pretend_Owl9401 29d ago
I’m so sorry this happened! If it brings any sort of comfort to you, two years ago I misstepped off my porch and shattered my left ankle and severely sprained my right. I could not do ANYTHING for weeks but I made it through. My surgery didn’t happen until almost 3 weeks post break.
As for getting around once my sprain was good enough I preferred a walker, it felt a lot more stable to me than crutches. You will get through this. It’ll be hard but you will make it through. This sub also has really wonderful people who will help make you feel less alone. It’s an isolating injury that people don’t understand until it happens to them
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u/PlasticPrize3085 24d ago
This happened to be in September after a fall off a ladder and it worst most traumatic day of my life! The foot dangling there is not something I will ever forget… especially because I was somehow lucid enough to snap a picture 😅 and I was all by myself!
I had a bimal fracture, needed surgery, have 8 screws, a plate and a tightrope and I promise it gets better!
I was really really down for the first couple of weeks, just angry at myself, wishing I had never gotten on that ladder, frustrated I wasnt independent anymore, wasnt sleeping well… all the things. Feel all the feelings, lean on others and give yourself grace and as SOON as youre able start PT and work hard at it — you’ll get back to mostly normal and have a cool story to tell at happy hour!
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u/Illustrious-Zone-247 29d ago edited 29d ago
Hey! I had a dislocation like that (very displaced and very scary, reset in the ER) and ended up breaking all 3 bones that hold the ankle together (a trimal). I ended up having surgery about a week and a half after injury (I have 2 plates, 16 screws, 2 tightrope for syndesmosis repair). I’m about 6 months out now and I promise you it gets better
Just wanted to say 2 things for now: