broken ankle surgery hardware

[Artista]

I've been thinking about Wahine's earlier post. I am an active, petite, woman. I don't know that I "have" to have the hardware out but I'm pretty sure that it's causing some problems. I've spoken with a couple of men who had ankle hardware installed years ago and never had any problems with it. I don't personally know any women who have had an ankle surgically repaired so I can't take a poll. Still, I wonder if Wahine is on to something.

[Tokie]

I am very petite. the screw I wanted out was just too superficial and "pokey-outy". Even 13 months post-surgery, I have small improvements every few weeks. My girlfriend tells me hers felt better 3 years out & I am so happy with mine already! As for pain, be prepared, it can be tough, especially the first week or three. And especially if your doctor recommends avoiding NSAIDS, as they can interfere with early bone healing. If it hurts, take your pain medicine. Laying around in unneeded misery will not speed your recovery or make you a better woman. You will again have a strong,healthy and active ankle!

[Kiwi Stoker]

I cannot really comment about ankles as I broke my shoulder and had a plate and 11 screws put in.

Just wanted to say depending on how serious the break is (mine was the ball of the joint shattering into 11 large and lots of small pieces) sometimes the joint is never going to be the same. I cannot put my arm over my head anymore as the ball hasn't healed smooth. That is just the way it is. So sometimes you will have to accept some loss. I think if this accident happened 50 years agao I suspect I would of lost my arm.

I am not having the hardware out as I have had two operations of the shoulder already.

[lovelygamer]

I had plates and screws put in my hip as a pre-teen and they were removed a year and a half later with full recovery. I think this is quite normal, actually.

In the very old TSA scan equipment, my newer metal dinged the scanners but it today's modern equipment-not a blip. Almost all airports are using full body xray scans that prevents you from having a pat down.

BUT, I can relate to your fear and pain. I would be so scared to get seriously hurt and have it impact my favorite sport. I will be thinking of you-I hope the surgery and recovery goes well. Come vent to us any time you need to-we'll be pulling for you!

[Artista]

I am very petite. the screw I wanted out was just too superficial and "pokey-outy". Even 13 months post-surgery, I have small improvements every few weeks. My girlfriend tells me hers felt better 3 years out & I am so happy with mine already!

Does this mean that you're going to try to keep the "pokey-outy" screw, Tokie?

[surgtech1956]

I'm so sorry to hear about the ankle. Back in December 2010 I broke my right ankle - trimelleolar with dislocation, very bad break, I have a 5 hole plate/screws(medial side) and screw in the lateral side. I had 5 months of PT, had alot of trouble, because of the lack of 'range of motion'. I started back biking April 2011 - I was careful unclipping. I then April of this year, it started to feel 'normal'. In fact I started running in June. I do not have 100 range of motion in that ankle and probably never will, the only time I really notice it is going down stairs. My advice, hang in there, and have your mind made up that your doing ride, run, whatever you want, and work hard, in PT.

[Miranda]

So here's my ankle post-op appt w about 8-10 staples out where you see the steri-strips (hardware inside there somewhere). No weight bearing for another month and see the doc again. Gee, like how I had to write my initials with a sharpie marker on my leg?! The doc's are on there also out of the pic. It's so they get the right person/part in the O.R. I guess lol WOW!

***Thank you SO much ladies for your support and comments so far!!!***

I've kinda been just laid out on the couch with art stuff sketching/coloring to take my mind off the pain and try to get the swelliing down. Not a lot with the pc. So finally getting my way back to you all.

[Miranda]

And btw, that's an interesting point about petite ladies getting the hardware out.

Tho I'm 5'5", I am small boned, tiny little wrists, and very thin skinned, so I've been told by a diff surgeon. So time will tell what happens.

Next appt he will take an xray of it. So far he said it looks good and healing as expected.

Which I'm glad it's physically paying off to "rest" so much because my sanity has about checked out!

Thanks

[Artista]

Wow...you were cognizant enough to write your initials upside down!?

[surgtech1956]

BTW, about you and your doctor marking your leg, the hospital where I work, the doctors have been marking the patients - site of surgery for years now, plus before we begin the surgery we do a time out to identify the correct patient/surgery/site, etc..... You'd be surprised on how many wrong leg, kidney, etc... has been operated on in this country - its for your protection.