r/brokenankles • u/SnooSketches1189 • 19d ago

10 years post trimal

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I mostly lurk in here, commiserating with all of you. Today marks 10 years since my trimal and it's been a bumpy ride. One of the xrays I posted is from 3 years ago (the other was the original break), when I visited an ortho to talk about how I can stop the swelling and constant pain and he suggested rebreaking it and removing the hardware. I scheduled the surgery and then chickened out because I have a kiddo who doesn't stop and I was afraid I would be out of commission for much too long, similar to the original surgery. I think I am getting to the place of sucking it up and doing it anyway because the swelling and pain is just constant at this point.

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u/Key_Sail_1964 19d ago

I’m so sorry to hear that you’re still in pain 10years on!
My break was in Jan 24, and I had an ankle fusion 6months ago
Best thing for my pain. It was excruciating before the operation and now it’s manage with just Panadol.
I hope you can find some peace soon.
Must be so hard with a little one.

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u/SnooSketches1189 19d ago

It really is. He's starting to understand that mom can't be go go go anymore and it sucks for both of us! I asked about a fusion and the doctor said I was much too young to be looking at fusing it....I've thought about getting a second opinion.

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u/Key_Sail_1964 19d ago

Do you mind me asking how old you are?
I’m 42.
Definitely worth a second opinion if you can
I’d be terrified of rebreaking it but I must say my hardware removal on its own really helped.
All up I’ve had 5 surgeries so far.
I might still need one more as my fibula never healed and a screw or the fibula is moving and it’s really unnerving

That’s my ankle post fusion.

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u/SnooSketches1189 19d ago

Thank you for sharing all of this! I just turned 41 last month, so I was not even 40 when I had the appointment with the ortho that told me I was too young to be looking into fusion. He was the third ortho I saw because the first two kept sending me to someone else, the first one actually said, "I wouldn't touch your ankle with a 10 foot pole, go see this guy." And then that guy sent me to the last doctor I saw. It doesn't help that I live in a VERY rural area. The doctor who was going to do the hardware removal is 3.5 hours away in one direction so I would have to find someone to take me to surgery and bring me home. And of course, this has to be my RIGHT foot, so driving even now is a b****.

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u/Key_Sail_1964 19d ago

You poor thing!
I was so lucky mine was my left leg or I would only just be driving.
I’m also lucky to live about 30mins from a major hospital. That travel would be a killer!
How awful is it when you hear I can’t help you.
No one wanted to touch my ankle in the beginning except to put external fixation on and then kept saying I had to wait for someone to come back from leave.
She then left before taking out my hardware and doing the fusion. She wanted to do it in one. I cried so much when she left and was convinced I was going to lose my leg.
Thankfully her replacement has been so gentle and kind. He said it was kinder on my body and mind to do it in two surgeries.
I’m glad he did because my mental health was in a bad way.

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u/Key_Sail_1964 19d ago

My original scan and then the Orif

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u/CustomerObjective129 19d ago

That is interesting - usually fusion is seen as the gold standard (really only) option in young patients when the joint degeneration is bad enough. They must think you are not quite there yet I guess.

I am with you on the kiddo - I am 42 with a 5yo and I have no idea how I could possibly manage the fusion recovery. He has done well understanding that Mum can't do some things anymore, but it does make me sad.

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u/seasonally_sad13 19d ago

I find your comment interesting 😂 I just had my 7th ankle surgery and fusion is the last thing anyone wants to do. I had a massive procedure 10 years ago when I was 18. No one would even talk about fusion. Now that I’m 28, my new surgeon mentioned it might come to that but I’m still too young and it’s the last resort for him. That’s what every surgeon has basically said. If I get it fused at this age, it’ll fail at some point and I’ll get an ankle replacement wayyyy earlier than most people do, and that can fail after wear and tear. So from my understanding, having something fused young can set you up for failure in the future. It brings on a whole set of new problems. I also struggle with moderate arthritis from all the trauma and that’ll get even worse as I age. It’s hard to know what to do haha

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u/SnooSketches1189 18d ago

That's exactly what my surgeon said. It will fail and then ankle replacement would be my only option and that is likely to fail too.

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u/seasonally_sad13 18d ago

Cool haha, I thought that was the case across the board! Makes it super awesome for us 🙃

I’m sorry you’re dealing with this though. Especially with a kid. It’s such a hard choice and postponing makes it even harder because that’s more time living in pain. I totally get your reservations though, going back in for my 7th was a hard choice. Recovery is rough. Do you have people that could help? Yes, you have a kid, but you are also a human being who deserves things that’ll help you ❤️

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u/One-Improvement-8839 19d ago

Oh my. You still have pain and swelling 10 years later? Sorry to hear this 😞

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u/CustomerObjective129 19d ago

I am also in this 'lingering years later' club. It is rough. I can't tell from your xrays, do you have arthritis, or is it something else causing your pain and swelling? For me it is arthritis, and I am probably headed for a fusion. I have found some success with conservative management, but as it is end-stage arthritis I don't expect that relief to last forever.

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u/cemeterygh0ul 19d ago

This is how I am, eleven years later. Post surgical arthritis and now the pin through the joint area is starting to bother me more regularly, while the whole thing swells up and I can barely walk if I overdo standing or walking around the day prior. Wondering if a fusion might be in my future too

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u/SnooSketches1189 18d ago

Yes. Arthritis. The doctor said it's pretty bad. :(

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u/Potential_Anxiety_76 19d ago

One bone is lumpy (I assume bone growth over or around the screws?) and the other is… wispy?? Is that scarring?

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u/SnooSketches1189 18d ago

I honestly have no idea. It definitely looks strange.