Recovering from ankle surgery: Month 3....still a few questions

Maisonneuve fx on the 29th. Funky fall while skiing. All the right ingredients, blind corner, compression, twisting.
Surgery yesterday. Couple pins and doc had to take out some bone fragments. I opted for the nerve block, and wow was that ever a wake up call when the block wore off last night at around 3 am. At times PAIN. So naturally, a steady dose of pain management was thrown at it and even that had its shortcomings. This was as well my first surgery, so I'm all new to it.
Sucks as I am FT patrol, so not only am I off skis for fun, but i'm out of the best job ever for quite some time. I guess on the positive, no more plastic coffins for a couple months... I know, lemonade.

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Originally Posted by Schemeboat

Maisonneuve fx on the 29th. Funky fall while skiing. All the right ingredients, blind corner, compression, twisting.
Surgery yesterday. Couple pins and doc had to take out some bone fragments. I opted for the nerve block, and wow was that ever a wake up call when the block wore off last night at around 3 am. At times PAIN. So naturally, a steady dose of pain management was thrown at it and even that had its shortcomings. This was as well my first surgery, so I'm all new to it.
Sucks as I am FT patrol, so not only am I off skis for fun, but i'm out of the best job ever for quite some time. I guess on the positive, no more plastic coffins for a couple months... I know, lemonade.

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How are you making out? Fubared my ankle at the pennywise concert 3 weeks ago, got taken out from behind, don't even know what happened exactly. Extremely bummed. Dislocated, fib broken ( weber C) some other breaks and major ligament damage. Right now just hoping to be skiing by november.

^^ Bummer, Hefe, heal up quick. Hope it wasn't at the beginning of the show. Do you know if you need surgery?
My injury was a maisonneuve fracture, which is a spiral fib that tears the ligament between the tib/fib and the ankle ligaments at the talus/fib, thus displacing the fib laterally. Everything was all loose and initially it felt like a badly sprained ankle.
I had a medium sized hole drilled and what is called an Arthrex cable fasted by two buttons put on either side of my Tib/Fib. This tightened up the ankle joint.
I was completely flattened for 6 weeks post op, but with minimal to no pain after 15 days or so. The only pain would come with major movement i.e slip/fall. I was 100% off pain meds (incl over the counter) by week 4.
I started Physio 8 weeks post op, and that consisted of no resistance stationary bikes and very minor plyometrics. Weekly increases in reps. Also started doing some leg presses on the shuttle. Still lots of swelling up to this point. At the 8 week mark I also started taking CBD to help with the swelling (works like a charm). At this point of my recovery, I was hoping I could ski this year. It became very clear after my first physio appointment that doing a fully weighted squat would be a measurable success at the 12 week mark (a prompt season ender realization)
8 weeks post to today - 100% weight bearing however I am in the air cast pretty much every day, but I have it off at home and when I'm doing exercises/ yoga class. Yoga has helped. I can bend my knee in a squat so my knee is infront of (forward of) my big toe. I'm cleared to ride my road bike on flat surfaces.

Ice is amazing, best painkiller around. Physio is great, although very humbling. Yoga has been fantastic, but I have had to be very careful and clear about what I can and can't do and having a teacher who is good at hands on assists/modifications has been crucial. A physio recovery that has been dynamite is the very hot bath (110 degF) for 1 minute followed by 15-20 sec of icing, repeat 5-6 sets (~ 6 mins). I was a skeptic of the CBD, but I can say it has been working very well for my recovery.
Obviously the atrophy of your calf and thigh/hammy are a pain to watch. What I did not expect was the effect/strain on my ligaments (the ones I didn't tear). The lack of movement really caused issued with my knee. Keep your knee moving and don't let it get stiff.

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Originally Posted by Schemeboat

^^ Bummer, Hefe, heal up quick. Hope it wasn't at the beginning of the show. Do you know if you need surgery?
My injury was a maisonneuve fracture, which is a spiral fib that tears the ligament between the tib/fib and the ankle ligaments at the talus/fib, thus displacing the fib laterally. Everything was all loose and initially it felt like a badly sprained ankle.
I had a medium sized hole drilled and what is called an Arthrex cable fasted by two buttons put on either side of my Tib/Fib. This tightened up the ankle joint.
I was completely flattened for 6 weeks post op, but with minimal to no pain after 15 days or so. The only pain would come with major movement i.e slip/fall. I was 100% off pain meds (incl over the counter) by week 4.
I started Physio 8 weeks post op, and that consisted of no resistance stationary bikes and very minor plyometrics. Weekly increases in reps. Also started doing some leg presses on the shuttle. Still lots of swelling up to this point. At the 8 week mark I also started taking CBD to help with the swelling (works like a charm). At this point of my recovery, I was hoping I could ski this year. It became very clear after my first physio appointment that doing a fully weighted squat would be a measurable success at the 12 week mark (a prompt season ender realization)
8 weeks post to today - 100% weight bearing however I am in the air cast pretty much every day, but I have it off at home and when I'm doing exercises/ yoga class. Yoga has helped. I can bend my knee in a squat so my knee is infront of (forward of) my big toe. I'm cleared to ride my road bike on flat surfaces.

Ice is amazing, best painkiller around. Physio is great, although very humbling. Yoga has been fantastic, but I have had to be very careful and clear about what I can and can't do and having a teacher who is good at hands on assists/modifications has been crucial. A physio recovery that has been dynamite is the very hot bath (110 degF) for 1 minute followed by 15-20 sec of icing, repeat 5-6 sets (~ 6 mins). I was a skeptic of the CBD, but I can say it has been working very well for my recovery.
Obviously the atrophy of your calf and thigh/hammy are a pain to watch. What I did not expect was the effect/strain on my ligaments (the ones I didn't tear). The lack of movement really caused issued with my knee. Keep your knee moving and don't let it get stiff.

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It was last song, I behaved all night until Bro Hymn came on..... FML. So not worth it.

Yes, had surgery 2 days after it happened. Fibia "orif" Syndesmosis "orif" and deltoid ligament repair.

Swelling is way down now, been hitting the cryo machine non stop. Foot is almost normal size now. Got the go ahead to start minor R.O.M. exercises today, pretty humbling is right! Can't drive either, wife won't let me with my left foot.

Will get on the CBD. Been using my vape instead of taking pain meds and it helps. The worst part is sleeping, always seem to wake up in pain around 3am and have a hard time falling back asleep afterwards. Have been taking the odd sleeping pill but don't want to get hooked.

Hoping to be able to wakesurf this summer, could be good for the ankle I think.

Pics from when they took the hard cast off. In a walking boot now.

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What form of CBD were you using? Cream? Oil? edible?

Ah hefe man that brings me back exactly 12 weeks. You're on the up and up! Good on ya for attempting to kick the pk's. I was informed by my surgeon that I should always try to take them at night if anytime, to ensure an uninterrupted nights rest.
I have been taking the CBD tincture and then using a cream that is made by cannalife. They have both helped in different ways. The CBD has been useful as an anti inflammatory, and the creme is more of a muscle relaxant... And then there are other edibles to bide time.
Looks like you got a fair amount of hardware.

First night of good sleep with no pain killers or sleeping pills. Pain is basically non existent during the day.

Started basic R.O.M. stuff, pretty crazy how little control I have of my ankle and toes. Scary.

Going to pick up some edibles and CBD today.

Any tips for freshening up the air cast? Starting to stink pretty bad!

I had an ossur rebound air cast. I took the liner out and washed it in the sink... fairly frequently... but definitely not frequently enough...

I never wore the cast without some type of protective layer as well.

Finally got my xrays. Swelling is down but still in walking boot with no weight bearing at 4.5 weeks. Muscle atrophy is scary.

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Better shots of the Xrays
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Checking in. Almost 3 months in and I am now walking a bit with no boot (not supposed to be yet). Swelling is way down and no pain at really. Got most of my ROM back as well.

cmcrawfo hooked me up with a trainer bike and have been swimming quite a bit. Helped a ton.

Went from being pretty panicked and depressed to feeling good about it. Saw a new pyshio (they rotate a bit at the hospital) and she said I am extremely lucky to be doing as well as I am given the extent of the injuries. I should make a full recovery!

Got green light for full weight bearing, both DR. and Pyshio are pretty amazed at my recovery so far. Happy guy!

congrats! As soon as I was full WB I was at the hot yoga as much as I could handle (still am). Some days I would show up in class and just lay my legs up the wall for the whole class.

Nice. I don't have the patience or attention span for any kind of yoga. Even with hot chicks.

Been doing PT a ton, ice like a mofo (desk job). and been hitting the bike a ton.

And I think genetics have played a part. My mom has broken almost every bone in her body and is still waterskiing and pow skiing every day at 68.

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Originally Posted by el hefe

And I think genetics have played a part. My mom has broken almost every bone in her body and is still waterskiing and pow skiing every day at 68.

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Where does she find pow every day?
I want to move there.

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Ha sorry meant snow. She is slowing down a bit in the pow these days.

Big Screws coming out Oct 16th. So pumped. So far so good and perfect timing for a Maui trip and then ski season.

Back from the dead! No pain while skiing, just sore and a bit swollen for a few days after giving it hard for 3 days straight sled skiing. Super happy, I was really scared for a few months there.

little edit from the recent trip. 6 weeks after getting plate and screws out.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zp9xrTJYvZA&t=85s

so you got all the hw out, so how was that ?

I kacked a Tib/fib ankle in february and got the HW taken out in December of that year, i didn't find the removal or recovery very painful I even walked out of post op, of course its free up here in Canada eh, and I think definatley worth doing

I think I broke that ankle in 2002,

that ankle is still bigger than the not broken ankle but i think its stronger

Was fine getting it all out. I walked out as well, took it easy for 2 weeks then was surfing in Maui for a week. Skied on it 4 weeks post op. Ankle feels great but is sore a for a few days after skiing.

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Originally Posted by el hefe

Was fine getting it all out. I walked out as well, took it easy for 2 weeks then was surfing in Maui for a week. Skied on it 4 weeks post op. Ankle feels great but is sore a for a few days after skiing.

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What was your injury and what HW did you have removed? I am 6 and half months PO from a Pilon Fracture... can’t get enough ROM back as the plate is to the very bottom of my ankle. Planning to get my HW out in October. I’d love to hear more about your experience...

Funny I randomly checked this today. Injury history is noted above and previous pages. I broke my ankle and tore a bunch of ligaments.

I had everything removed and am very glad I did. Went from my ankle being sideways and disgusting looking to being fully recovered. I am basically back at 100% with minimal pain. The thing that bugs me the most is a long pickle ball session, lots of change of direction and running on concrete but it goes away in half a day.

No pain in ski boot, did a 7 day hut trip and it didn't bother at all, all though I completely ruptured my ACL on the last day. Same leg not sure if connected or not but it turns out I don't need my ACL as I was skiing 10 days later and doing everything normally now.

I don't think the Docs like to go back in and remove stuff but I would push for it if you are ready.