It's been almost a year since I broke my ankle.  It has not been right since then.  The only time it doesn't hurt is when I am biking.  (I'd love to make that an excuse to always ride my bike, but considering it has been over 65 hours that we have been below 0, I don't think it would be reasonable! ;D )    So, today, the surgeon took the screws and plate out of my ankle.  He claims this will fix everything.  But, in the meantime, I'm back on crutches for a week or so.  

This should be a quick recovery - or at least I hope so!  

I'm sorry to hear this bikerbraid. :(   I hope you have a very quick recovery.

Well, here's hoping that the surgeon is right, and that he has some good ideas (and you have some good resources) for getting some strength and flexibility back in the joint.

I hope that whatever you were doing when you broke your ankle was enough fun to make it worth it!

Oh NO!  Poor BB, I'm sorry   :(  I know this has to be aggravating for you, dear.  Hang in there!  *hugs*  

When you get off of your crutches...look for a myofascial release therapist in your area.  Its not quite massage and its not quite Rolphing and I've had some amazing results from it and my injury is 16 years old.

Hope you're well soon!!!  Oh yeah, its going to be 79 degrees at my house today  :P

Wanna come over & ride your bike?  ;D

So sorry to hear you've been hurting, BB.   :'(   I hope this will fix it for you.

Sakina - taunts like that are just...... mean!   >:(   ;)  I'd love to come to your house and bike!

So far I am very optimistic.  I can already put weight on it and I've not needed any pain meds since last night.  The strange thing about all of this - I've always had flexibility in the joint, it just hurt when I would walk or stand for any length of time.  The doctor tried to explain that it is a ligament that was rubbing across the screw heads when I was on my feet.  The cold weather would make it even worse.  (and we have been experiencing significant cold this past week!)

Now I have this very pretty, shiny titanium plate and 6 shiny screws.  I keep trying to figure out how I could make a necklace with them..... any ideas??

You could make your own headdress, just add some jump rings & chain and use the screws as dangles.

bikerbraid wrote on Feb 5^th, 2007 at 8:43pm:

...So, today, the surgeon took the screws and plate out of my ankle.

Isn't this a good thing? Did Dr. plan on leaving this hardware in there forever?  :o

Well, if you have to be on crutches, it may as well be when it's zero outside. It could be worse. International Falls, Mn. had a low of -30F!

I hope that your week will pass quickly and you'll have a quick recovery.

If you do make that necklace...pictures, please! ;)

rodent wrote on Feb 6^th, 2007 at 11:30pm:

Isn't this a good thing? Did Dr. plan on leaving this hardware in there forever?  :o Well, if you have to be on crutches, it may as well be when it's zero outside. It could be worse. International Falls, Mn. had a low of -30F!

The hardware could be left in forever, however a significant percentage of people who have the plate and screws do have them removed for the exact reason I had them removed.  THEY HURT! There is a tendon that has to cross over the screw heads, and SURPRISE! that hurts!.  

Yes, I'm glad I'm not in International Falls or Tower or Embarass MN - all have been posting extreme temps.  But in my opinion - anything colder that -10F is just plain cold.  It doesn't matter any more.  You just don't spend much time outside.  

But even here in MN, there are some idiots that don't believe cold is cold.  There is an 18 year old that during the Superbowl half time, he followed the family tradition of running around the yard, barefoot.  It was -17 with windchills of -35 at the time.  He was outside barefoot and in a Tshirt.  He has 2nd degree frostbite on both feet and has a good possibility of losing his toes - maybe even his feet.  STUPID!  He was outside only 5 minutes.

The drawback of being on crutches right now - the snow is very slippery/icy, so I have to be extra careful when outside.  But at least this time I can put some weight on the foot, so I can stablize easier than before.  And, on the upside - it is a great upper arm workout!  :D

Sakina wrote on Feb 6^th, 2007 at 5:25pm:

You could make your own headdress, just add some jump rings & chain and use the screws as dangles.

LOL!! ;D  I guess she could wear it while she's riding her bike perhaps. ;D

Oh dear the hardware was giving you trouble?  I hope your feeling better soon! :)

I hope your ankle feels better soon - although it does sound like a good sign if you could put weight on it already...  I'd love to see the ankle plate necklace!

oh i am so sorry i hope you get well soon

I am pleased to announce......... I am off the crutches and I walked almost 4 miles today!!  Taa daaa!  I am just amazed - my ankle hurts less than before the surgery.  I still have a 6 inch incision with stitches that is a bit tender, but it was certainly worth having the hardware removed.

Thank you all for your kind words and thoughts.  I am so glad to have this behind me finally.  It has been a long year.

Excellent congratulations, the day has finally come! [smiley=beer.gif]

I am happy it all worked out! :)

Wheeeeeeeeeeeeeee!  Congratulations!!

Big sigh of relief!! :)  I know you must feel great!!

Most excellent, BB--congrats!   ;)

I'm glad you're off the crutches and seem to be recovering nicely, BB! My stomach turned when you mentioned the part about the ligament rubbing against the screws. Eww.....

That's great! Enjoy walks (but be careful with ice!)