I fell 2 1/2 years ago over 14 ft. My foot was injured extremely bad and it was almost amputated. I have had two surgeries and have progressed nicely. Now I am having incredible pain on daily basis.
View 5 RepliesI sustained a calcaneus heel fracture on 1/10/2015 in a mountain biking accident. I fell off a ledge and tried to catch my fall with my foot. Landed on concrete and twisted my ankle in the process. I had surgery on 1/21/15 and have two screws in my heel and a plate and two screws on the side of my ankle. Two weeks after surgery (four days ago), I lost my balance and fell forward and caught my fall with the ball of my foot (I was in a boot). My foot is so stiff that it will not lay flat on the ground. My heel started hurting a few hours afterwards and the next day. It felt better Wednesday and i did some stretches to my foot. Now it is hurting again today. I wonder if anyone else has had this experience? Do you think it is a stiff tendon (plantar fasciitis) that I just pulled or do you think I could have done damage to my heel? I didn't land on my heel, but I feel a dull ache at the bottom of it now.
View 2 RepliesOn Feb 7th I was involved in a pedestrian vs auto. I was the pedestrian hit at about 45 mph and had multi system trauma. I had a right comminuted displaced proximal Tib Fib Fx which was repaired with an IM rod. I have a lot of knee pain, leg pain, and my knee pops in and out. I still have a lot of pain and difficulty walking at times. It is painful to extend my leg. Is this to be expected? Do you ever remove IM rods?
View 2 RepliesI thought I would share my story and healing process as I am recovering from a ladder fall from about 8-9' up onto concrete in November, 2014. I welcome any and all advice and hope my story and (hopefully) regular updates on my own progress will help others who may go through this same event.
On Nov. 30, 2014, I fell from a 10' ladder as I was trying to hang a Christmas wreath above my front door like I had done for the last 14 years! I tried doing this without my wife spotting me on the ladder and, when I reached to try to hang one of the wreath wires, I lost the center of gravity on the ladder and had no option that didn't involve me likely killing myself other than jumping off the ladder onto the concrete patio below. I was wearing running shoes and, after landing and gathering myself after a couple of minutes from the shock and immediate pain, thought I might have ruptured my right Achilles tendon. After inspecting the back of my heel, though, it was apparent that the tendon was still intact and I then realized that I likely had broken at least my heel bond (Calcaneus) as I could not tolerate even the lightest touch on any part of the bottom of my injured foot. I was home alone and had to hop into the house to retrieve my cell phone, spraining my good left knee in the process.
A trip to the emergency room and an x-ray later, it was confirmed that I had suffered a Calcaneal fracture.
I was 57 years old at the time of my fall, just two weeks shy of my 58th birthday. I had gotten in pretty good shape over the course of the year, having gotten back to a regular gym routine and running with frequency, as well. I am 5'11" and weighed around 195 lbs. at the time of my injury. My ideal weight is likely around 180-185, so I was at least 10-15 lbs overweight at that time.
After finding the best qualified orthopedic specialist in the area (he is a part of the top ortho group in the area and is the only surgeon in their 12-15 member practice group that does NOTHING BUT foot and ankle surgery. Lesson #1 learned: Find a surgeon whose practice is all but focused solely on the foot!! I have complete confidence that I could not have found a better doctor to do this surgery in my area (Dallas-Fort Worth, Texas).
I had a CT scan performed a week after the injury and after some of the swelling had subsided - it showed a Comminuted Fracture (essentially shattered into three large pieces and many smaller). My surgeon could not have stressed enough how important it was to keep my foot elevated above my heart in the several days prior to the surgery and told me that, had I been much older, surgery might not have been advised due to deteriorating circulation issues in feet for patients over 60 years old. This was, in fact, his major concern throughout; namely, that adequate blood supply would allow for healing of the surgical wound required for the surgery.
I had my surgery on December 11, 2014, and stayed overnight in the hospital. My surgery involved an open lateral incision on the outside of my heel with the insertion and fixation of a titanium plate and eight screws that extend nearly all the way across the width of my reassembled heel. Because my subtalar joint was also severely damaged in the fall, my surgeon had advised me that a fusion of the Talus with the Calcaneus was likely after he visually surveyed the cartilage and he did, indeed, also proceed with this fusion procedure which resulted in about a 5" long screw being inserted from the very back of my heel near the base and extending into the Talus bone above. I was told I will lose most of my lateral flexibility in my foot but should eventually recover most of my front-to-back foot flexibility.
I had been given a nerve block after surgery and felt no discomfort at all until the nerve block wore off the next evening. When that block wears off, it does so with a vengeance! I took Oxycontin for the next couple of days, then switched to Hydrocodone for pain and Naproxen Sodium for swelling thereafter. I got off the HC as quickly as I could (3-4 days later) and still take naproxen on a regular basis to manage the lesser pain and swelling.
I will follow up in the next few days with my thoughts on my recovery progress and outlook since then - I know this post may have some overkill from a factual standpoint but I wanted to include information that I personally would have liked to have known in reading other threads.
My kneecap was smashed into more than 10 pieces and was a displaced fracture. I had surgery on July 26th involving pins screws and figure of 8 wire to rebuild my kneecap. I was in a straight splint for two weeks and then a two piece cast with an adjustable steel brace. I spent the first 4 weeks with the brace set at 30 degrees then 60 degrees and 90 degrees for the final 4 weeks. I'm into my 5th week without the cast and I am walking unaided with a slight limp. I go to physio every week as well as doing my own exercises at home and finding it frustrating that I can only still bend my leg 100 degrees, it seems to be stuck here with no signs of improvement. Has anyone out there suffered the same injury and fully recovered? Would be nice to know if there is light at the end of the tunnel.
View 2 RepliesMy 6yr old son suffered a bad comminuted fracture to the tibia whilst on a bouncy castle. He was initially placed in a full back slab for a few days but was then meant to be changed to a full lightweight cast. Unfortunately the doctor deemed it far too unstable to mess around with and so has been left in the back slab with a full cast over the top. Its been on 2 weeks and has another 4 to go AT LEAST. i'm really worried about his recovery as he already had low muscle tone and hip instability.
View 3 RepliesLast February 11, 2014, I fractured my leg (distal tibia and fibula). My doctor calls it Pilon Fracture. Spiral comminuted fracture of the distal tibia and fibula involving the articulations.
February 15, 2014, I went through MIPO (minimally invasive plate osteosynthesis). 4 weeks(March 11) after the operation, my doctor advised me to put some weight on it and so I did. 4 weeks(April 11) later, I had an xray and it appears like nothing's changed from my 1st x ray 4 weeks ago. I tried to put more weight on it but surprisingly, it doesn't hurt nor caused me any discomfort.
How long does a distal tibia and fibula fracture that went through MIPO heal? Exactly when would I walk again without my crutches?!
Well first week went by and doing great. haven't had any side effects to speak of, 11 more weeks and hopefully i'll be cured
View 4 RepliesQuickly my story...First THR went perfectly. It was an anterior approach method and within five weeks I was moving about like I had never had surgery. Second one went wrong within the first couple of weeks. My surgeon tried various procedures to help the situation but to no avail. Then I was kicked out of his practice because I missed two payments on my account and I was left writhing in pain, crippled, for life. That is how it felt. I could not move without screaming and I became depressed. My whole life was changed by this.
THEN I discovered this site and the wonderful people on here helped me go for a second opinion, taught me to research the surgeon first and I chose Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee, USA, about five hours from my home. That surgeon found the problem immediately, while the other could not, and it was that my device had come loose and was migrating, twisting and projecting outwards, hitting every nerve possible. So he did the successful revision! Revisions are tough.
Around 6 months post op I began to pray for a part time job and one surfaced almost immediately. A light duty janitorial job for two hours a day. And I can tell you that after laying around deteriorating for two years, it left me MORE than out of shape! The first two months at this job left me feeling that I was going to die! Oh my! I am 57 and never felt so weak in my life. I sweated, I mean drenched with sweat because the physical exertion was so difficult to do.
Then my newest hip began to hurt. An x-ray showed that there was no damage, so I just had to work out the kinks. I was very careful not to break the 90 degree rule and twist while breaking it. Now I am 10 and a half months post op and feel stronger, more flexible than I have in a long time.
It feels good to be back out among the living, earning a little money, and feeling a sense of accomplishment that the bad THR took away from me. And I job share with a friend who covers me when I cannot work. I am proud to say that I just accomplished working five days a week three weeks in a row!
After all that extreme pain I suffered, I want you to know that I am having many, many mornings when I awaken and feel absolutely no pain! I lay there and thank God for moments like this and try to just soak up the good feelings before I have to get up to begin my day.
When I was down and out with all that pain and failed device, that was all I could think about. Life all but stopped and sometimes I wished I were dead. Now I can reach higher levels of thinking. I have even meandered around my yard making mental notes of what needs done in the Spring and actually feeling as though I will be able to complete the tasks.
I want to send the message that no matter how bad off you are right now, it will, it can, get better. Just around the corner there is life as you knew it. And for those who are permanently in pain, know that my heart goes out to you and I admire how you survive. You ONLY HAVE ONE CHANCE TO HEAL RIGHT, so be patient with yourself and your medical team and do what you are told to do. There is nothing wrong with stretching yourself to see where you new boundaries are as you progress, but do so carefully.
I had surgery 6 weeks ago with an implant for hallux rigidus. Had to call the doctor today (POD) because I'm having pains on the outside of my toe. He said it should have been feeling better & better each day, which it has not done. When I walk for awhile (say at the grocery store) it hurts on the side of that toe and on the bottom part of my foot. He wants me to come in for an x-ray & said I could have a stress fracture. Has anyone taken this long to heal? Comments anyone?
View 5 RepliesI have broken my tib and fib -(think it's called a bimalleolar fracture?) I did it on a pair of high heels at Xmas party, stupid or what? I climbed up one step and it was gone over, my future for next however many months mapped out for me I a nano second! I have the usual metal plate and screws like many of you folk in here. I had my cast off on Monday and went to a physio today who advised me to not use the airboot and "try " to use just the crutches in the house and airboot outside. I a m confused as the consultant at the hospital said keep boot on for two weeks then ditch it AND the crutches. I am really confused, I want to push myself but don't want to do any damage. I am so down, fed up and FRUSTRATED? I have been given exercises from the physio man which he said to do every couple of hours and push through the pain as he said it needs to get moving ASAP. My ankle is so swollen, STIFF and painful. I just don't know what advice is the best? I am 49 WAS fit doing spinning, gym, swimming and lots of classes.
View 52 RepliesHow much time a patient of "coarctation of aorta" & " transposition of great arteries" can live after the success operation of an arterial switch.......
View 2 RepliesI had broken my right calcaneus the doctor put 2 screws in. I'm at 8 weeks just started putting weight on it and walking with 1 crutch. Started doing stretching exercises. My question is I'm having pain in my foot now that I have started walking with 1 crutch. Very uncomfortable walking with boot so I changed to my tennis shoes with gel inserts.how long does it take before I can walk with little or no pain. Does anybody know.
View 9 RepliesI just want to know your experiences with the time it took from you felt a "dull" pain till it becomes large and really painful?
I have had a small tender firm swelling on the side of anus now for 4-5 days - which my physician says is "probably just a hemorrhoid". There is no change in colour and it's more a firm area than a nodule it seems.
The pain isn't unbearable - painkillers do their job well so far.
I was thinking perhaps anal abscesses develop over 1-2 days rather than 4-5 days from onset of dull pain to excruciating pain?
Also, sorry for hijacking the fistula forum - there is none of anal abscess and most of you guys must have had it at some point.
In 2013 I was in a car accident and slipped a disk crushed 2 others and was also diagnosed with Sciatica. For the next year or so I was prescribed Valium and Oxycodone. Over time and with some physical therapy I eventually quit taking the medicine all together. I haven't been completely pain free for a single day since and I've come to terms with this. Without doing anything significant that I can remember to re-injure my back it's started to cause me some pretty significant pain again. Does anyone know if this is normal or if I should go to the ER and have myself checked out?
View 9 RepliesI am 58 years old and very late going through menopause. I still have had a very light period about once every 10 months, so not the true 12 months to be considered through menopause.
A day or two ago I had some very light spotting. Thankfully wore a pantishield. Last night without warning or feeling, I had a burst of blood that filled the pantishield along with some pain by my right ovary. That was the end of the blood, just a very little light spotting today.
I have had a case of mild hemorrhoids/piles for a year or two now. There are visible bumps and some mucous, but there is absolutely no pain or discomfort. Just bumps! They don't sting when I touch them at all, but sometimes after painful movements, there's some blood. I'm just concerned by their presence, is there any way I can get rid of them at home? I don't really have the time or money to pay for any surgery, unfortunately. However, if there's any way I can't make them go away, that'd be great. I am twenty years old.
View 4 RepliesI had a Vasectomy back in 2010 and had a Vasectomy Reversal in 2012. My pain was extreme from 2010-2012 and relieved about 50% after the Reversal. I have extreme pain on my left testicle after any kind of sexual activity and random pain throughout the day some days unbearable. In the past I had radiating pain on my left leg and buttox but that was prior to the reversal. Its just on my left side, not my right.
I take antibiotics once in awhile from my doctor, but it doesn't seem to help. I have pain in my upper epididymis as well as pain in my testicle. Feels like it's being squeezed. I honestly feel like this Vasectomy has stolen my life from me.
i had a knee replacement 9 years ago and still have problems with swelling and pain. my Doctor says there's nothing wrong with it. i find it hard to walk and dance, i was a dance teacher and now i can't work. would like to hear from anyone else that has the same trouble.
View 13 RepliesI met an accident around 2.5 years ago and broke my left arm humerus. So I had a surgery and "they" fixed it using a humerus plate. After that, I took ample rest and finally my left arm is all good, not 100% but still up to acceptable level ( I do half my job using left hand and the remaining with right, as in throwing ball with left and writing using right hand). A couple of months ago, I started exercising so as to lose some weight, and it finally led me to join a gym. At first it was hard to get in routine with all these gym workouts, but in no time, I got used to it. Now comes the main issue. Since last month, while gymming, my left humerus has started to cause me pain. It occurs only when I am working out using my arms. It never happened before. This worries me now. Apart from work out, I never feel any pain there. Also, the pain is not something that can make me cry, but something, that makes me stop from whatever I am doing. I am uploading a copy of my X-ray as well.
View 3 RepliesAfter struggling with docs for years over this I thought I would turn to the wider world some input. I am a 27 year old, healthy (enough) male who has been getting intermittent, irregular and infrequent chest pains on and off for around 10 years.
During an 'attack' the pain can be quite severe and sharp - I guess a bit like being stabbed. The pain is localised to the left side of my sternum and feels fairly deep (i.e. it cannot be palpated).
Attacks can last anywhere from a few seconds to a day or so, and tend to come in 'clusters' that can be present for up to a week. There can be months between each cluster of attacks (if you get my drift!).
Pain can sometimes be exacerbated when leaning forward, coughing, lying on my side or raising an arm (seems to always vary - and can sometimes not have any stimulators).
During a 'cluster' period and between attacks I can often feel a mild, underlying ache in my chest. This is easy enough to ignore however.
I have had ECGs and chest x rays that have all been fine, and am not affected at all during exercise - I can happily go out and run 10k with ease.
Doctors have in the past ruled out gastro reflux as there was no tenderness on palpation of my stomach area, although I have sometimes thought that attack can follow a big meal and be accompanied by burping (although this may be my mind tricking me).
Musculoskeletal problems have been mentioned, but why would attacks come in clusters and seemingly out of the blue?
I am at a complete loss and doctors have been no help. My wife is scared that I will just drop dead from a heart attack - and I am struggling to find new ways of reassuring her.